Okay...I hate being the "heavy" but as an ALO, I think I should say a little here...
The worst thing in the world...is the wait and the not-knowing. And now I'm going to be the bad guy, but I think it's necessary.
When they say "If you are competitive for an appointment to the Air Force Academy or one of our preparatory programs and your file is complete, we may process a medical waiver for USAFA on your behalf" you need to look closely at what that says and what it means. The first thing to focus upon is this: "we MAY." That means, they "may" or they "may not" and it's up to them. It does NOT mean "we will automatically" do this. Here's where reality is harsh: what if they have 2000 fully qualified candidates that need no waivers? They're only going to pick @1200 of them for an appointment...do they really need to seek ANY waivers? (Okay, in my ALO career I've never heard of a year where that happened; no waivers sought, but in a worst-case scenario...)
But would they seek a waiver given that scenario?
Maybe.
If you fit a category they're looking to fill, or you have a specific talent or ability they're interested in (and I don't just mean sports). You might be from an area that hasn't had an appointee, or is underrepresented, a community service guru, or, or, or...there's all sorts of reasons they "may" choose to seek a waiver. And they may not.
What I tell my candidates is this: do EVERYTHING you can to make your package the one that stands out!! Update your counselor (these days either the Blue or Silver Team) with anything new that impacts you: a new score, an award, anything that says "I'm your choice!!!" You could be sitting on the bubble...and never know it...and then one day you get "student of the week" and that's the tipping agent and they request a waiver review.
Bottom line? Until the time is up, you're informed that you're not getting an offer, etc...etc...then you press forward as if it's just around the corner.. I had a candidate (true story) years ago...had a DQ...heard nothing...the first week of May, still nothing which I'd never seen. I called admissions...they told me nothing. He gets his cap and gown, goes through baccalaureate at his high school, accepted his admission to a local university...and then..."we need more information on XXXX medical issue..."
He received a waiver and appointment about 10 days before his report date.
Okay...that was a few years ago...but I believe the process can still happen just like that. Or not.
Keep the faith, press forward, and what's meant to be will be.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83