<p>Well, I am nearing the end of my application process and waiting to see if I recieved my nomination (waiting is terrible!). I just had a few questions on how the academy actually is like as a 4th degree. What are specific restrictions and how do you deal with them? What actually is recognition? How are the academics? I am one of those guys that are smart(not brilliant by any means) but still have to work hard to get a full understanding of everything. How do you guys deal with being away from family? I suppose you do get alot of time to visit back home every now and then so it doesn’t seem too bad. Thanks for any insight you can give as i wait and ponder :)</p>
<p>first, have you hit up this thread? <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/air-force-academy-colorado-springs/609828-realism-candidates.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/air-force-academy-colorado-springs/609828-realism-candidates.html</a></p>
<p>There are a ton of things we have to do as a 4 degree. Every morning before mandatory breakfast, we have to get up and take out all our squad's trash/recycling. Then, starting with 1/2 an hour before breakfast, we all stand out in the hall and shout out how many minutes are left until breakfast and what the menu is (this is called "minutes"). Frequently at minutes, we do some sort of exercise (wall sits, push-ups, etc. while in blues, 3/5 days, they can only make us do push-ups)</p>
<p>We can't wear our backpacks, but must carry them in our left hands.</p>
<p>We are almost always at attention, the exceptions being in Fairchild, the academic building, and in our rooms. Depending on your squad, people may call you out of your room to do some pushups or something if their mood compells them.</p>
<p>We call minutes at lunch.</p>
<p>We are not allowed anywhere but the outer perimeter of terrazzo, on which we must run, weather permitting ("running the strips").</p>
<p>Every time we see an upperclassman we know, we "greet" them by rank and name. If we don't know them, we greet by "sir" or "ma'am." (greeting entails of, "good morning/afternoon/evening, sir/ma'am/cadet SSgt so-and-so" followed by your squad greeting. mine is "hardcore two-four." the more obnoxious ones are "tiger ten! huzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!" held for as long as possible, "huge, wild weasels," and "king rats rule the cellar")</p>
<p>Whenever an upperclassman enters our room, we must call the room to attention.</p>
<p>If we enter a firstie's room, we must report in.</p>
<p>Every Thursday and Friday, we get "beat" (aka "trained" - they make us do exercises) all through minutes (at least in my squad, and I imagine it's similar in others) because we are in combat uniform.</p>
<p>We have knowledge tests and must memorize a page of Air Force facts every week. If you get below 80% on the test...you could be in big trouble.</p>
<p>Okay, that's what I can think of right now. How do we deal with them? It's life, and you just do. Attitude is everything.</p>
<p>Recognition is very mysterious. It's supposed to be. It is three days of intense training that is the culmination of 4 degree year.</p>
<p>Academics are tough. I'm like you-smart but definitely have had to work hard. It's okay, if you do the work, you'll be fine. Our teachers are absolutely amazing about letting you come in practically whenever and sitting there with you until you understand. My compsci teacher was in the library one night 'til 10:30 PM helping kids out (taps is at 10:45). These people really care.</p>
<p>Being away from family...hmm. That's the hardest for me. You've just gotta think-no matter where you go to college, you'll still be dealing with that. Email's great, and I call my family ever so often, too. It's not so bad, and they keep us really busy here. I was talking to a 2 deg yesterday, and she said it wasn't until her sophomore year that the homesickness really kicked in because she didn't have her entire life dictated out for her anymore ;)</p>
<p>Just to continue on what missmuff said. That other page with info is great. </p>
<p>Also, the friends you have here will be so awesome. Some of the friendships will last for a lifetime. They are going through a lot of the same stuff you are. </p>
<p>I was kind of the opposite in high school. I just did enough to please me parents, and not too much more. I found the transition to be a pretty smooth one, with some exceptions along the way. Just like missmuff said, if you need help it is ALWAYS there. If I feel like I am starting to slip in some class, I just schedule Extra Instruction. I know my Calculus class is a good example. My teacher is not so good at teaching a full class, IMO, but if I go in for EI he keys in on exactly the things I am struggling with, and how to improve that.</p>
<p>Family is the toughest part. The longest break from not seeing them though is over. From in processing (the first day of Basic) until Thanksgiving I only got to see them during Parent's Weekend. I try and call every other day, and they understand. Weekends is when I get to relax and be able to talk freely.</p>
<p>Just know that you won't really know what it is like until you get here. ;)</p>
<p>Does anyone have a recording of "Inside America's Military Academies?"<br>
(That's one of the best documentaries, even though it is getting a little dated.)</p>
<p>Time management and prioritization are key skills here. If you follow the 1 credit hour = 1 hour of work idea, most cadets have more coursework than time devoted to academics. Realistically, you can do just fine without spending that much time, but you need to figure out how to do it efficiently. </p>
<p>Four degree experiences vary from squadron to squadron. Minutes, training sessions (aka "beat sessions"), running the strips, memorizing knowledge, and academics...they add up. The friends you make here are very important. People don't go through here alone.</p>
<p>Since I started the thread of <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/air-force-academy-colorado-springs/609828-realism-candidates.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/air-force-academy-colorado-springs/609828-realism-candidates.html</a>, I amm glad that many cadets are being honest about the lifestyle. </p>
<p>I agree with Raimius about the documentary. When DS was applying Bullet and I were very strict. We made him eat dinner at attention, 7" from the table, chewing 7 bites and never looking down at his plate or pouring a drink. We made sure that before he went to school every morning his bed was made(he quickly learned the trick of sleeping on his bed.) Made hime do PT besides going to his lifeguard job and calling lights out.</p>
<p>I started that thread so candidates have a realistic look at what the next 4 yrs will be like. I linked what history majors classes will be like. If you missed it, here it is again...main pt even in a non-math degree you will be taking courses that are math/science oriented
Air</a> Force Academy - Majors.</p>
<p>Nobody wants to see you give up the dream, and we will all will be rooting for you when you are there. However, it is important that you see the bad with the good. </p>
<p>It is important to realize that if you are in it for 150% than you will be fine, if you are in it for a free education, it might not be the right fit for you.</p>
<p>GOOD LUCK...AIM HIGH...ABOVE ALL</p>
<p>wow, you really did to your son Bullet? hardcore...</p>
<p>I might add that the requirements for BCT and especially as a 4dig for table manners have not been that strict since 2005. ;)</p>
<p>Absolutely! (And Bullet is at work working on your future dream jet...F-35...it's Pima talking)</p>
<p>We wanted him to get an easy taste of the AFA life. We felt he needed to remove the illusion of the AFA and understand the reality. A couple weeks of doing that and watching the PBS doc. he began questioning whether it was an AFA education or a commissioning that mattered to him. In the end he decided he still wanted to just be a kid and experience college. He is very dedicated to AFROTC, volunteering and performing well, 95 on his final, but he decided that he wanted to be in the scholars program that allows him to intern on Embassy row or at the UN and not take umpteen classes of science and math. (Please realize he scored over 700 on Ma SAT and 33 ACT, so he is no slouch, just doesn't like it). </p>
<p>That is why I say be realistic...you have to want to live this life, you have to be willing to give every ounce of blood sweat and tears and when you think you have nothing left to give you need to find more. It is so worth it if your all in, but if you're in it for only getting a UPT slot you might be re-evaluating the sit.</p>
<p>I would rather be the hard a** and negative, than paint a picture of roses. You will get to enjoy amazing TDY's and make amazing friends, but if you can't hack the lifestyle/schedule it was for naught.</p>
<p>To be fair, I didn't want to give up the normal college lifestyle when I first came here either, but I've found that those feelings have largely subsided over time. I have to be an adult during the day, sure, but I can still be a kid after hours. (Granted, that is a bit easier now than it was last year.)</p>
<p>Woooooooooooo! Hold the phone. What is wrong the greeting "King Ratz, Lords of the Cellar." I can easily agree with Tiger Ten and Weasels, but we don't do anything like that. Come on, you just insulted probably the best squadron to have as a 4*.</p>
<p>aaaahahhahaahahaha mamboguy ;)</p>
<p>You know, I can't say I have ever heard anyone greet with "King Ratz, Lords of the Cellar" so I cannot comment on how annoying it is, what I do know is that I live right next to tiger ten and generally hear that incredibly annoying greeting like 20 times before I even get halfway to breakfast.</p>
<p>HuZzAh! :) I love it! lmao. </p>
<p>Pima, right on all counts as usual! lol. Definately know B is not a slouch, he does like his Xbox though. :)</p>
<p>It is fun to greet huzzah bright and early in the morning with 30 other classmates. ;)</p>