TWE, Re-applying, AFROTC, and much more.
- Thread starter Nilet
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Nilet
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What a great story, Nilet! You obviously are a hard worker, have demonstrated perseverance, and shown courage in asking for a principle nom. Those are great characteristics for a military officer! Of course, this leads to further questions.
Did your congressman always list a principle nom, or was this out of the ordinary for them to do so since you asked?
What do you think caused your application to be overlooked the first 2 times you applied? Obviously, you will never really know, but do you think you had gaps or weaknesses somewhere that you were able to resolve for your third application?
Were you able to keep a competitive workload while in college and do well academically before going to the AFA?
And finally, when you re-applied, does the AFA look at your previous application to see how you've improved, or is it basically like starting all over? Or, do they save your application on your portal and give you access to it so that you can simply add additional info to it? I'm thinking of the EC section specifically. I would imagine you submitted new essays each time.
Thank you so much for your reply! Best wishes to you at the Academy!
mlwmom,
Thanks for the wishes! I'll step through your questions one at a time...
This was VERY out of the ordinary for my congressman. According to their office, slating a principle nomination runs the risk of them passing that slot in a given year if the candidate becomes medically or academically disqualified - as that nomination will not be filled on their accord. Due to the overwhelming amount of blue-chipped hockey prospects coming out of northern Minnesota, they tried to stay away from principles. I got lucky the year I asked for one, as they happened to have two nominations to give
I would say that being up against the varsity hockey prospects became my biggest challenge, as I happen to know I was slated #2 by my congressman on both of my applications. That being said, there is no telling what kept me out of selection from the national pool. I graduated high school with a 3.95 GPA, was class president, a three sport varsity athlete, captain of two, 31 ACT composite, over 150 community service hours with NHS, president of region 6 MNBPA, and a host of other things that I had done in aim of getting in. My athletic scores were all in the top quartile of applicants for both c/o 2016 and 2017. In other words - it's a mystery I was never able to solve.
Keeping a competitive workload in college was actually a huge factor in getting me into USAFA, I believe. I received a conditional type II AFROTC scholarship under the terms that I declare a STEM major - Mechanical Engineering. On top of taking 20 credits I held two part time jobs, pledged for the DET 410 Sabre Drill Team, Ran NCAA varsity cross country and indoor/outdoor track, achieved my private pilots license, and did community service once per week. Academics in college will be readjusted by the academy, so while I only had a 2.9 GPA in my mechanical engineering degree, my adjusted composite ac score came to a 3.64 as computed by the Academy (independent of HS GPA).
Frankly - no. They know you have applied before, but I asked my ALO the same question when I reapplied and he told me that my file had been cleansed 1 month after I received my TWE. All of my stats had to be re-submitted - which was why I was lucky that I had typed all of my EC and other long lists into a word file, and saved them. Yes - the essay changed (prompt as well) for each application, and was dealt with independently.
Let me know if I can feed any more insight!
- Nilet (2018)
Wow! You are an impressive young man, Nilet! It just goes to show that you never know what will happen! Thank you for your thoughtful reply!mlwmom,
Thanks for the wishes! I'll step through your questions one at a time...
This was VERY out of the ordinary for my congressman. According to their office, slating a principle nomination runs the risk of them passing that slot in a given year if the candidate becomes medically or academically disqualified - as that nomination will not be filled on their accord. Due to the overwhelming amount of blue-chipped hockey prospects coming out of northern Minnesota, they tried to stay away from principles. I got lucky the year I asked for one, as they happened to have two nominations to give
I would say that being up against the varsity hockey prospects became my biggest challenge, as I happen to know I was slated #2 by my congressman on both of my applications. That being said, there is no telling what kept me out of selection from the national pool. I graduated high school with a 3.95 GPA, was class president, a three sport varsity athlete, captain of two, 31 ACT composite, over 150 community service hours with NHS, president of region 6 MNBPA, and a host of other things that I had done in aim of getting in. My athletic scores were all in the top quartile of applicants for both c/o 2016 and 2017. In other words - it's a mystery I was never able to solve.
Keeping a competitive workload in college was actually a huge factor in getting me into USAFA, I believe. I received a conditional type II AFROTC scholarship under the terms that I declare a STEM major - Mechanical Engineering. On top of taking 20 credits I held two part time jobs, pledged for the DET 410 Sabre Drill Team, Ran NCAA varsity cross country and indoor/outdoor track, achieved my private pilots license, and did community service once per week. Academics in college will be readjusted by the academy, so while I only had a 2.9 GPA in my mechanical engineering degree, my adjusted composite ac score came to a 3.64 as computed by the Academy (independent of HS GPA).
Frankly - no. They know you have applied before, but I asked my ALO the same question when I reapplied and he told me that my file had been cleansed 1 month after I received my TWE. All of my stats had to be re-submitted - which was why I was lucky that I had typed all of my EC and other long lists into a word file, and saved them. Yes - the essay changed (prompt as well) for each application, and was dealt with independently.
Let me know if I can feed any more insight!
- Nilet (2018)
kjc_25
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It's looking like I'm not going to get into the academy this year. (No nom , I live right next to the academy so it's super competitive)and I really want to reapply again next year out of college. However my parents keep telling me I have no chance of getting in. Does anyone know the odds or have any success stories they can share? I'm determined to kick butt in college and ROTC and get in next year. I don't give up on things and the academy is a huge dream of mine, it would just be great to have my parents on board with me too. I'm assuming the academy likes to see perseverance in applying a second time, but I'm not sure now. Any advice would be much appreciated!
CherokeeBC2016
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I was recently awarded a 3yr Army ROTC scholarship. If I got the TWE from USAFA, would I be allowed to reapply next year? Or would I not be able to reapply since I'll be part of a different branch's ROTC program?
You can reapply to a different service's Academy.
Nilet
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katwswim
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Another question? So if DD decides to reapply and accepts one of these colleges where she has already been accepted, someone told her it wasn't important to take SAT ACT again just get good grades like she did in HS is that true info? She is looking at AFROTC that's offered at one of the schools she's strongly considering.
Personally, I think you should keep trying! If it is truly your dream to attend the academy, don't give up. I've wanted to be at the academy since I was an 8th grader. I even drafted up letters to my MOC at the time to let them know I was interested. 6 years later, and I finally decided to apply. I'm also in Colorado Springs, and I have no clue if I'm going to get in this year, but it gives me so much gratitude knowing I finally decided to peruse it.
Nilet
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I wouldn't say it's NOT important, but what she does at college is definitely going to take precedence now that she's there. Of course, there is never any hurt in her retaking those tests. USAFA makes a composite score based on the individual best scores for each section of the test, so even if she only does better in one or two sections of it, that will help her
-Nilet (2018)
Mom_CHgn
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Our DD asked this specifically about ACT/SAT Vs College and how it counts. She was never told that either either way was more important than another or if one would out way the other. She is a HS student with 56 college credits (currently enrolled in 6 credits), she will graduate this coming May 13 with her AA in Liberal Arts-Humanities & Communications. She has a 3.89 HS and a 3.82 at the College. Thinking this would boost her SAT/ACT scores to be looked at differently....Her Math ACT/SAT is just shy of qualifying. She understood that this bumped her from direct entry into USAFA. However...she still has not received a TWE and is hanging on. She does have sports, leadership, community service and a handful of other highlights for them to also judge her on. So we will see over the next couple of weeks what happens.
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katwswim
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Thank you..... DD has received acceptance as of today into her 4th College, those are the only ones she has applied to... She thinks she will go with the one that came today, join AFROTC (she interviews Thursday) with her merit scholarship and a couple others she's just shy of a full ride, the AFROTC scholarship dead line was Dec 1, so not sure anything can be done about that.
I'm wondering if the AFA allows you to talk with someone to see what it is that she was lacking. Both the Colonel and the congressman were so surprised that she didn't receive an appointment. She would like to know how she can make herself a better candidate????? Anyone know if you can do that?
CivilAirPatrolCadet
AFROTC Non-Tech Scholarship Recipient
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Did she talk to her ALO or contact her admissions adviser @ USAFA?
katwswim
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Her ALO was new, he told her he had never interviewed before. She was his first. When she came home she said he asked me a couple of questions then spent the rest of the time talking about himself. She said she didn't think it went well, cause he didn't really find out anything about her.
Making sure here, the ALO is different than the admissions counselor, and the one you interview with in your local area, right? Honestly if that's the case he won't be much help..
CivilAirPatrolCadet
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servicebeforeself
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Nilet,
Thank you for lending your experience: it's invaluable. Here's my situation: I was just turned down by USAFA for the third time. I was offered an appointment to VMI and I'm excited about starting my cadetship there. I'll be transferring in as a sophomore and I'd appreciate your insight: 1) does a non-tech major have any prayer of getting an AFROTC scholarship? 2) Does transferring in put you at a disadvantage? 3) How do you "stand out" (for the right reasons) in the det?
Thanks again!
Thank you for lending your experience: it's invaluable. Here's my situation: I was just turned down by USAFA for the third time. I was offered an appointment to VMI and I'm excited about starting my cadetship there. I'll be transferring in as a sophomore and I'd appreciate your insight: 1) does a non-tech major have any prayer of getting an AFROTC scholarship? 2) Does transferring in put you at a disadvantage? 3) How do you "stand out" (for the right reasons) in the det?
Thanks again!
katwswim
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How does admissions look at it if the parent calls? Is that a no no?
katwswim
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Honestly, I'm sure my daughter wouldn't like me to do that! She's very respectful and polite but asks me all the time to let her handle it.
On the other hand she has the attitude to not bother them, they are busy people, I tell her they expect you to call, they are admissions Counslors!
On the other hand she has the attitude to not bother them, they are busy people, I tell her they expect you to call, they are admissions Counslors!