Gauging my chances and a question I couldn't find an answer for in the search

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Feb 17, 2016
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I'm going to start with the question I'm still unsure about. This way not everyone has to read the questions about my chances. Sorry this post is so long.

I had completed everything in my file, but didn't have my last optional recommendation letter until about three weeks ago. I wanted to turn them all in at once. They refused to fax. I emailed my counselor with them and he said he would put them on my file. Last week my portal was updated and they're listed as received and reviewed. If that was added to my portal, does that mean my file hasn't been reviewed by the selection committee yet? Are the constantly reviewed each time it changes? Could my selection composite already be set and they just added it because it got turned in?

Now that that's out of the way, I'm going to do the standard listing of my stats and ask for some opinions on what you think my chances of appointment are.

School:
GPA: 3.76 unweighted 4.03 weighted (in hindsight I should have done more homework)
Class rank: 36/183 (not the best, I know, but maybe the handful of AP classes will help)

On a side note I graduated in 2014. I went to college for a year (SPSU 3.03 gpa)
I didn't really feel any motivation where I was. I put even less effort into it. Honestly. I'm a completely different person now than I was a year ago. However, it's kind of hard to show the academy that. I'm not going to make excuses about it though; it was my own fault. Sadly, they have that transcript too.

Test Scores:

SAT Critical Reading/Evidence Based Reading and Writing: 640
SAT Math: 690
SAT Writing: 590
ACT English: <22>**
ACT Math: 27
ACT Reading: 32
ACT SR: 27

(I also want to ask about the sad 22 on the ACT. I know they'll clearly take the SAT scores, but could my ACT scores be holding me back since one of them isn't competitive even if my sat scores are all above average?)

Athletics:
4 varsity letters in cross country
2 varsity letters in track (maybe 3 I don't remember anymore) maybe the
1 varsity letter in soccer

CFA
BT: 74ft
Pull Ups: 14
SR: 8.54s
Sit Ups: 87
Push Ups: 68
Mile: 6:03

My extracurricular composite should be good. I was heavily involved with FBLA in high school (president of the school's chapter for a while, state competitions, and the like). I also helped run a stall at a few relay for life walks and helped manage two march of dimes events through FBLA. I also manage about 30 people at work right now, but I'm not sure if that would be counted in the extracurricular composite or selection committee...or at all, I guess.

I think my selection composite should be solid as well. My ALO emailed me after turning in his stuff and said "I have to say that it is one of my best products in a long time."...I'm not 100% sure he wasn't just saying that to make me feel better. I think the interview went well, but I'm a white male. The only diversity points I'm going to score are for being from a poor area and maybe divorced parents/single parent home.

I'm not sure how my academic composite will turn out. My sat scores are just above the average for the last entering class and seem alright to me. I wish I had put more effort into my GPA though. Then that year at college probably doesn't look great. Any chance they would take the view of my high school performance over my college performance? They take consideration for increasing performance at the college level from high school. There's nothing I can do about it now though.

I'm super nervous about this whole thing. I've done a lot of looking over everything I can find. I've spent some time checking these forums for a few months and have looked over everything the USAFA has given me. Here's a mildly helpful link that's not really hard to find, but I've been trying to measure myself against. I'm posting all of this to help calm my nerves by talking about it with someone. Even if it's not in my favor I just want to know everything that I can about where I stand and a lot of the people here have much more experience with this than I do.

Wow, you made it to the end. Thanks for reading with us today. Come back next month to see how our story unfolds, but leave a comment first.
 
I'm assuming you have a nomination, but any details on who it's from (Prez/VP/MOC/Senator), because a Principal nom could really help.
 
I'm assuming you have a nomination, but any details on who it's from (Prez/VP/MOC/Senator), because a Principal nom could really help.
I got MOC nomination (Georgia, district 14), but they do competitive nominations. No principal nominations here, just another layer of anticipation.
 
At this point, why does it matter what anyone on here thinks about your application? The only people that know are the admissions committee... At this point your application is completely done and you just have to play the waiting game. Good luck!
 
At this point, why does it matter what anyone on here thinks about your application? The only people that know are the admissions committee... At this point your application is completely done and you just have to play the waiting game. Good luck!
I know. I just want some kind of insight as to where I stand in the national pool from people who've been looking at applicant numbers longer than I have.
 
I will be frank, IMHO your chances of admissions are very slim. Your high school GPA and test scores are average at best and a 3.03 in college (SPSU ranked 250 of US engineering schools) does not show any improvement. In fact is shows lack of motivation and commitment. Sorry, not necessarily what you wanted to hear.

I hope I am totally wrong. I wish you the best of luck.
 
I will be frank, IMHO your chances of admissions are very slim. Your high school GPA and test scores are average at best and a 3.03 in college (SPSU ranked 250 of US engineering schools) does not show any improvement. In fact is shows lack of motivation and commitment. Sorry, not necessarily what you wanted to hear.

I hope I am totally wrong. I wish you the best of luck.
It's alright. This probably helped the most with my nerves so far.
 
Please remember that it's not over until you have a rejection in hand! Until then, you still have a chance. Also, if you really would like to pursue the Air Force officer path, there's always ROTC (with or without scholarship) and other avenues as well. USAFA is one opportunity out of several, so don't give up on your dream just because one door closes.
 
Please remember that it's not over until you have a rejection in hand! Until then, you still have a chance. Also, if you really would like to pursue the Air Force officer path, there's always ROTC (with or without scholarship) and other avenues as well. USAFA is one opportunity out of several, so don't give up on your dream just because one door closes.
I've been considering a lot of alternatives. It's really motivational to get a nomination only to look at the numbers that get cut after that point. I knew going into this that it would be a small chance that I get in; I didn't really expect to get as far as I have.
 
Although it's the exception rather than the norm, I know a MIDN who got appointed to USNA 3 days before I-Day!!! Just a little tidbit that serves as a hope-spark.
 
What ClimberGirl says above is great advice. Your ALO said "I have to say that it is one of my best products in a long time."...
I have no idea as why anyone would say your chances are slim, no one knows. I will say they will go by your SAT scores over your ACT scores, however the Academy looks at the WCS.
It probably all comes down to how competitive you are in your MOC district. Best of luck to you! Stay positive. We all are just waiting now.
 
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Frankly, no one on here can assess your 'chances' with anything more than wild guesses (good or bad). If you haven't gotten the TWE, you are still in the running just like everyone else who applied and is 3Q with a NOM. Since none of us will ever interview you, we have no idea how well you did in your MOC interview or what your teacher recommendations may say. SA's consider far more then just your standardized test scores.
 
Please remember that it's not over until you have a rejection in hand! Until then, you still have a chance. Also, if you really would like to pursue the Air Force officer path, there's always ROTC (with or without scholarship) and other avenues as well. USAFA is one opportunity out of several, so don't give up on your dream just because one door closes.
I agree with "goforspaatz." It's not over until its over. There are so many arbitrary factors at this point - appointees who don't or can't accept, medical issues, etc. and then there's the needs of the Academy and what each candidate can bring to form a well-rounded class and the slots they need to fill. I know it's difficult, we've been at it for a year now. Just keep pressing forward until you've exhausted every avenue and have your back-up plans. Good luck!
 
I always find it a little humorous when I see the "how are my chances" post. No one, including ALOs, can tell you definitively if you will get an appointment. You can get educated guesses, but unless someone can read the minds of the admissions people, no one really knows. There are just too many factors. Maybe your grades suffered because there was some tragedy in your family or there was was underlying hardship you have to overcome. Maybe you are in a district where only a handful of people applied and your credentials are better than theirs. Maybe, maybe, maybe ...

I do know a couple of things for a fact:
1) If you don't apply, you won't get an appointment.
2) If you've made it this far, you're still in the running.

Hang in there! It's only going to get more nerve-wracking for the next couple of months.
 
@GA-14classof2020app I agree with what everyone here has said. It is not over until it is over and everyone has a chance until that TWE. etc, etc. One of the advantages of an anonymous forum is you can say anything on your mind and no one knows who you are. I just wrote what I felt, from what you posted. All too often posters just blow smoke. But, no one here is on the admissions board, no one here can tell you with any certainty that you will get in or you will be rejected. We do know that if you don't apply you have zero chance.

I don't know you, never spoke with you and I just know what you wrote. What I see is a very smart kid. You got 690 on your math SAT. But, I also see a kid that under achieves. 3.7 gpa in high school and 3.0 your first semester in college. You got those grades with very little effort. You skated by. If you worked even a little bit you could be that straight A student. You even say it here "I didn't really feel any motivation where I was. I put even less effort into it. Honestly. I'm a completely different person now than I was a year ago. However, it's kind of hard to show the academy that. I'm not going to make excuses about it though; it was my own fault. Sadly, they have that transcript too." You are the one that needs to motivate yourself. Work hard and be the best you can be. If you do that good things will happen. Since you are "a completely different person now" use that to excel. Keep your options open. Always look for opportunities. You can be successful if you put in the work.

Getting your application completed and getting that nomination is an accomplishment. I truly wish you the best of luck. I hope you get into the SA of your choice, because the new you can succeed.
 
Thanks. I agree completely; I was terribly apathetic as a highschool student and worse a year ago, but a year in the real world has done good for my work ethic. Just going to keep trying to get in and the alternatives. Hopefully everything works out well.
 
Thank you, and if I get it I'll be letting everyone know. I mean, friends and family first, but I'll be back here...successful or not
 
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