USAFA Chances?

[fencersmother]

+1 Booze

The prep schools generally are NOT for the "academically disqualified" at all.

Frenzy, please do study up on the prep schools before making such blanket statements.

 

[Boozebin]

Thanks fencer! Sorry for the cross post I didn't even think about those that are home schooled!

The admission mind is so complex when it comes to trying to draw conclusions you'd be hard pressed. If you start trying to figure out what goes through their heads for Prep you just might go crazy!

 

[frenzymando]

Frenzymando, drawing that conclusion is a bit of a stretch. Why take any other class in HS that's outside of the four you've mentioned? Why take gym, band or an Art class?

You have to take other classes like gym, band or and art class to graduate. In addition to that, taking things like foreign language classes and computer science classes will make you more competitive. Why try to get a grade higher than a C if your goal is to get into Harvard but the minimum GPA requirement for Harvard is only a 2.0(I just made that up it's probably not true)? Because getting grades higher than a C makes you more competitive.

Also based on your logic if a HS didn't offer a Physics class is it an automatically DQ'd? And trust me there are some rural HS that don't have anyone to teach the class so it does happens.

They might make an exception in that case, I'm not sure, I don't work in the admissions office, I simply stated what I think. I never said not having physics is 100% without a doubt a DQ.

And by taking your logic to the next step; you can take them and fail them since the Prep school doesn't offer them so it won't DQ you?

I don't understand what you are trying to say.

Prep is also for prior enlisted to get back into the academic world.

So a prior enlisted that is academically qualified will be forced to attend the prep school? They can't just get a direct appointment? My understanding was prior enlisted people that are not academically qualified are the ones that are offered prep school slots.

Also I openly discuss why my son got a Prep slot it wasn't a lack of academics. So before you draw any conclusions from the Prep school you might want ot research it a bit more.

I did do research on it, but unfortunately there isn't very much information of the USAFA prep school and how you get it. I apologize for spreading false information. Here is the only thread I could find about it:

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/prep-school.9049/
On this thread someone says "Normally, the prep school is for those that except for a minor academic issue, are otherwise considered extremely competitive candidates."



http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/unusual-admissions-question.43577/
Might be irrelavent, but I'll throw it in here anyways. On this USMA someone said "You can't just turn your appointment into a prep school spot - prep is for those that are academically disqualified"

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com...ded-for-usmaps-appointment.27329/#post-266819
And on this USMA thread a moderator said "You must be academically DQ'd to go to USMAPS but medically and physically Q'd."

 

[frenzymando]

I know of many many students who were at the prep school who graduated in the top 100 at USAFA. Hardly "disqualified." Many Div I athletes and priors are offered the prep school because their uber demanding schedules made taking such coursework, especially with labs, impossible.

I'm very confused. Aren't you basically saying many division 1 athletes and prior enlisted are offered prep school because their uber demanding schedules made taking the classes required to not be academically disqualified impossible?

 

[fencersmother]

For the prep school: USAFA says "We Want You." But we want you to take this year first, for any number of reasons.

The prepster is not rejected or disqualified.

If one is rejected, one is rejected. Period.

 

[frenzymando]

For the prep school: USAFA says "We Want You." But we want you to take this year first, for any number of reasons.

The prepster is not rejected or disqualified.

If one is rejected, one is rejected. Period.

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/usafa-prep-school-offers.10587/

"My 2010 Preppie heard on March 31st by checking the online application site. The letter offering the Prep School arrived one week later. [...] A little history: the day after the Prep School showed on the online status, the rejection letter from the Academy itself arrived ruling out a direct entry."

 

[fencersmother]

From 2010. Hardly relevant to today's pre-candidates.

 

[frenzymando]

From 2010. Hardly relevant to today's pre-candidates.

Are you saying that preppies today never receive TWE's? Do you have any proof to back this up?

 

[BlahuKahuna]

So since I don't have anything official from Admissions about the percentage of USAFA preppies who are initially academically disqualified, I'll piece together a couple of sources:

1.USAFA Admissions website that states that minimum SAT scores for direct entry are 580/560. http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/academic-performance/

2. 2014 interview with Col Benyshek that states that USAFA Prep minimum SAT score is a 1000 minimum. http://gazette.com/gazette-exclusiv...chools-to-fill-athletic-teams/article/1537071

Given this disparity in test score minimums, I would be curious to see an official publication from USAFA admissions that states that USAFA preppies are all academically qualified . I remember this discussion popping up about the Falcon Foundation and a couple sources were found stating Falcons are all academically qualified candidates.

 

[AFrpaso]

I was academically qualified for a direct appointment but there simply were no direct appointments offered to prior enlisted applicants during my year. It does happen.


There are small changes in the process every single year.

 

[Boozebin]

I see what you're trying to say frenzymando. And I understand where you're coming from but to the draw the conclusion you stated throws me a little so lets start over.

Let me start by saying thank you for saying the following:

They might make an exception in that case, I'm not sure, I don't work in the admissions office, I simply stated what I think. I never said not having physics is 100% without a doubt a DQ.

I did take what you said as that and I think others like Fencer did as well so my main goal was to work that out first and foremost.

Yes painting it with a broad brush those who attend the Prep have some issue with academics. But not because they didn't take chemistry, like you implied (at least the way it read to me), would DQ someone. You quote CC in the older post but he also said the following:

They just missed out on the appointment because of a particular area. E.g. 3.85 gpa but a 25 ACT. Or; a 36 ACT, but a 3.4gpa

I guess what started me down this rabbit hole is you said this:

Regarding taking a physics class, the USAFA prep school has students take English, Math, Physics, and Chemistry. The prep school is for people who are academically DQ'd. Based on that, I would guess that not having enough English and/or math class is an academic DQ

Your statement differs greatly on what CC posted on his. No where does he mention not having a class would DQ someone so it's a broad leap. Now don't get me wrong you should take all the hardest classes you can take and still get A's and B's on. It will do nothing but help your resume.

As for the Prep. I have made many post about my DS and his experiences during his process. And without a doubt AFrpaso is our resident expert on priors and the AFA Prep school and I defer to his post on all things Prep. Both of them are examples that the Prep school is not just for those with academic issues and they are not just a small percentage of the cadet candidates smaller than those with academic issues yes but not a small group on whole. Do I have actual numbers? No I wish they did track these and publish them, it would clear up a lot of confusion. I can only report what my DS has gone through and saw.

Also you can't draw conclusions from one Prep school to the other. The various academies use their perspective schools in different ways. While yes there are some similarities they are not all the same.

 

[fencersmother]

I think that CC (Mike) and someone like Boozebin who has been down this crazy road would be more reliable contacts of information than a rising high school senior, who is not a cadet, not at the prep school, has no nomination, and no appointment. Not to say this rising senior may not get a nom & apptment, nor that s/he might not be offered the same, or even offered a slot at a prep school, nor even a Falcon Foundation scholarship.

But others have far more experience and while what they tell you might not be 100% accurate all the time (CC's will probably be so since he's an ALO and has been on this wild ride before, and for a long time THUDGATE!!!), generally speaking most of the parents here and current cadets are knowledgeable and willing to offer help if asked (sometimes without the asking ).

 

[Boozebin]

...someone like Boozebin who has been down this crazy road would be more reliable contacts of information...

Thanks Fencer but I'm still just a parent so I will always default to AFrpaso for his first hand account for Prep and he's always willing to help so I kind of fill the gap until he has time to post. Plus you long timers know a lot more than I do right now! Right now I'm just trying to pay it forward for all the help we received in the past and banking on help in the years to come!

 

[fencersmother]

Booze, of course, current cadets, prep-schoolers, and parents of same, long-time parents, even those whose kids chose not to go to an SA offer invaluable insight into this nutso ride. I do not exclude anyone and didn't mean to do so.

 

[frenzymando]

I think that CC (Mike) and someone like Boozebin who has been down this crazy road would be more reliable contacts of information than a rising high school senior, who is not a cadet, not at the prep school, has no nomination, and no appointment. Not to say this rising senior may not get a nom & apptment, nor that s/he might not be offered the same, or even offered a slot at a prep school, nor even a Falcon Foundation scholarship.

But others have far more experience and while what they tell you might not be 100% accurate all the time (CC's will probably be so since he's an ALO and has been on this wild ride before, and for a long time THUDGATE!!!), generally speaking most of the parents here and current cadets are knowledgeable and willing to offer help if asked (sometimes without the asking ).

I find it quite ironic that an unreliable source is calling me an unreliable source.

 

[frenzymando]

+1 Booze

The prep schools generally are NOT for the "academically disqualified" at all.

Frenzy, please do study up on the prep schools before making such blanket statements.

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/usafa-prep-school.18410/

My understanding is that the prep school is for folks who are strong candidates but are lagging in academics.

Then...there are those candidates that are "oh so close" to appointment directly but are missing "something." Its usually an SAT score...or ACT...they're "that close BUT..." And they'll be offered a PS slot.

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/prep-school-questions.21116/

You really need to consider a prep school if you feel you are lagging academically

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/preparatory-school-admissions.21446/

for the actual Academy prep school, not many are chosen. I think it's only a couple hundred. And to my knowledge, most of these cadets are either academically not qualified or a recruited athlete.

The AFA Prep School is for prior enlisted, diversity students, those whose test scores are a bit too low, and recruited athletes.

 

[AFrpaso]

The AFA Prep School is for prior enlisted, diversity students, those whose test scores are a bit too low, and recruited athletes.

That seems like a pretty accurate description to me.