Which classes should I take to be accepted into the USAFA?

[Corinne Ellis]

I want to go to the Air Force Academy. I have an option for taking college-credit courses in criminal justice or sticking to the high school classes, which would be government and politic, spanish, and computers. If I take the criminal justice courses, I will learn how to use a weapon, how to do close-quarter combat, and how to think more logically. If I take the high school courses, I will be good at politics and government-type stuff (which I don't plan on having a career in; I plan on piloting). Which direction would help me have a better chance at going to the Air Force Academy? Also, does self-taught German count as knowing a language? I heard it could raise your chances if you knew a second language, and I do know how to speak German.

 

[raimius]

Criminal Justice classes that teach CQB and marksmanship? That's a new one to me.

The academies want to see the toughest courses you can take, generally focusing on math and science courses, but high level humanities are encouraged as well. Basically, AP, IB, or whatever Honors level courses your local schools offer.

Calculus, physics, chemistry, biology, English, history, foreign language, etc. Learning the "basics" to the highest level is going to prepare you better for the academy than very specialized courses, in my opinion.

 

[CannotBeDisplayed]

does self-taught German count as knowing a language? I heard it could raise your chances if you knew a second language, and I do know how to speak German.

It matters not where it was learned. If you know German, then you know German. I hear they love multi-lingual students, so that's a good trait to have.

 

[dharrell2407]

Honestly, they look at your high school courses more than anything. Taking a criminal justice class for college credit won't hurt your application, but it won't necessarily help it a whole lot either. For example, my roommate who went to college for a year before coming to the academy got credit for Calc 1 an 2 which she took in high school but not for calc 3 that she took in college. They look at your core classes the most and how well you are doing in them . I would say if you can take more AP classes if you can, but if you cannot do well in them, its always better to take a lower level class and get a great grade in that class. Gov, Politics, and languages courses are all classes that you will take at the academy so taking them now may help for taking them at the Academy.
Also remember that you are first and foremost going to a four year institution that focuses on academic as much as the military aspect. Although you want to be a pilot, you are going to have to get through all the basic classes like gov, politics, language courses first. Taking computer courses is very important as well. Now that the world is turning more toward technology, if you are good at computers or have at least take computer classes, that puts you over a lot of people that have never taken courses like that. You will be taking courses like that as well at the academy.
Hope this helped a little. Good Luck. And if you don't get in the first time, apply again. Some people give up after the first try but if you stay with it, then you should get it. I know people that applied at least 3 times before getting in, so it is possible.

 

[Christcorp]

Raimius said it perfectly. The academy wants to see that you have basically taken the most challenging and difficult classes available. All schools pretty much have all the same "Subject" classes. Math, Science, History, etc. But the academy wants you to take the most challenging and difficult versions of those. e.g. IB, AP, Honors.

This is why the academy requests that your school send them a copy of your school's "profile" as part of your application. This way the academy knows what the most challenging and difficult classes you had available. They are not going to punish you with lower scores if your school doesn't offer IB or AP classes. In this case, they love seeing that you're taking college classes on the side. But if your school offers IB or AP classes and you're NOT TAKING THEM, then that will reflect on your score. Even if you are taking college classes on the side.