TWE

This entire admissions process is rather intriguing, nearly frustrating at times to me.

Btw, I received my TWE this past Friday as well.

The frustrating issue with the board has to do with their evaluation process.
Allow me to share a rough overview of myself as a candidate.
I'll start with the weak points and move on up from there.

Athletically, I am not exactly highly competitive, I came from a high school that would not let you participate in a sport unless you were already really good at it, so no sports during high school. I am a current college student by the way. So in college I began to participate in fencing, and became decent at it. I am also starting to pick up on golf and have played paintball and airsoft for years, but the admissions board doesn't recognize the two. I also performed quite well on the CFA, the mile run and shuttle run being the only weak point. So athletically, I can agree with the non-competitiveness.

Now here is where I begin to become somewhat frustrated. I have a composite 26 ACT score which is nothing, however I hold a perfect 4.0/4.0 in a rigorous university, taking rigorous classes. These tests I took 4 years ago holds significant weight against me and it is near impossible to take it again in a high work load environment. Let alone not having the time and money to take these tests again. I guess i'm trying to get the point across that the fact that I am doing well at college should prove excelling college preparedness rather than these "tests".

I previously worked as an intern at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and performed structural analysis and composite engineering on the JSF. I also worked in the Skunkworks and did propulsion analysis on the sixth generation fighter. Details cannot be expressed I apologize.

I now work at NASA at the Kennedy Space Center as an intern there. I work in a cryogenics test laboratory and bring significant contribution to liquid propellants. My team (including myself) is about to revolutionize launch vehicle technology which will undoubtedly reduce costs for SLS and LSP launch operations. Details also cannot be expressed.

Now looking at these two internships, the board of admissions labels these as "jobs" and nothing more. So for all they know I could have worked at a grocery store or gas station. Not rocket propellant research. This frustrates me.

In terms of leadership, I don't see a fault. I am the founding president of my university's National Space Society chapter. I am also the president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics chapter as well. I am even the Secretary of the Society of Hispanics Professional Engineers chapter. So no issues there.

Now that i'm finished venting, I find it highly unfortunate that the review board did not consider me as a whole. The worst part is by looking at their responses to my concerns, nothing I can do in the future can aid my chances. I am in a highly competitive district that only seems to be exponentially getting more merit. USAFA just doesn't seem to like looking at college students in their applicant pool.

Despite all of the work, contribution, and passion I have put forth to prove my worth, all they see is some weakling with a bad ACT/ SAT score. My frustration lingers.
 
If you don't mind me asking why are you interested in attending USAFA when you are/have been an intern at Lockheed martin and NASA
 
For Fa113nCru5ad3r:

If you’ve worked as an intern at LM, Skunkworks, and NASA, you sure haven’t helped yourself by trying to significantly improve on your 26 ACT.

The scores average 30 across the board, if you don’t meet those marks, you’re literally on the backside of the power curve and need to be superior in the other metrics; HS GPA/class rank and CFT to be competitive. By your own accord, does’t sound like you were.

I can appreciate wanting to blame the system for not getting selected but if you’re doing so well in college and have great work experience, why worry about USAFA? If you’re in ROTC, you’d be showing the selection committee they have a committed candidate. If you’re not, well, maybe you’re already on another path.
 
Something about the CFA... there are minimum scores that are not announced and if you get a failing score in any one of the sections you fail the entire CFA (even if you kicked butt on the rest of it) and you would not be qualified to receive an appointment. I obviously don't know what the failing scores are but it's a possibility that the two sections you said you struggled with could have been failing scores.

Also, unless the application has changed, there is an opportunity for you to discuss the details of your job. Admissions sees that and they will know that you weren't just a cashier at a grocery store.

I wish you the best of luck. you seem to be working on some really awesome stuff so whatever you end up doing is probably going to be awesome too!
 
Allow me to clarify the ACT/ SAT situation a little, plus my justification to wanting to attend USAFA.

Why haven't I retaken the ACT/ SAT test? This is because I have retaken the ACT test NINE times. Yes that is right, NINE times. Each time, I studied texts that helps you strategically perform well on the test. The problem with these tests is that I can't perform well on them. It does not associate with pressure, understanding, or mental issues. I just can't perform well on the reading and writing. I score significantly high on the science and math. Every time I come to take the test, I come out with confidence in high scores, but come to realize after the results are posted that I have had zero improvement. Hence my overwhelming attempt to show that I can perform well on tests in the college environment. Retaking the test has not helped me and I am trying to find a "different" approach in pleasing the review board. I agree that the bad SAT/ ACT scores can't help regardless. But as I have stressed, I can not improve this area.

In terms of wanting to attend USAFA, this has been a dream for some time now. Both NASA and LM Aero highly favor my attendance and could even offer me exclusive positions within if I perform well at USAFA. I have considered ROTC, but my school does not offer the program and the nearest supporting institution is about a 2 hour drive that can be dreadful to gas costs.

I understand my issue with the ACT/SAT scores and the physical requirements. I did pass my CFA, my counselor told me directly over the phone and told me it was actually good despite slightly below average mile run times.
 
I apologize for the abrupt behavior of mine. I'm not trying to blame anyone for the turndown, I'm just expressing my internal frustrations. The review board has a lot to deal with and it's understandable, but my circumstances brings much dismay.
 
I sympathize with your situation. Many other candidates with stellar credentials also received TWEs. Most of those go to college, perhaps on a AFROTC scholarship, and will reapply to the USAFA. This shows determination on their part and I believe it's taken into consideration. That's the whole "overcoming adversity" part that the USAFA is so interested in.

I'm not trying to be critical. Try to put yourself in the board's position. You say you took the ACT 4 years ago? You're at a university now, I would think that you could bring that 26 up with all the additional classes and study. I know its expensive, but for a life long goal, is it not worth it? If I were on the board, I would question why you sent mediocre scores from 4 years ago. Yes, you seem to be doing very well academically and you're working on some really kewl stuff, but the board has no way of knowing how much you're really working on.

Look at the mean scores from this site:
http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/academic-performance/
 
You can purchase an SAT study book which has many many practice tests.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Official-SAT-Study-Guide/dp/0874478529

I was in the same boat my Math sat score was very high but critical reading was very low. Not because i'm bad at reading but because i'm not a fast reader. The first time I took the SAT I got a 450 in the reading section. I studied this book, took all the test multiple times and brought my critical reading score up to 620. It is possible to get your scores up you just have to put in the work. Also the board doesn't look at your writing score.
 
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