USAFA Appointment Certificate

Honestly - this is such a bummer. If anyone from USAFA admissions or someone who knows someone at USAFA admissions is reading this - PLEASE change this asap! Not only does the naval academy and West Point send out beautiful certificates but so do colleges! I think it’s a real disappointment for the kids who have worked so hard for an appointment and deserve something special for such an amazing achievement and dedication to serve. And it is really such an easy way to show some love from academy. I heard that they might eventually get something but I think the academy should be sending them out asap as kids get appointments. They are competing for students too - and showing some love back is not a bad thing.
 
Seniormom said:
Honestly - this is such a bummer. If anyone from USAFA admissions or someone who knows someone at USAFA admissions is reading this - PLEASE change this asap! Not only does the naval academy and West Point send out beautiful certificates but so do colleges! I think it’s a real disappointment for the kids who have worked so hard for an appointment and deserve something special for such an amazing achievement and dedication to serve. And it is really such an easy way to show some love from academy. I heard that they might eventually get something but I think the academy should be sending them out asap as kids get appointments. They are competing for students too - and showing some love back is not a bad thing.
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"Hurry up and wait" is the mantra of the military and the Air Force specifically. Right now admissions are up to their eyebrows putting together the class. The first big waive will be going out soon. The certificates or "BFEs" as they are affectionately known will be coming out this spring. They will arrive. More importantly, keep an eye on the portal for updates, there will be a litany of items that need to be accomplished. I-day is a little more than 4 months away!
 
Seniormom said:
Honestly - this is such a bummer. If anyone from USAFA admissions or someone who knows someone at USAFA admissions is reading this - PLEASE change this asap! Not only does the naval academy and West Point send out beautiful certificates but so do colleges! I think it’s a real disappointment for the kids who have worked so hard for an appointment and deserve something special for such an amazing achievement and dedication to serve. And it is really such an easy way to show some love from academy. I heard that they might eventually get something but I think the academy should be sending them out asap as kids get appointments. They are competing for students too - and showing some love back is not a bad thing.
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They get the opportunity for a 300K+ education for free and a job if they complete school. Not a bad deal!
 
Seniormom said:
Honestly - this is such a bummer. If anyone from USAFA admissions or someone who knows someone at USAFA admissions is reading this - PLEASE change this asap! Not only does the naval academy and West Point send out beautiful certificates but so do colleges! I think it’s a real disappointment for the kids who have worked so hard for an appointment and deserve something special for such an amazing achievement and dedication to serve. And it is really such an easy way to show some love from academy. I heard that they might eventually get something but I think the academy should be sending them out asap as kids get appointments. They are competing for students too - and showing some love back is not a bad thing.
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They will send out all of the pretty appointment certificates together at the end of the process. The certificate doesn’t matter as long as they have the appointment. Would you rather have their admissions technicians working on getting acceptances processed, or sending out certificates? There are only so many people to get the work done.

Stealth_81
 
T-37IP said:
"Hurry up and wait" is the mantra of the military and the Air Force specifically. Right now admissions are up to their eyebrows putting together the class. The first big waive will be going out soon. The certificates or "BFEs" as they are affectionately known will be coming out this spring. They will arrive. More importantly, keep an eye on the portal for updates, there will be a litany of items that need to be accomplished. I-day is a little more than 4 months away!
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Sorry don’t believe that is an acceptable response if that is the AFA’s logic. Both navy and West Point send them out right away. Hurry up and wait may be something my cadet will deal with over his time at the academy and during the course of his career - but that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate in this situation.
 
Stealth_81 said:
They will send out all of the pretty appointment certificates together at the end of the process. The certificate doesn’t matter as long as they have the appointment. Would you rather have their admissions technicians working on getting acceptances processed, or sending out certificates? There are only so many people to get the work done.

Stealth_81
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Honestly I think it’s more than a “pretty appointment certificate” - it’s an introduction into a new way of life and a new family. It’s an appreciation of their hard work and acknowledgement of their accomplishments. It’s a marketing tool to show future applicants - have you seen West Point appointees with their certificates all over Instagram? AFA is competing to get the best kids. Other academies manage to do both.
Obviously you all disagree - this is just one person’s opinion. I think the little things are often very important.
 
Seniormom said:
Honestly I think it’s more than a “pretty appointment certificate” - it’s an introduction into a new way of life and a new family. It’s an appreciation of their hard work and acknowledgement of their accomplishments. It’s a marketing tool to show future applicants - have you seen West Point appointees with their certificates all over Instagram? AFA is competing to get the best kids. Other academies manage to do both.
Obviously you all disagree - this is just one person’s opinion. I think the little things are often very important.
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I would be very worried if people made their decision to attend a certain service academy based on the appointment packet.
 
i_like_planes said:
I would be very worried if people made their decision to attend a certain service academy based on the appointment packet.
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Seventeen year old kids make decisions to do things for all sorts of reasons but I think the packet can say a lot more than you think. How about - wow West Point really wants me; was thoughtful about showing appreciation for their cadets; has the resources, time, energy, thoughtfulness to support cadets; is proud of their institution and wants me to share it with my friends, etc.
Whether AFA likes it or not, they are competing against kids who apply to other academies and colleges.
I’ll leave it there. Didn’t mean to make this into such a big deal. Was just stating my opinion.
 
Seniormom said:
Everything is a trade off but the education is certainly not free.
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I think I know a thing or two about the cost. Served a long time in the Air Force (27 years). The satisfaction should come in the form of an appointment, it's an acknowledgment of the hard work involved to get to this point. The application process is intentionally burdensome, they don't want it to be easy. The first year is tough (intentionally), they want to let go of the ones that aren't fully committed. If early receipt of an appointment certificate is the difference between going to another academy or college, I think you'd have to doubt their desire to go to the AFA.
 
Seniormom said:
Honestly I think it’s more than a “pretty appointment certificate” - it’s an introduction into a new way of life and a new family. It’s an appreciation of their hard work and acknowledgement of their accomplishments. It’s a marketing tool to show future applicants - have you seen West Point appointees with their certificates all over Instagram? AFA is competing to get the best kids. Other academies manage to do both.
Obviously you all disagree - this is just one person’s opinion. I think the little things are often very important!
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Many of those WP instagram posts are from athletes who committed to WP. There was a signing day last week. I'm all about the recognition, but I would think an appointment would far exceed a paper certificate. If and (hopefully) when my DS gets an appointment to any of the SAs, I surely won't care if he has a piece of paper right away. We've waited this long, we can wait a little longer for the BFE.
 
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Seniormom said:
I think the little things are often very important.
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Respectfully, too many young people have not been taught (or lose sight of) the opposite - "Don't sweat the little things"

That's going to become REALLY important during BCT and as a lowly Doolie...when there is very little "showing appreciation for their cadets".

It is likely due to accident or limited resources that certificates from USAFA come in April. But it might just be a little symbolic of what's to come - delayed gratification that they all get together. That's a good thing.

If an earlier appointment certificate would have made any difference to young person...that person, the academy and the person who will instead take the opening are all better off in the long run.
 
I had a question that was sort of related to this topic.

From my personal experience, I’ve noticed West Point and the Naval Academy have done a lot of outreach to recruit students compared to the Air Force Academy.
I was curious as to if anyone else has noticed this and if there was a reason(s) as to why.
 
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