That time of year again...chancing!

I wish I could double like this thread. The "what are my chances" threads often just give me too much anxiety. DS is a candidate just like everyone else. His stats/ numbers are in the same ball park as everyone elses. He has the straight As, sports, leadership etc... Stats in my opinion are often not showing the whole picture. DS is at a huge 6A school with over 1,000 in graduating class. DS's 4.3 is ranked 113 but his SAT is over 1400. His school is very competitive and almost every sport will make it to regionals/state every year. There are very few multi-sport athletes and most do not make varsity teams until their junior and senior year. School has a varsity, and multiple JV teams. Some athletes are just on a designated practice squad and never see a game, wear the uniform all season long. Son was on a practice squad freshman year so he could put in the work and prove himself enough to make a team the following year. Son only has varsity letters from his senior year but he maxed out the pfa in almost every category. So if I posted his chance me thread on here I would be eaten alive for his class rank and lack of sports etc... I have faith that the academies will look beyond the statistics/ resumes. Sorry for the long post.
 
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TexasSoccerMom said:
So if I posted his chance me thread on here I would be eaten alive for his class rank and lack of sports etc..
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Texasmom! Your post makes clear PIMA's point. How can we chance your child compared to my homeschoolers, or to a kid in a rural school graduating 30, or to a private school kid, an urban child, a child who comes from xxxyyyzzz? ALL SERVICE ACADEMIES know the "naviance" of your child's school. How many go to Ivies? Was the kid really a good athlete with no chance for bigger competition? He's got a 4.3 gpa, out of what? 4? 5? 6? Did he take the most difficult coursework possible?

There is so much that goes into the admission's decision, that's why they have the WHOLE CANDIDATE SCORE.

Still, eaten alive for a class rank close to top ten? Not bloody likely.
 
fencersmother said:
Texasmom! Your post makes clear PIMA's point. How can we chance your child compared to my homeschoolers, or to a kid in a rural school graduating 30, or to a private school kid, an urban child, a child who comes from xxxyyyzzz? ALL SERVICE ACADEMIES know the "naviance" of your child's school. How many go to Ivies? Was the kid really a good athlete with no chance for bigger competition? He's got a 4.3 gpa, out of what? 4? 5? 6? Did he take the most difficult coursework possible?

There is so much that goes into the admission's decision, that's why they have the WHOLE CANDIDATE SCORE.

Still, eaten alive for a class rank close to top ten? Not bloody likely.
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4.3 / 4.0 scale weighted, 3.7 unweighted. All AP classes and taking the most challenging math/science courses offered, 4 years of foreign language (no movie appreciation or underwater basket weaving to pad the GPA!) But, every time I get on this board I start to panic at all the glorious, lengthy resumes I see posted.

Another one of son's pet peeves is counting service hours. He will count and submit the 50-60 he needs to maintain membership in good standing for his school clubs but then will not submit any above that minimum amount. He says community service is not about getting credit and keeping score. Son has repeatedly said community service is for him to serve, put others above himself and ask nothing in return. So.. he could easily have the hundreds of community service hours logged to keep score and brag about on a resume. He chooses not to do that. He says community service is not about himself.
 
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Don't sweat the volunteering hours, Texasmom. Personally, I despise compulsory volunteerism. What does that teach anyone?

My questions were not so much for your child, as rhetorical.

And for others: I have known kids from super competitive districts (note: districts, not high schools), principal nom, blah blah blah, who didn't make it through BCT. I have had stay at my home several times who had a 3.68 gpa/4.0, JV sports all the way, part time job for 2.5 years, promoted to asst manager, and not much else who was a distinguished grad and flies his airframe of choice.

So, no panics please.
 
TexasSoccerMom said:
4.3 / 4.0 scale weighted, 3.7 unweighted. All AP classes and taking the most challenging math/science courses offered, 4 years of foreign language (no movie appreciation or underwater basket weaving to pad the GPA!) But, every time I get on this board I start to panic at all the glorious, lengthy resumes I see posted.

Another one of son's pet peeves is counting service hours. He will count and submit the 50-60 he needs to maintain membership in good standing for his school clubs but then will not submit any above that minimum amount. He says community service is not about getting credit and keeping score. Son has repeatedly said community service is for him to serve, put others above himself and ask nothing in return. So.. he could easily have the hundreds of community service hours logged to keep score and brag about on a resume. He chooses not to do that. He says community service is not about himself.
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Although logging service hours is a great idea and is a great way to show a candidate's efforts and heart for service, our son never even considered the idea of logging community service hours. It was not a thought in his or my mind to do it. The first I ever heard of anyone doing it was when I found and joined this forum, after he had already received his appointment. Now he is a 2* and only a few months away from being a firstie (hard to believe!). So, needless to say, it didn't hurt him. We just never even thought about it even though he had a lot of service through church missions and through his school activities.
For sure, no reason to panic !
 
"Chance Me" posts are very predictable, I agree. You almost never (1 in 20?) see a post where you would say "if this candidate really focused on X, Y, or Z, they would be on the dance floor." Instead, you look at the seemingly impossible stats, 5.7 GPA, dozens of clubs, president of 5 of them, 3 varsity sports, top 5 in class, 1500 SAT, 400 hours of community service, can leap over the tallest building in a single bound, and you wonder: why would this person post a chance me thread? If they have enough knowledge about the process to list every single score and activity that in fact makes them extremely competitive, what information do they still need? The answer is that subconsciously they need the answer that can't be given: assurance that they will be offered an appointment. When the moderators, ALOs, and experienced people on this site say: yes you are competitive, it conforms what they already know. They are competitive. It moves the assurance needle slightly, but the meter will never read 100% until they actually have their appointment. The majority of "Chance Me" threads are attempts to reduce the inevitable uncertainty of the process.
 
Dadx4 said:
"Chance Me" posts are very predictable, I agree. You almost never (1 in 20?) see a post where you would say "if this candidate really focused on X, Y, or Z, they would be on the dance floor." Instead, you look at the seemingly impossible stats, 5.7 GPA, dozens of clubs, president of 5 of them, 3 varsity sports, top 5 in class, 1500 SAT, 400 hours of community service, can leap over the tallest building in a single bound, and you wonder: why would this person post a chance me thread? If they have enough knowledge about the process to list every single score and activity that in fact makes them extremely competitive, what information do they still need? The answer is that subconsciously they need the answer that can't be given: assurance that they will be offered an appointment. When the moderators, ALOs, and experienced people on this site say: yes you are competitive, it conforms what they already know. They are competitive. It moves the assurance needle slightly, but the meter will never read 100% until they actually have their appointment. The majority of "Chance Me" threads are attempts to reduce the inevitable uncertainty of the process.
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Well said...
 
parentalunit2 said:
I guess it’s because I’m old and the internet did not exist when I was applying to colleges, but the chance me posts always make me scratch my head. As if a motivated young candidate would actually be swayed by the opinions of a couple of strangers on the internet. As if they would truly stop, or never begin, the application process because of random feedback from this informed, yet completely unofficial source. If you want to know if you are going to get in, then throw your application into the ring and find out if you are admitted! That is the only real chance me that there is! Don’t ask here on the internet, ask your Senator and/or MOC, and ask the academy admissions board by applying. If you are hungry for it, go ahead and compete for that slot! If you are admitted you will be competing non-stop throughout your time at the academy and your entire career. Guess what? Life is competitive! Your district is competitive! Start being competitive now!

It was mentioned up thread that there are so many factors in play: geography, HS profile, athletics, leadership, etc., etc. And this bears repeating, because it is so true: Worry about yourself and putting together the best possible package you can. That is all you can control. Whether you’ve wanted an SA since third grade or just found out about them yesterday. Put your absolute best foot forward and you will find out your chance!
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You must complete to compete! Oh and did I say apply to every nominating source for which you are eligible.
 
Dadx4 said:
The majority of "Chance Me" threads are attempts to reduce the inevitable uncertainty of the process.
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However, since none of us work in admissions, I think it can be misleading to convey our OPINION of their 'chances'. There are parts of the application we will never see (teacher recommendations is one example) and since none of know the exact formula used by the academy, attempts to guess at someone's chance can be as misleading as helpful.
 
Cool Thread.
If almost all are the same old recycled script..What do you people consider "Now THAT'S Something"?
 
I'm under the impression that the best chances you'll have is to work really, really hard for a nomination, and then knock your Academy essays and interview out of the park.
Because really, you could be the brightest of stars in the whole country, but come off as a lazy jerk in your interview and not get an appointment.
 
There's 2 things to work on. Thanks.
Maybe we'll see then?

To clarify:
If Top Students candidates are the Average Joes applicants for USAFA, what are the Top of those "average" like?
The Elite of that Elite.
 
The Blue Baron said:
There's 2 things to work on. Thanks.
Maybe we'll see then?

To clarify:
If Top Students candidates are the Average Joes applicants for USAFA, what are the Top of those "average" like?
The Elite of that Elite.
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4.0 GPA Unweighted
36 ACT/1600 SAT
Class president
National Honor Society
Boys/Girls State
12 Varsity letters
Captain of 3 sports
State and Nationally ranked in their sports
Eagle Scout/Gold Award
JROTC Colonel Commander
1000 hours community service
Started a society to raise money for homeless locals
Interviewed so well that the ALO was in tears

In other word, an applicant that hits “everything” on the list of desired qualities. It’s a “whole candidate” thing.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth_81 said:
In other word, an applicant that hits “everything” on the list of desired qualities. It’s a “whole candidate” thing.
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@Stealth_81, great list! And then the candidate shows up for the ALO interview with a sense of entitlement, an unconvincing case for why they want to serve others, and an inability to maintain eye contact. Then repeats that performance in MOC interviews. Then submits personal statements that are generic and cliche. And poof — there goes the “perfect on paper” application.

So agree with you 100% on WCS — emphasis on whole — which is why I find the “chance me” posts a bit misguided. There’s so much we don’t know about the candidate in question, not to mention the others they’re up against.
 
Supposing a friend of mine has even more on their plate and resume..what should they show the ALO on the Resume and talk about? Has stories for many areas and done much/experienced much. Arts to Sports to Entrepreneurship to you name it.

They don't just want the interviews and nominations and appointment, but wants to smash it and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
 
ktnatalk said:
They are Gen Y... or am I just stereotyping?
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Except their not really...most of the millennials (Gen Y) are older, think born in the 80's to mid 90's, maybe 2000 (http://socialmarketing.org/archives/generations-xy-z-and-the-others/). These are Gen Z, the kids growing up with the internet and smartphones. Not at all the same.

Back on topic:
I admit I pretty much don't read the chance me threads. I much prefer specific questions that show some research has been done. A high schooler with the ability and forethought to poke holes in their own application based on research is already showing some of the qualities needed to succeed at USAFA and after.

@The Blue Baron I'd add practicing for interviews to your list of things to work on. See if you can find a professor or mentor that is willing to help you, find some common interview questions on here and give it a shot. See what they say about how you responded. I'll add that if you have a lot of unique experiences, talk about how those have shaped you and brought you to this point where you are willing to start over as a freshman at USAFA to serve in the Air Force. What have you learned from these many areas and experiences?
 
The Blue Baron said:
Supposing a friend of mine has even more on their plate and resume..what should they show the ALO on the Resume and talk about? Has stories for many areas and done much/experienced much. Arts to Sports to Entrepreneurship to you name it.
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@The Blue Baron, in another thread, I mentioned the issue of scattered thinking and the need to focus. To be a successful cadet and officer, one must become ruthless about focus and prioritization. The inability to distinguish what’s most important and what’s not — and the need to highlight or do everything under the sun — will sink any cadet or officer, no matter how intelligent or ambitious.

So tell your friend: Figure out the 3-4 most important attributes of a successful cadet and officer (that is, what USAFA and the AF most value). Then, spotlight their best personal experiences that align with those attributes. Quality beats quantity every time.

 
Plankton has been wanting to get his hands on the Krabby Patty secret formula. There's enough Academy stats out there so we have an idea of where applicants stand. Complete the application and you have a chance! If you want to increase your odds (still no guaranteed appointment), do your best to get 3Q and hope to get...2 nominations, an "Academy worthy" endorsement from your ALO and excellent recommendation letters/teacher evaluations. There's also hope to get Prep School or Falcon Scholarship or TWE into an appointment. If those pass by, go to Plan B or C. Good luck!
 
I have a vastly different opinion on this because I don't know what harm comes from the chance me threads. Seriously - what is the harm? They create a steady drumbeat of information that applicants CAN mine.

The vast majority of applicants do not post chance me topics anyway.

I also think it's valuable for applicants mining this place to see credential postings of appointed applicants. Are those also frowned upon by the elite on this site?
 
KansasMan said:
Because really, you could be the brightest of stars in the whole country, but come off as a lazy jerk in your interview and not get an appointment.
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Any pointers and elaborations on this? Wanna work as hard as the others kid for this (Give pound per pound or more than they are):cool:
 
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