Falcon Visitation Experience (2019)

I

Innervi

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Oct 8, 2019
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Anyone here attending the FVE Oct. 30 - Nov. 03? I was just invited yesterday to attend and was wondering if any other candidates here are planning on going. I’m kinda sad because I will miss my SAT subject tests on Nov. 02.

If I get invited for the FVE is there a strong chance I will be accepted into USAFA? Anyone have experience with FVE? Thanks guys I’m new here
 
DD went 09/25-28/2019. Her email said there would be 2 groups of 30 this year. I'm assuming that means current candidates, cannot say for certain about the 30 juniors and LEAD invited in prior years.

Fly in on Wed early AM; wait around and then shuttle to USAFA about 5 hours later;
Attend class
Swim as part of Triathlon club workout
Went to some PT but didn't end up doing the CFA
Hung out with cadre, but they were on lockdown
***They could NOT accept the treats (unlike CVW and USMMA trip) and specifically, we bought Trader Joe's cheddar rockets, neopolitan joe's, butterscotch caramels, and some white candy bar with gummy bears jammed into it. Approx $15.00.
Went to football game and tailgate.
DD went on and on and on some more about gliders, parachuting, and drones.
Simulators of some sort
Interesting lectures
Really, a bunch of USAFA-y stuff, they chocked it full with a 3 page itinerary when you get there
This is a terrible list. I am not doing it justice. If any candidates want to report, please do so.
Everyone up at 4am and on the shuttle back to DEN on Sat!
I would be shocked if you came back and said, not my first choice! They do a excellent job with this program.

Ok, what we really want to know!

They did meet with their respective admissions counselors, maybe 10 mins each. It's not going to the program that gets you picked, they are picking you because they see something very likely to get you admitted, along with "...adding intangible value to the USAF mission...." DD said they told them: SAT Math, congressional district, liklihood to get a nom, and something else but she couldn't remember. I know, WHAT WAS THAT???!!!! Oh well, she then went on, and on, and on, and on.....about her experience, saying "stop interrupting, I don't know what else...now listen to this!".....parachute this, that, and on and on....

She really learned a lot and enjoyed her visit.
 
Last edited:
HCopter said:
DD went 09/25-28/2019. Her email said there would be 2 groups of 30 this year. I'm assuming that means current candidates, cannot say for certain about the 30 juniors and LEAD invited in prior years.

Fly in on Wed early AM; wait around and then shuttle to USAFA about 5 hours later;
Attend class
Swim as part of Triathlon club workout
Went to some PT but didn't end up doing the CFA
Hung out with cadre, but they were on lockdown
***They could NOT accept the treats (unlike CVW and USMMA trip) and specifically, we bought Trader Joe's cheddar rockets, neopolitan joe's, butterscotch caramels, and some white candy bar with gummy bears jammed into it. Approx $15.00.
Went to football game and tailgate.
DD went on and on and on some more about gliders, parachuting, and drones.
Simulators of some sort
Interesting lectures
Really, a bunch of USAFA-y stuff, they chocked it full with a 3 page itinerary when you get there
This is a terrible list. I am not doing it justice. If any candidates want to report, please do so.
Everyone up at 4am and on the shuttle back to DEN on Sat!
I would be shocked if you came back and said, not my first choice! They do a excellent job with this program.

Ok, what we really want to know!

They did meet with their respective admissions counselors, maybe 10 mins each. It's not going to the program that gets you picked, they are picking you because they see something very likely to get you admitted, along with "...adding intangible value to the USAF mission...." DD said they told them: SAT Math, congressional district, liklihood to get a nom, and something else but she couldn't remember. I know, WHAT WAS THAT???!!!! Oh well, she then went on, and on, and on, and on.....about her experience, saying "stop interrupting, I don't know what else...now listen to this!".....parachute this, that, and on and on....

She really learned a lot and enjoyed her visit.
Click to expand...
Oh wow sounds like your DD had tons of fun! I am excited now haha. But wow I didn’t know they only selected 60 candidates in total?! I didn’t know it was that selective even when they mentioned they only offer it to competitive applicants. Thank you for the information!
 
Just because you attend FVE is NOT an assurance of an appointment. These visits are set up to target candidates who "fit the profile" of what they are looking for. Many who attend FVE are denied an appointment, and many who don't attend DO receive an appointment.

Consider it an outreach/marketing program to raise awareness among certain groups of high achieving students.
 
OOPS!
I should have been more clear:
Selection to FVE is not a silver bullet to admissions. You are selected b/c they see something that catches their attention. That is all. They also don't prescreen for medical or passing CFA.

BRING WARM CLOTHING/LAYERS!
FYI - DD brought her sleeping bag and used it as a pillow. They had a sleeping bag for her. It's not on the packing list, and one of those things we went over and over before just putting it at the bottom of her carry on.
 
AROTC-dad said:
Just because you attend FVE is NOT an assurance of an appointment. These visits are set up to target candidates who "fit the profile" of what they are looking for. Many who attend FVE are denied an appointment, and many who don't attend DO receive an appointment.

Consider it an outreach/marketing program to raise awareness among certain groups of high achieving students.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information. Someone I know from California told me that when he asked his advising ALO about FVE he was told that his district does not qualify for the visit. Can you explain to me what that means and why his district wouldn’t qualify?
 
Innervi said:
Thank you for the information. Someone I know from California told me that when he asked his advising ALO about FVE he was told that his district does not qualify for the visit. Can you explain to me what that means and why his district wouldn’t qualify?
Click to expand...

As @AROTC-dad indicated, FVE is one of the programs that SAs utilizes to reach out to target groups of potential applicants. The specific criteria is not published and will change accounting to the current needs of each SA, but the goal is to reach out to groups that are under-represented at the academy and to spark interest from members of that group in attending the academy. This district in CA may have high historical application rates or does not align with the current targets for this outreach program.

One should not equate ability to attend FVE (or any other outreach program) with potential competitiveness when applying to the academy.
 
Go! Go! Go! This one is even more special. USAFA vs. USMA game. Dedication of the Airfield (finally). Lot's of brass and tradition. Go! Go! Go!
 
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