Reapplying

USAFA hopeful

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
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Hey yall. I applied to the air force academy last year (entering june 2008) and didn't get in. I got a nomination but no appt. I didn't get a flat out no, just one of those deals where if someone declines, then it gives you a shot. I want to apply again for next year, so I'm joining the AFROTC program at the University of Georgia. I know that this improves your admissions record to get into the Academy, but my question is by how much? Does anyone have any recommendations on what else I could do to improve my record? Thanks
 
Are you physically up to snuff and ready for the CFA? How are your grades? Even though you are a college student now, is your SAT score something that might need a push upward? Have you shown leadership potential or demonstrated leadership skills, say through work, athleticism, clubs, councils? I would make sure that I had very little down time. I guess most of this you already know, though.

Did you have a weakness when you tried the first time? Conquer that now.

Good luck!!!
 
Yeah kind of. For the CFA last year, I didn't do so well.
Pullups:4
Pushups:40
Mile Run: 4:50
and I don't remember the rest, but I remember they weren't too good.
Gradewise I thought I did fairly well. At the time my transcript said I had a 4.083 GPA and ranked 27th in a class of about 600. I've also taken a total of 10 AP classes throughout high school, the rest being honors. I was involved in 3 sports every year (cross country, swimming, track, and marching band one year) lettering in all of them, a part of beta club and the national honor's society. Outside of school, I had jobs every year, and I was a boy scout and an eagle scout as well as having leadership positions in the troop. My SAT scores weren't too hot. My best combined critical reading + math was a 1220, 590 on critical reading, 630 on math.
I'm not sure how to improve, at this point, other than the physical part which I've been doing pushups and pullups every day and I guess through college grades. Also, I applied for an afrotc scholarship and didn't get that either. I'm hoping that dedicating a semester or year to afrotc without a scholarship will show my dedication and commitment but I'm not sure.
 
AFA

Dude a 4:50 mile is a great time time, now your push ups and pulls up could use improvement but thats a lot easier than someone who needs to approve there mile time. Hit the gym and do a few sets of pull up each days and some sit ups. Also, working on your sit ups can be a good one to max out on.
 
Pull ups and sit ups... definitely work on those. And those SATs really should be higher. Can you afford a test prep course or a tutor? If not, or even if you can, re-take the SAT and get both CR and M up 50 points each if you can. It's hard, but do it. I suspect those scores along with the rest of the CFA (since you can obviously run) are what's holding you back.
 
Thanks for the advice. I've been working out and running every day and using those letters of decline from last year as motivation. Does anyone happen to know if ROTC candidates still complete the regular online application? My det commander at UGA said it was a whole different process, but I'm afraid I might miss out if I don't complete it.
 
Contact your last ALO or the regional they should be able to give you a definite answer.

Good Luck
 
Does anyone know if taking a math in college freshman year helps, even if it's not required for our major?
 
Short answer YES! You will want to take college level math equivelent to what you would at USAFA. In addition you will want to take Physics, and Chem. They are going to want to see you can handle the work.
 
First off, I'm extremely jealous of your mile time. That's crazy fast.
That being said, it looks like you need to get your other scores up.
 
To be completely honest, I didn't do the mile run while i was completing my cfa. My cross country and track coach was administering it and he put down an average mile time for me that i ran during track season so i doubt i wouldve run that fast after all the cfa stuff.
To the answer above, would you recommend taking physics or chem over say marine science?
Here's my college schedule for the fall right now, I'll probably mess around with it before school starts:
English 1101
Airs 1001 and Airs 1001 L (AFROTC classes)
Marine science
Religion 1001
Arabic 1001

Any more advice on things I should change?
 
I'd advise strongly to take chemistry over Marine Science. You want to imitate your first semester USAFA classes as closely as possible. Keep in mind the average class load at USAFA is 6-7 classes a semester. Showing them you can do at least 6 at once would help.
 
ds has it right there. If you can take both physics and chemistry, do it. If not, chem is preferred.
 
Alright, thanks for the advice.
I don't think I can fit all of that into my schedule though.
I'm taking classes that will contribute to my major which is international affairs and I'm only required one science. I'm afraid that if i take an extra science and a math which i don't need and i don't get into the academy next year then I'll have used hours i couldve been contributing to my major. It seems like a risky move.
 
The main reason for taking the chem and physics type classes is to keep you on top of it. It's a lot easier coming straight out of High School when you just took those classes a couple of months prior. If you go a 12-18 months without keeping up on such classes, it makes it academically really difficult.

But, there are some people that are just natural wiz kids when it comes to math and science. As such, it probably wouldn't phase them to skip a year of math/science and jump right back into it. None of the classes you take at a CC or other college is going to transfer to the academy. Depending on how you score in the placement exams you might be able to go right into a class instead of taking a pre-req class first. But only you can decide whether or not you need the classes. Also, remember that when you were in high school, they only judged you on you transcript and SAT/ACT scores. They wanted to see the difficult classes and all the other goodies. Once you are in college, they are still going to want to see the high SAT/ACT scores and your high school transcripts; but now they are going to put added weight to your college classes. The classes you've chosen seen neutral enough to not backfire. I.e. High end math and science, and NOT DOING WELL in it would backfire. On the other side; basket weaving, frisbee, and golf would also backfire on you. Good luck.... Mike......
 
To be completely honest, I didn't do the mile run while i was completing my cfa. My cross country and track coach was administering it and he put down an average mile time for me that i ran during track season so i doubt i wouldve run that fast after all the cfa stuff.
To the answer above, would you recommend taking physics or chem over say marine science?
Here's my college schedule for the fall right now, I'll probably mess around with it before school starts:
English 1101
Airs 1001 and Airs 1001 L (AFROTC classes)
Marine science
Religion 1001
Arabic 1001

Any more advice on things I should change?

Yes, don't submit a false and fabricated CFA.
 
Seriously, you made up your mile time? I think this is one reason why USMA doesn't allow coaches to administer the CFA. Didn't you and the coach have to sign certifying that it was true? Submit an honest CFA.

If you are really USAFA hopeful then you will suck it up and take Chemistry and Calculus. If faced with two candidates who are reapplying and one has both of those courses and the other passed on them who do you think is getting the appointment?

I don't know if your college has 3 credit or 4 credit courses but you should plan on taking 15-16 credits plus AFROTC. English, Calc (or the Math couse preceeding Calc and Calc in the spring), Chemistry with a lab, AFROTC. If you can fit in both Arabic and Religion then fine. If not then pick one of those.
 
Really appreciate all the feedback and help. As far as the cfa goes, yes that was inexcusable. Although I was capable of running that time, it probably wouldn't have been that quick after all of the other events and the max mile time is only 5:20. My ALO questioned the time and I told him about it. This year will be completely honest.
 
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