<p>As soon as I got back from the summer seminar, I started working on the online candidate kit. I have an interview with my ALO soon, but other than that, everything is done for my part…except the fitness assessment. I’m not exactly sure when the best time is to take it. I want to wait until cross country season is really rolling because I want the highest scores possible, but is it worthwhile to take it now so that the academy has more time to process all of my info and maybe send a letter of assurance? Also, how often does the academy send out letters of assurance? What is the typical profile of a candidate who recieves one? And what are good scores for a female on the CFA? I know the average scores, but I wonder what is considered good…</p>
<p>Only about 100-150 get sent out, and recruited athletes are the main ones to get them. I don't know good scores for a female on the CFA.</p>
<p>redhead89,
You will have to be the best judge for when to take the test. If you can pass all the sections of the PFT, why wait? If you are still working on any section you might be weak on, keep working. I encouraged my son to take his PFT sooner than later. My thought was, why add any more stress to your senior year. Your XC practices, race days AND homework will fill most of your waking moments. Get it done and enjoy a less stressed Senior year. Deadlines come before you know it! Do you really want your paperwork reviewed when the majority of applicants are sending theirs in? Or, do you want yours to be reviewed before the masses come in. If you can do it, DO IT. Get your file in the short stack! :) (That is my opinion! Take for what its worth! :) )</p>
<p>Thank you, momof3boyz. That makes a lot of sense. I am still working on my pull ups, but I'm getting closer everyday. My goal was to get everything done with my application this summer because I am going to have a very hectic senior year. I just wish I knew what were good scores for a female on the CFA. I want to prove that I am very physically fit, even though I am a JV XC runner. But I think that is very good advice, and as soon as I get a couple of pull ups in, I will go for it.</p>
<p>It's great that you want to do your best. My son only completed 3 qualifying pull-ups on his PFT. The coach administering his test said "I'm not doing you any favors. If the pull-up is not correct (no kick/all the way down or up) I can't give you credit for it." </p>
<p>Again....the "whole person" evaluation is what they are looking at. Even on my son's PFT at Basic, he failed the pull-up section. He said that it was not uncommon for cadets that had the upper body strength did not have the cardio stamina for running. Other cadets that had the cardio stamina may have been weak on the upper body.</p>
<p>A few cadets fail the PFT/AFT at the academy. I, unfortunately, am one of them. So, my not-fit-enough classmates and I get to do training...lots of training.</p>
<p>Do your best, and try to score well. If you do not, you may still get in, I did.</p>
<h2>I found this posting on <a href="http://www.serviceacademyforums.com%5B/url%5D">www.serviceacademyforums.com</a>. I think it should help answer some of your questions.</h2>
<p>I found some old "PAE" statistics in a brochure the guidance counselor gave my son. The old PAE contained 5 events - 3 of categorys are still used on the Candidate Fitness Test. The stats are from a "recent" West Point class.</p>
<p>Averages for Men / Women
Pull ups 8.8 reps for men / 22.4 seconds (women)
BB Throw: 66 / 38
Push Ups 54 / 29</p>
<p>Top Scorers did better than or equal to this amount:
Men / Women
Pullups: 12 reps for men / 37.0 seconds (women)
BB Throw: 75, 47
Push ups: 74, 41</p>
<p>Bottom Scorers did less than or equal to this amount
Men / Women
Pullups: 4 reps for men / 8.2 seconds for women
BB Thow: 55 / 29
Push Ups: 36 / 15</p>
<p>The document suggested that you do "at least as well as" the mean in each event.</p>
<p>This should help some applicants decide what is good score and what isn't.</p>
<p>-FoF</p>
<p>I can tell you a LOT of Basics failed PFT or AFT. I actually have a failing score on my PFT. Even nicer about that...I should have passed. I lost TEN inches on my jump. Why? We were trained HARD the day before and even that morning. So, take the basic PFT with a grain of salt. It's the one in Sept that really counts. My squad is having PFT/AFT work-outs during the week for the entire squadron, so I know I'll be ready. </p>
<p>Unless you completely and utterly fail your CFT, you'll be ok.</p>
<p>I just reread a letter the academy sent me on June 30. It tells me how to access the online candidate kit and says that you should complete all forms by September 1. Does that mean that I must take my fitness assessment before that time? Oh no, I think I am in trouble...please, someone verify if this is true. I don't know why I didn't see that before. I thought most applicants didn't even start their online application until the beginning of their senior year. School hasn't even started for me yet!</p>
<p>its not mandantory. that is just when the admissions board meets for the first time. it would be good to get it then, but is not a deadline you should rush to meet.</p>
<p>Get everything done ASAP, but don't stress about it. That's the worst thing you can do. Some freshmen in my squad didn't even get accepted until 2 days before I-day.</p>