usafcellist2026
MSU AFROTC '26
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Curious as to what the difference is between receiving a Falcon Foundation scholarship and an appointment to the USAFA Prep School.
Falcon Foundation vs USAFA Prep School
- Thread starter usafcellist2026
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1) Both are considered golden tickets into the following USAFA Admissions cycle. Being offered either would be AMAZING!
2) FFS recipients tend to have a choice in schools to attend vs USAFA P-school is where it is
3) USAFA P-school attendees are paid a salary
4) Given the proximity to USAFA main campus, USAFA P-school attendees have significantly more exposure to USAFA cadet life
5) USAFA P-school attendees are able to acclimate to altitude
6) USAFA P-school is a full two semesters vs. FFS to Northwest Prep is 1 semester and most choose to go to community college near home during 2nd semester.
2) FFS recipients tend to have a choice in schools to attend vs USAFA P-school is where it is
3) USAFA P-school attendees are paid a salary
4) Given the proximity to USAFA main campus, USAFA P-school attendees have significantly more exposure to USAFA cadet life
5) USAFA P-school attendees are able to acclimate to altitude
6) USAFA P-school is a full two semesters vs. FFS to Northwest Prep is 1 semester and most choose to go to community college near home during 2nd semester.
Dad_2024
DS - USAFA c/o 2025
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Adding some clarity, FFS is a partial scholarship to one of up to five different prep schools, each with some similarities and some differences. It is referred to as "sponsored prep". Anywhere from 60-100 FFS recipients each cycle. The earlier an FFS is offered, the more choices you have available. Arguably, the lion's share of FFS recipients select Northwestern Prep (NWP). It is an OUTSTANDING program with a very high appointment rate. NWP is one semester with them and the Spring semester at college of your choice. The other four independent prep schools (NMMI, RMC, GMC and MMI) are a typical Fall through Spring academic year where you live there. My '25 DS selected NWP. Here's a link to Falcon Foundation's website where the 5 prep schools are listed and links to each school's website: https://www.falconfoundation.org/PrepSchools
The scholarship pays 50% tuition at the selected prep school, the school provides a scholarship of 25%, leaving the remaining 25% for candidate (candidate's family) to pay. You don't have to be an FFS recipient to attend these schools, you can apply as a "free agent" where you're not sponsored by USAFA. The private prep schools have sponsored and free-agent candidates attending for all of the service academies.
Receiving an FFS or USAFA Prep School (USAFAPS) offer are both considered a golden ticket to an appointment the following year. Either is an offer that falls into the "up to you to lose" category. It's my understanding admissions offers one or the other. Perhaps there have been offers of both to the same candidate. There is not a separate application process, all candidates are selected from the current years pool of USAFA applicants. I've read here on SAF that USAFAPS is heavy on recruited athletes and prior enlisted. It is located on USAFA base, but is an entirely separate facility and space than USAFA.
hopefull2022
usafa/uscga 26' applicant
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I have heard that strong academic candidates don’t qualify for this, is this correct?
Dad_2024
DS - USAFA c/o 2025
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While academics is only one component of the "whole candidate score". I would suppose the stronger a candidate's academics are, say 1400+ on SAT and/or 33+ on ACT the less likely they would be selected for sponsored prep. For my DS, his GPA, SAT and ACT scores fairly resemble the '25 class average. His CFA was strong in some areas but room for improvement in others (especially the run). His leadership, life experience, essays and interviews were pretty strong, he was also PPQ and fluent in a critical language, so I assume admissions saw the potential and offered him the opportunity to prove he can make the cut by sending him to NWP so he can polish up the academics and build some additional physical strengths for the CFA.
hopefull2022
usafa/uscga 26' applicant
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I got a 1460(770m) on my sat and in my nomination interviews they all said they didn’t think I’d qualify for prep school. But I’m still not confident that I’ll get an appointment. So I’m was wondering if I don’t get an appointment is it pretty much done for me?
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Academically, you would appear to have a solid background. The SAT is in a range I consider comfortable -- should you for some reason not be selected for a SA, the SAT score will NOT be the reason. We lack context as to the rest of your resume, but academics look solid.
Overall, understand that we are very early in the admissions cycle. It is common for recruited athletes to receive appointment offers early to ensure they commit to the school and not another offering a similar full-ride offer elsewhere. In some situations, early offers are critical. However, the vast VAST majority of applicants are not considered time sensative and will range between now and the end of May.
Considering your strong academic record, I too would agree you are not a candidate for prep. In general, prep students need help in the academic side of their application and that year is intended to get them up to speed to ensure they can be successful at the school. Applicants who have already have a strong academic record would be successful anywhere they went - even if that meant traditional college for a year before reapplying.
It is VERY IMPORTANT for applicants to realize that prep school IS NOT A WAITING LIST or a CONSOLATION PRIZE for Service Academy admissions. Prep Schools serve a very important purpose to build up student academic performance. Attendees are mostly athletic recruits, but there are also plenty of prior enlisted members who could be several years removed from formal education and are in need of a refresher.
It is pretty rare to individuals considered "qualified for direct admissions" but did not make the cut-line (~1400 in WCS rank order) being offered a prep school slot instead of direct admission.
A bit surprising that the prep school would be brought up during your MOC interview (given your apparent academic strength). Bear in mind that if you are nominated even if you don't win the slate, you can still receive an appointment. You are in the hunt until you are not in the hunt. And, last year and in other cycles, there were USAFA candidates who reported (here) that they initially received a TWE and later received appointments - so while realism is appropriate (an approximate 10% acceptance rate), pessimism is not warranted. Having said that, your academics seem to limit any significant likelihood of being sent to the Prep School. But, if you aren't appointed this cycle, unless you are aged out, there are other opportunities to improve yourself and apply as a college re-applicant. It isn't "done" unless you decide it is "done" for you. Good luck!
My DS is a 27 @ USAFA. He prepped last year at RMA and it was an excellent experience. During BCT I heard that the USAFAPS and the FFS from all of the schools had a little easier time because of their experience. In fact he said the PT at RMA was harder than what he experiences at USAFA.