Joining the Academy

Sami, if your Mom is an Army Captain, you have one advantage in that you are eligible for a Presidential nomination to all the service Academies. All you have to do is send in the applications and you get the Nom. This does not guarantee an appointment, as only about 100 appointments are given to those with Presidential noms, so you should still apply for all other Nominations your are eligible for, but it does take some of the stresses off. My two at USNA were offered appointments in October and November of their senior year in HS, thanks to thier Presidential Nominations, sure made for a low stress second semester!
 
falcon,

Presidential is a non-competitive nom. If the candidates' parent is eligible they get the nom. There is no limitation to the slate size, and usually it is 400-500 for the pool.
~The rate for appointment statistically lower than being on an MOC slate. (20-25% compared to 10% on an MOC)

Yes, they should go for that nom., but IMPO it is giving false hope that their chances of being appointed in Nov., just because they have a Pres.

It is going to come back to:
~ CGPA
~ SAT/ACT
~ Class rank
~ AP/IB
~ CFA
~ EC

ETCERA, ETCERA, ETCERA.

Your kids had a nom., and IMPO according to admissions they were going to be in the top 100 Pres. noms due to their stats. NOBODY here knows yet what Sami stats look like. 3.0 cgpa, 1150 SAT, 2 APs, top 30% class rank, will not get them an appointment via Presidential IMPO.

We need to make sure posters understand that Presidential does not equate to an appointment.

fencer is right IMPO.
We are a supportive group, but read the stickies, investigate both the AFA abd AFRITC websites. Come back when you have exhausted all of those avenues and give us more than I WANT TO JOIN.
~ I am being redundant, but hey here's a thought you want to JOIN and want guidance, than tell us about your academic/athletic/EC background...
~~ Sami has 7 posts. Can any of you say you know their cgpa? Course curriculum? What sport they are in? How about ECs?
~~~ Answer is NO

It is great to give advice on specific noms, but after 7 posts and ignoring very direct questions from me, we only do more harm than good unless they answer those questions

Like I said above what would you all say if their SAT V was 490?
I get fencers ???
Sami said:
I have been grown and raised in a military family.
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Have been grown?

Sorry Sami, but from a grammatical pov, I have been grown raised eyebrows with me. I worry that the SAT V s gong to be an issue is at 15

Look, I get fingers typing faster than your brain. I am not an English teacher. Just saying, have been grown is something that concerns me, especially when you appear to ignore very direct questions.

Again! Want to know how to JOIN, than lay it out there, tell us your stats, otherwise, sorry shut up and color because we can't help you JOIN the AFA
~ Harsh? Probably.
~ Honest? You betcha!

The AF is known as the corporate branch, and as a child of an Army O3, I think your Mom would agree these posts were really not mean
 
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It was just that remark that made me ask if Sami is American. It just doesn't seem like something an American child would say or write.
 
Thank You

falconchic88 said:
Sami, if your Mom is an Army Captain, you have one advantage in that you are eligible for a Presidential nomination to all the service Academies. All you have to do is send in the applications and you get the Nom. This does not guarantee an appointment, as only about 100 appointments are given to those with Presidential noms, so you should still apply for all other Nominations your are eligible for, but it does take some of the stresses off. My two at USNA were offered appointments in October and November of their senior year in HS, thanks to thier Presidential Nominations, sure made for a low stress second semester!
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This is actually really helpful for when I am eligible for the academy. I have been preparing for this and getting advice from others. Do you know about any other things that could help prepare me?
 
Sami said:
This is actually really helpful for when I am eligible for the academy. I have been preparing for this and getting advice from others. Do you know about any other things that could help prepare me?
Click to expand...

Honestly, Sami. Have you gone onto the USAFA website and perused it yet? It is a wealth of information directly from the source. Once you have done that, read all the "stickys," on this forum, THEN you can post more specific questions along with more of your academic and EC data so the community can better assist you.

Do your homework!
 
gokings814 said:
Honestly, Sami. Have you gone onto the USAFA website and perused it yet? It is a wealth of information directly from the source. Once you have done that, read all the "stickys," on this forum, THEN you can post more specific questions along with more of your academic and EC data so the community can better assist you.

Do your homework!
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Thank you. I have been searching for any information I can get.
 
Sami really does sound like a bot. One of the better ones that's able to sound close to human.

Sami, could you inform us about your stats like GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, etc? If you're a bot, I figure you won't understand that question.
 
I have never understood why bots would spam something but not advertise. What is the point?

Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
hornetguy said:
Sami really does sound like a bot. One of the better ones that's able to sound close to human.
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Definitely a bot. All "her" posts are almost identical in both content and format. I can only somewhat agree with sounding close to human because "she" mentioned something about "her" mother being a captain in the Army. Somewhat detailed for a bot, but about as much detail as we're gonna get.



Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
From an observational standpoint, I don't believe a bot would take the time, or even understand how to change the tag under its name to "future air force officer." - Which I don't believe is standard on the vBulletin platform. (At least not in my coding experience.) I doubt a bot developer would take the time to code this function into a bot, though that would be impressive if they did...

To me, it sounds like a young teen who is lacking a little in her knowledge of internet etiquette, and is diligently seeking advice on how to get into the Air Force Academy. Fencersmother, Pima, and others have provided good advice already.

Sami, as noted by others, not much more advice can be given on how to help you without knowing more about your standing in school / standardized test scores / GPA / athletic participation / other extracurricular activities.
 
Well, I suspect SAMI doesn't actually want to reveal her stats. She's been asked - and "just wants all the information she can get" without providing ANY.

Let her go get some info and return.

Sounds like someone significantly younger than 15 to this mother's ears.
 
I agree with others, I don't think they are a bot. I think fencer has it right, they are probably younger than 15.

~ My reason for that guess is because they are not answering the never ending questions of stats. At 15 they would at least have one year in HS, but at 14 they would be in middle school and nothing to report on their stats.
 
Reply to questions

Pima said:
I agree with others, I don't think they are a bot. I think fencer has it right, they are probably younger than 15.

~ My reason for that guess is because they are not answering the never ending questions of stats. At 15 they would at least have one year in HS, but at 14 they would be in middle school and nothing to report on their stats.
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I am going into the 9th grade my birthday was 2 days past the cut off date to start school. The reason I haven't answered ANY of your questions is, I felt you were extremely rude to me when I was only asking for advice from anyone who had experience in APPLYING for the academy. I am sorry that you feel I am too inexperienced for your level, but I have been getting great advice from others. Thanks.
 
Reply to hornetguy

hornetguy said:
Sami really does sound like a bot. One of the better ones that's able to sound close to human.

Sami, could you inform us about your stats like GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, etc? If you're a bot, I figure you won't understand that question.
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Sami is a human! She has a 4.0 GPA. She is going into the 9th grade this year, she wasn't held back just how her birthday fell. She plays basketball, and color guard. She is planning on playing softball and running track this school year as well. She also participates in many community service activities, supporting veterans, and is a reporter for her 4-H club. She has not taken ACT/SAT since she is only a Freshman this year.
 
Fencersmother and Pima,
I am truly amazed at how you chastise a young woman that is trying to accomplish a dream. As an officer and even when I was enlisted in the United States Army I have always tried to help others below me to accomplish their dreams. That is the ADULT thing to do. She JOINED the forum to obtain advice on the steps needed to be nominated and APPLY for the academy. Yes she made a few grammatical errors in her posts, but picking on her for it was extremely immature. She is a bright girl with a bright future.
I do want to thank you though; because of your negativity she is now more than ever motivated to prove to you that you are WRONG!!!
 
Well this just got a lot more interesting!


Just for anyone else; members of _____ are ______:

U.S. Army - soldiers
U.S. Marine Corps - Marines
U.S. Navy - sailors
U.S. Air Force - airmen
U.S. Coast Guard - Coast Guardsmen

All can be described as service members. Often you'll see soldier used for services other than the Army, but that's wrong. Of the five services, only "Marine" and "Coast Guardsmen" are capitalized.

Knowing the difference will help you out far down the road.
 
CPT Johnson said:
Fencersmother and Pima,
I am truly amazed at how you chastise a young woman that is trying to accomplish a dream. As an officer and even when I was enlisted in the United States Army I have always tried to help others below me to accomplish their dreams. That is the ADULT thing to do. She JOINED the forum to obtain advice on the steps needed to be nominated and APPLY for the academy. Yes she made a few grammatical errors in her posts, but picking on her for it was extremely immature. She is a bright girl with a bright future.
I do want to thank you though; because of your negativity she is now more than ever motivated to prove to you that you are WRONG!!!
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CPT Johnson,

I understand why you're upset. And I know no one wants to upset the "mama bears" out there, but I think some things need to be put into context.

First, on an online forum, we DO get bots and scammers. Sometimes the language or questions tip it off. Sometimes it can get very negative. Folks who have been he awhile are sensative to that.

Second, communication is a two-way-street. Folks here are not paid. They are not available as a human google. When they ask for information its to get a more complete picture. Now and then someone comes to SAF, fires off general questions and provides nothing in return "just answer my question." Well, it doesn't always work like that here, and I've never seen it work like that in the real world.

Put the two together, there is a history of bots (which tend to be "one-way comms") and a new SAF member who is only asking questions without providing much information. The general questions here have been asked and answered. For SAF users requesting BETTER information, context is needed.
 
fencersmother said:
First off:

1) Sami, the Air Force doesn't call them soldiers, they are AIRMEN.

2) If you are a military child, the best people to speak to are your parents. they understand moves, promotions, EVERYTHING, about life in the military.
Unlike my children who had no military background, I presume you live on or very near a military base... go THERE for immediate information.

3) How much research have you really done regarding USAFA? According to USNWR magazine and others, USAFA is considered akin to an Ivy League college... what do you need to do? You need to be competitive enough to make it to an Ivy League School, plus you have to be uber fit, and have leadership experience. ~~ SEE STICKIES. READ A.L.L. OF THEM.

4) As regards JOINING the Air Force Academy, one does not join. It is not a club. You are appointed after being nominated~~ see stickies above.

5) SCORE in the top 10% on all tests, SAT, ACT.... be the best of the best of athletes in your school ... be in the top 10% of your class.

6) QUIT ACTING OFFENDED WHEN YOU ASK FOR ADVICE AND THEN GET IT.
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In regards to point number 1... Once you complete the academy it is not written in stone that you must join the Air Force. You have the opportunity to do what you wish. Even join the US Army and be a soldier.
 
CPT Johnson said:
In regards to point number 1... Once you complete the academy it is not written in stone that you must join the Air Force. You have the opportunity to do what you wish. Even join the US Army and be a soldier.
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I think you'd be doing your daughter a disservice if you encourage her to believe there is any realistic "opportunity to do what you wish" and cross-commission from the AF into another branch. If she wants to become a soldier the USMA or AROTC is a more certain path. In the mean time while she is preparing to apply to USAFA she might want to anticipate using the term airman in her essays and interviews.

Good luck to both of you!
 
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