How Many "Competitive" Applicants are Offered an Appointment?

areed

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
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Just curious as to how many of the applicants to the USAFA Academy who are deemed competitive and receive Candidate status actually receive an appointment?
 
appointments

I was at the USAFA Oath Ceremony this year for Class of 2014 because my son received his appointment. The Superintendent stated around 1282 appointments for Class of 2014. I believe that number is smaller now as some did not finish BCT and came home.
 
There will be initially around 10000 interested people. They are prospects. That will go down to about 6000. These are applicants. That will go down to about 3500-4000. These are candidates. Of those, approximately 1700 will receive an appointment. Of these, approximately 1300 will accept the appoinment. These are called appointees. If they need more, they will offer additional. Hope this explains it. Mike.
 
Thanks!

There will be initially around 10000 interested people. They are prospects. That will go down to about 6000. These are applicants. That will go down to about 3500-4000. These are candidates. Of those, approximately 1700 will receive an appointment. Of these, approximately 1300 will accept the appoinment. These are called appointees. If they need more, they will offer additional. Hope this explains it. Mike.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity.

Now I'm getting where the 12-18% acceptance rate for the USAFA comes from (read that somewhere along the way). :thumb:
 
From reading the USAFA apps it appears that "candidates" at USAFA are different than USMA & USNA in that you have to have a nomination as well as have made the initial admissions cut.

IE: Even listed as "competitive" with a completed application, all materials in, you are still an "applicant" until a nomination is received.

Are we reading that right?

And do the (rare) USAFA LOA's go to those in "applicant" phase as well? Or just "candidate" phase with a nom in hand?
 
From reading the USAFA apps it appears that "candidates" at USAFA are different than USMA & USNA in that you have to have a nomination as well as have made the initial admissions cut.

IE: Even listed as "competitive" with a completed application, all materials in, you are still an "applicant" until a nomination is received.

Are we reading that right?

And do the (rare) USAFA LOA's go to those in "applicant" phase as well? Or just "candidate" phase with a nom in hand?
Hi!

Okay...let's tackle some of this.

First...LOA's...they are offered by USAFA (NOT COMMON, NOTHING LIKE USMA/USNA) to a VERY small number of folks. The one's that receive them must be candidates. They may or may not have "official" nominations at the time of the LOA but they must, by law, have an "official" nomination to be eligible to enter the academy.

Second...the AFA can name you a "candidate" if they want "more information" or believe you might be "competitive" and want to see your package early. They will simply trigger the system to believe you have a nomination. You may not, but the system will "think" you do and it'll process you as if you do. It's a great way to look at a "pretty excellent prospective candidate."

So they do some things a bit "different" but your focus needs to be:

1. COMPLETE the application process
2. DO NOT RUSH the CFA!! ONLY take it when you KNOW how well you will do (HINT: that means take it a few times with a friend, teacher, etc., and give it your BEST shot and see how you'll do BEFORE you do it for real!!!!)
3. KEEP PRESSING to do better; NEVER accept anything. SAT/ACT...test EVERYTIME until you see better than 740M/740V...or 33M/33V. If you get those, okay, IMHO, you can quit the tests! :thumb:

Just my 32 cents worth...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Okay, my clarification...

The scores I listed...have NOTHING to do with ANYTHING other than my "opinion."

This year was the FIRST time I've told a candidate "...don't take any more tests, you're fine!"

Her scores were 740/740/700 on the SAT...I'd not seen that before but was pretty sure that was good enough.

She's at USMA as we "speak." She decided upon them versus USAFA.

But you know...I'm really happy for her! WE in the USA get an amazing young lady at USMA and eventually as an Army officer!

We ALL win there! :thumb:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
flieger83 said:
2. DO NOT RUSH the CFA!! ONLY take it when you KNOW how well you will do

It's worth reiterating that USAFA does not easily allow CFA's to be replaced with better ones as we understand it. (correct me if I'm wrong, ALO's) :smile:

DS found this out when his NASS CFA was somewhat accidentally sent to USAFA. (He had intended it to be sent to USMA, but it was sent to both)

We are hoping it's not a problem, as it was a fairly strong test. But he had planned to continue to try to improve through the fall.

With the USAFA's process running a little later in the year there is not an advantage to jumping the gun on the CFA!
 
CFA scores can only be submitted 1 time. There is no "Can I do it again please". Now, that's not to say that the academy can't request that you "Redo" the CFA. Sometimes they see an excellent candidate who has the academics, SAT/ACT, sports, EC, volunteer, leadership, etc... but they didn't do so well on the CFA. But redoing the CFA is 110% at the discretion and reason of the admissions. So do not send in your CFA unless you are sure you want those scores counted.

Now hawk, I don't know crappola about Navy or Army's procedures, but in the air force application, the applicants put in their scores in the online application; with the hard copy given by the appropriate proctor followed up. I would think that if the air force applicant DIDN'T submit the scores online in the application, that they would have a legitimate gripe. Especially considering that the air force academy does not accept the CFA score done at summer seminar. At least they don't accept THEIR OWN CFA Summer Seminar scores. So if they accepted CFA scores from Navy summer seminar, that again would be a good reason to call and gripe.

But you and Steve are correct about not rushing the CFA. The only people that I've ever pushed to work hard and submit their CFA and FINISH THEIR APPLICATIONS, are applicants who I honestly believe had/have a chance at an air force academy LOA, or if they have a presidential nomination, have a good chance at an appointment. Not downplaying any other applicants, but once in a while you find a couple that I call part of the "No Brainer Club". The all around has everything applicant. We're not talking about someone in the top 10% of their class. We're talking about the #1 or #2 student in their class. Like steve saw on the SAT/ACT, someone with 2100+ SAT / 32+ ACT. Who's ALSO the team captain of their varsity sports team. Where EVERY class is IP/AP/and/or Honors. Boy/Girl's state. Etc... Some of these individuals, I will push to submit their CFA early if they can hit at least the average or a little higher on the scores. (Averages can be found on page 7 of the brochure). But it is rare that you see these applicants. I've been involved with helping applicants for about 6 years. I've seen maybe 8 of these applicants. (2 are/were members of this forum and are currently at the academy).

In the same breath however, I know a young lady a couple of years ago, who had the 4.0gpa, 33ACT, pretty decent EC, but she didn't do much with athletics or leadership. She didn't receive an appointment. Most thought that with her grades, she'd be an automatic. She has no regrets. She will be graduating from an Ivy league school next year. (FWIW, a friend of hers, at the same ivy league school, is wanting to do ROTC or OTS. So you never know what life has in store).

Anyway, as many have mentioned. Do your best in the CFA that you can. Hold off on submitting it until you have the best scores you believe you can. If you're going to submit them early, then make it the last part of the application. In other words, if you're going to submit the CFA early, then your motivation should be because your application is 100% complete; you consider yourself part of the "No Brainer Club"; and you're really competing for that LOA or you already have a presidential nomination to help you out. If this scenario doesn't apply, then practice some more, and submit it around September. That gives your 3-4 full months to get better at it. It you still aren't happy with your scores, then you really need to look for assistance. If practicing doesn't help you after 4 months, another 2-3 months isn't going to do much more for you. Unless you're doing something wrong. Best of luck. Mike....
 
Hi!

Okay...let's tackle some of this.

First...LOA's...they are offered by USAFA (NOT COMMON, NOTHING LIKE USMA/USNA) to a VERY small number of folks. The one's that receive them must be candidates. They may or may not have "official" nominations at the time of the LOA but they must, by law, have an "official" nomination to be eligible to enter the academy.

Second...the AFA can name you a "candidate" if they want "more information" or believe you might be "competitive" and want to see your package early. They will simply trigger the system to believe you have a nomination. You may not, but the system will "think" you do and it'll process you as if you do. It's a great way to look at a "pretty excellent prospective candidate."

So they do some things a bit "different" but your focus needs to be:

1. COMPLETE the application process
2. DO NOT RUSH the CFA!! ONLY take it when you KNOW how well you will do (HINT: that means take it a few times with a friend, teacher, etc., and give it your BEST shot and see how you'll do BEFORE you do it for real!!!!)
3. KEEP PRESSING to do better; NEVER accept anything. SAT/ACT...test EVERYTIME until you see better than 740M/740V...or 33M/33V. If you get those, okay, IMHO, you can quit the tests! :thumb:

Just my 32 cents worth...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Just thought I would bring back another zombie thread... Have you ever seen a case of someone becoming a candidate two days after submitting pre-candidate questionnaire and then receiving two nominations (district representative and Senatorial) and then not being appointed? I was not notified that I failed the CFA so I am assuming I am OK (seeing as how the booklet to candidates said everyone who failed would get a retake). My SAT: 580 M 730 CR and 760 W
 
I will only offer up that with the 3 candidates we have worked with, 2 broke bones during senior yr Football plus both had concussion incidents. Had I not insisted on CFA before the sports Season they would not have had a completed application.

My understanding (see how I am learning otherwise to Qualify my answer's) with USNA at least is that you can contact your advisor and have your portal re-set so that you can enter a new CFA score.
 
Just thought I would bring back another zombie thread... Have you ever seen a case of someone becoming a candidate two days after submitting pre-candidate questionnaire and then receiving two nominations (district representative and Senatorial) and then not being appointed? I was not notified that I failed the CFA so I am assuming I am OK (seeing as how the booklet to candidates said everyone who failed would get a retake). My SAT: 580 M 730 CR and 760 W
Becoming a candidate, receiving two nominations, and not getting an appointment? Happens all the time, although I'm unable to assess the probability since I don't have all the numbers. Having 2 noms does not necessarily mean an appointment regardless of how quickly you become a candidate. BTW you should work on improving your Math SAT score.
 
So what about 800M, 700V, or 35M, 31R, 31W, 36S? Done or keep trying for the 34C? With 13 AP courses by the end of HS including 5s on Chem, BC Calc, Physics C?
 
I think it's impossible to predict who will get in and who will not based on stats, because the academies are trying to evaluate the whole person. Some kids have high class ranks - is that worth more than high SAT scores? Some kids get amazing LORs and most get what their teachers think are great ones, but they are in fact pretty unmrnorable. Some kids come from military families. Some kids get their private pilots license. Some kids play three sports, some kids play one but work part time. Some kids write passionately about their desire to serve. Some kids write about having to get through school despite the death of a parent. Some kids come from underprivileged backgrounds and taking the SAT nine times isn't an option - they have overcome so much to even graduate.

The fact is if you or your kid have gotten this far, they are amazing! These kids have all had great academic careers, have all taken lots of AP classes, they've all played sports, and all given back to their communities.

I once taught a fantastic class of students - 105 of them. At least 20 of them were among the most talented I taught in my ten year career. 12 of them are now doctors! And if you told me I had to pick two or three of them to go to the USAFA, I don't know how I could do it, and these are kids I knew well. This is the position the selection boards are in - they are looking at hundreds of fantastic kids who are going to go on to do great things, and trying to choose those who are the best fit.

I'm hoping so hard for my DS to be selected, because he has wanted to be an Air Force pilot since he was in middle school. He has three nominations. He's top 2% of his class. His ACT scores are great, but not fantastic. He's a licensed pilot, played varsity football, has gone on seven mission trips to build houses for homeless families in Mexico. Again, how do you choose between him, and the kid who has better scores, but didn't get as involved with community service or isn't a pilot? There aren't any good answered because all of these kids want it more than anything and there aren't enough spots.
 
All this and not to mention the availability of AP classes at your school. You cannot take what isn't offerred.

However, I do feel it is impossible to make this process "fair"
 
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