I don’t know if I have what it takes….

[Jose02809]

- Hey everyone

I’m currently about to be a sophomore in high school and I want to go to the academy badly! I’ve done research for a while and i’m really passionate about it. I always planned on becoming an Airline Pilot but came across the academy a bit ago and cannot stop thinking about it. It just feels like a better fit, the lifestyle in the Air Force is one I like way better, and the academy seems like it has so many opportunities and a chance to meet people as passionate about this as me.

I don’t really know how well I am academically, I recently got thrown off by an awful start to high school last year, with the virus and spent part of it online and part in person and things from the year before that got cut short were coming at me like test that were canceled and they gave us only a day notice that we’d be taking them and I had to miss out on some classes which I fell behind in, more behind than I already was I should say, from just switching to in person and got switched in and out many classes and ultimately it was just a crazy year. Ended up with about 3 B’s, 1 in the first semester on a random art class I got thrown into and I tried my best but that wasn’t really my thing and then second semester I got two B’s one in math which I fell behind on and one in a writing class that again I was thrown into at random. I did my best but really prioritized doing well in my Ap class which I got Straight A’s but failed the exam.

Currently my unweighted gpa is at 3.81 and my weighted GPA is at a 4.4

As for my Extracurricular stuff I haven’t done much in high school as my first year like I said was a mess and it was impossible to do anything, prior to all this I was mostly a Straight A student, did 3 years of Orchestra in middle school and played basketball those 3 years as well but that was out of school. Leadership positions to be honest don’t really have any that I could think of but I did about 40 volunteer hours this summer.

Well, look I really want to go to the academy i just don’t know, I feel I might be lacking confidence after my performance last year and I really don’t know the right path to take. i’m scared of messing anything up and not being able to go, I need basically perfect straight A’s the next 3 years in order to possibly get my GPA up to about a 3.92 Maybe i’m stressing too much but i’ve seen people that get in and it’s like i’m behind they’ve done so much to get there and i’ve done nothing I really don’t know where to begin I just want to make sure I don’t take the wrong path and not have a chance.

School will begin in a few weeks and im just looking for anyone that can help me. Some help in knowing what classes are right to be taking, what extracurricular stuff I should be doing, and how to get leadership positions. I’ve been looking into CAP, Boy Scouts, maybe some sport in school but idk i’m not really in shape and i don’t even take any sort of PE classes during the school day because then i get all hot and sweaty and it’s hit or miss on whether the AC will be working that day at my school since for some reason it’s always broken and then its really hard for me to do anything in whatever class follows, i don’t really know if i need to take a pe class for usafa to see me as athletic or if finding things outside of school will be fine and to top it all off i’m a pretty skinny kid but I’m willing to work on whatever I need and whatever I can do no matter what it takes to get where I need to be to have a good chance. Maybe I just look down on myself too much and maybe I do have a shot and i’m doing well for where I am but I just don’t know, which is why i’m reaching out for anyone that can help l, it would mean everything.

Sorry for the long post i’ve barely slept this whole week just stressing over all this and had to let it out and need help, i feel like i’m all on my own but maybe this forum can help.

If there’s anyone out there that can help or maybe even went to the academy it would be incredible if i could find that someone and hopefully someone that can try and help me throughout the way. Usafa isn’t just something I want to do it’s something I feel I need to and i’m going to apply and apply until i’m too old to do so but by then I hope that I might have found a way to make it.

Again sorry for such a long post but hopefully it pays off with someone that can be of some help and thanks to anyone that even read this.

Have a great day.

 

[FlyFalcon]

- Hey everyone

I’m currently about to be a sophomore in high school and I want to go to the academy badly! I’ve done research for a while and i’m really passionate about it. I always planned on becoming an Airline Pilot but came across the academy a bit ago and cannot stop thinking about it. It just feels like a better fit, the lifestyle in the Air Force is one I like way better, and the academy seems like it has so many opportunities and a chance to meet people as passionate about this as me.

I don’t really know how well I am academically, I recently got thrown off by an awful start to high school last year, with the virus and spent part of it online and part in person and things from the year before that got cut short were coming at me like test that were canceled and they gave us only a day notice that we’d be taking them and I had to miss out on some classes which I fell behind in, more behind than I already was I should say, from just switching to in person and got switched in and out many classes and ultimately it was just a crazy year. Ended up with about 3 B’s, 1 in the first semester on a random art class I got thrown into and I tried my best but that wasn’t really my thing and then second semester I got two B’s one in math which I fell behind on and one in a writing class that again I was thrown into at random. I did my best but really prioritized doing well in my Ap class which I got Straight A’s but failed the exam.

Currently my unweighted gpa is at 3.81 and my weighted GPA is at a 4.4

As for my Extracurricular stuff I haven’t done much in high school as my first year like I said was a mess and it was impossible to do anything, prior to all this I was mostly a Straight A student, did 3 years of Orchestra in middle school and played basketball those 3 years as well but that was out of school. Leadership positions to be honest don’t really have any that I could think of but I did about 40 volunteer hours this summer.

Well, look I really want to go to the academy i just don’t know, I feel I might be lacking confidence after my performance last year and I really don’t know the right path to take. i’m scared of messing anything up and not being able to go, I need basically perfect straight A’s the next 3 years in order to possibly get my GPA up to about a 3.92 Maybe i’m stressing too much but i’ve seen people that get in and it’s like i’m behind they’ve done so much to get there and i’ve done nothing I really don’t know where to begin I just want to make sure I don’t take the wrong path and not have a chance.

School will begin in a few weeks and im just looking for anyone that can help me. Some help in knowing what classes are right to be taking, what extracurricular stuff I should be doing, and how to get leadership positions. I’ve been looking into CAP, Boy Scouts, maybe some sport in school but idk i’m not really in shape and i don’t even take any sort of PE classes during the school day because then i get all hot and sweaty and it’s hit or miss on whether the AC will be working that day at my school since for some reason it’s always broken and then its really hard for me to do anything in whatever class follows, i don’t really know if i need to take a pe class for usafa to see me as athletic or if finding things outside of school will be fine and to top it all off i’m a pretty skinny kid but I’m willing to work on whatever I need and whatever I can do no matter what it takes to get where I need to be to have a good chance. Maybe I just look down on myself too much and maybe I do have a shot and i’m doing well for where I am but I just don’t know, which is why i’m reaching out for anyone that can help l, it would mean everything.

Sorry for the long post i’ve barely slept this whole week just stressing over all this and had to let it out and need help, i feel like i’m all on my own but maybe this forum can help.

If there’s anyone out there that can help or maybe even went to the academy it would be incredible if i could find that someone and hopefully someone that can try and help me throughout the way. Usafa isn’t just something I want to do it’s something I feel I need to and i’m going to apply and apply until i’m too old to do so but by then I hope that I might have found a way to make it.

Again sorry for such a long post but hopefully it pays off with someone that can be of some help and thanks to anyone that even read this.

Have a great day.

Ok ok.
First off, online learning affected everyone, some worse than others, but it affected everyone. So what are you going to do about that?

You're scared understandable but let me say this, everyone is. Not a single person applying doesn't have some small amount of doubt. When you care about something you naturally have fear. Fear of losing it, fear of it being ruined etc etc. Yet fear isn't a blockade, it doesn't stop you just looks like it does. Fear is motivator for wanting to be better, use it.

Second off, you don't need to make straight A's and worry worry worry. That'll make you sick. What you need to do is take the hardest classes you can and when you start to make mistakes ask for help, build those connects with teachers. Fight for it. One assignment at a time. Don't worry about getting in focus on here and now.

Thirdly, why do you want to be an officer? So you can fly? Ok what If you can't? There's always a good chance that medical doesn't clear you. Find your reason for being a Air Force officer. Find out why air force and not army or navy. You must find your reason for being a United States Air force officer long before USAFA. I get it flying is my passion, I feel homesick watching planes take off knowing I'm not there yet, but I'll serve either as the best pilot or the airman no matter what.

Fourth, the activities you're doing are they for you or USAFA? The mintue you do them for usafa( and only usafa) you failed. You could get it the point where you hate everything about your activty because you can no longer leave because well you feel like usafa will look on it negativly. Been there, done that, you would have to drag me back! I did cross country and track because I loved them but JROTC? Yea loved it for three and half years and only stayed for the last h*ll because I didn't want usafa to look down on my. Well guess what? That's dumb very very dumb. Do what you love for you then love it so much that you make others love it and you grow and grow in it. That's what usafa is looking for.

Lastly join a sport . It helps with not feeling like being another because you have a team behind you. I highly recommend track and cross country because you can be in last place and they cheer for you as if you're in first! Plus it'll calm some fears about the fitness test. A team sport allow you to grow and live a bit plus fill out that application a bit more with something you love and can talk about or write about excitedly! Something great for interviews

Ps. Enjoy highschool, try new things you might not get into usafa and that's ok usafa is one route but not the only route check out ROTC or guard they're amazing options too

- from someone who thought she wasn't good enough too.

 

[Jose02809]

Ok ok.
First off, online learning affected everyone, some worse than others, but it affected everyone. So what are you going to do about that?

You're scared understandable but let me say this, everyone is. Not a single person applying doesn't have some small amount of doubt. When you care about something you naturally have fear. Fear of losing it, fear of it being ruined etc etc. Yet fear isn't a blockade, it doesn't stop you just looks like it does. Fear is motivator for wanting to be better, use it.

Second off, you don't need to make straight A's and worry worry worry. That'll make you sick. What you need to do is take the hardest classes you can and when you start to make mistakes ask for help, build those connects with teachers. Fight for it. One assignment at a time. Don't worry about getting in focus on here and now.

Thirdly, why do you want to be an officer? So you can fly? Ok what If you can't? There's always a good chance that medical doesn't clear you. Find your reason for being a Air Force officer. Find out why air force and not army or navy. You must find your reason for being a United States Air force officer long before USAFA. I get it flying is my passion, I feel homesick watching planes take off knowing I'm not there yet, but I'll serve either as the best pilot or the airman no matter what.

Fourth, the activities you're doing are they for you or USAFA? The mintue you do them for usafa( and only usafa) you failed. You could get it the point where you hate everything about your activty because you can no longer leave because well you feel like usafa will look on it negativly. Been there, done that, you would have to drag me back! I did cross country and track because I loved them but JROTC? Yea loved it for three and half years and only stayed for the last h*ll because I didn't want usafa to look down on my. Well guess what? That's dumb very very dumb. Do what you love for you then love it so much that you make others love it and you grow and grow in it. That's what usafa is looking for.

Lastly join a sport . It helps with not feeling like being another because you have a team behind you. I highly recommend track and cross country because you can be in last place and they cheer for you as if you're in first! Plus it'll calm some fears about the fitness test. A team sport allow you to grow and live a bit plus fill out that application a bit more with something you love and can talk about or write about excitedly! Something great for interviews

Ps. Enjoy highschool, try new things you might not get into usafa and that's ok usafa is one route but not the only route check out ROTC or guard they're amazing options too

- from someone who thought she wasn't good enough too.

Thank you so much, i was already never planning on taking things like JROTC because it never interested me but things like CAP do which is why i mentioned them and also i agree with you about Cross Country I already been getting ready to try out for that because i used to run a while ago and i feel it will help. I also should have made it clear that while at first it started as me being set on just getting a pilot slot but i decided a few days ago i don’t care anymore what comes after, i am completely fine in serving in anyway i can. I get what you are saying stay focused and do well but still enjoy high school and do what i want, thank you i just had no one to talk about all this and it was driving me crazy so thank you so much, have a great day.

 

[StPaulDad]

You still have a year before you need to reach out the to academy, so don't waste time or effort thinking about things that are way out of your control. "Eyes in the boat" is I believe what they yell at young swabs in Navy and Coast Guard. Just focus on your next year of school. No one had a great year last year, so pleading Covid will probably work if you have a compelling story of bouncing back and doing well starting this fall.

Next, good advice above to take the hard courses and do what it takes to succeed in them, especially the part about establishing a good relationship with your teachers. That pays off down the road, as staff knows you are working hard and you get a reputation for caring. Teachers love students that care.

You'll need to show some leadership, and sports are one way to do that. But if you've never been on a team before it's pretty unlikely you're going to just waltz to the front of the room and take over. Do you still like basketball enough to play in high school? If not, just grab a no-cut sport like x-c or tennis and leap in. You may be terrible, but you'll improve and make some friends in the process. Meanwhile there are other ways to lead. Search these forums for the countless examples others have given over the years. A couple good, deep items is better than a dozen scattered shallow ones, and CAP could be a great choice for you or maybe a martial art, but the main trick is to find something you care about and get started.

Finally you need to mellow out a bit. Take a big breath and realize that USAFA or AFROTC (which you should give some serious consideration to) or even other flying services like Navy or Coast Guard all need the same things from you, but not this year. This year is for you to get some grades, participate in some extra curriculars and maybe read up on your various options for junior and senior year. You'll do better if you're not wrapped around the axle of how everything you do might look to people you've never met. Think about this: you're getting good grades in your hard classes, so it shouldn't be too hard to keep doing that and make adjustments to clean up the easy ones once your school returns to normal. Just grind out the homework, be ready for tests, and ask for help when you need it. Good luck, keep eyes up and your feet moving and have a good year.

 

[Jose02809]

You still have a year before you need to reach out the to academy, so don't waste time or effort thinking about things that are way out of your control. "Eyes in the boat" is I believe what they yell at young swabs in Navy and Coast Guard. Just focus on your next year of school. No one had a great year last year, so pleading Covid will probably work if you have a compelling story of bouncing back and doing well starting this fall.

Next, good advice above to take the hard courses and do what it takes to succeed in them, especially the part about establishing a good relationship with your teachers. That pays off down the road, as staff knows you are working hard and you get a reputation for caring. Teachers love students that care.

You'll need to show some leadership, and sports are one way to do that. But if you've never been on a team before it's pretty unlikely you're going to just waltz to the front of the room and take over. Do you still like basketball enough to play in high school? If not, just grab a no-cut sport like x-c or tennis and leap in. You may be terrible, but you'll improve and make some friends in the process. Meanwhile there are other ways to lead. Search these forums for the countless examples others have given over the years. A couple good, deep items is better than a dozen scattered shallow ones, and CAP could be a great choice for you or maybe a martial art, but the main trick is to find something you care about and get started.

Finally you need to mellow out a bit. Take a big breath and realize that USAFA or AFROTC (which you should give some serious consideration to) or even other flying services like Navy or Coast Guard all need the same things from you, but not this year. This year is for you to get some grades, participate in some extra curriculars and maybe read up on your various options for junior and senior year. You'll do better if you're not wrapped around the axle of how everything you do might look to people you've never met. Think about this: you're getting good grades in your hard classes, so it shouldn't be too hard to keep doing that and make adjustments to clean up the easy ones once your school returns to normal. Just grind out the homework, be ready for tests, and ask for help when you need it. Good luck, keep eyes up and your feet moving and have a good year.

Thanks, that’s what i been hearing i should just focus on what’s here, and not something years away but yea I am going to consider ROTC just in case but I don’t plan on trying out for basketball as like you said i’m in my second year of high school i can’t just jump in because one they won’t take me probably since they are very picky and the coaches only pick people they know mostly but i was considering doing Cross Country it’s a sport and not as difficult but ima see how this year plays out because i don’t know but i defiantly will try and build good relationships with teachers as at the moment only really have one teacher i known for a bit. But yea thanks for the advice, i’ll do my best, maybe it’s just me but i feel it’s too late for me since i’m in my second year and haven’t done anything but maybe i’m completely wrong and do have a chance, only time will tell.

 

[Day-Tripper]

Thanks, that’s what i been hearing i should just focus on what’s here, and not something years away but yea I am going to consider ROTC just in case but I don’t plan on trying out for basketball as like you said i’m in my second year of high school i can’t just jump in because one they won’t take me probably since they are very picky and the coaches only pick people they know mostly but i was considering doing Cross Country it’s a sport and not as difficult but ima see how this year plays out because i don’t know but i defiantly will try and build good relationships with teachers as at the moment only really have one teacher i known for a bit. But yea thanks for the advice, i’ll do my best, maybe it’s just me but i feel it’s too late for me since i’m in my second year and haven’t done anything but maybe i’m completely wrong and do have a chance, only time will tell.

How about football? Along with cross country & track it's one of the few sports you can jump into without years of participation behind you. Even if you ride the bench, practices are physically challenging & the team atmosphere can't be beat. Even if you're small, just trying out shows guts. And sometimes guts is enough. (Watch 1993's "Rudy" if you get a chance.)

How about a part time job? Looks good on any resume, not just applying for the Air Force Academy. Good life experience too. If possible, something like a lifeguard job would look great. Physical, responsibility, etc.

The military in general, whether it's a F-35 fighter pilot or a cook, want's physically fit personnel.

Any possibility for Boy's State?

References are always a plus. I know you're young, but working on them now can't hurt.

If not the AFA, keep an eye out for AFROTC scholarship opportunities. Or just join AFROTC at whatever college you attend, even without a scholarship. If you do well, your efforts will be noticed.

And remember, 3 of the 4 major armed forces have fixed wing aircraft needing pilots/aviators, not just the Air Force. And they all need chopper pilots. Flying is flying. Personally, I'm averse to being a mere passenger but if it's your passion to take then helm the follow your dream.

As someone else said, you'll be applying to become an officer, whether it's piloting a Raptor or a government-issued metallic desk while in charge of the mail room. Being an officer means you go where the military sends you. Needs of the service and all that. Plenty of pilot-hopefuls now sit in nuclear bomb silos in North Dakota waiting for the orders to launch that will probably (hopefully) never come.

Even if you get pilot, doesn't mean you'll be Tom Cruise at age 24. I had a high school buddy who applied for Air Force Academy & got rejected. Applied for AFROTC & Navy scholarships & got rejected. Went to a state school, joined AFROTC & got a 3 year scholarship in his sophomore year. Graduated went to flight school at age 23. Worked his way up. Got C-130s. Later got refueling tankers. Not glamorous (no "Maverick" types) but vital. Finally got to be an F-15 Eagle driver at like 33-34 years old. Now flies for Jet Blue.

Good luck.

P.S. And do away with that "I don't know if I have what it takes...." stuff. Tell yourself you DO have what it takes. No more self-doubt. Take PE, sweat like crazy (as you will all time in the military) & kill it afterwards in school. Confidence (not arrogance) is now the name of the game for you henceforth. Don't avoid "problems" but look forward to tackling "challenges" - head on. Start every day with discipline & maintain it. Little things like making your bed, doing 50 pushups before going to sleep & first thing in the morning, doing chores without being asked, etc. If you can only do 2 pushups at a time, then do 3. Next day, 4. Week later, 12. And so on. Same with running. Best exercise. Push yourself. These are the building blocks of success. You've already got academics locked down - now do everything else. I was a skinny kid, too. Enlisted in the Marines at 17 weighing 135 pounds (at most). After 13 weeks at Parris Island I was 155 & strong & confident. You can do it.

 

[Jose02809]

How about football? Along with cross country & track it's one of the few sports you can jump into without years of participation behind you. Even if you ride the bench, practices are physically challenging & the team atmosphere can't be beat. Even if you're small, just trying out shows guts. And sometimes guts is enough. (Watch 1993's "Rudy" if you get a chance.)

How about a part time job? Looks good on any resume, not just applying for the Air Force Academy. Good life experience too. If possible, something like a lifeguard job would look great. Physical, responsibility, etc.

The military in general, whether it's a F-35 fighter pilot or a cook, want's physically fit personnel.

Any possibility for Boy's State?

References are always a plus. I know you're young, but working on them now can't hurt.

If not the AFA, keep an eye out for AFROTC scholarship opportunities. Or just join AFROTC at whatever college you attend, even without a scholarship. If you do well, your efforts will be noticed.

And remember, 3 of the 4 major armed forces have fixed wing aircraft needing pilots/aviators, not just the Air Force. And they all need chopper pilots. Flying is flying. Personally, I'm averse to being a mere passenger but if it's your passion to take then helm the follow your dream.

As someone else said, you'll be applying to become an officer, whether it's piloting a Raptor or a government-issued metallic desk while in charge of the mail room. Being an officer means you go where the military sends you. Needs of the service and all that. Plenty of pilot-hopefuls now sit in nuclear bomb silos in North Dakota waiting for the orders to launch that will probably (hopefully) never come.

Even if you get pilot, doesn't mean you'll be Tom Cruise at age 24. I had a high school buddy who applied for Air Force Academy & got rejected. Applied for AFROTC & Navy scholarships & got rejected. Went to a state school, joined AFROTC & got a 3 year scholarship in his sophomore year. Graduated went to flight school at age 23. Worked his way up. Got C-130s. Later got refueling tankers. Not glamorous (no "Maverick" types) but vital. Finally got to be an F-15 Eagle driver at like 33-34 years old. Now flies for Jet Blue.

Good luck.

Well no i’m not gonna try out for football my school isn’t really like that they aren’t gonna pick anyone to just go ride the bench and they don’t really pick many new people they know well before from scouting who they want especially for Football probaly the biggest sport at my school so i’m not gonna bother plus i’m no good at football. I have been looking into the other academies i’m thinking of applying for Air Force and Navy but i don’t really want any others they aren’t for me, I don’t really know much about boys state or what that is or anything but i’ve heard it looks good but i don’t even know if it’s something offered around where i live, i just want to serve i’m not set only on pilot but it would be awesome. My plan is to get into several AP classes this year about 3, get a job in January when i’m 16 when they’ll actually hire me, join CAP, Try for Cross Country, Join NHS and do more volunteer hours. I don’t know if i need more but im gonna add these one at a time so im not doing more than i even have time to do.

Thanks for the advice, i appreciate it so much.

 

[OldRetSWO]

I don’t plan on trying out for basketball as like you said i’m in my second year of high school i can’t just jump in because one they won’t take me probably since they are very picky and the coaches only pick people they know mostly

A word to the wise, the vast majority (ALL that I've ever seen) of high school coaches want to WIN above all else. If somebody with skills better than the kids from last year comes out, they would be an absolute fool to reject them out of hand because they don't know them. If you show that you're good enough, they will make a spot for you on the team.
.
You sound very tentative about what you want to do sports-wise and about teachers that you haven't already known. It's clear that you are looking at things that are out of your comfort zone but getting into a service academy and for that matter, an ROTC scholarship are going to require things that take you out of your comfort zone. I went to a middle sized high school and I had brand new teachers (to me) just about every year. Your task as a student is to EXCEL in the class and trust me on this one, if you do that, the teacher who was a stranger to you in September will write you a good recommendation in the spring.
.
Nobody has mentioned standardized tests. As a Sophomore, I recommend taking the PSAT in the fall and plan to take the full SAT (or ACT) in the spring of your Sophomore year so that you can get an early start on fixing any issues AND have time to get a very good score.

 

[Shoelaces]

- Hey everyone

I’m currently about to be a sophomore in high school and I want to go to the academy badly! I’ve done research for a while and i’m really passionate about it. I always planned on becoming an Airline Pilot but came across the academy a bit ago and cannot stop thinking about it. It just feels like a better fit, the lifestyle in the Air Force is one I like way better, and the academy seems like it has so many opportunities and a chance to meet people as passionate about this as me.

I don’t really know how well I am academically, I recently got thrown off by an awful start to high school last year, with the virus and spent part of it online and part in person and things from the year before that got cut short were coming at me like test that were canceled and they gave us only a day notice that we’d be taking them and I had to miss out on some classes which I fell behind in, more behind than I already was I should say, from just switching to in person and got switched in and out many classes and ultimately it was just a crazy year. Ended up with about 3 B’s, 1 in the first semester on a random art class I got thrown into and I tried my best but that wasn’t really my thing and then second semester I got two B’s one in math which I fell behind on and one in a writing class that again I was thrown into at random. I did my best but really prioritized doing well in my Ap class which I got Straight A’s but failed the exam.

Currently my unweighted gpa is at 3.81 and my weighted GPA is at a 4.4

As for my Extracurricular stuff I haven’t done much in high school as my first year like I said was a mess and it was impossible to do anything, prior to all this I was mostly a Straight A student, did 3 years of Orchestra in middle school and played basketball those 3 years as well but that was out of school. Leadership positions to be honest don’t really have any that I could think of but I did about 40 volunteer hours this summer.

Well, look I really want to go to the academy i just don’t know, I feel I might be lacking confidence after my performance last year and I really don’t know the right path to take. i’m scared of messing anything up and not being able to go, I need basically perfect straight A’s the next 3 years in order to possibly get my GPA up to about a 3.92 Maybe i’m stressing too much but i’ve seen people that get in and it’s like i’m behind they’ve done so much to get there and i’ve done nothing I really don’t know where to begin I just want to make sure I don’t take the wrong path and not have a chance.

School will begin in a few weeks and im just looking for anyone that can help me. Some help in knowing what classes are right to be taking, what extracurricular stuff I should be doing, and how to get leadership positions. I’ve been looking into CAP, Boy Scouts, maybe some sport in school but idk i’m not really in shape and i don’t even take any sort of PE classes during the school day because then i get all hot and sweaty and it’s hit or miss on whether the AC will be working that day at my school since for some reason it’s always broken and then its really hard for me to do anything in whatever class follows, i don’t really know if i need to take a pe class for usafa to see me as athletic or if finding things outside of school will be fine and to top it all off i’m a pretty skinny kid but I’m willing to work on whatever I need and whatever I can do no matter what it takes to get where I need to be to have a good chance. Maybe I just look down on myself too much and maybe I do have a shot and i’m doing well for where I am but I just don’t know, which is why i’m reaching out for anyone that can help l, it would mean everything.

Sorry for the long post i’ve barely slept this whole week just stressing over all this and had to let it out and need help, i feel like i’m all on my own but maybe this forum can help.

If there’s anyone out there that can help or maybe even went to the academy it would be incredible if i could find that someone and hopefully someone that can try and help me throughout the way. Usafa isn’t just something I want to do it’s something I feel I need to and i’m going to apply and apply until i’m too old to do so but by then I hope that I might have found a way to make it.

Again sorry for such a long post but hopefully it pays off with someone that can be of some help and thanks to anyone that even read this.

Have a great day.

As an applicant for USMA '26 I highly recommend you start as early as possible. I did not realize that I wanted to attend a SA until this summer. I also had major issues with selling myself short and I attribute this to my late start as well. My advice that I can offer you is to take an ACT prep class or equivalent, take honors, AP, and Dual enrollment courses if possible, join a sport (my biggest regret is never having played one), start working out and possibly find a group to work out with to stay motivated, and become affiliated with some type of organization. I was extremely blessed to have been born and raised adjacent to Ft. Campbell and I have firmly embedded myself within my school's military student center. As a result of this I have gained many mentors and have been given an opportunity to flex my leadership muscles organizing events. Your connections with people are extremely important and I would suggest getting in with a crowd that will help you succeed. Build strong relationships with your teachers and employers. Best of luck to you.

 

[Jose02809]

As an applicant for USMA '26 I highly recommend you start as early as possible. I did not realize that I wanted to attend a SA until this summer. I also had major issues with selling myself short and I attribute this to my late start as well. My advice that I can offer you is to take an ACT prep class or equivalent, take honors, AP, and Dual enrollment courses if possible, join a sport (my biggest regret is never having played one), start working out and possibly find a group to work out with to stay motivated, and become affiliated with some type of organization. I was extremely blessed to have been born and raised adjacent to Ft. Campbell and I have firmly embedded myself within my school's military student center. As a result of this I have gained many mentors and have been given an opportunity to flex my leadership muscles organizing events. Your connections with people are extremely important and I would suggest getting in with a crowd that will help you succeed. Build strong relationships with your teachers and employers. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the advice!

Right now i’m just waiting on school to start and settle into my classes since I take all honors and will be taking 3 AP classes this year. Then i’ll start adding stuff on slowly, i’m trying to get in contact with my ALO rn and will start working out on soon. Then as they rest of this year goes i’m gonna try out for Cross Country and Track then do Civil Air Patrol, Boys Scouts, NHS and look into Boys State. I hope I can balance these out. Best of Luck to you with USMA!

 

[raimius]

So, the Academies look at three main areas, academics, athletics, and leadership. Focus on those for now. Even if you decide against a SA or don't get accepted, doing well in those areas will give you lots of good options.

 

[Waddy60]

Lots of good advice in the above posts. One work of caution - don't just take the most difficult courses your school offers. If you can get A's and B's in AP courses that is great. But if you take AP and get C's, USAFA Admissions considers that you completed the course but didn't learn anything. Better to get A's and B's in Honor Classes than C's in AP. Look at Academyadmissions.com for the courses they recommend for a well-prepared candidate.

 

[charlestonmom5]

Welcome to the dream!
There are some things you can do TODAY to get you on the right path:
1- Read through the Applicants pages on the SA websites. Print off checklists and timelines, etc. Be so familiar with the process that you could teach a class on it.
2- RUN...I mean put on your shoes and go for a run! Run/ walk, whatever. The only way to get better at running is to run.
3- On the CAP website, there is a Personal Tracker and a AFPT training guide. Print them out. Reach out to the nearest CAP squadron and find out when they meet.
4- Make a study plan for the standardized tests and start preparing for those.
Good luck!

 

[sinhaanant18]

So, the Academies look at three main areas, academics, athletics, and leadership. Focus on those for now. Even if you decide against a SA or don't get accepted, doing well in those areas will give you lots of good options.

hey man, ur a 15 year member so i thought u would be good to ask about this, i made a post about it but id like to ask you. Is marching band looked at as a sport?

 

[raimius]

hey man, ur a 15 year member so i thought u would be good to ask about this, i made a post about it but id like to ask you. Is marching band looked at as a sport?

Maybe. I'm not sure on that. It's definitely an extracurricular.