Introverted Female

[NeverSayNever]

Well…color me surprised but DD is applying to USAFA. I’m a SA grad but my daughter and I are not cut from the same cloth. I was the typical athletic extrovert with lots of extracurricular involvement and meh grades for an academy. My daughter is wayyyy smarter and far more academically prepared but is small statured and would rather spend time in books and alone and it shows on her resume. She will get a presidential nom and likely is athletic enough to pass CFA but how will the board evaluate how she has spent her time if not doing the typical multi-sports/student govt/volunteer work?

We have people coming out of the woodwork to help her with advice and it’s amazing to see her finally get excited about doing something after highschool…and I am frankly thrilled with this choice but how realistic are her chances in the current environment?

Amy advice from other underdog candidate parents or former ALO would be appreciated.

 

[Heatherg21]

Well…color me surprised but DD is applying to USAFA. I’m a SA grad but my daughter and I are not cut from the same cloth. I was the typical athletic extrovert with lots of extracurricular involvement and meh grades for an academy. My daughter is wayyyy smarter and far more academically prepared but is small statured and would rather spend time in books and alone and it shows on her resume. She will get a presidential nom and likely is athletic enough to pass CFA but how will the board evaluate how she has spent her time if not doing the typical multi-sports/student govt/volunteer work?

We have people coming out of the woodwork to help her with advice and it’s amazing to see her finally get excited about doing something after highschool…and I am frankly thrilled with this choice but how realistic are her chances in the current environment?

Amy advice from other underdog candidate parents or former ALO would be appreciated.

Mine didn’t have traditional sports. But if she can articulate her ability to lead, and that is a broad category, if she can convey her desire to serve, and how she believes she can impact others and succeed when things are difficult she should do well.

Did she help a friend through difficulty? Does she mentor younger siblings, students?

Many introverts amongst DS company at USNA.

 

[NeverSayNever]

’articulate the ability to lead”…very helpful sentence right there. Thank you. Hope your son is doing well at USNA…can’t believe it’s been 26 years since I had to deal with service academy admissions.

 

[T-37IP]

Has she applied for her nomination sources yet? Many are already closed, and all will be closed soon. If she isn't working on those, that needs to be her top priority. The Presidential Nom is great, but each SA can only use 100 per class.

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

DD needs to study all the info she can from USAFA. She should be able to articulate her unique story and be able to describe why she has "leadership potential". There's a place in the USAF for DD 01, for sure! She also needs to develop plans B & C. She should start NOW working on the CFA-do not wait. Good luck.

 

[dddad]

I’m a SA grad but my daughter and I are not cut from the same cloth.

Hmmm. Perhaps she is cut more from the same cloth than you realize? I've met several SA dads and moms/grads who have said much the same thing to me about their sons and daughters. Surely, your DD knows a thing about what it takes to lead/succeed in the military - she has your experience (and perhaps her own as the daughter of a SA grad) to lean on. If your daughter demonstrates that she has the academic chops, the physical capability, and the leadership potential, she interviews well, explains herself strongly in her essays, and receives strong evaluations/recommendations from her teachers, there is no reason to think she cannot receive an offer of appointment. Your primary role is to encourage and support - good luck at that! Your DD is lucky to have you as a resource! Seems like she knows that.

By the way, being small statured is not going to stop her. There are many small statured women at SAs who excel there.

Her chances may be better than you think.