Starting My Application

CC, Bailey, and Rogers have all provided really good answers already, but I thought I'd add my own personal testimonial as well. Unlike some others, I never took the ACT, but I improved on my SAT score each of the three times I took it. I HIGHLY recommend taking the test as many times as you can (same goes for the ACT).

Regarding the class of 2020: The honest answer is that getting an appointment will almost certainly be the biggest challenge you have faced in your life. I know this was/is the case for me. Sometimes, it seems very overwhelming, like Rogers said, but there are always others who are able and willing to help (thank goodness for ALO's!). Keep working toward your dream, and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Good luck to you!
 
Thanks so much RogersCO'19 and Christcorp! Your answers were more helpful and encouraging than any I have gotten out of my ALO so far. I realize that he is probably very busy and he obviously deals with many more than just me, but his answers to my questions so far have been vague at best.
 
juniorman said:
Thanks so much RogersCO'19 and Christcorp! Your answers were more helpful and encouraging than any I have gotten out of my ALO so far. I realize that he is probably very busy and he obviously deals with many more than just me, but his answers to my questions so far have been vague at best.
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Happy to help!
 
By the way RogersCO'19, if you don't mind, where are you from? I only ask because I noticed you mentioned Penn State in your reply, and I haven't encountered many Pennsylvanians on this site. I am from near Erie myself.
 
juniorman said:
By the way RogersCO'19, if you don't mind, where are you from? I only ask because I noticed you mentioned Penn State in your reply, and I haven't encountered many Pennsylvanians on this site. I am from near Erie myself.
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I am actually in Alabama buy I aspired to go to Penn state for a while before USAFA
 
When a candidate asks me how many times they should take either the SAT or the ACT, my answer is usually along these lines: "In 21 years as an ALO, I have told precisely 4 candidates that they could stop taking the tests; that I thought they were high enough."

How did they do?

1. 35 ACT composite
2. 750V, 790M
3. 34 ACT Composite with 36M, 36V
4. 34 ACT Composite with 36M and SAT's of 740V, 760M

Incidentally all four candidates received appointment offers to their preferred academy. Yes, I have worked for all of them; and I have had "my kids" in every academy! Yes, USAFA is "mine" but...if an ALO can help a candidate achieve success, we'll do it!

Back to my story...TAKE THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER; you can't hurt yourself!! And you might be like ME...12 SAT's, 12 ACT's in high school; best was 550v, 560M. I got the TWE from everyone. A year of Prep School (NWPS) and on the VERY LAST ACT I took...up popped a 33 composite. I got three (3) BFE's.

Other than ruining a few Saturday's...what do you have to lose?

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Hello all. I need some advice.

Class of 2020 hopeful here. I'm going to be completely honest. Probably the lowest scores you've seen in this forum. I took the SAT for the first time in January and averaged toward a high 400. Very disappointed and I'm now studying every night for it. I took the the ACT in February and received a 21 overall. Which is about the national average but not good enough.

I am studying for both tests and I am registered to take both on April and May. Should I even put my first scores in and submit my PCQ? Or should I just wait for the next scores and update my profile?
 
imflyingsolo said:
Hello all. I need some advice.

Class of 2020 hopeful here. I'm going to be completely honest. Probably the lowest scores you've seen in this forum. I took the SAT for the first time in January and averaged toward a high 400. Very disappointed and I'm now studying every night for it. I took the the ACT in February and received a 21 overall. Which is about the national average but not good enough.

I am studying for both tests and I am registered to take both on April and May. Should I even put my first scores in and submit my PCQ? Or should I just wait for the next scores and update my profile?
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Basically it is up to you. You can not submit them (like I did because I hadn't received my scores back) and see what status you get. My status was non competitive, than I submitted them and it changed. Or you could submit them and they say competitive and you way to make candidate or they say noncompetitive and you retest, submit new scores and be upgraded to competitive if they're higher. To me it didn't make a difference if I had submitted them or not. My first ACT was April of my Junior year so I was behind my peers on that aspect. I say submit them so you can know how the academy deems you(competitive or not) and because if you submit the scores, they tell you specifically on your portal what areas to improve. Like with me they said my English needed work. Plus it might show how hard your trying (for lack of better words) if you test and keep testing and send them all your scores. I sent them the good, the bad, and the ugly. They got score reports from all of my 6 tests. That's speculation though. Anyway, really the decision is yours but they both have the same outcome, in the end if you keep testing and do better, whether you initially submit the scores or not, you will make it to candidate phase.
 
Okay, I just read this post again and I have a question about whether or not my DD should retake the ACT. SAT scores: CR800 M750 W770 (She only missed one question on SAT math)
ACT scores: Composite 31 E34 M29 R36 S26 Is it really worth taking the SAT again just to shoot for 1600? With her SAT score so high, is it necessary to retake the ACT? She does not think so and prefers not to take it again. She listed all of her scores when applying for first look. When she officially applies after July 1st, can she only send in her official SAT scores or must she send in the ACT as well? Thanks.
 
FalconsRock said:
Okay, I just read this post again and I have a question about whether or not my DD should retake the ACT. SAT scores: CR800 M750 W770 (She only missed one question on SAT math)
ACT scores: Composite 31 E34 M29 R36 S26 Is it really worth taking the SAT again just to shoot for 1600? With her SAT score so high, is it necessary to retake the ACT? She does not think so and prefers not to take it again. She listed all of her scores when applying for first look. When she officially applies after July 1st, can she only send in her official SAT scores or must she send in the ACT as well? Thanks.
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Personally, I think her SAT scores are plenty high enough. You aren't required to send in both ACT & SAT. Even if you do, they take your superscore anyway (ACT gets converted to the SAT scale.)
 
USAFA83GradWife said:
Personally, I think her SAT scores are plenty high enough. You aren't required to send in both ACT & SAT. Even if you do, they take your superscore anyway (ACT gets converted to the SAT scale.)
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Thanks. She will be happy to hear that. She was dreading the thought of having to take the ACT again. Now she can focus on other things like her nomination applications. :)
 
RogersCO'19 said:
Basically it is up to you. You can not submit them (like I did because I hadn't received my scores back) and see what status you get. My status was non competitive, than I submitted them and it changed. Or you could submit them and they say competitive and you way to make candidate or they say noncompetitive and you retest, submit new scores and be upgraded to competitive if they're higher. To me it didn't make a difference if I had submitted them or not. My first ACT was April of my Junior year so I was behind my peers on that aspect. I say submit them so you can know how the academy deems you(competitive or not) and because if you submit the scores, they tell you specifically on your portal what areas to improve. Like with me they said my English needed work. Plus it might show how hard your trying (for lack of better words) if you test and keep testing and send them all your scores. I sent them the good, the bad, and the ugly. They got score reports from all of my 6 tests. That's speculation though. Anyway, really the decision is yours but they both have the same outcome, in the end if you keep testing and do better, whether you initially submit the scores or not, you will make it to candidate phase.
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Thanks for the advice. I'll be submitting my PCQ tomorrow!
 
Take the SAT and ACT as many times you can. Most people take the tests 2 to 3 times. Based on your current scores you really going have to up your math score. Remember the service academies are engineering schools and your math score is the most looked at. Also don't hold back any of your scores send them all they will take your best scores from each test and subject. Good luck.
 
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