<p>Wow - there's some other things I forgot that are probably just as important as "stats".</p>
<p>A sincere desire ("a fire in the belly") to become an Air Force Officer.</p>
<p>Learn all you can about the Academy - the Honor Code, Core Values, ODS, etc.</p>
<p>Learn all you can about AF ROTC - Scholarships, colleges, degrees</p>
<p>Have a Plan B and a Plan C. Would you accept Falcon Foundation, Prep School or AFROTC?</p>
<p>In my son's case he started contacting the AFA and his ALO pretty early in HS. He visited the Academy for a day. He's researched ROTC and the corp of cadets at Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, VMI and the Citadel.</p>
<p>He's even spent his share of time checking out the "edodo" website. It's pretty funny stuff and offers an alternative view of the Academy.</p>
<p>Unlike the USMA summer seminar's PAE the AFA's PAE is not offical. I remember the mean scores on all the events for the candidates who attended the AFA were lower than the PAE score for the USMA candidates, but this was probably due to the high altitude (which is really strange because it did effect my score, for example, my shuttle run time at AFA was about 8seconds slower at AFA)</p>
<p>I think you'd have a hard time seeing one vying for an academy spot that hasn't shown that drive and almost obsession to try to get there. Congratulations to your son, nothemomma. Your post spurred me to turn in my application pronto. I had talked to multiple people who believed they didn't use rolling admissions, so I thought I could turn it in when I was finished, but after I saw that I had to really get on the ball. I turned mine in earlier today, and can't wait for the results. I believe I have a preety decent shot. Seeing that i have new messages in my inbox is sure going to be something more than normal from now on. </p>
<p>Interesting thing I noticed. They never really specified the limit of 6000 words on the resume for summer seminar until you got to that section. I had written it before, and when I checked mine before I pasted it, it was 5992. What luck!</p>
<p>tbby2 - So the PAE you took at SS was "unofficial" and would not go into your application file? I just noticed in the SS brochure it says "simulated" PAE. Did they keep a record of how you did or was it just a "practice"? How did you schedule your official PAE - or did your score from USMA cover it? So many questions for so early in the AM. Thanks for all of the info you've shared!</p>
<p>falconhopeful06 - My son did notice in the SS brochure there's a section that says -"selections will be made throughout the application period and up to ten working days after the deadline date. Therefore, it is to your advantage to apply as soon as you have all your information ready." Needless to say he was on it pretty quick.</p>
<p>You're so right about the word count for the resume. Luckily, his ALO had asked him to reduce his resume to 1 page and really concentrate on the things that showed his passions and lose the filler.</p>
<p>What I can't figure out is how a student can show that drive and near obsession to go through the complicated process to get into AFA and then drop out during BCT or shortly after - leaving a spot open that another deserving kid might have had. </p>
<p>Good luck - let us know when the good news arrives!</p>
<p>I don't think many 17 year olds realize just how difficult it is. We know one person that have made it for 4 weeks and quit. Mosy of our kids have has quite a bit of freedom but more importantly had "the freedom of choice" throughout their lives. Most have never been yelled with the intensity and without cause. It can be a very humbling experience and for students highly recruited by many schools they start to question. Read "A Place of Honor" by James Webb and you will gain some insight. Also, most Academies have books on how to get in and how to survive. That section is there for a reason. It's a tough road and those that can really understand the system and why it is in place and take things less personally may fair a little better....just a few of my thoughts...</p>
<p>You're exactly right. Understanding how the system works once they get there is probably the key to surviving. That, and a good sense of humor. I tend to forget that we're asking more from a 17 year old than we do from most adults.</p>
<p>It's actually A Sense of Honor....I can never seem to remember that title correctly! and...I realize just how bad my typng is early in the am...:-)</p>
<p>Another person's two cents:
Most of these kids have spent their lives trying to position themselves to be outstanding and are used to the recognition that goes with achievement.</p>
<p>Life during their BCT and first year at a service academy is all about blending in; being anonymous. Doing what you are supposed to do without fanfare. In fact fanfare is to be avoided at all costs. Do not draw attention to yourself for any reason!</p>
<p>Many of those who drop out in the beginning have difficulty in adjusting to learning that self worth comes from within themselves, not from the accolades they have come to expect for their accomplishments. A second adjustment comes in the form of losing personal identity and replacing it with a team identity. The accomplishments or failures of the team result in the privileges or restrictions of the entire group, despite one's personal performance! It is a very difficult transition for those whose entire adolescence has been geared to making oneself stand out among the crowd in order to achieve one's peronal goals!</p>
<p>Those who cannot adjust to taking orders rather than giving them will not be good leaders; good leaders understand the necessity for unity. No mavericks allowed!</p>
<p>While some of the tasks may appear trivial or even foolish to us as civilians, the do serve a military objective. Ask any first year military service academy student and they will tell you how much sharper their mental recall and awareness have become. </p>
<p>The key to adjusting is to realize that it is not personal. </p>
<p>Since this discussion has veered off a little, I'd just like to add something...</p>
<p>The Academy and the military in general are NOT about doing away with your individuality or personal achievement--and I'm not accusing anyone of saying that. I just don't want visitors here to read something into the comments that is not intended.</p>
<p>Academy life and success in the military are VERY MUCH about retaining and enhancing your personality and personal qualities and character, but understanding how those fit into a team. There are appropriate times, even during BCT, to stand out and be proud of your personal accomplishments--be the best at pugil stick fighting, win a XC run, be the best at drill, score highest on a knowledge test, etc. But, there are other times when successful cadets know that it may be in the team's best interest if you didn't have the best-polished shoes in the squadron and instead spent some time helping your roommate pass the knowledge test he/she flunked, but you aced the day before.</p>
<p>Those choices where we all have to discover some balance, operate in gray areas, see that life isn't fair but you can still operate effectively, and that you can do so under stress, are the lessons new cadets struggle with. Chances are good that you will NOT be a superstar at USAFA despite your glowing high school successes--that's a tough adjustment. Successful cadets are the ones that find their niche in which they can excel, grow in areas where they're weak, and make all those around them better, while still maintaining the spirit (elan, gusto, verve, guts, huevos rancheros, etc) that makes you an individual.</p>
<p>Good discussion folks! I've been traveling a LOT and haven't posted much, so it's good to see things operating well on "auto-pilot." I'll be home for maybe 12 of the next 60 days, so keep it up. Then... current plans (as of today) are for a docfrance "extended, all expenses paid vacation" to a very warm place sometime late this Spring. That should be fun. If that comes to pass, I'll try to handle connectivity and maybe set up a blog where I can share at least a few real-life details. We'll see.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help from everyone on here. This is amazing, I submitted my application yesterday, and today when I got home from school in my e-mail was my acceptance. One day!! Has to be the best e-mail I've ever recieved in my life. Again, thanks to everyone heres help.</p>
<p>at the USMA summer program, YES you take an offical PAE, where your results are given to the admissions office, but the good news is, is that once you recieve your admissions packet you can take it again with your liason officer or a phy.ed. teacher</p>
<p>at the AFA's summer program, you go through the PAE, but the scores are kept only to see who wins best element. ( a little award they have) </p>
<p>Both PAEs were conducted in the middle of the week, during the time where we would usually have intermurals.</p>
<p>sorry I didn't get to answer your other questions</p>
<p>the PAE, the one you take with you Phy.Ed teacher covers all three academies, but the PAE you take during the summer seminar at USMA only applies to USMA. and even though at USMA you take an offical one, and you pass all events, they suggest (actually highly recommend) that you take it over again once you return homo w/ your phy.ed teacher or liason officer</p>
<p>I didn't specify what one on the application so I now have the option to e-mail back requesting my choice. I'll most likely be attending session one.</p>
<p>well actually I did make a comment regarding the food in one of my previous post, but it was a while ago</p>
<p>Michal hall (AFA) - Food is ehhhhhhh..... staff is not the nice, but there is a wider variety + an ice cream machine which was popular
Washington hall (USMA)- Good hardy food, personally I loved it. and call me crazy but the MREs that they gave out were one of my favorite meals too. Staff is more friendly than AFA's staff. (these people are just civilian servers) </p>
<p>so to sum it up the food at USMA is X48573945793485349857394834895 better than AFA's food</p>
<p>It's really strange, every one says the altitude doesn't effect you, and that's what I thought when I first arrived at the AFA, but wow, I never knew how hard walking up a flight of stairs could have been. I'm a 2 sport, 3-year varsity letter winner too, and I was huffing and puffing just trying to get to my room at AFA. strange.... but after a week you get used to it.</p>
<p>not sure yet, AFA is my number one choice but I haven't heard anything from them. and my congressmen nominated me for USMA instead of AFA =( so I'm on the national waiting list for USMA. But I'm still waiting to hear from one of my senators for a nomination so I'll keep my fingers crossed</p>