Is AIM camp rolling?

[zqwang88]

I'm currently working on my AIM application. Is acceptance rolling and first come, first served? Also, I've only sent out one recommendation request so far—how many recommendations are needed in total?

 

[ilovefridays]

I went to AIM last year and I believe it wasn't rolling, all of the acceptances came out in one day. Then, on a different day, a few weeks later, we could select which week we wanted to go on a first come first served basis. Also...... it's definitely not a summer camp. Haha!

 

[zqwang88]

I went to AIM last year and I believe it wasn't rolling, all of the acceptances came out in one day. Then, on a different day, a few weeks later, we could select which week we wanted to go on a first come first served basis. Also...... it's definitely not a summer camp. Haha!

I have only requested one reference from my school counselor, is it enough? We have Spring vocation soon. Thanks

 

[Academician]

Is acceptance rolling and first come, first served? Also, I've only sent out one recommendation request so far—how many recommendations are needed in total?

If you 'dig' into the USCGA AIM page, you will see that the decisions are released around May 1. If fact, I have referred my students to the virtual meetings, which are also noted in the same schedule. Instructions note two optional LORs are also allowed, which I recommend that my students request from other mentors, coaches, Scout leaders and the like.

As I advise my students, become an expert on your applications and learn about the Coast Guard, the Academy, and their associated programs. This work will make you a better candidate and allow you to write stronger essays (and interview well, if requested by CGA Admissions). This is true for all of the SAs and ROTC scholarships for which you apply. Hope this helps.

 

[27BearDad]

It should specify exactly who you need recommendations from. Counselor, specific teachers, etc. There may also be an “optional” personal recommendation. Bear in mind, when it comes to anything academy related, nothing is really optional.

Just follow the instructions implicitly and do all the extras.

Selection isn’t rolling. They’ll all be released at the same time on the specified date by the end of business. Sometimes that day will come and go. They may announce a later time that decisions will come out.

 

[happyhiker]

AIM application is a great opportunity to talk to your counselor, math/english teachers, and other personal references. Ask them now to partner with you through this lengthy process and give them a heads up that you'll have many time-sensitive requests. Be proactive, humble, and grateful - you're asking for much more than the typical student (letters and transcripts for summer programs, multiple nomination sources, academies, ROTC, plus backup schools. Oh my!)

 

[MOCOMOM]

Agree with happyhiker! This will give your teachers an opportunity to talk with you about your goal of attending a service academy. My daughter found that her teachers were intrigued by her decision and had a lot of questions about the process. This also gives them an opportunity to start preparing text for the upcoming onslaught of recommendations that you will ask for. My daughter's teachers did a lot of copy paste from the materials that they created for her so utilize the same set of teachers as much as possible. Good luck!

 

[StPaulDad]

AIM application is a great opportunity to talk to your counselor, math/english teachers, and other personal references. Ask them now to partner with you through this lengthy process and give them a heads up that you'll have many time-sensitive requests. Be proactive, humble, and grateful - you're asking for much more than the typical student (letters and transcripts for summer programs, multiple nomination sources, academies, ROTC, plus backup schools. Oh my!)

Awesome advice. Coming to a busy teacher in your senior year and asking for a letter about some anonymous kid they taught last year can pose a challenge in a big school. If you know what you're doing early enough, you can have this discussion at the start of junior year so they can keep an eye open for things to stick in the letter. And if you're struggling they can help pull you through any deep stuff with an eye on the future rather than just saving a single grade.

 

[Stalker97]

Awesome advice. Coming to a busy teacher in your senior year and asking for a letter about some anonymous kid they taught last year can pose a challenge in a big school. If you know what you're doing early enough, you can have this discussion at the start of junior year so they can keep an eye open for things to stick in the letter. And if you're struggling they can help pull you through any deep stuff with an eye on the future rather than just saving a single grade.

What St. Paul said-this is a great way to get preliminary LORs from prospective sources. Talk to them, explain what is AIM and that you are exploring that option for post HS. That way during the Summer/Fall they have a heads up and you don't need to explain the what, when, how, etc again. Make sure they are on the same page. A lot of faculty get be busy, squirrelly and misinformed. Time is essential. Networking now for AIM can go a long way even if you don't get selected for AIM.

 

[27BearDad]

I can’t agree enough regarding “partnering” with your teachers and counselor. Respect their time and engage them early. My daughter went to a relatively small private girls prep school. Being small, it had less faculty to potentially choose from than a larger school, and every girl there was applying to college with a large % of them being high academic requiring lots of letters. Many of the faculty “capped” how many letters they’d write.
My daughter went to one in particular who was at the cap, but made an exception because she had a heavy military family, and wanted to support my daughter going down the military road. Service academy applicants were somewhat rare at her school and the interest factor was high.