Decision Time Advice

S

Smalls02

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May 8, 2019
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I just received a call this morning that I have been awarded the principal nomination by my congressman. While I am thrilled, I am also torn about what the right decision is.
During the summer I laid out a plan B that actually came to be more of a second Plan A. I am interested in becoming a doctor and found a school closer to home that fit everything I wanted in a college. They also have an early acceptance partnership with a med school so seniors like myself can be accepted into med school as early as this spring and even be part of an advanced 3+4 program that knocks off a year of undergraduate study. I have the test scores needed for this program but they have not interviewed or accepted students yet.
I have researched the medical option through the academy and have found that it is not the most practical route due to the competitiveness and longer service commitment. If I am correct, attending the academy and using the military to pay for medschool will give me a service commitment into my late 30s, which I may want to serve to but just committing that much of my life when I am 17 doesn't seem wise.
I am also interested in other careers like being a pilot, which would make the most sense to go to the academy for. USAFA has been my dream since middle school and it would be the opportunity of a lifetime. I am really leaning towards the med school path, but I am not 100% sure and I think my decision really comes down to whether or not I absolutely want to be a doctor. I have to let them know by December 2 what my decision is and I have been reaching out to people for advice, but they are non-military so I thought I would reach out on here. I know that at the end of the day it is my decision but I just want to have as much information as I can before I make such a decision. Anything from perspectives on these careers to insight on the academy or whatever else you may have to offer I'd really appreciate it.
 
My congressman. If I decline I still have a nomination, just not a principal nom.
 
Congratulations. You clearly have worked hard while in high school. It is because of your hard work that you have the options you have and the resultant "dilemma."

IF you know you want to be a Doctor over USAF Pilot, I would encourage you to go civilian college and then med school.

You could become a doctor via USAFA, it is not common, but it is done every year. However, it may not be in your control though getting top grades and ranking can skew things in your favor.

You could become a pilot via USAFA. Certainly a regular occurrence for USAFA grads. However, a lot can happen between now and UPT including your physical status, USAF manpower, etc. So, it is not a sure thing.

At USAFA, you could end up without a pilot slot and without Med School due to variables outside your control.

1) Pursue your passion. IF med school is your passion, then do not choose a path that could prevent you from experiencing it because of manpower needs, funding or regulations.

2) Pursue USAFA if your passion is to serve as an USAF Officer. The AFSC you get may be Space Operations, Pilot or Doctor. You have to be passionate about the USAF, Officership and serving first and foremost.

If they are equal passions, then discuss with your mentors and parents and try to determine which one is more important to you.

If you have to make up your mind in a short time and are not sure, I would keep the Principal Nomination to preserve your options. You are a young kid figuring things out so there is no need to rush this significant decision if you don't have to.
 
Others might not agree, but I don't think you sound ready to take your name out of the hat yet. You can go through the entire process and still not receive an appointment and will have lost nothing. You can also, keep your name in the hat, receive an appointment, and still ponder your decision until the May 1st deadline of the other school. I am a school counselor that has worked with many high school students over the last several years. Your thoughts and ideas may very well change over the course of this school year, as reality begins to set in and you begin to get closer to a decision. Give yourself plenty of time by staying in the race until you NEED to decide. Now, is not that time. You need to see ALL of your admissions offers, go visit these places again as an admitted student (either in person or virtually as COVID allows). And THEN make a well thought out decision, based on ALL opportunities. I just don't think you truly know your options yet.

But those are just my thoughts. I'm sure others will answer.
 
Take the principal nom. There's nothing like it.
If all's goes to plan, you'll be offered an cadet slot by April 21st. By that time you'll hopefully know the status of the med program. Then accept or decline one. Good Luck BTW: Is the med program Sophie Davis?
 
Mentor ALO for my DD was a fighter pilot, then became a doctor. He was able to pursue both his dreams with USAF path ( not USAFA). He was a ROTC grad.
 
Wishful said:
Take the principal nom. There's nothing like it.
If all's goes to plan, you'll be offered an cadet slot by April 21st. By that time you'll hopefully know the status of the med program. Then accept or decline one. Good Luck BTW: Is the med program Sophie Davis?
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Thank you and it's actually Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
 
milmomsomeday said:
Others might not agree, but I don't think you sound ready to take your name out of the hat yet. You can go through the entire process and still not receive an appointment and will have lost nothing. You can also, keep your name in the hat, receive an appointment, and still ponder your decision until the May 1st deadline of the other school. I am a school counselor that has worked with many high school students over the last several years. Your thoughts and ideas may very well change over the course of this school year, as reality begins to set in and you begin to get closer to a decision. Give yourself plenty of time by staying in the race until you NEED to decide. Now, is not that time. You need to see ALL of your admissions offers, go visit these places again as an admitted student (either in person or virtually as COVID allows). And THEN make a well thought out decision, based on ALL opportunities. I just don't think you truly know your options yet.

But those are just my thoughts. I'm sure others will answer.
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You are correct, I am not quite ready to remove myself yet, but I was worried that by accepting the nom and possibly declining it later, I would be in the way of another student who absolutely knew they wanted to attend. I am not sure if this maybe changes anything, but when I walked into the interview they told me I had a nomination, I was just interviewing for the principal. Apparently, they had two slots open last year, didn't have a lot of applicants, rolled one over to this year, and decided to use both now even though I heard there were only 4 interviewing for USAFA.
 
@Smalls02 Got it. Keep in mind that programs like these usually have a # of years required to "payback" the program requiring you to work in an "underserved community." That can be anywhere from a poor area in a big city to a rural community. Certainly not a deal breaker but when you mention the 10 years in the AF after med school, there can also be some level of required service by the med school program as well. Also most graduate with a $$$ student loan dept. If your program has the underserved community part, no loan repayment may be required. Obviously, in the AF, after 10 years, no repayment.
 
If/when you decline the nom, your MOC still will have a candidate accepted (if 3Q) so you're not blocking your MOC's candidate.
 
I'd say keep your options open. USAFA will backfill appointments down to I-day, if need be. So, until then, you aren't taking someone's slot.

Now, don't accept an APPOINTMENT if your heart isn't in it. The nomination is different.
 
Wishful said:
@Smalls02 Got it. Keep in mind that programs like these usually have a # of years required to "payback" the program requiring you to work in an "underserved community." That can be anywhere from a poor area in a big city to a rural community. Certainly not a deal breaker but when you mention the 10 years in the AF after med school, there can also be some level of required service by the med school program as well. Also most graduate with a $$$ student loan dept. If your program has the underserved community part, no loan repayment may be required. Obviously, in the AF, after 10 years, no repayment.
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gotta agree here @Smalls02, my father is a doctor who originally went to New Mexico State then ended up going to USAFA. After graduation, he went to the University of Louisville for med school. Obviously, he is serving more time because of it but new benefits from being a USAFA grad show up all the time. I don't wanna really dox myself, but he's the head chair member of several medical organizations, teaches at a university, and still does clinic 3 days a week. Its a lot of work but he doesn't want it any other way, he's doing everything he wanted to do when he first was thinking of career choices. The ability to be in the field working, making impactful decisions on the practice, and teaching people is something that is very hard to find. You could defiantly do something similar without USAFA but it would be hard, you're just so much more qualified in a position when you come from USAFA due to leadership alone. I hope my little bit of insight from the kid of an alumni whos now applying this cycle helps you out.
 
You’re doing some good introspection, which is a great practice, even at your age. But realize that it’s hard for a 27-year-old, much less a 17-year-old, to know what they want out of life.

You’ve thought about being a doctor and being a pilot. What’s less clear is whether you’ve truly asked yourself whether you want to be an officer. Because that’s the only sure outcome of graduating from USAFA. You may or may not get a medical school slot. You may or may not get a pilot slot. But you’ll definitely get an officer’s butter bars. And that’ll be your status for five years at least. Are you OK with that?

One other thing: Don’t let anyone tell you that holding on to your principal nomination or offer of appointment for as long as possible is somehow keeping someone else from attending USAFA. It’s just not true. USAFA will make an offer to whomever they want, your status notwithstanding. Keep all options open for as long as possible. Great rule for life, by the way.
 
PositiveEnergy said:
gotta agree here @Smalls02, my father is a doctor who originally went to New Mexico State then ended up going to USAFA. After graduation, he went to the University of Louisville for med school. Obviously, he is serving more time because of it but new benefits from being a USAFA grad show up all the time. I don't wanna really dox myself, but he's the head chair member of several medical organizations, teaches at a university, and still does clinic 3 days a week. Its a lot of work but he doesn't want it any other way, he's doing everything he wanted to do when he first was thinking of career choices. The ability to be in the field working, making impactful decisions on the practice, and teaching people is something that is very hard to find. You could defiantly do something similar without USAFA but it would be hard, you're just so much more qualified in a position when you come from USAFA due to leadership alone. I hope my little bit of insight from the kid of an alumni whos now applying this cycle helps you out.
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Definitely helpful. Thank you!
 
MidCakePa said:
You’re doing some good introspection, which is a great practice, even at your age. But realize that it’s hard for a 27-year-old, much less a 17-year-old, to know what they want out of life.

You’ve thought about being a doctor and being a pilot. What’s less clear is whether you’ve truly asked yourself whether you want to be an officer. Because that’s the only sure outcome of graduating from USAFA. You may or may not get a medical school slot. You may or may not get a pilot slot. But you’ll definitely get an officer’s butter bars. And that’ll be your status for five years at least. Are you OK with that?

One other thing: Don’t let anyone tell you that holding on to your principal nomination or offer of appointment for as long as possible is somehow keeping someone else from attending USAFA. It’s just not true. USAFA will make an offer to whomever they want, your status notwithstanding. Keep all options open for as long as possible. Great rule for life, by the way.
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I completely understand what you’re saying and my main focus is to become an officer. I am open to exploring other careers but these two have just been my top choices.
 
ABSOLUTELY accept the nom. There is a built in process here, that allows for somone like you, because it’s not uncommon for a 17 yr old HS student to not be ready to decide. And it’s also why a slate is presented.

If you “accept” the nomination, and ultimately don’t attend (via your own choice, or some other thing like a medical DQ. You do still have to be deemed qualified by the SA to be offered an appointment), the remaining slate is considered.
This isn’t all on you...December 2nd rolls around, doesn’t mean you are appointed necessarily. And if you aren’t ultimately, by your choice or theirs, the rest of the slate has a chance. No big deal.

So take that stress off your shoulders. I would advise anyone, my own included, to be excited and say “yes”. Then spend time figuring out what path you want to peruse. And BTW, it’s perfectly NORMAL to not know at this point. I always advise talking to trusted adults, who really know you, about where they see you. Counselors. Pastors. Teachers. Coaches. More than parents who see their kiddos though their parenting lenses (and can have their own desires for where they want to see their kiddos). It’s also not uncommon for a 17/18 yr old to change their mind along the way. There is a TON of growth and self awareness that happens especially during that first year away from home...it’s not uncommon to decide a different path.

Another thing to keep in mind, at a SA, you have 2 years to “decide” if you are on the right path. You can walk away without further commitment up until your “junior” year.

Accept the nom, and continue to figure it all out. And congrats!! I had one principal nom son appointed early in November, and one regular nom son put on the NWL, pulled off late May. The principal early November was way less stressful. You are in a very good situation!!
 
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