Mentor ALO

[abby2636271]

I am unclear the exact position of the Mentor ALOs. Are they allowed to do things like edit our admissions essays for USAFA?

 

[FlyFalcon]

I am unclear the exact position of the Mentor ALOs. Are they allowed to do things like edit our admissions essays for USAFA?

By edit do you mean take a look and offer advice? Sure. But mostly there for advice like what you need to do for you evaluation alo interview ( mine did a practice interview), tell you where you might improve like cfa,offer advice on what classes to take next semester, and lastly off insight to any calm any worries. We actually have mentor also on the forums so they'll probably pop in case they do alot

 

[shiner]

@abby2636271 - the Mentor ALO experience will vary depending on the individual serving in that role. In almost every case, the individual is a military reservist or a civilian volunteer. For some, it is their primary role as a reservist or it could simply be an additional duty. As reservist, they typically have a full time job doing something else. This all combines into a variable for their availability and how much time they allot to the ALO function.

For the most part - ALOs are great and volunteer for this role because they are passionate about USAFA and want to help applicants through the process.

The Mentor ALO is the person you ask all of your questions to - there are no dumb questions. Try to find answers on the web, but some things you just have to ask because you cant find the info anywhere else. The Mentor ALO can help with things like your student resume and provide guidance on areas you can improve. If you do ask them to review your essays, my suggestion would be to give them your fully vetted/reviewed/proofed/ final final version you want to submit. The ALO is not your editor but can be a good last pass before submission to provide any finishing touch and/or guidance.

Throughout the admissions process, an applicant will encounter a number of people who provide input and guidance on this complicated process. Overall, for USAFA, the ALO should be the primary contact. Each student has an Admissions advisor, but questions about the school and such are not in their wheelhouse. The ALO is the catch-all and can play traffic cop for you to short cut the journey and get you in contact with the proper person for the question.

 

[Capt MJ]

@abby2636271 - the Mentor ALO experience will vary depending on the individual serving in that role. In almost every case, the individual is a military reservist or a civilian volunteer. For some, it is their primary role as a reservist or it could simply be an additional duty. As reservist, they typically have a full time job doing something else. This all combines into a variable for their availability and how much time they allot to the ALO function.

For the most part - ALOs are great and volunteer for this role because they are passionate about USAFA and want to help applicants through the process.

The Mentor ALO is the person you ask all of your questions to - there are no dumb questions. Try to find answers on the web, but some things you just have to ask because you cant find the info anywhere else. The Mentor ALO can help with things like your student resume and provide guidance on areas you can improve. If you do ask them to review your essays, my suggestion would be to give them your fully vetted/reviewed/proofed/ final final version you want to submit. The ALO is not your editor but can be a good last pass before submission to provide any finishing touch and/or guidance.

Throughout the admissions process, an applicant will encounter a number of people who provide input and guidance on this complicated process. Overall, for USAFA, the ALO should be the primary contact. Each student has an Admissions advisor, but questions about the school and such are not in their wheelhouse. The ALO is the catch-all and can play traffic cop for you to short cut the journey and get you in contact with the proper person for the question.

Excellent advice, especially about doing all the heavy lifting on editing yourself.

Do the work. Draft, re-write, refine, polish, check spelling/grammar/syntax/parallel construction, eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, cut out hyperbole (“All my life I have wanted to attend USAFA and fly jets.” Really? Your entire life?), ask an English teacher to review and critique, read it out loud to a sibling or good friend, and if they roll their eyes and start laughing, you will know you have the tone wrong. Tell the story only you can tell, in your own words, not what you think Admissions wants to see. Don’t parrot back what you see on the website; they already know what they do. Always check to see if you have ATFQ (answered the full question). Be mindful of character with spaces count, if there is a limit.