<p>I just did a search for USCGA CFA and, lo and behold, what did I find? Your post of Sept 29:</p>
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[quote]
this year, they will accept the CFA taken for a different academy admission.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No caveats, no qualifications. A simple statement by you that USCGA would, this year, accept the CFA.</p>
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[quote]
a candidate applying there and to another SA would be required to complete two tests.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not suggested, not recommended, not 'not recommended in order to present a most presentable package', but a pure and simple “required” response totally opposite of your comment of a month ago.</p>
<p>I did pass the phone number on to my affected candidate. He will call her and let me know if her answer is as you state. If so, I will definitely follow up and let her know that her office is sending out conflicting information. </p>
<p>You are going to say that you found out different than what you posted on Sept 29. How long were you planning to keep it a secret? We have discovered today a discrepancy and I know at least one candidate who will benefit from it. That is my reason for my posts. </p>
<p>And ... it makes absolutely no sense for an admissions office to state that a procedure is perfectly acceptable, but that anyone who utilizes it will be penalized.</p>
[quote]
The sole reason that the SAs got together and made a common fitness test was so the candidates, no matter to how many they are applying, will only have to complete it once.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If this statement - that includes the CGA - is not correct then WHY on earth would the CGA allow an applicant to substitute in lieu of the CFA???
It would make no sense. They did not allow it last year. This year they made the change and they must have made it for a reason - to accomadate kids who apply to multiple academies.</p>
<p>I read..... Even if your CFA score is acceptable, we highly recommend that you take the PFE, as this is the standard which you will be held to at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
^^^^
This statement is taken directly off the "USCGA Supplemental Forms Package"
instructions.</p>
<p>Why? Probably because....
1. Quote from USCGA: Consequently, an applicant who cannot attain a score of at least 130 (PFE)points will not receive a full appointment. This standard may be raised based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool and the needs of the Coast Guard.
2. The admissions evaluators would be more apt at comparing the prospective 3,345 "Cadet Candidate Physical Fitness Examination" forms PFE to PFE rather then PFE to CFA. Especially when comparing close applications (only 10% are offered appointments). Retaking the PFE over CFA shows initiative.
3. 99.99% of the admissions application process on the Coast Guard Academy web site refers to the PFE, not CFA.
4. Highlighted in the admissions PFE section was this quote: "The P.E. will be administered during the first week of Swab Summer. Cadets who fail to score at least 130 points will be disenrolled. Cadets who fail to score 165 points at the end of Swab Summer will be placed on Fitness Probation and receive remedial physical training. Cadets who fail to score 165 points by the end of their first semester will normally be disenrolled." This would make one think that the admissions PFE is an litmus test of what the cadets will be the evaluated on later on while at New London. I don't remember my cadet throwing any basketballs over his head during his fitness test as of lately.
5. And far as Luigi59 stating: "I've spoken directly, in person, to Captain Susan Bibeau, the head of admissions for the USCGA. She has said exactly what I said. Yes, they will accept it, but if a candidate wants to present the BEST possible application to the board, they will take the PFE as recommended." I have no reason to doubt his integrity.
6. CFA may at one time be the norm at Coast Guard Academy admissions, but now it's not. If an applicant has a high enough CFA, go for it. But don't come on this forum making a blanket implication that it's a waste of time for potential cadet candidates to retake the PFE if they have already taken the CFA.</p>
<p>bearbit, thanks for weighing in on this very serious earth-shattering dilemma. First, you make the following statement:</p>
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</p>
<p>“Probably”. Great. Fantastic. A work I should probably use more often. You are stating that the following is your opinion, nothing more, nothing less. It is your opinion. I have no more right to tell you not to express your opinion than you had to tell me above not to come on this forum and express mine. </p>
<p>My opinion is that the statement which we are discussing is a reluctant CGA coming on board with the CGA. They will accept the CGA for admissions purposes but highly suggest that prior to I-Day be proficient in the PFE (they use the term "take", not "report"). You despair the basketball throw but I ask you what anything anyone does in September for the purpose of gaining admission will carry over to the following June after admissions. They need to be in shape, and the benchmark of such is the PFE.</p>
<p>I still invite you to respond to my previous question. Why would a SA endorse submitting the CFA and then turn around and penalize anyone who did so?</p>
<p>I would love to, without violating confidentiality, forward the email I received this AM from my candidate to whom, yesterday, I had emailed my concerns. He stated that CGA admissions had asked him what his CFA scores were and when he told them, stated that they were fine and then reminded him of the PFE next June and that he should be in good shape to pass it. He further stated that he felt no need to call admissions for further clarification.</p>
<p>So, what have I learned. The CGA has not released clear instructions on usage of the CFA for admissions. If I have a son or daughter who is a candidate or if I were a candidate who had taken the CFA for another SA and were applying to the CGA, I would call them and ask for case-by-case guidance.</p>
<p>Allow me to add:
My daughter completed the process last year - took 3 different physical fitness tests - CFA, PFE and APFT. Scheduling all three tests was seriously a pain. </p>
<p>Points you noted above 1-4 are the same as last year. No change.</p>
<p>last year candidates were not allowed to sub the CFA for PFE.</p>
<p>For the "Other" SA's - AFA, USNA, USMA - the CFA is only ever used ONCE - for admissions. after that they must take and pass the fitness test for the service - for USMA it would be the APFT. Same scenario as the USCGA - if they don't pass they go remedial and can be disenrolled.</p>
<p>So - the USCGA is offering starting this year to sub the CFA for the PFE - makes it easier for candidates who needed a test done for early admissions I presume. If they would frown upon a candidate for making the sub why do they allow it?
I maintain that the PFE is a much easier test than the CFA anyway - if one maxs the CFA or does well - that person should get a high score on the PFE.
For a person who is a varsity athlete in an aerobic sport and in reasonably good shape getting a 130 on the PFE is no big deal.</p>
<p>[ul]1. Heed what is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by the admissions board of the USCGA and take the PFE.</p>
<p>[li]2. Ignore the recommendation of the admissions board of the USCGA.[/ul][/li]To advise a candidate to choose #2 is foolish and makes no sense.</p>
<p>No one has posted that the CFA is not allowed or will not be accepted. The focus is on what is recommended to the USCGA candidate by the very same admissions board that determines their fate.</p>
<p>In addition to Luigi's two recommendations above, my recommendation as I stated above, would be for each individual candidate, with CFA results in hand, call the admisssions office and get their opinion.</p>
<p>Hey USNA69, what test would you recommend to a candidate who is ONLY applying to the USCGA? Would you recommend the CFA that is taken by the other 4 SA's, or the USCGA's PFE? </p>
<p>If you logically say "the PFE", then why would you think that a USCGA candidate is better served by submitting a CFA and forgoing the fitness test that is "highly recommended" for admission to the USCGA?</p>
<p>If you say "the CFA", why?</p>
<p>"Just because they already took it" for another academy is not a good reason.</p>
<p>And "Just because the USCGA Admissions office will accept it this year" is not logical, as that path is NOT "highly recommended".</p>
<p>Seems to me that the best possible path to follow is to do what is "highly recommended", not what is "also acceptable this year."</p>
<p>69..... equate a failure rating of 130 on the PFE to a like score on the CFA.</p>
<p>Is the CFA similar to the Max, A, B, C, D and F PFE scoring system?</p>
<p>Does the CFA have a passing score that's given out by Canoe U, so a candidate knows whether he has scored in the low, average, high CFA range compared to the other applicants.</p>
<p>Doesn't the USNA, NOT give out a passing score for the CFA but recommends that the prospective candidate does the best he can do. If so, how does a prospective cadet at the CGA know if he even has a passing score on a CFA to make any comparison to the PFE? Or am I incorrect, is there is a passing score on CFA given out.</p>
<p>Should the prospective cadet on the basis that the CFA is harder then the PFE just have the attitude, I should blindly (not knowing what a passing score is) submit the CFA to Coast Guard Admissions just because the CFA is harder?</p>
<p>My advice would be if you have a stellar service academy resume sure only submit the CFA with your application to CGA. But if you only have a average CFA score and want to be a member of the Corp of Cadets, it would be highly recommended that you take the extra hour or so and take the PFE exam. You will be advised by the academy administration staff, if you receive an appointment to train for the PFE to get ready for swab summer. It would be a shame if an applicant would of been beat out of a appointment because of the ambiguity between the CFA and PFE.</p>
<p>I am in no way, shape, or form continuing this thread with the intention of debating [edited out references to other posters - Mod JEM] the merits of the CFA versus the PFE. [edited out references to other posters - Mod JEM] I will repeat it one last time: If you have completed the CFA and are contemplating an application to CGA, it would probably be worth your time to call CGA admissions, since their directives are unclear, and obtain their recommendation as to whether or not you should take the PFE.</p>
<p>While I have no empathy for parents and candidates who are trying to "bag" as many appointments as they can, the people who administer these tests should be given some consideration.</p>
<p>OK! Just an update to let you all know how things have finally shaken out:</p>
<p>All we had to do was call the Naval Academy! They called the AFA, and son's results were posted and file complete within 5 hours. Service with a smile from both USNA and USAFA! I love it.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your recommendations and advice.</p>
<p>MoT: yes, it was really nice to see that kind of quick co-operation between these two academies. Makes me much more comfortable knowing that they are not biting their noses to spite their faces. Still haven't figured out what bee was in the bonnet of the ALO.</p>