Falcon Foundation Scholarship Trends

craiyan2

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Apr 18, 2016
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Hi- I was looking into the FFS, and I was wondering how the foundation chooses its scholars. Obviously they don't pick the next hundred that didn't make it to the Academy. I'm guessing the trend is that they pick people with good gpa's and ec's but have a lower test scores on ACT/SAT.


If anyone that has been part of the program and can post their stats, that would be great.

Thanks.
 
I'm a little confused when you say "Obviously they don't pick the next hundred that didn't make it to the Academy". What led you to this conclusion? According to the website, this is the process for the Falcon Foundation in regards to its scholarship winners:
"Young people are automatically eligible for a Falcon Scholarship by first applying to USAFA. The USAFA Office of Admissions then identifies potential recipients of the Falcon Foundation scholarship from a pool of direct entry applicants who are qualified, but not competitive for entering the next class at USAFA. Those applicants who are deemed qualified but not competitive are rank ordered and contacted for consideration of a Falcon Foundation Scholarship." http://www.usafa.org/FalconFoundation/About
While I do not know of the exact criteria, this is how it is done according to the source itself.
 
One of the prep school heads to me that FFS are not the next sixty on the waiting list.
 
One of the prep school heads to me that FFS are not the next sixty on the waiting list.
First, USAFA does not have a waitlist. It's simply an offer of appointment or no offer of appointment (although the time you may wait to hear back differs greatly among individuals). USAFA selects candidates that are both qualified and competitive, while those not selected are not competitive for an appointment.
This is the pool the Falcon Foundation has to choose from, and (from what I understand on their website) they "rack and stack" them from this point. Realistically, they are not going to choose someone from the bottom of their list or arbitrarily pick a person strictly based on the high GPA/average test scores combination. There are many other factors that go into each candidate's ranking, such as leadership experience and ECs. This is reflective of the whole person concept, similar to how USAFA chooses its appointees. I'm not sure anyone outside of the Falcon Foundation has the specific formula, nor do I believe that analyzing it is worth the effort. But again, there IS a method to their madness, which is why/how candidates are "rank ordered" for the scholarship opportunity.
 
First, USAFA does not have a waitlist. It's simply an offer of appointment or no offer of appointment (although the time you may wait to hear back differs greatly among individuals). USAFA selects candidates that are both qualified and competitive, while those not selected are not competitive for an appointment.
This is the pool the Falcon Foundation has to choose from, and (from what I understand on their website) they "rack and stack" them from this point. Realistically, they are not going to choose someone from the bottom of their list or arbitrarily pick a person strictly based on the high GPA/average test scores combination. There are many other factors that go into each candidate's ranking, such as leadership experience and ECs. This is reflective of the whole person concept, similar to how USAFA chooses its appointees. I'm not sure anyone outside of the Falcon Foundation has the specific formula, nor do I believe that analyzing it is worth the effort. But again, there IS a method to their madness, which is why/how candidates are "rank ordered" for the scholarship opportunity.
I really believe this is true. I went to prep with 28 other Falcons last semester and it seemed like each person had some really unique quality, skill, or backstory that made them different from everyone else.
 
As a FFS from last year, I completely agree. There is not set formula. Some falcons have really high tests scores but mediocre GPA, some have high GPA, low test scores. Some are "perfect" candidates in all areas excluding academics. Some are "perfect" in academics but didn't pass their CFA or lacked extracurriculars. From my understanding out of the 60 chosen each year, everyone has a different package, but every package was the "whole person" concept they were looking for with maybe a little something missing that made that person not receive a direct entry. Honestly, we tried to figure it out by asking fellow FFS about their resumes or backgrounds, but for the most part there was not an obvious specific trend. Each FFS just happens to stand out for some reason when they are picked. That being said whatever method they use to pick FFS recipients must be a good one because FFS cadets go on to do exceptionally well at USAFA. So congrats to this years FFS recipients because "the best is yet to come"
 
Read somewhere on the AOG/FF web site that, as a subgroup, Falcons have the highest 4 year completion/grad rate at USAFA! So their selection criteria are in a way producing better results, as a %, than the standard direct admission! Gotta love those FFS!!
Go HaleyM!!
 
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