New question - ALO

[Aviation/Coasters 2007]

Hello again,
I'm currently a sophomore in high school, and I was wondering when we are supposed to contact our ALO. I understand I have over an entire year until I even begin anything involving applications, but do you contact them before or after you begin the application? Thank you in advance.

 

[flieger83]

Hi!

Until you're a "candidate" you don't have an ALO. That being said, your school should have one assigned and you could contact them. The odds are they'll be your ALO but...that can change too.

Speak with your counselors as the ALO should have left their information with them. When you can contact them to introduce yourself?

Anytime.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[T-37IP]

DS1 reached out to our area's ALO when he was in 8th grade to make sure he had a good plan going forward. He touched base with him periodically and is now a 3/C. DS 2 cannot get his mentor ALO to return any emails.

 

[Academician]

As an ALO, I visited my high schools in Atlanta routinely. (By the way, I expected my ALOs to make periodic visits as an LO Director for my region.) I also supported the AFA 'desktop' at local college fairs in the Atlanta area. I liked meeting students early as freshmen, sophomores, etc. I would then keep up with them over the years, especially if the students continued the 'conversation' and updated me periodically. Back then, I was both 'evaluator' and 'mentor' as the roles that exist today are separated into the two halves (Mentor LO and Evaluator LO). I recommend that you reach out to the ALO covering your high school, send the ALO your resume, and update the ALO periodically. You can reach out to your State's LOD if you cannot find the name of the ALO covering your school/area. I recommend this same for the students that I work with today. Good luck!