Class of 2022 Undecided Appointees

Proudafparent

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Jan 10, 2018
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Congratulations Early Appointees!

What issues are you considering before you decide to accept or decline your appointment? You are obviously well qualified and have many options.
 
Waiting on AFROTC board results and the admission results of a couple other civilian colleges.
 
You have time if you have not yet visited campuses - especially if deciding between SAs you owe it to yourself to visit first.
We had to scramble last year to get to CO early April with a 15th deadline but I'm glad we did even with DS at USMA.
 
You have time if you have not yet visited campuses - especially if deciding between SAs you owe it to yourself to visit first.
We had to scramble last year to get to CO early April with a 15th deadline but I'm glad we did even with DS at USMA.
Good hint thanks. What kind of visit did you have? Did your son stayed in the campus overnight? It would be nice if they have the opportunity to experience the Academy life rather than just having some tours.
 
He overnighted at USMA late March but the trip to CO was an 11th hour affair after March appointment; it was an official tour date for appointees but no overnite. He went with cadets for half a day of classes and then toured facilities with mixed group.

I got to see the AF chapel with the parents; very neat experience plus the catholic grotto and synagogue downstairs.

Overnites are great if available but at least for them to spend some time embedded with the cadets [and away from Mom and Dad] in classrooms helps a lot.
 
Grandson attended summer session at USNA from which came his interest in SAs. He has not visited USAFA, has an appointment but is undecided as he is waiting to see if he gets a USNA appointment. He wants to visit USAFA and then weigh career options, deployment questions, and family friendly considerations before making a choice.

At this point, his research is mixed. He loved his ALO interview: he was a younger officer with a family. In contrast, his BGO was much older, divorced and negative on family--"the Navy owns you." Several AF people have told him that AF is the most family friendly of the services.

He's had contact with a fairly recent USNA grad who tells him that career options are much better in the Navy and other Navy people claiming that if one is not a pilot, you are a 2nd class person in the AF. He's talked to an AF Col from our community who didn't like the Academy, said he went with a bad attitude as his choice was driven by parental pressure, but loves the AF and finds the career choice he made to be very rewarding (not a pilot.)

In short, if grandson is representative of other "undecideds" the issue appears to be 17/18 year olds on the precipice of an important decision between services and which is the best choice, especially when faced with conflicting information.

I think this especially true if the family--like ours--has no prior military service and so lacks an understanding of the differences in the service branches and the career options presented by each.
 
For many highly qualified Applicants, USAFA may not be their first choice. It is not the "right" path for many (not better or worse - just different). They may be waiting to see what other options come available as typical acceptance letters don't come out for a few months and they are given time to accept/decline. Our DS accepted the day he received his Appointment in late October. Our DD received her Appointment in early Nov. and didn't accept until the day before she had to. He didn't care about any other options and she wanted to see what else was out there. Just different thought processes.
 
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