Class of 2024 - Impact of Varsity Athletics

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HudK9

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Seeking some input regarding the lack of varsity athletics from this thread of posters. According to USAFA website, the class profile for the Class of 2022 had 82% of appointees with varsity athletics. Clearly it is an important factor, but it also means not every appointee is a varsity athlete - at least 18% for that particular year. Maybe more, maybe less for this year.

So two questions for everyone watching this thread:

1) For those who already received appointments for Class of 2024 (if you are still reading this forum), please comment if you did NOT have a varsity sport on your application. If so, if you don't mind sharing, what other stand-out factors did you have which may have overcome that deficiency?

2) For those still waiting a decision in the next 10 days, how many of you do NOT have a varsity sport?
 
HudK9 said:
1) For those who already received appointments for Class of 2024 (if you are still reading this forum), please comment if you did NOT have a varsity sport on your application. If so, if you don't mind sharing, what other stand-out factors did you have which may have overcome that deficiency
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I did not have a varsity sport, I didn't even have a team sport, I trained in Taekwondo. I think the Academies favor people with sports because 1.) Candidates can demonstrate teamwork, 2.) because they can demonstrate leadership, and 3.) because sports promote physical fitness and gives a clue into their physical ability. Because I realized this coming into the application process, I strived to find other outlets to show teamwork and leadership, mostly through my extracurriculars. I also knew I needed to do well on the CFA so I spent months training for that. Overall, while I know USAFA definitely values sports, I don't think it's even remotely a dealbreaker if you don't have it on your resume.
 
HudK9 said:
Seeking some input regarding the lack of varsity athletics from this thread of posters. According to USAFA website, the class profile for the Class of 2022 had 82% of appointees with varsity athletics. Clearly it is an important factor, but it also means not every appointee is a varsity athlete - at least 18% for that particular year. Maybe more, maybe less for this year.

So two questions for everyone watching this thread:

1) For those who already received appointments for Class of 2024 (if you are still reading this forum), please comment if you did NOT have a varsity sport on your application. If so, if you don't mind sharing, what other stand-out factors did you have which may have overcome that deficiency?

2) For those still waiting a decision in the next 10 days, how many of you do NOT have a varsity sport?
Click to expand...
You should start a new thread for this. It would probably get better exposure, and be more beneficial to those doing a search in the future.
 
I started this under the USAFA Class of 2024 thread, but at the suggestion of @Delta Romeo, I am creating a new thread in an attempt to get additional input and help others. Thanks to @mach01 for the reply already. Here it goes:

Seeking some input regarding the lack of varsity athletics from this thread of posters. According to USAFA website, the class profile for the Class of 2022 had 82% of appointees with varsity athletics. Clearly it is an important factor, but it also means not every appointee is a varsity athlete - at least 18% for that particular year. Maybe more, maybe less for this year.

So two questions for everyone watching this thread:

1) For those who already received appointments for Class of 2024 (if you are still reading this forum), please comment if you did NOT have a varsity sport on your application. If so, if you don't mind sharing, what other stand-out factors did you have which may have overcome that deficiency?

2) For those still waiting a decision in the next 10 days, how many of you do NOT have a varsity sport?
 
HudK9 said:
Seeking some input regarding the lack of varsity athletics from this thread of posters. According to USAFA website, the class profile for the Class of 2022 had 82% of appointees with varsity athletics. Clearly it is an important factor, but it also means not every appointee is a varsity athlete - at least 18% for that particular year. Maybe more, maybe less for this year.

So two questions for everyone watching this thread:

1) For those who already received appointments for Class of 2024 (if you are still reading this forum), please comment if you did NOT have a varsity sport on your application. If so, if you don't mind sharing, what other stand-out factors did you have which may have overcome that deficiency?

2) For those still waiting a decision in the next 10 days, how many of you do NOT have a varsity sport?
Click to expand...
@HudK9 - my daughter does not have a varsity letter, nor does she participate in any sport besides dance (which, yes, I know isn't considered a "sport.") She was also asked to take her CFA twice (her run time was initially a little slow, but she was able to really bring it up.) My son is USAFA 2020, which I'm sure helped her, but I also know many people with cadets whose younger child did not get into USAFA as well.
Hope this helps! A lot of times it just depends on the set of eyes that's looking at an application on whether a candidate gets the green light!

ETA: Her ACT and SAT scores were both well over USAFA's average, though (32 ACT/1380 SAT.) She's 3/386 at her HS and also very active with non-athletic extracurriculars
 
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HudK9 said:
I started this under the USAFA Class of 2024 thread, but at the suggestion of @Delta Romeo, I am creating a new thread in an attempt to get additional input and help others. Thanks to @mach01 for the reply already. Here it goes:

Seeking some input regarding the lack of varsity athletics from this thread of posters. According to USAFA website, the class profile for the Class of 2022 had 82% of appointees with varsity athletics. Clearly it is an important factor, but it also means not every appointee is a varsity athlete - at least 18% for that particular year. Maybe more, maybe less for this year.

So two questions for everyone watching this thread:

1) For those who already received appointments for Class of 2024 (if you are still reading this forum), please comment if you did NOT have a varsity sport on your application. If so, if you don't mind sharing, what other stand-out factors did you have which may have overcome that deficiency?

2) For those still waiting a decision in the next 10 days, how many of you do NOT have a varsity sport?
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Still waiting. Varsity golf for 3 years, varsity golf captain for junior and senior year
 
I didn't play a varsity sport but that was out of my control because as a full time homeschooler in my state, I'm not permitted to play on school sport teams. However, I did play on my church's soccer team and a recreational league's team showing that I made the best of my opportunities.

My tipping factor was probably my leadership roles.
 
My son is class of 23 and he did not play a varsity sport. He did a lot of leadership, but did not play a HS sport
 
I've received my appointment for class of 2024 and I did not play varsity athletics. In fact I've never played a team sport, I just do general fitness at the gym. The main stand out factors for my application were a 1460 SAT score and the fact that I did a year long foreign exchange to Germany during my junior year. I also teach religious education at my church and volunteer at the local youth center. I hope that helps.
 
I received my appointment for class of 2024 and I did not play a varsity sport. I played basketball through sophomore year as on the JV team. My profile features were probably my GPA, SAT score, working for the U.S. Senate, and the non-profit that I founded and managed since I was 14.
 
mbsaf said:
My profile features were probably my GPA, SAT score, working for the U.S. Senate, and the non-profit that I founded and managed since I was 14.
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Good example of the kind of experience that can compensate for lack of varsity sports. SAs like varsity sports because it's presumed the athlete has learned leadership, teamwork, discipline, determination, resilience. Founding and managing a non-profit for several years would seem to confer very similar qualities. Well done!
 
I did not play a varsity sport, but I rock climbed for two years (9-10 grade). I went to Girls State and I am heavily involved in FIRST robotics and band. I was on the drive team that led our robotics team to worlds, and I stressed that on my application and in interviews. My stats were also above average, especially, my gpa and act score.
 
I understand the original post was to the 2024 appointees, but this old thread has some good advice/perspective from knowledgeable people.

Sports, and your academy application

This isn't in response to any particular thread of poster. I'm simply writing it in the hopes that any new people will find it when, or if they do a search on the topic. It seems that in recent years, more and more applicants are asking questions about sports, or rather the lack of sports, in...
www.serviceacademyforums.com
 
2024 Appointee here- I did not play a varsity sport in high school. I played freshman football (but that didn't count), and I had a season of "varsity" (competitive) marching band this year (which wouldn't have made a great impact). Instead, I was in the academic top 3%, high SAT, lots of community service (including mission trips), and extensive AFJROTC involvement.
My CFA was nothing impressive (in my opinion), but it was "good enough".
It may have also helped that I had my MOC's principal nom.
 
DS does not have a varsity sport. Only JV x-country as Jr/Sr and did average on the CFA. He is a leader just isn't interested in sports in any way. He has a 4.0 GPA and 1510 SAT and hopefully that will be enough to make the cut. Keeping the faith till the end.
 
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