Please Clarify AFA Application Deadline For Me -- Is 45 days or ???

areed

5-Year Member
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Jun 12, 2010
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My letter from the AFA says to submit the application within 45 days (which would be towards the end of August), but the online application form says "for the USAFA Class of 2015 (entering in June 2011) will be open from 1 March 2010 - 31 January 2011."

Can someone clarify the deadline, please? Is it the end of August or January 31st??
 
My letter from the AFA says to submit the application within 45 days (which would be towards the end of August), but the online application form says "for the USAFA Class of 2015 (entering in June 2011) will be open from 1 March 2010 - 31 January 2011."

Can someone clarify the deadline, please?

My understanding is that they would LIKE you to get everything in within 45 days. However the last you can submit something is 31 January 2011.
 
Yes, what knight said. If you can get everything accomplished, and the application 100% complete, within the 45 days, then it will be available for the first available board review. This usually begins towards the mid/end of september. (Depends on how many prospects the academy has applying this year). And for what it's worth, it is quite feasible to have the application completed within 45 days. I know quite a few individuals who did it. It did require some preparation however. E.g. getting your teacher's email addresses; having a rapport with the school admin to get your school profile, transcripts, etc... ready to go. Most of this you need to plan for while school is still in session at the end of your junior year. If not, you might not be able to get a hold of your teachers for addresses, P.E. teacher to do your CFA, etc... in June/july. But if prepared, you can definitely get it all done in 45 days.

The advantages of getting it done in the 45 days are:
1) Your application is reviewed early. If it's a strong application, you increase your chances of an LOA. You also show your members of congress, who will be considering you for a nomination, that you are determined and motivated.
2) You free up your time so you can spend the rest of the summer doing early admission applications to your other college choices. You should be applying to at least 5 colleges besides the academy.

Of course, it is true that you can wait all the way up til January of next year to finish up your application. That is your prerogative. If you have an "Average" application, it allows you more time to do try and do better on the CFA test. For what it's worth, that is the ONLY part of the application process; and the only essay type section; that once it's done, you can't change it. It does you no good to hold off completing the application because of grades. Your new grades won't be available until after christmas. Any updated grades, SAT/ACT, new activities, accomplishments, etc... can be added to your application at any time. But not having the application 100%, means that it will simply sit in a file. The board that gives out LOA and appointments will NEVER look at it until it's 100% complete. So my suggestion is ALWAYS to finish up the application 100% complete, as soon as possible. UNLESS; this is the ONLY UNLESS; you feel that you can significantly IMPROVE on your CFA scores. And I mean significantly. If you can't significantly improve on the CFA, then it does you no good to wait on your application. Every week that goes by after September, is another week that the board doesn't review your application and the possibility of getting approved isn't there. Best of luck to you. Mike.....
 
Looking to get that LOA? Get the app done early.

Do NOT count on an LOA this year/cycle...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(No, not confirming a dark secret or anything but there's been discussions about the value of LOA's...)
 
Do NOT count on an LOA this year/cycle...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(No, not confirming a dark secret or anything but there's been discussions about the value of LOA's...)

+1
With the economy, and so many applications last year; and many more anticipated this year, (I've already seen a lot of interested applicants); there isn't that much of a need for LOA's. The pool of "Stand out" applicants is getting larger.
 
I'd like to add on to this 45 days thing:

Even if you can't get it submitted within 45 days (for me, the end of 45 days will still be before school) will it make a difference whether you submit it on day 46 or in January? I guess what I mean to ask is do they review applications year-round?
 
They start reviewing 100% completed applications in September; and they continue reviewing them through the end of the selection process. The latest you can submit an application is the end of January. Now, the sooner your get your application in, the sooner it will be reviewed. And because applications generally have additional information added to them on a continual basis, such as new grades, updated ACT/SAT scores, additional achievements, etc... they will be reviewed again to include these changes, and update your score. The sooner you submit your application, the more opportunities you have for your application to be reviewed. Remember, they can't review your application if it's not available to be reviewed. And it WON'T be reviewed, until it's 100% complete.
 
They start reviewing 100% completed applications in September; and they continue reviewing them through the end of the selection process. The latest you can submit an application is the end of January. Now, the sooner your get your application in, the sooner it will be reviewed. And because applications generally have additional information added to them on a continual basis, such as new grades, updated ACT/SAT scores, additional achievements, etc... they will be reviewed again to include these changes, and update your score. The sooner you submit your application, the more opportunities you have for your application to be reviewed. Remember, they can't review your application if it's not available to be reviewed. And it WON'T be reviewed, until it's 100% complete.

Dead on accurate answer!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
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