Odds of getting into USAFA

[RenegadeCricket]

I'm not sure if I can make it in USAFA. I have a decent SAT Score of 1280 and my current GPA as of the start of senior year of HS is 3.9. I'm not very fit, and I can run around 3 miles at a 10 minute mile pace and 1 mile at an 8 minute pace. I can do around 3 pull-ups, and 30 push ups. My upper body isn't in the greatest shape. I have joined my high school Cross Country team for 3 years, Swim Team for 4 years, and Track and Field for 2 years. I have not participated in any clubs but 1 year of Unicef club. I am very skilled at swimming but I don't believe that it will be taken into consideration. So do I have a shot at making it into any service academy if I can't make it into USAFA? The ones I want to go to the most are USAFA, USNA, and USMA. The military college I have as backup is VMI.

 

[shiner]

Too many variables to consider based on what you have shared.

SAT - while respectable, 1280 would be on the low side for competitive applicants.
GPA - 3.9 on a 4.0 scale is good

Not being fit.... if you have been on CC for 3 yrs and Swim for 4.... why are the stats so low? The CFA is a standardized test that you can prep for.

Clubs - your competitive sport activity has a chance at offsetting this in the student resume. You and your competition only have 24-hours in a day. As for whether swim would be considered - are you swimming A times? AA? AAA? AAAA? If your super power is swim, would you be considered for a D1 team? If not, what about a D3 team like USMMA and USCGA?

Leadership? Do you have any leadership experience within your sports team? Is there a team captain role you can fill this year?

As for whether or not you have a shot.... consider this:
1) If you do not apply, it is guaranteed that you will NOT be accepted.
2) If you complete the application, you have a ~10% chance of being appointed
3) If you complete the application and the school considers you academically and physically "qualified", you have greater than 50% chance of being appointed.

 

[Allectus]

You still have time to work on the test score and your fitness. Also, see where you can add leadership in your activities. Seek out being a team captain--some coaches will work with you on leadership if they are aware of your goals for Service Academy appointment. Also, consider running for class officer. DS had a super score SAT of 1300 and similar GPA and was admitted to West Point and VMI. He kept taking the Sat and ACT until December of his Senior year. He started out with a 22 ACT score. You might want to also try the ACT--some score better on that test than the SAT.
But as Shiner stated there are many variables--class rank, leadership, etc. You may also want to consider The Citadel--similar to the Academies and VMI as to lifestyle.

Rest assured almost no one is certain that they can make it into a Service Academy--and you won't know if you don't try.

 

[RenegadeCricket]

Too many variables to consider based on what you have shared.

SAT - while respectable, 1280 would be on the low side for competitive applicants.
GPA - 3.9 on a 4.0 scale is good

Not being fit.... if you have been on CC for 3 yrs and Swim for 4.... why are the stats so low? The CFA is a standardized test that you can prep for.

Clubs - your competitive sport activity has a chance at offsetting this in the student resume. You and your competition only have 24-hours in a day. As for whether swim would be considered - are you swimming A times? AA? AAA? AAAA? If your super power is swim, would you be considered for a D1 team? If not, what about a D3 team like USMMA and USCGA?

Leadership? Do you have any leadership experience within your sports team? Is there a team captain role you can fill this year?

As for whether or not you have a shot.... consider this:
1) If you do not apply, it is guaranteed that you will NOT be accepted.
2) If you complete the application, you have a ~10% chance of being appointed
3) If you complete the application and the school considers you academically and physically "qualified", you have greater than 50% chance of being appointed.

I have joined the teams but I have been around the slowest for CC and Track. I am just average at swimming in my team and mentioned it in my question because it would be the sport which I say that I am decent at. I could possibly make the D3 teams for swimming after research on the times. I am not a leader in any of my sports teams and do not think I can be a team captain this year. Also my GPA of 3.98 currently is weighted. I improved from a mix B's and a C from my Freshman year to nearly all A's on my Junior year so will the admissions officer take the improvement into consideration?

 

[RenegadeCricket]

You still have time to work on the test score and your fitness. Also, see where you can add leadership in your activities. Seek out being a team captain--some coaches will work with you on leadership if they are aware of your goals for Service Academy appointment. Also, consider running for class officer. DS had a super score SAT of 1300 and similar GPA and was admitted to West Point and VMI. He kept taking the Sat and ACT until December of his Senior year. He started out with a 22 ACT score. You might want to also try the ACT--some score better on that test than the SAT.
But as Shiner stated there are many variables--class rank, leadership, etc. You may also want to consider The Citadel--similar to the Academies and VMI as to lifestyle.

Rest assured almost no one is certain that they can make it into a Service Academy--and you won't know if you don't try.

I am not sure if I can add leadership to my activities since I am not extremely skilled at the sports I participate in. My personality makes me more of a follower rather than a leader so I am not sure that I would be proficient at leadership roles. The Citadel is also another military college I am looking at but VMI is in state for me so I would pick VMI if I get into the college and I unable to get into a service academy.

 

[shiner]

Thanks for the added detail.

You know the challenge before you - it is difficult, but not impossible. I would encourage you to complete the application, continue pursuing all options to include military colleges, and consider Service Academy prep programs like Marion Military Institute should you not achieve your goal in the first attempt.

 

[Sciencnerd]

I am not sure if I can add leadership to my activities since I am not extremely skilled at the sports I participate in. My personality makes me more of a follower rather than a leader so I am not sure that I would be proficient at leadership roles. The Citadel is also another military college I am looking at but VMI is in state for me so I would pick VMI if I get into the college and I unable to get into a service academy.

Add leadership. In sports, yes, you may need some more skill, however there are more places to lead than that. Take marching band for example. How can you lead there? Any opportunities to lead that you have, take them. Consider JROTC. It will give you a little taste of what it's like in the military, plus you will get better fitness and leadership opportunities. I'm sure a JROTC instructor would gladly help you if you told them your situation. The worst they can say is no.