<p>Hi, I’m currently a junior in high school and I would like to get into the Air Force Academy. I would greatly appreciate any advice on improving my chances of getting into the academy. Constructive criticism is welcome.</p>
<p>This is what I have so far:</p>
<p>Grades:
3.83 Unweighted GPA
4.24 Weighted GPA
Class Rank 65/426(I know, kind of sub par, but it should get into mid 50s by the end of the year)
31 ACT with 32 English/ 33 Math/ 30 Reading/ 28 Science/ 8/12 on Writing (Have only taken it once without any studying, I can probably get it up to a 34 give or take a point)
211 PSAT with 70 Reading/ 71 Math/ 70 Reading (This will almost definitely qualify for National Merit since I live in Alabama and the cutoff for National Merit was only 207 last year)</p>
<p>Classes:
I took AP chemistry in my Sophomore year and I got a 3 on the Exam
I am currently taking AP environmental science and AP English 11
I took Honors(They call it PreAP at my school but it is basically the same thing as honors) English 9, Honors English 10, Honors Algebra 2 w/trig, Honors Precalculus, and Honors Biology
I plan to take AP English 12 and AP Calculus next year
I plan to take Spanish 1 and 2 next year</p>
<p>Extra curricular activities(All of these took place while I was in high school):
1 Year of National Honor Society(I will have 2 years of this by the time I graduate)
2 Years of Varsity Football(We have been region champions both of the years I have ben on the team, it will be 3 years of Varsity Football by the time I graduate as I will continue playing next year)
3 JROTC courses completed(I have achieved the rank of C/Capt, will have 4 completed by graduation)
I held the following positions in JROTC: flight captain, flight superintendent, flight operator
3 Years of Rec League basketball(Idk if these means anything lol) and was a Captain all 3 years
JROTC Academic team
JROTC Model Rocketry team
50 hours of community service with JROTC
I also have a 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Doe but I got it when I was in 2nd grade so I’m not sure if it is even worth mentioning lol</p>
<p>Physical Fitness:
I am 5’7 and I weigh 135 pounds, I do very intense work outs 5 days a week for football
I haven’t tried the basketball throw yet(I have shoulder instability in my right shoulder right now, so I may have to complete this event with my off hand if my shoulder doesn’t recover by next year)
I haven’t done a pull up test yet but I know that I can do at least 8 no problem
I run a 8.1 shuttle run(I can probably cut a tenth or two off this in the next year)
I can do 60 push ups in one minute(I think in CFA you get 2 minutes)
I’m not sure how many curl ups I can do, but I’m guessing somewhere in the high 70s low 80s
I can run a mile in about 6:30(I can get this down to the low 6s high 5s if I learn how to pace myself better)</p>
What’s wrong with your shoulder? You are aware that you have to pass a physical…right?</p>
<p>Your stats look good. Might want to try to get into the American Legion’s Boys State program next summer. Might help your extra curricular activities and it is counted heavily on the application.</p>
<p>Also…you might want to start "prepping’ your teachers for letters of recommendations. Particularly math, science and coaches. </p>
<p>I have shoulder instability, so sometimes when I make rapid, explosive movements with my shoulder my shoulder has a subluxation, which is basically a partial dislocation. For example, if I’m playing dodgeball and I try to throw the dodgeball really hard, my shoulder will most likely have a subluxation and the ball won’t go very far. I passed a physical for football while I had shoulder instability a few months ago, do they do some type of different physical? </p>
<p>How important are letters of recommendation from teachers? I don’t have any Math/Science teachers that dislike me to my knowledge, but I don’t have any teachers that like me a ton or anything. I’m fairly confident my AFJROTC instructor would write me a letter of recommendation though. </p>
<p>Yes…you have to pass a Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) physical. Also a review of your medical history/injuries. Not sure how your shoulder injury will impact your status. Probably the only way of knowing will be when you reach that point in the process and take the physical. </p>
<p>You are going to need LORs for both your USAFA and nomination(s) applications. As I recall USAFA was fairly specific and wanted LORs from both the junior year science and math teachers. Might be time to start talking to your teachers or planning to be very endearing to next semesters science and math teachers. Yes…I’m sure the AFJROTC instructor LOR will be helpful, but I’m not sure HOW much help and it won’t replace the required LORs. </p>
<p>Good Luck and remember to have a Plan B, C and D.</p>
<p>Well then I am screwed because I don’t have a math teacher this year lol…My school works on a semester schedule where you have 4 classes each semester and your classes change each semester. That allowed me to take 2 Math classes my freshman year(Algrebra 1 and Geometry) and as a result I didn’t take one this year. I guess I’ll just have to ask for a recommendation from my math teacher Senior year 1st semester and hope that they will accept it. Thank you for your input.</p>
<p>I’m sure that USAFA will take your senior math teacher LOR. Don’t worry about it…I’m sure they (USAFA) will have plenty of applicants with the same semester issues that you are experiencing. </p>
<p>I’m a West Point grad from the early 1980s. Your class rank is low for such a high GPA. I’ve sat on 2 congressional review boards. We don’t talk about how the candidate did on the fitness test just whether they took it and passed. In January create a candidate file on the USAFA website and sign up for the summer one week program at the academy. You can get medical waivers for some medical issues and not for others. Advice is correct just get the DOD physical when the time comes. You had better have a backup plan. Getting into a military academy can be tough if there are a lot of interested candidates in your congressional district. I would also suggest you apply to Annapolis and West Point to improve your chances. All the military academies are good and by the time you graduate it might be all drones anyway</p>
<p>I go to a school with a lot of smart people, which is why my class rank isn’t on the same level as my GPA. To put it into perspective, our 2014 class had more than 25% of its people make a 30 or above on the ACT(Which is an absurdly high number considering only about 5% of the people in the nation get a 30 or above). Do you know if the academy will factor in the intelligence of my school when they look at my class rank? I don’t go to a famous school or anything it just has a lot of smart people at it.</p>
<p>I wasn’t aware that the CFA was pass fail. So does that mean there is no purpose in getting far above the passing scores on the test? For example, should I waste my energy doing 18 pull ups if I only need 8 to pass, or should I just do 8 and save my energy for the next event?</p>
<p>Also, I’m pretty set on Air Force so if I don’t get into the academy I’ll just do ROTC instead. I might apply to West Point, but I have no interest in the Navy tbh lol. Thank you for your input. </p>
<p>USAFA definitely “rates” your HS. Your guidance counselor will be required to fill out a HS survey that will ask questions such as average SAT/ACT scores, AP classes offered and what percentage of students graduate and go to college. </p>
<p>I would focus on doing as well as you can in ALL the areas that USAFA evaluates. The USMA grad has served on Nom committees and what they value may not necessarily be exactly the same as the USAFA admissions department. Try to be well rounded and just do the best you can in every area. There are NO perfect candidates. Everybody has some weaknesses. </p>
<p>BTW - the previous poster touched on an important fact: In SOME states/congressional districts the toughest part of getting an Appointment is getting a nomination. States like California and regions like Northern Va are notoriously difficult to get Noms because of the amount and quality of competition. Other states like NH, SD and ND are substantially “easier” to get a nom. </p>
<p>I already applied and am waiting for the results. Your PFA sounds good, just remember that the average for pull-ups is 12 and you need a 6:24 mile time to meet average. A lot of people I know who got nominations were in JROTC so being a commander certainly helps your case. My recommendation is to just try and get more leadership positions. I had a lot of leadership stuff in band and I think that was what really made me “marketable”. I know in Northern VA the competition is intense so someone with your track record should be fine.</p>
<p>And as a side note can someone help me with something? I got medically disqualified and the AFA is requesting a medical waiver. I put down that I had eczema a while back and that was the reason I was disqualified. I got letters from my doctors since I was 10 years old and they all said I had a) a very mild case of eczema or b) no signs of eczema. Do you think they would waive my disqualification? PLEASE HELP!!</p>
I know this post is from a couple of years ago, but I am researching and reading these types of discussions trying to find answers. I am entering high school this year as a junior and I am very interested in the AFA. I was just wondering how/if you wrote letters to your congressman and senators introducing yourself or telling them you’re interested in their nomination? Or how exactly you went about getting nominations? Also, should I try to get multiple nominations and LOR?
@wickedtree : You should try to get as many Noms as possible from as many sources as you have available. At the very least you need to apply to your US Rep, both US Senators and the VP. Check each of their websites for instructions on how to apply for their Nom. Each may be different and have different timelines. Pay VERY close attention to those requirements AND the timeline that they need to be complete by.
While you only NEED one Nom…the more you can get the better your chances of admission are. Although you only NEED one Nom to be qualified to attend USAFA…you MUST also be selected by USAFA from the pool of candidates that have Noms…and there are more candidates with Noms than slots available in each class. Most Congresspersons use a competitive slate of 10 noms and allow USAFA to choose one from each slate. In some states the Congresspeople coordinate their Noms so that more applicants will receive one. If you are in one of those states it is unlikely that you will receive more than one Nom to the same Service Academy.