Question about CFA!

[navy/airforce-hopeful man]

Hey all, this has been bugging me recently and I thought some of you might know the answer.

Currently I'm set to take my CFA next week. I will almost certainly not pass. Im recovering from a hip injury, my general upper body strength is quite sub par, and my track might get snowed over. All this in mind, I still planned to take the CFA under the assumption that if my score was failing and I get it in on time before Jan 31st, I would be allowed to do a retake. The plan is to heal and train to be able to put up a far better score on this second chance. My questions are:

1: if my score is failing, am I gueranteed a 2nd chance 100%?

2: does that 2nd chance also have to be done before Jan 31st, just like the 1st test? Or could I do my re-take in February or even dare I say March, past the late-date of the forst test?

Ive looked through my handbook and I cant qhite find the answer to these. Any help would be appreciated

 

[T-37IP]

I don't believe you are guaranteed a second chance. If you do get a second chance, I believe it is usually within 30 days.

 

[dddad]

I believe that if you are not physically qualified at the deadline, i.e., January 31st, you will be disqualified. In other words, you won’t be triple qualified and will not be eligible for an appointment. That isn’t to say a re-take after the deadline has never occurred. But, it seems illogical that a candidate would be able to game the deadline by taking and failing the CFA shortly before the deadline. Think about how many slates could be thrown into disarray if large numbers of candidates started trying to extend their deadlines and a SA let them do it. There is no guarantee of a 2nd chance once the deadline arrives. Probably a near guarantee of no 2nd chance.

Sorry to hear about your injury. Give yourself as much time to heal as you can within the deadline and work on your upper body strength. Good luck.

 

[Stealth_81]

1. You are not guaranteed a second opportunity. The Academy will request one if they feel the rest of your application would get you an appointment.

2. The Academy’s request for a retake will give you a deadline to complete it.

Stealth_81

 

[NeverSayNever]

Follow up question:
DD is scheduled to take CFA next week. Likely will pass but will absolutely do better with another few weeks to train. Very close to getting in a full pull up vice Flex Arm Hang. Her application is due 31 Dec. Should she wait til January to take the CFA? She has a 4.0 GPA and near perfect verbal standardized test scores but math scores are "meh".

Take now with Flex Arm Hang or wait and nail a perfect pull up in January? Rest of the CFA scores are Average at best and below avg for 1 mile. She's just barely 5ft and not the most athletically gifted for things like...stride length. Personally thinking she would be a good fit for prep school as that was my path.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Follow up question:
DD is scheduled to take CFA next week. Likely will pass but will absolutely do better with another few weeks to train. Very close to getting in a full pull up vice Flex Arm Hang. Her application is due 31 Dec. Should she wait til January to take the CFA? She has a 4.0 GPA and near perfect verbal standardized test scores but math scores are "meh".

Take now with Flex Arm Hang or wait and nail a perfect pull up in January? Rest of the CFA scores are Average at best and below avg for 1 mile. She's just barely 5ft and not the most athletically gifted for things like...stride length. Personally thinking she would be a good fit for prep school as that was my path.

Based on many "tragedies" reported on this site due to weather, injury, facility closure, grader non-availability, etc, etc, etc, I have the following fervent reply:

DON'T WAIT, TAKE IT NOW

 

[dddad]

Follow up question:
DD is scheduled to take CFA next week. Likely will pass but will absolutely do better with another few weeks to train. Very close to getting in a full pull up vice Flex Arm Hang. Her application is due 31 Dec. Should she wait til January to take the CFA? She has a 4.0 GPA and near perfect verbal standardized test scores but math scores are "meh".

Take now with Flex Arm Hang or wait and nail a perfect pull up in January? Rest of the CFA scores are Average at best and below avg for 1 mile. She's just barely 5ft and not the most athletically gifted for things like...stride length. Personally thinking she would be a good fit for prep school as that was my path.

She should take it now. The CFA result will not make a bit of difference with respect to the meh math scores. Get a CFA submitted and then consider re-taking it.

 

[Capt MJ]

Follow up question:
DD is scheduled to take CFA next week. Likely will pass but will absolutely do better with another few weeks to train. Very close to getting in a full pull up vice Flex Arm Hang. Her application is due 31 Dec. Should she wait til January to take the CFA? She has a 4.0 GPA and near perfect verbal standardized test scores but math scores are "meh".

Take now with Flex Arm Hang or wait and nail a perfect pull up in January? Rest of the CFA scores are Average at best and below avg for 1 mile. She's just barely 5ft and not the most athletically gifted for things like...stride length. Personally thinking she would be a good fit for prep school as that was my path.

“Her application is due 31 Dec.”

If she waits until January I think she risks having her application closed for being incomplete. If she submits one before 12/31, then she has a shot at being offered a re-take if USAFA deems her competitive. She’s had the same months to prepare as fellow applicants. There is something to be said for getting on with it and giving it her very best shot. If this is something she really wants, she should lean in and go for it.

 

[MidCakePa]

At the risk of piling on: There is zero wisdom in willfully missing a deadline that has been known for a long time, and hoping for mercy based on…what, exactly?

Just get it done! Whether she passes or not, there’s a valuable lesson to be learned here. And she should be given the “opportunity” to learn it.

 

[NeverSayNever]

At the risk of piling on: There is zero wisdom in willfully missing a deadline that has been known for a long time, and hoping for mercy based on…what, exactly?

Just get it done! Whether she passes or not, there’s a valuable lesson to be learned here. And she should be given the “opportunity” to learn it.

I think something might have been missed in translation. Her instructions that she showed me are that the checklist items must be completed NO LATER than two weeks AFTER the candidate kit deadline which is 31 December. This is why she is asking if she should do it before the candidate kit deadline or within the 2 weeks that the instruction says are acceptable. At this point she hasn't even hit "submit" on the application so she doesn't have red Xs or green checkmarks etc. Sorry if there was confusion...

 

[MidCakePa]

This is why she is asking if she should do it before the candidate kit deadline or within the 2 weeks that the instruction says are acceptable.

At this point, waiting only invites calamity, e.g. injury, illness, bad weather, unavailable proctor. The sooner it’s done, the better. Best wishes to her.

 

[flieger83]

I read the above responses...all good.

Here's my ALO take/bottom line: if she takes it AFTER the 31 DEC 2022 deadline, she is done. They will close the door as she did not meet the required deadline. USAFA isn't too "merciful/understanding" when a candidate doesn't follow instructions.

If the deadline is 31 December, make certain it's submitted NLT than that date.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83