USAFAPS Acceptance

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mijohnst

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Nov 22, 2022
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Our DD received a surprise communication yesterday inviting her to the Prep School! She was expecting to be declined because our DS applied last year, and while his application was much stronger, he was still passed up. Because she hadn't heard anything from USAFA, she's been putting all her efforts into USMA, so this is a welcome surprise and something she needed to hear after a year of constant work to get into an academy.

If she decides to go this route, will she still be expected to raise her ACT while attending, or at that point, do they look at the grades she'd receive at the prep school? She has a 25 currently but is working with tutors to bring that up over the following tests up to June 2024.

I also heard (maybe this is West Point) that the prep school cadets are paid more because they're actually signing up to be in the military, whereas main cadets aren't committed until the start of the third year. Do I have the wrong?

Also, I noticed that the report date is after USAFA starts its BCT in June. What is the summer training before the semester starts like for prep school cadets?

Sorry for all the questions... this is most unexpected, but we're excited for her.
 
Congratulations to your daughter! My son is at the USAF prep and he started basic the first week in July this summer. Basic was tough, especially if you’re not use to the altitude. He didn’t have Jack’s Valley as part of basic with the prep school. My understanding is he has higher pay right now while he’s a cadet candidate.

The classes are math, science and english. He’s never mentioned anything about having to retake any standardized tests during this school year. Listening to the presentations at parents weekend the staff really seem to be invested in helping students make it up the hill to the academy.
 
Congrats to your DD. My oldest went to The P last year and my youngest got in direct so they are now in the same class at USAFA. The reason they appear to get paid more is there are less expenses for the Cadet Candidates than for the Doolies so they have less deductions from their base pay and get more to "take home" each month. They don't retest for the ACT and are basically told if they pass everything and stay out of trouble their place at USAFA is pretty much locked. The Basic Training at The P is significantly shorter and they don't have a field component which is the part both of my DS were excited to do. The reporting dates basically line up with their basic training being completed before the school year starts and as the course at The P is shorter they start after the cadets start BCT at The Hill. Nearly every Preppie says their time at The P was the best thing they could have done and their saying is "Once a Preppie, Always a Preppie". It's like a club within the club and she will find it makes everything the following year at The Hill seem so much different than a direct entry cadet does. Good luck and enjoy the ride. Get involved with the parent's Facebook group and it will help you get through the time away from her.
 
mijohnst said:
Our DD received a surprise communication yesterday inviting her to the Prep School! She was expecting to be declined because our DS applied last year, and while his application was much stronger, he was still passed up. Because she hadn't heard anything from USAFA, she's been putting all her efforts into USMA, so this is a welcome surprise and something she needed to hear after a year of constant work to get into an academy.

If she decides to go this route, will she still be expected to raise her ACT while attending, or at that point, do they look at the grades she'd receive at the prep school? She has a 25 currently but is working with tutors to bring that up over the following tests up to June 2024.

I also heard (maybe this is West Point) that the prep school cadets are paid more because they're actually signing up to be in the military, whereas main cadets aren't committed until the start of the third year. Do I have the wrong?

Also, I noticed that the report date is after USAFA starts its BCT in June. What is the summer training before the semester starts like for prep school cadets?

Sorry for all the questions... this is most unexpected, but we're excited for her.
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Feel free to message me if you have any other questions. As a parent with both a Preppie and a direct entry cadet I can give a unique perspective from the parent's PoV.
 
mijohnst said:
I also heard (maybe this is West Point) that the prep school cadets are paid more because they're actually signing up to be in the military, whereas main cadets aren't committed until the start of the third year. Do I have the wrong?
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I heard they are basically receiving E1 pay which is a lot more than the cadets.
 
Thank you all so much for the input! Last night, my DD and I read through all of your posts, and it has really made her excited. She also thinks that the P is the best route for her over being direct. Our DS is at Marion, and it is indescribable how much it's improved him as a candidate. He's ready for USAFA if he can get in this year.

Thank you all... I love this forum!
 
mijohnst said:
Thank you all so much for the input! Last night, my DD and I read through all of your posts, and it has really made her excited. She also thinks that the P is the best route for her over being direct. Our DS is at Marion, and it is indescribable how much it's improved him as a candidate. He's ready for USAFA if he can get in this year.

Thank you all... I love this forum!
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Wait are you Hunter Johnston's mom?! I am a cadet in the Service academy Program here at Marion as well, so I know him haha
 
Walking Tall said:
I heard they are basically receiving E1 pay which is a lot more than the cadets.
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Equivalent of E-1 is the rank designation they are given as a Cadet Candidate in case they transfer over to regular service for some reason and to make them a part of the service officially. Their pay is the same as a Cadet on The Hill which is rated as 35% of the base pay for an O-1. Officially the wording goes - "Cadet pay is equal to 35% of a 2nd Lieutenant pay in accordance with 37 U.S.C. 203" and "Civilians who enlist for the purpose of attending USAFAPS will be awarded the grade of E-1 upon entry. Pay for non-prior service members will be in accordance with 37 USC 203". The Preppies seem to get paid more as they have less of an initial outlay and things like books and fees the Cadets have at The Hill. At least that's the deal with my son from last year's Prep class and his first year at USAFA,
 
mijohnst said:
Thank you all so much for the input! Last night, my DD and I read through all of your posts, and it has really made her excited. She also thinks that the P is the best route for her over being direct. Our DS is at Marion, and it is indescribable how much it's improved him as a candidate. He's ready for USAFA if he can get in this year.

Thank you all... I love this forum!
Click to expand...
So excited for her! I'd be so happy if any of my boys got into the P-school. An extra year of academic preparation and maturity plus all of the friends she'll make will be great for her.
 
I can honestly say we had not even really put any thought into The P before the application process started but by the time it rolled around and he got offered it was actually such a great opportunity and experience that his younger brother wanted to go to The P first and was almost disappointed when he got in direct :) The CO, Colonel Cornelius is a B1 pilot and was absolutely amazing with the CC's along with the entire regular staff and the MTI's who ran basic for them. The opportunity to mature and get into the right learning mindset as they develop their military and leadership skills is a truly amazing thing and I know our DS is super proud to be a Preppie. His Preppie friends even extended their "family" to cover his younger brother who joined their class at The Hill and they made sure his transition into the academy life was much less intimidating than it could have been. I know a lot of folks see the prep schools as kind of a step back but in all honesty, what better compliment could USAFA pay than to say "We want you here badly enough that we will even pay to put you through an additional year of training to make sure you're ready and have the best chance for success"?!? Goodluck to any future Preppies!! You will not regret it.
 
All3Services said:
I can honestly say we had not even really put any thought into The P before the application process started but by the time it rolled around and he got offered it was actually such a great opportunity and experience that his younger brother wanted to go to The P first and was almost disappointed when he got in direct :) The CO, Colonel Cornelius is a B1 pilot and was absolutely amazing with the CC's along with the entire regular staff and the MTI's who ran basic for them. The opportunity to mature and get into the right learning mindset as they develop their military and leadership skills is a truly amazing thing and I know our DS is super proud to be a Preppie. His Preppie friends even extended their "family" to cover his younger brother who joined their class at The Hill and they made sure his transition into the academy life was much less intimidating than it could have been. I know a lot of folks see the prep schools as kind of a step back but in all honesty, what better compliment could USAFA pay than to say "We want you here badly enough that we will even pay to put you through an additional year of training to make sure you're ready and have the best chance for success"?!? Goodluck to any future Preppies!! You will not regret it.
Click to expand...
So absolutely agree with everything you’ve written!
 
mijohnst said:
Our DD received a surprise communication yesterday inviting her to the Prep School! She was expecting to be declined because our DS applied last year, and while his application was much stronger, he was still passed up. Because she hadn't heard anything from USAFA, she's been putting all her efforts into USMA, so this is a welcome surprise and something she needed to hear after a year of constant work to get into an academy.

If she decides to go this route, will she still be expected to raise her ACT while attending, or at that point, do they look at the grades she'd receive at the prep school? She has a 25 currently but is working with tutors to bring that up over the following tests up to June 2024.

I also heard (maybe this is West Point) that the prep school cadets are paid more because they're actually signing up to be in the military, whereas main cadets aren't committed until the start of the third year. Do I have the wrong?

Also, I noticed that the report date is after USAFA starts its BCT in June. What is the summer training before the semester starts like for prep school cadets?
, portal?
Sorry for all the questions... this is most unexpected, but we're excited for her.
Click to expand...
May I ask how you all received that communication? Email, portal?
 
MirMom said:
May I ask how you all received that communication? Email, portal?
Click to expand...
I apologize; I just saw this. She had logged into her portal and it was waiting there. She didn't receive an email like our DS did last year, so I would say check daily.
 
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