Tips on Staying Hopeful While Waiting on a Decision and General Advice Requested.

[AFS26]

Hey y'all! Today marks the 385th day since I started my '26 application and 50 days since I submitted it (I was granted a month long extension for a CFA retake, and improved majorly.) It is now April and according to the instructions to candidates booklet's admissions timetable, the deadline to accept USAFA and USAFA Prep appointments and Falcon Foundation Scholarships is April 15th. Now, logically, I would imagine all appointment offers will be made by then so that means that I will have my answer within the next 11 days but the wait still feels eternal. Any advice would be appreciated, even if it literally is "1400 out of the 1500 appointments they usually make have been made, go to plan B"

With stress about plan A failing out of the way, I would also appreciate pointers on plan B. Currently plan B is looking like AFROTC at UT Austin with a Mechanical Engineering major and a Chem/Botany Minor (for fun, if I can handle the stress). What should I do to increase my chances of admissions during the next admissions cycle? I already have a 3.545 GPA at UT because I have already taken Geoscience, Gen Chem 1 and Physics 1(stupidly accepted a B and B+ for physics) through a dual credit program they have set up with my high school. Should I just go ahead and pay my enrollment fee?

Also, can I already start my '27 application or do I have to wait for rejection?

I know that may have been quite a read but thank you for your time and advice.

 

[FlyFalcon]

I'll say this, control what you can. As someone who just had a panic attack over chem, it's hard. It's hard to remember you've put in hard work and you should be proud of what you've accomplished.

Take a moment to look back a really see what you've done. Write down even the smallest of accomplishments. You earned them. To increase your odds talk to your ALO and see what they would recommend. They know than us in the cycle. Score as high as you can in your classes, due your best in ROTC. For the enrollment fee, I say it depends on the amount. If it's under 100 would say go for it. Worst case you get into USAFA and that 100 is a backup in case something happens! If it's more and you can wait then it's your call but I would personally wait.

Lastly, I would wait to apply. All pre-candidates are moved to candidates in June (or July I forget) no matter when they open to pre-candidate questionnaire. I would focus on plan B and then open my new application toward May-Juneish. You know the process and if it would be easier to apply for nominations now I would recommend getting those essays touched up to give you something to focus and control on.

 

[leoLibra]

Hey y'all! Today marks the 385th day since I started my '26 application and 50 days since I submitted it (I was granted a month long extenI'd sion for a CFA retake, and improved majorly.) It is now April and according to the instructions to candidates booklet's admissions timetable, the deadline to accept USAFA and USAFA Prep appointments and Falcon Foundation Scholarships is April 15th. Now, logically, I would imagine all appointment offers will be made by then so that means that I will have my answer within the next 11 days but the wait still feels eternal. Any advice would be appreciated, even if it literally is "1400 out of the 1500 appointments they usually make have been made, go to plan B"

With stress about plan A failing out of the way, I would also appreciate pointers on plan B. Currently plan B is looking like AFROTC at UT Austin with a Mechanical Engineering major and a Chem/Botany Minor (for fun, if I can handle the stress). What should I do to increase my chances of admissions during the next admissions cycle? I already have a 3.545 GPA at UT because I have already taken Geoscience, Gen Chem 1 and Physics 1(stupidly accepted a B and B+ for physics) through a dual credit program they have set up with my high school. Should I just go ahead and pay my enrollment fee?

Also, can I already start my '27 application or do I have to wait for rejection?

I know that may have been quite a read but thank you for your time and advice.

I wouldn't give up on the Academy this year, but it is always a good idea to be hype and plan for a plan B too. Wait on the deposit for UT Austin, as long as you have the time to do so before April 15th. No point in throwing away that money if the Academy is still an option (you never know if more appointments will come out soon and it could be right around the corner). I remember being just as excited for my Plan B (go beavs) as I was about the Academy.

ROTC is awesome however, and you end up at the same place, a 2nd LT in the United States Air or Space Forces. The Academy is an awesome experience, but ROTC will be too if you choose to do that, and don't give up on your dream of service just because the Academy doesn't work out first try.

Wait on the '27 application, no rush...

This is just my opinion though! Open to discussion or more thoughts.

 

[throckmortius]

Both myself and at least a few other reapplicants for this year have already put our CO 2027 precandidate questionnaires in, which wouldn't hurt for you to do too. Even if you get in this time around, you can withdraw the application (or just not fill it out and it'll automatically withdraw it).

It says for me that the candidate kit won't open until July, so it doesn't particularly matter when you submit your PCQ.

In the mean time, I'm also reaching out to my university's ROTC battalion to see what my options are. We're in a similar boat.

Worst case scenario for me, I get rejected (again) and get to play soldier for a year in Army ROTC until I hopefully get appointed for CO 2027. When I didn't get appointed during the March 20th wave, I was rather upset, but worrying over it does nothing to help. Looking at your plan B would be a good option right about now, but you still might yet hear good news.

I'm praying for us all. Best of luck!

 

[moho]

Hey y'all! Today marks the 385th day since I started my '26 application and 50 days since I submitted it (I was granted a month long extension for a CFA retake, and improved majorly.) It is now April and according to the instructions to candidates booklet's admissions timetable, the deadline to accept USAFA and USAFA Prep appointments and Falcon Foundation Scholarships is April 15th. Now, logically, I would imagine all appointment offers will be made by then so that means that I will have my answer within the next 11 days but the wait still feels eternal. Any advice would be appreciated, even if it literally is "1400 out of the 1500 appointments they usually make have been made, go to plan B"

With stress about plan A failing out of the way, I would also appreciate pointers on plan B. Currently plan B is looking like AFROTC at UT Austin with a Mechanical Engineering major and a Chem/Botany Minor (for fun, if I can handle the stress). What should I do to increase my chances of admissions during the next admissions cycle? I already have a 3.545 GPA at UT because I have already taken Geoscience, Gen Chem 1 and Physics 1(stupidly accepted a B and B+ for physics) through a dual credit program they have set up with my high school. Should I just go ahead and pay my enrollment fee?

Also, can I already start my '27 application or do I have to wait for rejection?

I know that may have been quite a read but thank you for your time and advice.

USAFA gives one week after the appointment is offered for all decisions given after April 8. They regularly give decisions after April 15 every year, it’s just not the majority of them.

 

[AFD]

(I was granted a month long extension for a CFA retake, and improved majorly.)

Did you improve enough to meet the standard?

Currently plan B is looking like AFROTC at UT Austin with a Mechanical Engineering major and a Chem/Botany Minor (for fun, if I can handle the stress)

UT is a great school, congrats.

What should I do to increase my chances of admissions during the next admissions cycle?

USAFA will deny you for failing the CFA even if you improve between failures. If failing the CFA is the reason they list in your portal then you need to increase your fitness level before reapplying.

 

[shiner]

@AFS26 I have a few random thoughts for you...
1) You are being realistic in understanding that most appointments will have been offered by 15 April. There will be a few that trickle out after then, but the statistical probability of receiving one after 15 April is much lower. Looking at the c/o 2025 list of appointments, by 15 April 2021 there were 181 of 193 SAF reported appointment on the board (94%)
2) You don't control Plan A, but you do control Plan B.
3) Plan B should offer an acceptable path that aligns with your personal goals for both career and education. UT is amazing and seems to address both outcome needs.
4) Historically, reapplicants fair better statistically than first-time applicants. Maturity, grades, and life experiences are working in your favor.
5) If you are laser focused on attending a SA, consider a dedicated SA Prep program like Marion Military. I consider this option the ALL IN route that is a calculated risk. The downside risk is that you have an opportunity to enter into a traditional 4-year program that would put you on path to graduate with your "peer group." MMI is only a 2yr school, so there would be a follow-on step to figure out if your attempts to reapply did not pan out. The positive is entering a dedicated training program aligned with your goal of attending a SA. MMI would also provide academic credits that should be transferable if Plan B fails to net Plan A and leads you to Plan C...
6) There are examples of people who are appointed in January of each year. There are examples of people who are appointed in June of each year (me). There are examples of people who are appointed after having been passed over in the prior cycle. There are examples of multi-year reapplicants who are finally picked up after multiple attempts.

Your true goals should dictate your choices. If the paramount goal is to commission and become an Air Force officer, the UT path supports that goal and is achievable in a 4yr window. If that goal is secondary, and the school name on the diploma is the more important goal, there are several strategies on how to proceed but they do fall into the two buckets of 4yr school ROTC or self prep via other means.

 

[AFS26]

Did you improve enough to meet the standard?

UT is a great school, congrats.

USAFA will deny you for failing the CFA even if you improve between failures. If failing the CFA is the reason they list in your portal then you need to increase your fitness level before reapplying.

I improved from failing pretty much every event to the following stats:

Event	AFA Standard	My scores
BB Throw	68	51
Pull Ups	13	17
Shuttle Run	8.7	8.61
Sit Ups	81	85
Push Ups	61	52
Mile	6:31	6:27

 

[LTBob87]

I improved from failing pretty much every event to the following stats:

Event	AFA Standard	My scores
BB Throw	68	51
Pull Ups	13	17
Shuttle Run	8.7	8.61
Sit Ups	81	85
Push Ups	61	52
Mile	6:31	6:27

You are on par or better than my DS on everything except the BB Throw. I know you passed everything else since he got appointments. The key to the BB is practice and mechanics. He is also 6' 3" with long arms, so he had a longer fulcrum to launch with.