What things can I do to prepare for application and increase my chance of appointment?

B

BSav1245

New Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2023
Messages
1
Hello, I am currently a sophomore in high school who has been interested in attending the USAFA for many years. As the title suggests, I am wondering what I could do to prepare for the application process and what steps I could take to increase my chance of appointment.

Academics
4.00 Unweighted GPA
1 AP class (Planning on 3 more junior year)
Top 10% of class

Extracurriculars
1 year hockey
2 years football
2 years T&F
Jazz Band
Drumline

Leadership Roles
I was recently admitted into my schools NHS chapter (Going to get a good amount of volunteering done this summer)
Captain of the Drumline

Other Stuff
I've started to take flight lessons
Part-time Landscaping job

Thank you for your feedback!
 
Sports are good, it's really important you get a varsity letter though, USAFA and the SAs in general seem to weigh that almost more than any other extracurricular. Secondly, you should also get a leadership role in a club (Drumline captain is good but I'm talking something like student government, debate club, technology club etc. to show academic leadership. NHS board would be good). Keep your GPA where it is, and study extensively for the SAT or the ACT.
 
Agree with Gravity above about sports, and extracuriculars with leadership rolls.
I saw that you mentioned "volunteering this summer". Good if you have something lined up already, but try to take a leadership roll as well.
Other ideas: Adopt a community park/fields to clean on a regularly scheduled basis, (most seem to be once or twice a month), and then RECRUIT others to help you. In our city they let you name your group (be creative here) with a small sign, and give you trash bags, pick them up when full, etc...
Start (or extend existing) food drive for the hungry/homeless. Recruit friends, teammates, etc.. to join you.
The main reasoning in my "approach" would be to build something, or make it bigger and better. Show real leadership. Get out in the "battle field of life" and make a difference.
DS went into homeless encampments bringing food, clothes, toiletries, blankets, etc....(Always with others). Truly an eye opening experience, that gave him excellent material for essays, interviews, etc...
I would strongly consider getting professional counseling/tutoring in interviewing techniques. I think it's an area often overlooked by candidates, (or under appreciated for it's importance). DS was seemingly not completely ready for his first round of interviews, and admitted to feeling like he was stumped at moments. (Took him 3 yrs to gain appointments....he greatly improved 😉). Our Representative uses the interviewing by committee approach. We didn’t know that at the time, and being 17 then, he hadn't experienced anything like that. I've heard it's a VERY common approach, used by most Representatives and Senators.
Try to find someone with Military experience at a higher level, to at least practice with, if possible. Or "interview" them in an engaged conversation.
You're going to be doing some interviewing so prepare now. Conservative business Suit, etc.... (and don't let your parents anywhere near
your interviews...my son saw some parents trying to actually get involved 🙄).
 
There is no place on the application for volunteer hours. Academics, Athletics, Leadership. Volunteering is wonderful but in and of itself does not get tracked. Leadership in a volunteer role is what you want.
 
Does having an officer position in NHS or being in class cabinet count as leadership or as an EC?
 
I wouldn’t do anything extra for interviews like hiring a counselor or tutor.

In high school - I constantly reminded my son to always make eye contact with people he talked to, be careful not to use “like” or other phrases, and to always pause like you are thinking before you give an answer - even if you have the answer instantly.

The military committee that my son encountered understood he was 17 years old (I assume most are like this). He was well spoken, knowledgeable, and well prepared regarding USNA and navy careers. He did wear a nice, well fitted suit.

The committee’s role wasn’t to trip him up. One made a joke about my son’s academic transcript - that everyone laughed at. He is used to that type of humor (by me) and laughed and explained it was his father’s fault - they laughed with him.
 
T-37IP said:
There is no place on the application for volunteer hours. Academics, Athletics, Leadership. Volunteering is wonderful but in and of itself does not get tracked. Leadership in a volunteer role is what you want.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Leadership in Volunteer roll is what I was emphasizing. But not at the expense of limiting other avenues of involvement already mentioned. Only a way to add to the other stuff in a way that fits with already very busy schedules. (Eg: Cleaning park one Saturday a month, with flexibility in that schedule... .make your own scheduleto collect donated canned goods).
DS put it down in his applications/resume. I'm not sure if it was congressional applications, SA applications, or both. He may have just included it under "extracuriculars". He felt like it helped to speak of his experiences doing this in interviews, and in his essays. But, obviously your results may vary.
 
A1Janitor said:
I wouldn’t do anything extra for interviews like hiring a counselor or tutor.

In high school - I constantly reminded my son to always make eye contact with people he talked to, be careful not to use “like” or other phrases, and to always pause like you are thinking before you give an answer - even if you have the answer instantly.

The military committee that my son encountered understood he was 17 years old (I assume most are like this). He was well spoken, knowledgeable, and well prepared regarding USNA and navy careers. He did wear a nice, well fitted suit.

The committee’s role wasn’t to trip him up. One made a joke about my son’s academic transcript - that everyone laughed at. He is used to that type of humor (by me) and laughed and explained it was his father’s fault - they laughed with him.
Click to expand...
In our experience it was of huge value. He had just turned 17 first time through interviews, and possibly wasn't as confident or comfortable as some kids are earlier on in life. He'd had limited exposure to interviews. So while I agree that the interveiwers are generally understanding to the fact that they're interviewing inexperienced young adults, they're also doing considerable "weeding out". Our Representatives committee interviews upwards of a hundred kids every season, and pretty sure the majority are fairly well qualified at a minimum. In my opinion, they're looking to see and hear "something" subjective that makes a candidate stand out.
It's just my opinion, but preparation to these ends could probably be beneficial for most. They may even be aware that someone has prepared along these lines, based on what they hear. And I suggest that might likely seem like a certain level of commitment to the entire endeavor.
Maybe an extreme example, but the kid that showed up in Jeans, dress-shirt and tie while my Son interviewed this past fall, did not get even a nominatation. Despite being very well qualified in other ways. (My son knew of him).
 
Last edited:
Jetbill said:
In our experience it was of huge value. He had just turned 17 first time through interviews, and possibly wasn't as confident or comfortable as some kids are earlier on in life. He'd had limited exposure to interviews. So while I agree that the interveiwers are generally understanding to the fact that they're interviewing inexperienced young adults, they're also doing considerable "weeding out". Our Representatives committee interviews upwards of a hundred kids every season, and pretty sure the majority are fairly well qualified at a minimum. In my opinion, they're looking to see and hear "something" subjective that makes a candidate stand out.
It's just my opinion, but preparation to these ends could probably be beneficial for most. They may even be aware that someone has prepared along these lines, based on what they hear. And I suggest that might likely seem like a certain level of commitment to the entire endeavor.
Maybe an extreme example, but the kid that showed up in Jeans, dress-shirt and tie while my Son interviewed this past fall, did not get even a nominatation. Despite being very well qualified in other ways. (My son knew of him).
Click to expand...
I accept and respect your position.

My concern was the parents of future applicants thinking it is necessary if they can’t afford it.

I don’t know how my son did in his interviews. We never got feedback (other than he thought they went very well, and after he was inducted I was told one of the people on the panel, a Navy Jag, said something extremely complimentary).

My son was tested for autism in elementary school. My son had a terrible accident where his tongue was sliced in half hanging by a thread, which subsequently lead to a speech impediment where he said Rs funny. He was bullied. He was an introvert. I am sure he was nervous in his interview.

Does toastmasters (or similar organization) have any programs for high school? We didn’t have debate in our school - but my son did Mock Trial for several years.

I have learned in my life - I couldn’t speak in public in high school and college - that mastery of the subject matter leads to confidence. And like everything is else - practice.

That would be a heck of a club that some students could do for leadership points. Public speaking/interviews for students.
 
A caution on the NHS participation. NHS quality varies wildly by high school. Some chapters literally do nothing and probably anyone with good grades is by default a member and I'm sure the application reviewers know it. So, don't hang your whole leadership rung on NHS leadership unless your chapter and leadership is very active and you have a great story behind it.

AP classes. I know everyone stresses to take as many AP classes as you can, but what impresses me and probably any nomination committee and application reviewer more is getting 5's on the tests. If you've taken five or more AP classes English, History, Chemistry, Calculus, Computer Science by the time you get to the Nomination cycle and you've gotten 5's on all those tests, they know you are ready for that first year of college, no problem.
 
I agree with NHS. In our school the top students get in in tenth grade and the following year they put in a ton more. My son was an officer … and other than some community service- I honestly don’t know what they do/did. It was overrated in our school.
 
To add on for the interviews, there are many helpful videos on YouTube from cadets/midshipman who went through the interviews, sometimes multiple times, who will offer tips and advice. There are even a few videos by congressmen who say what they are looking for. It also doesn’t hurt to reach out to Academy grads if or anyone who went through the process and ask them what their experience was like. If you do your research, you will know what to expect, and that will reflect in the interview.
 
A1Janitor said:
I accept and respect your position.

My concern was the parents of future applicants thinking it is necessary if they can’t afford it.

I don’t know how my son did in his interviews. We never got feedback (other than he thought they went very well, and after he was inducted I was told one of the people on the panel, a Navy Jag, said something extremely complimentary).

My son was tested for autism in elementary school. My son had a terrible accident where his tongue was sliced in half hanging by a thread, which subsequently lead to a speech impediment where he said Rs funny. He was bullied. He was an introvert. I am sure he was nervous in his interview.

Does toastmasters (or similar organization) have any programs for high school? We didn’t have debate in our school - but my son did Mock Trial for several years.

I have learned in my life - I couldn’t speak in public in high school and college - that mastery of the subject matter leads to confidence. And like everything is else - practice.

That would be a heck of a club that some students could do for leadership points. Public speaking/interviews for students.
Click to expand...
Toastmasters does have a program for high school students. My daughter looked into it but couldn't make it work with her busy schedule. She benefited greatly from her participation in Civil Air Patrol. CAP makes Cadets earn their promotions via Boards, This requires teenagers to interview with adults frequently and make their case for promotion. For higher promotions like the Billy Mitchell Award, Cadets have to prepare a presentation that they must present to their squadron. These exercises definitely help young people prepare for their MOC interviews.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top