ROLLING DEADLINE

[wjk905]

Hello,

I have a question regarding the rolling deadline system.Yes, I have read the letter in the application portal explaining how it works, but I'm still not so sure. Yes, I have searched further more into the internet trying to find out what it is. The simplest explanation was given here: https://www.petersons.com/college-search/rolling-admissions-advantages-disadvantages.aspx

I was wondering if rolling admission and rolling deadline mean the same thing. I was also wondering if the site above gave a good explanation of the "rolling" system.

Thanks!

 

[Pima]

I really wouldn't worry about that at all because for USAFA it is different when you say rolling admission because you can't get an appointment until you have a nomination in hand. On top of that they will not charge the nomination to the MoC until everyone on that slate has been boarded. Some/many will have their packet in by Nov. with the hopes of hearing back by Jan. However, not everyone will do that. They can wait until Feb. to complete it. If even 1 person on that slate waits until Feb. than you wait too.
~ Caveat there are exceptions to the rule, such as, LOAs. LOA candidates just need a nomination to earn their appointment. There are some that they also know their score is so high that they will be appointed no matter what. IE Christcorps DS had a Presidential nom. in hand, and I believe he got his appointment in Nov. Why? Because they knew that from a historical data for the Presidential slate aspect his WCS was so high he was going to clearly be in the top 100 for that slate, so they just gave him the appointment. Than of course you also have the Principal noms too. They are automatic appointments if they are 3 Q because that is the law.

Plus, remember that MoCs can wait until end of Jan. to submit their slate, thus, that Nov. date can't help you at all because the MoC has not submitted your slate.

Even when that Jan. date rolls around, it might be @30% that will get an appointment. If you look at last years appointment thread, the bulk drop in March. That is why it is called Mass Mailing March.

IOWS, be happy if you find out in Jan., but honestly expect Mar. Think of the appointment system like a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle that you don't know what it looks like. The corners and outside pieces are LOAs. They are easy to fit. Then you have the candidates with 4 or 5 nominations in hand, well that is where it becomes tricky on how to fit them in because it will now impact everyone else on those slates if they are the highest WCS on the slate.
~ Candidate Smith is number 1 on Sen. A and Cong. district 15. Whichever one they use means that on the other slate number 2 now moves up to 1. That than impacts the next slate. and so on and so forth. Now throw in the twist of what I stated earlier where there will be some that do not apply for that early decision and has until Feb. to submit.

Hence, be happy if you hear early, but really don't expect any answer for at least 5 months.

 

[Pima]

Not to take this off topic, but I would add don't concern yourself with the nitty gritty stuff like this right now. IMPO you are putting the cart before the horse. You will slowly learn the finesse aspects for an appointment, such as I just explained in my prior post.

Right now your number 1 -6 priorities are:
1. Getting that nom.
2. Getting your medical records in order if you know of any issues that occured since you were 13.
3. Submit your package
~~~ That means the CFA, the transcripts, the GC input, etc.
4. Keep taking that ACT and SAT as often as you can to try to get as close to those magic superscore numbers of 36 or 1600 as you can.
5. Get that AFROTC scholarship packet done.
~ AFROTC and USAFA boards do NOT talk. Their scoring system is different. No superscore and intended major matters to AFROTC. AFROTC is national not geo-centric. They could not care less if nobody from SD or Nebraska gets a scholarship. It starts and ends with the national level. USAFA starts at the Cong. district/state level, and from there it goes to the national level.
~ AFROTC has only 4 boards for the entire FY16-17 group. USAFA will start to meet weekly for reviewing packets in mid-Oct. They will meet weekly while USAFA is in session.
~ AFROTC will only count what you did through your junior yr. The only updating you can do is the SAT/ACT. USAFA allows constant updates. Thus, if your best sitting is currently at a 32+, you might as well get your packet in so you can be boarded at the 1st board in Dec.
~ Before you ask, you can use your DoDMERB exam for USAFA and ROTC. However, you cannot use the CFA for the AFROTC AFA. The test is completely different. No Bball throw, longer run, no shuttle, and I can't recall, but I believe there is no pull ups either. That means you have to do both exams by a recognized administer.
6. Have you done your ALO interview yet?
~ Your ALO will also submit a rec. Your packet is complete when every portion is complete, this too will impact when you are boarded.
~ Did you ask if your ALO will also be submitting your AFROTC rec? If not than you will also need to carve out more time this fall to get it done by a PMS before you can be boarded for AFROTC.

Are you starting to see my point on why I say don't worry about this aspect at all. It really is so low on the list of what I need to think about right now that as I say (cliche) you are jumping over the nickels to pick up the pennies. The pennies are trying to figure out the nitty gritty regarding stuff you have 0% control over. The nickels are getting the paperwork done so you have plan A, B and C.

I really wish you the best and hope you earn an appointment, but I am not sure you comprehend how much work outside of school you have in front of you in the next 2 months. Nomination essays, CFA, AFA, AFROTC scholarship application, college essays, DoDMERB exam, PMS interview, college campus tours, taking the SAT/ACT, playing a sport, taking all APs, volunteering, Boy Scouts, CAP, etc. etc.

Control what you can control, let the rest fall where it may, because if you try to control everything you will go crazy.

 

[wjk905]

Not to take this off topic, but I would add don't concern yourself with the nitty gritty stuff like this right now. IMPO you are putting the cart before the horse. You will slowly learn the finesse aspects for an appointment, such as I just explained in my prior post.

Right now your number 1 -6 priorities are:
1. Getting that nom.
2. Getting your medical records in order if you know of any issues that occured since you were 13.
3. Submit your package
~~~ That means the CFA, the transcripts, the GC input, etc.
4. Keep taking that ACT and SAT as often as you can to try to get as close to those magic superscore numbers of 36 or 1600 as you can.
5. Get that AFROTC scholarship packet done.
~ AFROTC and USAFA boards do NOT talk. Their scoring system is different. No superscore and intended major matters to AFROTC. AFROTC is national not geo-centric. They could not care less if nobody from SD or Nebraska gets a scholarship. It starts and ends with the national level. USAFA starts at the Cong. district/state level, and from there it goes to the national level.
~ AFROTC has only 4 boards for the entire FY16-17 group. USAFA will start to meet weekly for reviewing packets in mid-Oct. They will meet weekly while USAFA is in session.
~ AFROTC will only count what you did through your junior yr. The only updating you can do is the SAT/ACT. USAFA allows constant updates. Thus, if your best sitting is currently at a 32+, you might as well get your packet in so you can be boarded at the 1st board in Dec.
~ Before you ask, you can use your DoDMERB exam for USAFA and ROTC. However, you cannot use the CFA for the AFROTC AFA. The test is completely different. No Bball throw, longer run, no shuttle, and I can't recall, but I believe there is no pull ups either. That means you have to do both exams by a recognized administer.
6. Have you done your ALO interview yet?
~ Your ALO will also submit a rec. Your packet is complete when every portion is complete, this too will impact when you are boarded.
~ Did you ask if your ALO will also be submitting your AFROTC rec? If not than you will also need to carve out more time this fall to get it done by a PMS before you can be boarded for AFROTC.

Are you starting to see my point on why I say don't worry about this aspect at all. It really is so low on the list of what I need to think about right now that as I say (cliche) you are jumping over the nickels to pick up the pennies. The pennies are trying to figure out the nitty gritty regarding stuff you have 0% control over. The nickels are getting the paperwork done so you have plan A, B and C.

I really wish you the best and hope you earn an appointment, but I am not sure you comprehend how much work outside of school you have in front of you in the next 2 months. Nomination essays, CFA, AFA, AFROTC scholarship application, college essays, DoDMERB exam, PMS interview, college campus tours, taking the SAT/ACT, playing a sport, taking all APs, volunteering, Boy Scouts, CAP, etc. etc.

Control what you can control, let the rest fall where it may, because if you try to control everything you will go crazy.

Thank you so much for the advice! Although I'm not sure why I have to do the AFROTC.Could you explain why I have to apply for the AFROTC?

Thanks!

 

[Padre101]

Thank you so much for the advice! Although I'm not sure why I have to do the AFROTC.Could you explain why I have to apply for the AFROTC?

Thanks!

I hate to say that your question really goes to the core of your motivation.

Do you really want to be an Air Force officer? Or do you want just go to the Air Force Academy?

If you really want to be an Air Force officer, then you would do anything to become one like applying to the Air Force Academy AND applying for an AFROTC scholarship.

If you just want to go to the Air Force because (1) of the free tuition, (2) because it's cool or (3) anything other reason than to be an Air Force officer, then I really think you should reconsider why you are applying.

 

[Christcorp]

905. Padre said it pretty well. The truth is, you DON'T have to apply for ROTC. But you should look deep inside yourself as to why you want to go to the Air Force academy. The academy has an approximate 10% acceptance rate. Approximately 12,000 start the process, and about 1,200 will be accepted. Some will play the numbers and say that only about 6,000 are serious, so it's a 20% acceptance. Some will rationalize further and say that only about 3,000 are fully qualified, and therefor it's about a 40% acceptance rate. The point is, it's not like a traditional school where if you simply want to go, and you have the money, you can pretty much get in. So, you definitely need to have a Plan B, C, and D.

Now, having said that, many people apply to the academy for many different reasons. Now, if you're honest with yourself, and you truly want to apply to the academy simply because it's a free college education that you have to give 5 years of military service in return; along with 4 years of school in a very stressful environment; then just apply to the academy and leave it at that. But at least be honest with yourself. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone else. Especially here on a forum.

Everyone is different. Every branch of the military is different. Some want to simply serve as a commissioned officer, and they really don't care which branch of the military. They apply to all the academies and all the ROTC schools. Some, like my son, only wanted the Air Force to serve in. He was raised in an Air Force family, born on an Air Force base overseas, it's what he wanted. He only applied to the Air Force academy. If he wasn't accepted, he would have continued with his applications to Air Force ROTC. Because the Air Force is what he wanted. If ROTC didn't come through, he would have gone to Michigan State, Tulane, or one of the other schools he had scholarships to and tried for the Air Force via OTS after receiving his degree.

But I also know an individual where college tuition and serving in the Air Force were both concerns for him. He only applied to the Air Force academy, and if that didn't work out, he would join the Air Force as enlisted and work on his degree while there, then apply to be an officer after getting his degree. Or apply to the academy again as enlisted. That is what exactly happened. He didn't receive an appointment to the academy. He enlisted and finished his bachelors degree in 3 years. Got accepted to OTS, and is now a captain in the Air Force.

So whatever you want to do is fine. But what padre said is also true. You need to decide WHY you want to attend the Air Force academy. The academy isn't a goal. It's a stepping stone to goals. At best, it's a very short term goal. At 22-23 years old, you'll have an entire life in front of you. What is it you're wanting? If you're honest with yourself, and it's just the degree, then that's your decision. I can tell you that you'll have 9 very stressful years being some place and doing things that you aren't passionate about. But if serving is important, then the point padre and Pima are making is........... The academy isn't a guarantee, and there are many other ways to reach that goal of serving. ROTC being the next logical option. Best of luck.