Current 3-Degrees: Ask Us Anything!

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tired_threedeg_thursday

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We are two current 3-Degree cadets (sophomores), both members of the class of 2025. We've gotten to enjoy the upperclassmen life but memories from freshman year and our application cycles are still fresh, and our experiences were quite different. Ask us any questions you have about anything USAFA related!

Some background Person A so you don't have to ask:
  • I'm a direct non-IC from the West coast, didn't receive LOA, was Senator nominated, and got my appointment in early February
  • Was not accepted for Summer Seminar
  • I found out about USAFA my sophomore year but didn't do JRTOC, CAP, or anything outside of my "normal" extracurriculars
Some background on Person B:
  • I'm a prior enlisted and applied through the LEAD program, which means I was appointed by my squadron commander and didn't require a Congressional nom.
  • I did not attend the Prep School
  • I worked blue collar jobs while attending university for 2.5 yrs prior to acceptance at USAFA (not a single credit transferred) 😭
Both of us have explored plenty of programs, clubs, and opportunities, so we've come to know this school really well. If we can't answer your question, we'll share it with someone who can.
 
tired_threedeg_thursday said:
We are two current 3-Degree cadets (sophomores), both members of the class of 2025. We've gotten to enjoy the upperclassmen life but memories from freshman year and our application cycles are still fresh, and our experiences were quite different. Ask us any questions you have about anything USAFA related!

Some background Person A so you don't have to ask:
  • I'm a direct non-IC from the West coast, didn't receive LOA, was Senator nominated, and got my appointment in early February
  • Was not accepted for Summer Seminar
  • I found out about USAFA my sophomore year but didn't do JRTOC, CAP, or anything outside of my "normal" extracurriculars
Some background on Person B:
  • I'm a prior enlisted and applied through the LEAD program, which means I was appointed by my squadron commander and didn't require a Congressional nom.
  • I did not attend the Prep School
  • I worked blue collar jobs while attending university for 2.5 yrs prior to acceptance at USAFA (not a single credit transferred) 😭
Both of us have explored plenty of programs, clubs, and opportunities, so we've come to know this school really well. If we can't answer your question, we'll share it with someone who can.
Click to expand...
Have you heard of prior mistakes by admission that affected candidates appointment? I talked to a cadet at a grassroots Christmas party who said he got in after his 3rd application -1st time after he got rejected took hard math and science classes in a university, 2nd time rejection wad due to a mistake by admission and got in the 3rd time. Thank you.
 
FightingFalcon2027 said:
Have you heard of prior mistakes by admission that affected candidates appointment? I talked to a cadet at a grassroots Christmas party who said he got in after his 3rd application -1st time after he got rejected took hard math and science classes in a university, 2nd time rejection wad due to a mistake by admission and got in the 3rd time. Thank you.
Click to expand...
This hasn't happened to the best of our knowledge, not to anyone we know. We'd be happy to talk more about how admissions actually works though.
 
What is your favorite thing you’ve done since stepping foot at the academy? What was the least favorite?
 
Do you know how one would try to be a walk-on a varsity sport? Not basketball or football. Thx.
 
CrabbittMom said:
What is your favorite thing you’ve done since stepping foot at the academy? What was the least favorite?
Click to expand...
2-dig here: By far my favorite (not even close) are the airmanship opportunities here. Every cadet can sign up for the airmanship programs and pretty much everyone gets to do at least one program. These include the jump program, the soaring program, and the powered flight program. I've had the opportunity to take all three (actually in the middle of taking jump right now) and I also got to apply to be a glider instructor pilot and now I get to teach other cadets how to fly gliders. You won't get any of these opportunities anywhere else - which makes this school the best school in the world in my opinion.
Seniormom said:
Do you know how one would try to be a walk-on a varsity sport? Not basketball or football. Thx.
Click to expand...
Sports teams usually have tryouts after Basic for incoming cadets - but that depends on the team and their need for additional players
small_fry_can_fly said:
What’s something you wish you knew/ wish you did before your first semester at the academy? Thank you!
Click to expand...
  • Everything I mentioned about the airmanship programs. I didn't know how easy it was to get airborne at this school, or I would have been even more excited!
  • The academics aren't that bad - and you'll have plenty of free time after freshman year if you manage your time well
  • Living in Colorado is unbeatable - plan on getting yourself skis/snowboard, a mountain bike, a dirtbike, and a truck ASAP
 
Did you have a plan B after accepting your appointment to USAFA?
Until when did you keep it? Until I-Day or until the end of BCT?
Did you inform the plan B college, and what was their reaction?
Is this a common practice?

Apologies, but after reading about this subject in these forums, I'm still struggling with holding a spot in another college after accepting an appointment for the unlikely case of a freak injury before joining. I don't know how my counselor or the plan-B college will react to this idea either.

Thanks for your help!
 
WingBlade said:
Did you have a plan B after accepting your appointment to USAFA?
Click to expand...
I don't know what other cadets did - and I think the ALOs and other smart people on here can give better advice than I can, but I was accepted to another college and had a type 7 AFROTC scholarship and after I got my USAFA appointment I didn't say anything to the school or ROTC.

I didn't formally accept them and I didn't officially decline them - just let them sit.

Also, freak accidents are few and far between, and with the safety standards we have for BCT now, they're growing ever fewer in between. But they do happen and I know cadets who got turnback - so I think a plan B is always a good idea. In sum, be prepared but not at all worried about an accident.
 
Seniormom said:
Do you know how one would try to be a walk-on a varsity sport? Not basketball or football. Thx.
Click to expand...
Throughout basic training, there will be specific times for you to "breakout" with your desired sport/team. During those first few times, the coaches will hold tryouts but yes the other guy was right and it depends on their need for new athletes. It wouldn't hurt to get in contact with the coaches before you arrive for basic either, ask them questions and make sure they know your name.
 
WingBlade said:
Did you have a plan B after accepting your appointment to USAFA?
Until when did you keep it? Until I-Day or until the end of BCT?
Did you inform the plan B college, and what was their reaction?
Is this a common practice?

Apologies, but after reading about this subject in these forums, I'm still struggling with holding a spot in another college after accepting an appointment for the unlikely case of a freak injury before joining. I don't know how my counselor or the plan-B college will react to this idea either.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
We had someone in an arm sling with no chance of getting out of it before basic ended, keep in mind he got the injury the week before I-day. He's chilling in the dorm next to me. I was on crutches during Jack's but now I'm starting 40 days tomorrow. I agree with above they'll work with you to get you through. I personally had no plans B but many school understand the usafa opportunity.

If you have to put a deposit down and can't get a refund think about like this "50 bucks for insurance, 0 for tuition" vs "50 bucks for insurance, possibly thousands without it". Cost analysis says it's not a waste just like insurance may not pay now but it can pay off later.
 
TLINAU2230 said:
2-dig here: By far my favorite (not even close) are the airmanship opportunities here. Every cadet can sign up for the airmanship programs and pretty much everyone gets to do at least one program. These include the jump program, the soaring program, and the powered flight program. I've had the opportunity to take all three (actually in the middle of taking jump right now) and I also got to apply to be a glider instructor pilot and now I get to teach other cadets how to fly gliders. You won't get any of these opportunities anywhere else - which makes this school the best school in the world in my opinion.

Sports teams usually have tryouts after Basic for incoming cadets - but that depends on the team and their need for additional players

  • Everything I mentioned about the airmanship programs. I didn't know how easy it was to get airborne at this school, or I would have been even more excited!
  • The academics aren't that bad - and you'll have plenty of free time after freshman year if you manage your time well
  • Living in Colorado is unbeatable - plan on getting yourself skis/snowboard, a mountain bike, a dirtbike, and a truck ASAP
Click to expand...
How was powered flight? Out of the three, which was your favorite?
 
tired_threedeg_thursday said:
We are two current 3-Degree cadets (sophomores), both members of the class of 2025. We've gotten to enjoy the upperclassmen life but memories from freshman year and our application cycles are still fresh, and our experiences were quite different. Ask us any questions you have about anything USAFA related!

Some background Person A so you don't have to ask:
  • I'm a direct non-IC from the West coast, didn't receive LOA, was Senator nominated, and got my appointment in early February
  • Was not accepted for Summer Seminar
  • I found out about USAFA my sophomore year but didn't do JRTOC, CAP, or anything outside of my "normal" extracurriculars
Some background on Person B:
  • I'm a prior enlisted and applied through the LEAD program, which means I was appointed by my squadron commander and didn't require a Congressional nom.
  • I did not attend the Prep School
  • I worked blue collar jobs while attending university for 2.5 yrs prior to acceptance at USAFA (not a single credit transferred) 😭
Both of us have explored plenty of programs, clubs, and opportunities, so we've come to know this school really well. If we can't answer your question, we'll share it with someone who can.
Click to expand...

For Person B:

What advice can you give as a prior going into USAFA? How rough was it to losing all your freedoms again?
 
SA2026hopeful said:
Got CST 1st and Soar 2nd, any tips to prepare for them?
Click to expand...
During CST make sure to write out a plan for how you will ration your food during Pinion, it helps with willpower to follow through. Also, when you come back, do not eat everything, a lot of people ate a ton right afterwards and their shrunken stomachs fought back hard.
 
SA2026hopeful said:
Got CST 1st and Soar 2nd, any tips to prepare for them?
Click to expand...
CST: You got the best block for CST by far (personal experience), so eat GOOD on the bus, eat good in the days leading up to "deployment", prepare for some intense heat, and take care of your feet. Some other 25ers will give you varying advice on what to bring with you if you ask, but my biggest suggestion is figure out how to keep yourself cool, clean, and entertained.

Soaring: We personally didn't have any desire to upgrade to instructor pilots (lots of our friends are currently upgrading though), but if that's a goal for you then be enthusiastic! Jump on the knowledge, pull your weight wherever you can, and generally have a great time. Soaring is super fun and you're gonna learn a lot!
 
tired_threedeg_thursday said:
CST: You got the best block for CST by far (personal experience), so eat GOOD on the bus, eat good in the days leading up to "deployment", prepare for some intense heat, and take care of your feet. Some other 25ers will give you varying advice on what to bring with you if you ask, but my biggest suggestion is figure out how to keep yourself cool, clean, and entertained.

Soaring: We personally didn't have any desire to upgrade to instructor pilots (lots of our friends are currently upgrading though), but if that's a goal for you then be enthusiastic! Jump on the knowledge, pull your weight wherever you can, and generally have a great time. Soaring is super fun and you're gonna learn a lot!
Click to expand...
Not sure if it’s confirmed or not, but rumors are floating around that we are going to be at Jacks instead of Piñon, so it’ll be interesting to see how things change for that.
 
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