Having to retake the CFA

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Wooda

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Dec 10, 2023
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Does anyone know how detrimental it is to your application if you fail the first CFA and have to do a retake?
For reference: I did max/above average on my first test except for the mile which was apparently outside of their acceptable range. The Academy emailed me prompting me to retake the CFA which I am very grateful for. On my second test I hit the max score on every section except for above average on the shuttle run and a 6:33 mile which I believe is around average.
Considering that failing the first time is taken into consideration, do they look at how much I improved? I was able to take about 3 minutes off of my mile time in about two weeks when I took the retake. I would hate for my application to get denied simply because I failed the CFA the first time. I also have done a few varsity sports, weightlifting, etc. to show that I am still a physically fit person. Thank you all for your help.
 
You should be fine. USAFA would not have asked you to re-take the CFA if you were not a competitive candidate. If you are near or above average on all events, then you're good.

One big point: I emphasize to all of my students that the CFA is not an 'end' but the start of a commitment to physical fitness as a military officer candidate. Your workout routines must be 'routine' and continue throughout the school year and summer as you prepare to arrive at the Academy, or on the college campus, ready to meet the fitness requirements for either program, USAFA or AFROTC. Point is keep pushing yourself to be in tip-top shape when you arrive in June. Best of luck!
 
Wooda said:
Does anyone know how detrimental it is to your application if you fail the first CFA and have to do a retake?
For reference: I did max/above average on my first test except for the mile which was apparently outside of their acceptable range. The Academy emailed me prompting me to retake the CFA which I am very grateful for. On my second test I hit the max score on every section except for above average on the shuttle run and a 6:33 mile which I believe is around average.
Considering that failing the first time is taken into consideration, do they look at how much I improved? I was able to take about 3 minutes off of my mile time in about two weeks when I took the retake. I would hate for my application to get denied simply because I failed the CFA the first time. I also have done a few varsity sports, weightlifting, etc. to show that I am still a physically fit person. Thank you all for your help.
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You were able to go from a 9min to 6:30-mile time in 2 weeks? Unless you missed a lap, that is extremely impressive. It takes far more than 2 weeks for most people to even deduct 1 minute. With it being the last thing in the CFA is also impressive. You must have been running your heart out leaving nothing on the table for that mile run!
 
My original time was 9:42 and my second time was 6:33. On my first attempt I didn’t really plan properly the night before and ended up being tired and mildly dehydrated which is probably why it was so slow. Still though, I did train myself and threw up for about 2 weeks straight of running before taking my second one which I prepped for much better and carb loaded a day or so prior too. Do you think this is something the academy will make note of?
 
Wooda said:
Do you think this is something the academy will make note of?
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DD's CFA proctor was contacted by admissions to clarify and confirm her unusually fast shuttle run. It was legit, the proctor explained, and fast thanks to a newly refurbished gym floor (i.e. sticky).

So don't be surprised if your proctor gets a similar call. Knocking three minutes off your mile time is indeed unusual, and admissions may want to know how that happened. As always, YMMV.
 
Wooda said:
My original time was 9:42 and my second time was 6:33. On my first attempt I didn’t really plan properly the night before and ended up being tired and mildly dehydrated which is probably why it was so slow. Still though, I did train myself and threw up for about 2 weeks straight of running before taking my second one which I prepped for much better and carb loaded a day or so prior too. Do you think this is something the academy will make note of?
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Make note of into admissions? Probably not. Its good you got that run time though. Like the above said, they might contact you as its a unusual time decrease. Regardless, I wish when I did my run, that I left nothing on the table, but unfortunately I did. Good run!
 
Rixce said:
Make note of into admissions? Probably not. Its good you got that run time though. Like the above said, they might contact you as its an unusual time decrease. Regardless, I wish when I did my run, that I left nothing on the table, but unfortunately I did. Good run!
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I guess my question is that regardless of my improvement, do you thinking failing the first time is really detrimental to my application? I know it’s not a positive, but by how much?
 
Wooda said:
I guess my question is that regardless of my improvement, do you thinking failing the first time is really detrimental to my application? I know it’s not a positive, but by how much?
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I'm only an applicant and I'm by no means informed as some as to how admissions does things, but from a logical standpoint, all that matters is that right now you can run a 6:33 mile. I personally don't see why you running a 9:42 before really matters, the admissions team understands that people have bad days, conditions are bad, etc. and they gave you a second chance for a reason: for you to fix your shortcomings and get your mile time down. As Academician said, the purpose of the CFA is to measure your current physical ability to get an idea of how prepared you are for BCT and how much preparation you need to do before BCT. I would say it's not something to worry about, and even if it was, there's nothing you can do about it now. Control what you can control.
 
Wooda said:
I guess my question is that regardless of my improvement, do you thinking failing the first time is really detrimental to my application? I know it’s not a positive, but by how much?
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To answer your question, failing the first time is only detrimental to SAs if you don't pick up yourself and try again. Looks like you more than picked up yourself and that's what SAs are looking for (according to an AO). They don't expect you to excel in everything you do. But they do expect to see you trying to improve and do better. If anything, it is a positive in your favor.
 
My DD failed her first CFA and eventually received an appointment. So, no. Failing your first one is not a deterrent from being admitted.
 
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