Difficult District and Medical Disqualification

CCE

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Jan 11, 2021
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Good Evening, I have been consuming a lot of this forum, but I decided it was about time I posted a question myself.

So I've received a Nomination to USAFA from a particularly hard district (700+ Applicants in CO-01), and been served a Medical Disqualification. I have noticed many people of this forum citing that March, particularly March 10th, is a big date for Appointments. However, it is my understanding that USAFA will not Appoint without a final Medical Determination. With this in mind, I have two questions:

1. The Academy has not requested a waiver on my behalf. Does this mean that I am losing out on Appointment Opportunities? The longer I wait for a waiver, do my chances decrease significantly?

2. Since I am in a competitive district, is going to be substantially more difficult for me to achieve an Appointment? I understand that there are other at-large appointment opportunities, but what are the odds I receive one of those compared to an appointment based off of my MOC?

Thank you for anyone who can help.
 
1. If the Academy has not requested medical waiver on your behalf, medical is not your issue.
2. As you state, the competition is stiff. If Admissions deemed you "competitive for an offer of appointment," they would have requested you be considered for a medical waiver from the USAFA medical team.
3. You can't be appointed to USAFA without a medical waiver.:(
 
1. If the Academy has not requested medical waiver on your behalf, medical is not your issue.
2. As you state, the competition is stiff. If Admissions deemed you "competitive for an offer of appointment," they would have requested you be considered for a medical waiver from the USAFA medical team.
3. You can't be appointed to USAFA without a medical waiver.:(
If we are to be accepted this year, would a waiver likely have been requested already? Or will that be learned when a "big drop" of appointments happens?
 
If we are to be accepted this year, would a waiver likely have been requested already? Or will that be learned when a "big drop" of appointments happens?
I believe what the great Mr. Mullen was trying to explain is that a medical waiver would have already been requested by Admissions for those candidates they are planning to offer an appointment to and those they're taking a close look at.

For my DS's first time as a candidate he had a med DQ and no waiver requested by USAFA. He had a great plan B that year which became his plan A, there was no activity on his portal until mid-late April when he received his TWE. So be prepared with a good plan B.

If you're from a difficult, competitive district and received a nom, that is great news and should fuel your optimism for next year. Many medical conditions are waivable. Research the reason for your DQ, it's possible something was missed or additional information could clear it up.
 
I believe what the great Mr. Mullen was trying to explain is that a medical waiver would have already been requested by Admissions for those candidates they are planning to offer an appointment to and those they're taking a close look at.

For my DS's first time as a candidate he had a med DQ and no waiver requested by USAFA. He had a great plan B that year which became his plan A, there was no activity on his portal until mid-late April when he received his TWE. So be prepared with a good plan B.

If you're from a difficult, competitive district and received a nom, that is great news and should fuel your optimism for next year. Many medical conditions are waivable. Research the reason for your DQ, it's possible something was missed or additional information could clear it up.
For me, I'm medically DQ'd for eyesight.

I have a 99th% SAT, 4.0 GPA from the highest ranked highschool in the state, curriculum including many AP's (all 5's) and Honors Courses, Executive Staff of my Local CAP Squadron, and 2x State Champion and 3 Sport Varsity Athlete, and 10+ hours PIC and Ground school completed toward my pilots license. I've also published my own app to the App Store, and I can write in 10+ coding languages.

My question, at this point, is where did I go wrong? Why am I at this point where I didn't even make the cut for a Medical Waiver Request? Do you know where I could find out what didn't work? I understand that your DS got an Appointment this year (BIG CONGRATS, btw), so something must have gone right... I would love to hear the process of that transition.

As to your point of having a plan B, I've been offered a couple of sizeable scholarships to some really great schools, but, as you can imagine, USAFA is the dream.

I appreciate your insight.
 
For me, I'm medically DQ'd for eyesight.

I have a 99th% SAT, 4.0 GPA from the highest ranked highschool in the state, curriculum including many AP's (all 5's) and Honors Courses, Executive Staff of my Local CAP Squadron, and 2x State Champion and 3 Sport Varsity Athlete, and 10+ hours PIC and Ground school completed toward my pilots license. I've also published my own app to the App Store, and I can write in 10+ coding languages.

My question, at this point, is where did I go wrong? Why am I at this point where I didn't even make the cut for a Medical Waiver Request? Do you know where I could find out what didn't work? I understand that your DS got an Appointment this year (BIG CONGRATS, btw), so something must have gone right... I would love to hear the process of that transition.

As to your point of having a plan B, I've been offered a couple of sizeable scholarships to some really great schools, but, as you can imagine, USAFA is the dream.

I appreciate your insight.
Your best bet for insight, will be from USAFA. Should you ultimately receive a TWE this cycle. It’s not clear from your post whether that’s happened. And if it hasn’t arrived, you are still in the game.

On paper, you sound great. But to asses ‘where you went wrong’ is impossible. We don’t know your interviewing skills. Or how your evaluations went. Or anything about anyone else on your slate. There is more to an appointment than your academics.

Should you receive a TWE, it’s recommended to reach out to USAFA and inquire. Perhaps your medical DQ isn’t waiverable? No idea. But knowing from them, will help you prepare for round 2. Lots of info on how to best prepare to reapply, on USAFA’s site, as well as here (check the sticky tabs for reapplicants).

Until you receive that TWE, you are in the game. My youngest was pulled off a very small wait list in later May. It happens. He was well into plan B.

Hang in there.
 
For me, I'm medically DQ'd for eyesight.

I have a 99th% SAT, 4.0 GPA from the highest ranked highschool in the state, curriculum including many AP's (all 5's) and Honors Courses, Executive Staff of my Local CAP Squadron, and 2x State Champion and 3 Sport Varsity Athlete, and 10+ hours PIC and Ground school completed toward my pilots license. I've also published my own app to the App Store, and I can write in 10+ coding languages.

My question, at this point, is where did I go wrong? Why am I at this point where I didn't even make the cut for a Medical Waiver Request? Do you know where I could find out what didn't work? I understand that your DS got an Appointment this year (BIG CONGRATS, btw), so something must have gone right... I would love to hear the process of that transition.

As to your point of having a plan B, I've been offered a couple of sizeable scholarships to some really great schools, but, as you can imagine, USAFA is the dream.

I appreciate your insight.
I've got to know where this ranking of high schools comes from. Most of the people on here think they go to the most competitive school in their state.
 
I've got to know where this ranking of high schools comes from. Most of the people on here think they go to the most competitive school in their state.
Well I know I don't go to the most difficult one, that's the school 15 minutes from me. I just go to the one by a major military base.
 
@Korab I too wonder. I look at US New's national rankings.

@CCE , the short answer is you did nothing wrong, and everything right from the stats provided.

@TheRightStuff is yet again right on - ask your ALO. Your STATED stats are awesome, but only 1/2. Essays, rec, CFA and the extra USAFA selection score (if it exists, not saying yes or no) no one here can know. Plus no waiver = no waiver yet. No waiver is not yet equal to TWE. But if someone started a poll of whether you will get a waiver or not, i'd pick no, and would love to be proved wrong. Don't despair, but definitely start Plan B, C, D-ing which sounds like you have excellent options.
 
For me, I'm medically DQ'd for eyesight.

I have a 99th% SAT, 4.0 GPA from the highest ranked highschool in the state, curriculum including many AP's (all 5's) and Honors Courses, Executive Staff of my Local CAP Squadron, and 2x State Champion and 3 Sport Varsity Athlete, and 10+ hours PIC and Ground school completed toward my pilots license. I've also published my own app to the App Store, and I can write in 10+ coding languages.

My question, at this point, is where did I go wrong? Why am I at this point where I didn't even make the cut for a Medical Waiver Request? Do you know where I could find out what didn't work? I understand that your DS got an Appointment this year (BIG CONGRATS, btw), so something must have gone right... I would love to hear the process of that transition.

As to your point of having a plan B, I've been offered a couple of sizeable scholarships to some really great schools, but, as you can imagine, USAFA is the dream.

I appreciate your insight.
The question is, how bad is your eyesight? If it’s bad enough, it not waiverable. And they know that just by looking at your numbers. No remedial or further review required.
 
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The question is, how bad is your eyesight? If it’s bad enough, it not waiverable. And they know that just by looking at your numbers. No remedial or further review required.
I mean, I am correctable to 20/20... How bad would it have to be to be uncorrectable. Would my ALO know if this where the case?
 
I mean, I am correctable to 20/20... How bad would it have to be to be uncorrectable. Would my ALO know if this where the case?
correctable to 20/20 isn't the determining factor. What's your prescription, including the cylinder. Your ALO is very unlikely to have informed knowledge on the eye requirements and disqualifications.
 
Your best bet for insight, will be from USAFA. Should you ultimately receive a TWE this cycle. It’s not clear from your post whether that’s happened. And if it hasn’t arrived, you are still in the game.

On paper, you sound great. But to asses ‘where you went wrong’ is impossible. We don’t know your interviewing skills. Or how your evaluations went. Or anything about anyone else on your slate. There is more to an appointment than your academics.

Should you receive a TWE, it’s recommended to reach out to USAFA and inquire. Perhaps your medical DQ isn’t waiverable? No idea. But knowing from them, will help you prepare for round 2. Lots of info on how to best prepare to reapply, on USAFA’s site, as well as here (check the sticky tabs for reapplicants).

Until you receive that TWE, you are in the game. My youngest was pulled off a very small wait list in later May. It happens. He was well into plan B.

Hang in there.
I have not received a TWE yet, just haven't gotten a Medical Waiver Requested. If I do receive a TWE, can I directly ask admission?
 
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