This thread help and hurt me a lot before I came here. Lot of misconceptions that’s get blown up here. Lot of true stuff. Truth is, this place is way different than even 5 years ago let alone 20. So talking to a grad from ‘04 or something probably isn’t going to do you much good. They just had a way different experience ESPECIALLY frosh year. Shoot away with any concerns or anything I’ll try to answer best I can. Bottom line though, I was very very unsure before coming here and honestly went in unsure if I’d even stay. But if you asked me now, I’d tell you I love it and it’s been one of the best years of my life. At the same time, ask other cadets right now and you’ll get a completely different perspective. So shoot away
Current Frosh AMA
- Thread starter cedarpike
- Start date
What made you transition from unsure if you would stay, to "one of the best years of my life"? In addition, in what way do you feel the academy has changed since 5 years or even 20 years ago based off of what you have heard versus your current experience?
So prior to coming here I heard a lot of “you’re not going to have time” “you’re going to hate your life” “you can’t do x, y, z”. Now I will say it’s very squad dependent, but you can do almost anything you want here. Even as a freshman. I’ve travelled more this year than any year ever. I’m not going to out myself and give too much info, but join a club! I’ve travelled to three different states with my club and have had so much fun. I’ve got a great group of friends from my club. I’ve got the closest friends I’ve ever had in squad. You’re kind of forced to because you do everything together, but I know for a fact they’ve all got my back when I need them. I’ve also done so many cool things in Colorado, from hiking, Red Rocks, learning to ski, hanging out at my sponsors house, and other stuff within Springs or even on base. So I guess what has made it so amazing is the things I’ve taken advantage of and the things I’ve been able to do as a result.
Now in terms of how it’s different, frosh year is SO much different now. They just do things differently. Rules. What upperclassmen are and aren’t allowed to do to frosh. This year frosh can basically just be normal again after 545. That’s completely new. Silver weekends arent as often. Less formations. Lunch isn’t an awful experience for frosh. Basically just a bunch of rules that used to be in place are no longer there. And in some ways it’s made it easier for frosh but more so it seems like it’s allowed for actually learning and progression as a person rather than just getting yelled at 24/7 and hating your life. Lot of grads say it’s a great place to be from. But to be honest, I like being here right now. Take what you hear from grads with a grain of salt. Stuff changes every year. Although the overarching theme may be the same, the experience has changed dramatically.
This is a question that will get answered differently by different cadets. For me, I’ve been fine. It’s important to learn what matters and what doesn’t though. Makes no sense to prioritize things that don’t matter. It’s really not as bad as people made it seem though. Although I certainly know people that struggle with this. At the end of the day, it’s ok to fail a quiz. It’s okay to not be perfect in everything. Something you’re not going to get straight As on everything and that’s okay. It sounds backwards and I thought the same when people told me this before I came, but participating in a sport helps. Yes it takes up time, but it’s a release. It helps you realize this place isn’t all just school and other work. And the sports are fun. I did intermurals too and had a blast. We took it serious, but not too serious. So we won a lot but had a lot of fun. Biggest thing for me for balancing classes though is to just do the work when you get it. No point in waiting a week before starting a project. Just start early and keep chipping away and you’ll be just fine. Get help when you need it. Ask questions. Pay attention in class. If you pay attention in class that’s half the studying you’ll need to do for any tests you take. If you’ve got to relearn everything before the tests though that’s a problem.
TLDR: Sports help time management as backwards as it sounds. Schoolwork is totally manageable just do it when you get it. Ask for help. Listen in class
navy/airforce-hopeful man
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have you read the infamous Standards In Freefall thread yet? It seems that quite a few firsties over at USAFA are unhappy with how your class is being brought up... thoughts?
GoodRun
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Are your personal views characteristic of most 4* in your "chill" squadron or your class as a whole?
You seem to be most proud of the traveling and friends you have made. You also believe it is ok not to get straight A's (almost nobody does even if they try) and to fail a quiz. Is this what you expected to be proud of and how hard you expected to work academically before you arrived? If your views changed, what do you owe this to?
Given all the "standards in freefall" tread, what is the most stressful thing at the Academy that makes you want to seek release through sports and travel?
What were your strengths that you believe helped you get your appointment? Academics (GPA, SAT), athletics, or military/leadership experience?
Given your social/athletic slant, would you have had more fun going ROTC at Arizona State or CU Boulder?
You seem to be most proud of the traveling and friends you have made. You also believe it is ok not to get straight A's (almost nobody does even if they try) and to fail a quiz. Is this what you expected to be proud of and how hard you expected to work academically before you arrived? If your views changed, what do you owe this to?
Given all the "standards in freefall" tread, what is the most stressful thing at the Academy that makes you want to seek release through sports and travel?
What were your strengths that you believe helped you get your appointment? Academics (GPA, SAT), athletics, or military/leadership experience?
Given your social/athletic slant, would you have had more fun going ROTC at Arizona State or CU Boulder?
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It kind of depends on your sport as much as anything else. Some teams are shorter seasons than others. My son's season is almost the entire school year and he travels a ton. It does put some pressure on academics but something else that many find out later is that you end up missing some of the Squadron activities and you suffer in class ranking because of it. A sizable number of non-athletes take the opportunity to "punish" the ICs (intercollegiate athletes). This is something that's gone on for at least 40 years and won't change any time soon. Getting recruited helps you get in, but it's not without its downside too.
I haven’t read it and probably won’t. Class of 27 has no control over these changes. In fact they were suggested by class of 26 mostly. It just becomes toxic arguing about all of that which we have no control over. Is our doolie year different than theirs? Yea. Is it easier? Yea in some ways. Are the changes productive? Yea I’d say so. What’s the point in hating your life for a year? What does that teach? If you’re supposed to learn how to do hard things and manage stress, you need to be taught that not just exposed to it. Recognition is supposed to be something that is culminating, something that brings all of your skills to a final weekend where you can see how much you’ve improved. Not just something you “get through”. That’s just my take though. There are many out there, but I don’t think it’s worth arguing over. Take what I say with a grain of salt though too. I’m just speaking from my perspective.
BCT was mostly boring for me. We waited a lot. Stood around a lot. Not much physical stuff, just a lot of standing and briefs honestly. Jacks was much more fun though. Again, it’s different for everyone, I just honestly got bored. Not because it was easy, but because we did a LOT of hurry up and wait. Before USAFA, I did well in high school. But everyone at USAFA did. I did the whole AP course load like others. Had a decent ACT score. The whole nine yards. But I also didn’t go to school for two years after high school. I’m not your typical applicant. Disadvantage or advantage? Not sure. But I wouldn’t say my high school resume got me in. At the Academy I’m doing well. It’s only been one semester for me so I don’t think it’s fair to use my class rank as justification for where I line up. But first semester went really well all around for me.
Views on this place are super squad dependent. That’s why my entire perspective should be taken with a grain of salt. Overall everyone has the same opportunities but a squad can have a large impact on how you feel about things overall.
To be completely honest, I had no expectations coming in. I had no idea what to expect or what it was going to be like. I talked to so many people and got so many different stories I eventually just decided I’d make the decision for myself. Academically I’d say I’m working a bit harder than high school. Again though, this is super dependent on what ones high school workload was like. Some people are working way harder. Some about the same.
In terms of what I’m proud of, I guess I’d just say I’m proud of balancing everything. I think I’ve realized that stressing yourself out over low priority things is not worth it. Having good mental health is far better. It is okay to fail. It’s okay to not get everything right. Too many times I’ve seen others drive themselves into the ground for trying to be too perfect. And by fail I don’t mean to get an F. I mean fail your personal standard. If your personal standard is getting and A or B and you end up getting a C…it’s okay. Just keep doing your best and it will work out.
Most stressful thing…I’m not sure. Maybe the responsibilities. There’s just a lot to keep track of sometimes. Stress starts to creep in when you don’t have a plan for it. But if you have a system to keep track of everything and a plan to tackle it, it’s all good.
Helping me get in…probably just showing that I can work hard and can succeed in multiple different environments. I did well in high school but took two gaps years after that. Showed that I developed as a person and leader and that I gained valuable life skills that can’t really be taught in high school. Scores and numbers get you past the eye test, what you do with your knowledge is what helps separate people. I wouldn’t say my scores and numbers did much more than get me past the eye test.
As much as it might seem like I have a social/athletic slant, I’m not a partier. I wouldn’t like ASU or CU. And USAFA offers unique opportunities no where else can deliver. I decided that this is the only chance I get at doing some of these things. Why not explore it now.
Hopefully I answered that all decently. Let me know if you’ve got other questions. Happy to give my perspective. Wouldn’t necessarily say I have answers to questions like these, more so my perspective and why it may be different from others.
Being and IC is tough. I’m not one and wouldn’t want to be. Super busy schedule. Tough to show face in squad and do stuff others have the time to do. Missing school can get you behind on stuff. IC perspective is definitely WAY different. Some things it makes easier. But I’d say most it makes more difficult. Can’t give a perspective on being an IC, but I can say I would not volunteer to be one.
I completely agree with this. As the parent of a 2ndº vying for a job, I am bummed about his rank, due to his MPA, but I, and he, is sure it will all work out.
Thegirlinthefireplace
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Since you mentioned that you aren't a traditional Just Out of High School applicant, you may not have an answer to this, but I'm wondering what other school options you might have been considering (other academies, regular schools) and how you chose between those options. I'm in a very lucky position to have two academies to choose from and am interested in other people's thought processes.
Also, how many clubs do people join? Are the competition teams, like the Robotics club, hard to get into? Is there an application process for clubs?
Thank you so much for your insights!
Also, how many clubs do people join? Are the competition teams, like the Robotics club, hard to get into? Is there an application process for clubs?
Thank you so much for your insights!
Taste_is_Sweet
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Thank you so much for this information! I'm a parent of a kid going in this June. Almost everything about the USAFA is completely new to me, and even though I've read most of last year's handbook for Appointee's, I'm still confused about some things. Currently I really don't understand what the expectations are for parents in I-Day. It's unfortunately not feasible for me to be there much as I'd like to, but I'm really worried that it will be terrible if I'm not. Like, what is the "I-Day Evening Phone Call"? Do the parents need to be in Colorado Springs for it? And how, exactly, is the Appointee supposed to carry their immunization records, Social Security Card, I.D., proof of citizenship etc. outside their backpack? Do they really need to show up with those freaking cleats that keep getting talked about?
Any information you could give would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!
Any information you could give would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!
Honestly I applied to 3 schools. No other academies. It was either USAFA or just normal school. Probably wouldn’t have done ROTC either. Got in to the others (not very competitive) and I took 4 months to decide if I was going to go to USAFA. I was pretty apprehensive. So glad I decided to come though. Can’t speak much on choosing between academies since I never had that dilemma. Most people join 1 club. Not super feasible to join more than one unless they’re seasonal and in different seasons. Some can be really competitive. Some not so much and super chill. Just depends. Not totally sure on robotics as I don’t have any experience with it. Most clubs have some sort of application but it’s pretty low stakes. Nothing to stress about.
Honestly I Day gets a little hyped up in my opinion. Everyone has a different experience though. If hindsight, it’s not a huge deal. Again though, everyone takes it differently. If it wasn’t feasible for my parents to come, I wouldn’t have minded much. In the moment I might have, but looking back it’s really not make or break. Basic is just something to get through in and of itself. We didn’t even get an I Day evening phone call hah. I didn’t even get to send a letter until about a week into basic. But it all worked out. Don’t read too much into the handbook. Get the general things, but don’t stress about everything in it. I Day is a learning experience for everyone, upperclassmen included. In all honesty it’s not that serious to follow everything to a T. The upperclassman are trying to figure stuff out just as much as you are. Have all of your paperwork though that will make it easier. Just toss it in your backpack though. If they need it they’ll ask. They’re going to yell at you for anything. So just have your stuff and it’s all fine. Don’t bring cleats unless you’re a soccer IC or something. You can DM me if you want about I Day but honestly it’s a lot of waiting around and you get yelled at and all but it’s just not that deep. Everyone is learning.
Usafa’27Mom
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I was in your shoes a year ago, and felt just the same! If you can join your state’s parents club, you can find someone to talk to - might help. I had another parent from my son’s high school talk me through everything.
On I-day, you drop your kid off in the morning and won’t see them again. There are things for the parents to do, but it’s not at all necessary you be there. Can you go for parents weekend? You will have even more to do/see then. We did get a phone call, but it was very brief - no need to be close by for that. In fact, our cell service (AT&T) is terrible in CO Springs.
From the cadet perspective, agree with this. State parents club can help, but not for everyone. You should prioritize parents weekend over I Day if you’re debating. Parents weekend is the best time to go for sure.