Chances - please answer

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
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<p>Hi! I am a junior from NY. Last night I had a serious discussion about the AFA with my mom who doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about it(to put it lightly)
This was really discouraging to me, but I do still want to go ahead with applying to my dream school! I just was wondering if people who are going through/have gone through the application process could give me some feedback on how my stats look? Last night’s discussion made me kind of nervous about this whole thing, and I would really appreciate input from people other than my mother!!</p>

<p>Let’s see…
GPA = 3.72
PSAT scores = 80 (reading) 64 (math) 80 (writing) (** do you think that the unbalanced nature of my scores will look bad for the summer seminar app??)
-have taken all of the hardest classes my school offers
-member of the National Honor Society/Spanish National honor society
-received excellence in honors chemistry award
-currently carrying out an independent research project (approx 20 hrs/week) @ my high school in the physics of dusty plasmas and their apps for nuclear fusion energy (with a school physics teacher as my supervisor and a scientist from the Princeton U plasma physics lab as my mentor). Last year: received 1st place in physics at the only sophomore-level science research symposium in my area ((will participate in intel science talent search, international sci + engineering fair [hopefully ;)] as a senior))
-(summer) worked (approx 35-40 hrs / week) as a research assistant at the functional neuroimaging laboratory of the med schools of cornell / columbia univ
-nominated to national youth leadership forum (medicine) for summer 06
-(summer) attended intensive community service summer tour (80 hours) around New England, doing different types of service incl. packaging “care packages” for foster children, working at nursing home, environmental clean ups
-tutor 1x/wk math to fellow HS student
-volunteer @ family library at local psychiatric hospital
-6th grade-now: advanced ballet/pointe
-11th grade: JV xc, Varsity winter track (** this makes me nervous…over the summer i grew really disenchanted with the unhealthy attitudes (eating disorders, superficial competition, lack of focus on overall fitness, etc) i experienced in the ballet world and cut back on my studies (now doing 3.25 hrs/wk) and started running…but i dont want the academy to think i am being “fickle” i was just doing what i thought would be more healthy and beneficial in the long run!!)
-finally, i am a “peer group leader” at my school, which means that 1x/week myself and a co-leader lead a group of 13 freshman in discussion/activities to help acclimate them to the HS / get to know others
the requirments of this program are a written application and interview and it is pretty competitive (15 out of 100 girls picked) </p>

<p>whew-sorry that was so long! thanks so much in advance for your feedback.</p>

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<p>Whoa that is a lot of credentials...impressive work that you have done so far. You look to be a very well qualified canidate...especially with all of that research, it really shows a lot of initative. Definately apply for the Summer Seminar and start thinking about SATs and ACTs. Personally, I preferred the ACT, but if you start taking them now you have more room to get better and better. </p>

<p>Also, sometime in the near future (maybe in the Summer) send a letter out to your Congressional Representative expressing your intrest. Its good to get started on the nomination stuff early. </p>

<p>Just curious, why does your mom dissaprove of the Academy? If I'm being nosy you don't have to answer, but most parents are excited to hear that their kid wants to go to an Academy. Does she know much about it?</p>

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<p>Well, I'll say this. I'm receiving no support at all from anyone. So if you are absolutely 100% sure you wanna go for it, go for it, and don't let the lack of support on the home front stop you if it is what you want to do.</p>

<p>Now about actual chances, the others could speak better than me, but I think you look good enough. It's better than mine, but then I was homeschooled, so....</p>

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<p>West- I think that my mom's disapproval is kind of a combination of
a) she is very politically liberal and w/ the Iraq war and everything, her opinion of the military in general is pretty low
b) she felt lucky that when she was my age she was able to go to college and not have to worry about service or anything, so she kind of sees my choice as throwing away some of the priveleges she worked for
c) i don't think she fully realizes how good academically it is and she assumes that i am kind of stooping below my potential if i choose that route</p>

<p>it's kind of annoying because when i try to explain to her what it's really about she isn't too willing to listen</p>

<p>also, when i talked to my guidance counselor about testing, she siad that since i did well on the PSATs i shouldnt consider the ACT? do you know why she would say that?</p>

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<p>There is absolutely NO downside to taking the ACT. Or the SATs several times. The AFA takes the BEST score no matter where it comes from -- your file doesn't even show the lower score. One slight comment on (b) above. I agree your Mom was lucky -- good thing that there were plenty of people in the Armed services out there to keep those opportunities available to her ;) (sorry). Seriously, hang in there, I'm very impressed with a candidate willing to go through this process without a lot of family support. Same to you Goldenstorm. Hopefully, some of the parents on this board can act as surrogates for you guys!<br>
And finally, I think it's pretty cook that a dancer is interested in the Academy -- I think your credentials are terrific. Best of luck.</p>

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<p>Oops! Sorry, cook=cool.</p>

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<p>I deffinately agree with multiple times taking a test. One of my highest scores on the Math ACT, got me the lowest reading score i ever got, an amazing 22!! But only the math score showed up. So its all good. Unlike anapolis where they average the scores, here its the best ones.</p>

<p>Best of luck and congradulations with you really amazing resume!</p>

8

<p>One thing you could try discussing with your mom, if you haven't already is related to your (b) above. While she may have done her part to ensure you could go to college and do not have to join the military, I would think that she also worked for your opportunity to CHOOSE the path of your own life. It's one thing to be told you need to pursue a certain path, but it's another thing to use your freewill to choose that path if it is what you truly feel is best for you. Have you tried discussing this aspect of it with her?</p>

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<p>Also, as it's already been said, with standardized tests, the Academy only looks at the highest scores for each sub-category, even if they're on different tests.</p>

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<p>You seem really determined to me, and the Academy definitely prefers those that are self-driven rather than driven by parents. Do not pass up this opportunity. You can always go to a public university for graduate work, but you seem very qualified.</p>

<p>What do you have to lose by applying? You seem like you can manage a lot and that will be a huge asset if you attend the school.</p>

11

<p>dancer,</p>

<p>There have been several discussions on the topic of parental support in the past. I can tell you that I was in the same boat as your mother when my daughter first began to express interest in West Point. I, too, didn't have to serve during the 60's and 70's when I was in college/grad school. I had a wrong view of the entire military due to the fact that I listened to rhetoric of the day and was just another impressionable kid. I guess college really didn't prepare me to think as critically as I thought I did. </p>

<p>So when she began to discuss applying to West Point, I decided that if I counseled her to abandon the idea, she would dig in her heels and pursue nothing else. Therefore I did the "smart" thing and told her to do some really good research. I thought that once she found out how horrible the option was, she would drop it. Actually it was the "smartest" idea I gave her. She did her research and came back to me with the reasons she wanted to apply. I figured out that I better do some of my own research so I could counter her reasons. I read, talked to alums, met representatives at presentations, and came away with true respect for the mission of the service academies. I spoke with people who opted out after 2 years and learned about their reasons. Yes, there are tremendous opportunities open to the graduates, but the "lifestyle" training received does not seem to be available at civilian colleges. Ethics and honor are part of the lifestyle. Academics are excellent and some doors that you didn't even know existed will be open to you.</p>

<p>You have a wonderful profile. By attending the summer seminar at AFA you will have a better idea what life at a service academy is like. My suggestion is that you take your mother with you to any local presentations from any of the service academies. You'll be doing thorough research and she will be exposed to a side of the military with which she is unfamiliar. Since it looks like you're from the East Coast you may want to apply to the other service academy summer programs. You'll be able to compare and contrast - again this is part of your comprehensive research.</p>

<p>She may not change her mind, but will be confident that you are convinced about your decision and that it is not a whim. True support may or may not come, but we've seen a lot of parents move from surprise about the choice and fear for their children to extreme pride for the decision to serve.</p>

<p>I wish you all the best and hope that you keep us posted on your progress.</p>

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<p>Momoftwins - that;s quite a story -- I had no idea. What a blessing you are to this group of kids (and us parents!)</p>

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<p>Thanks, AFDAD,</p>

<p>So many people here on cc helped us last year by sharing their experiences. I just hope this year's crew of parents and students stick around to help next year.</p>

<p>And I hope the holiday mail brings more nominations and appointments. Good luck to all! I love hearing your good news.</p>

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<p>snipper - I don't think Annapolis averages the scores they used to. On my candidate site, it shows ALL my scores (Math and Verbal) from each test I took (2 ACTs and 2 SATs). I think in the Smallwood Candidate book he said they used to average, but now I believe they take the highest as West Point does...idk about AFA</p>

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<p>My son just took the SAT for the 4th time and received the same score all 4 times (560) in Verbal!!! 20 points below the minimum for USAFA. He received a congressional nomination...but can he still get in with the low SAT Verbal grade.</p>

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<p>I don't know for sure but if it says minimum, generally the academy (and the military for that matter) means what they say. Have you thought about his taking the ACT?</p>

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<p>He took the ACT and he missed the minimum by 2 points. He made the average scores for West Point; but he'd rather go to the AFA. Do you think that they would offer him the prep school in this case?</p>

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<p>What's preventing your son from taking it a 5th time? I can tell you that when I was initially applying (5 years ago) that I was below the minimum on the verbal portion of the SAT by 10 points and I got a letter saying that I wasn't meeting entry requirements. I ended up taking it 2 more times and ended up raising my verbal enough to get in. Each time I got the same total score but different ones on the verbal and math. Since they take the highest scores from each of the sub-parts, I ended up being fine. My scores weren't awesome, but I had 680 math and 630 verbal (up from 570 the first time I took it), 1310 total. I got a regular appointment both years with those scores; the first year I just got disqualified for a medical thing right before BCT (that I didn't get a waiver on, which I did get a waiver for easily the next semester).</p>

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<p>I dunno, clarksonmom... You said he got a nomination? Most sources of nomination dont even consider a person if they are less than academy mins. Like in your sons case, i am supprised he got a nomination if his scores are less than the minimals. Check with his ALO...im sure he will be able to offer the best advice. Keep taking them too! I took the math SAT four times an the first three times my score did not advance at all. 580 or 560 all three times. The forth time it became 650 and the fifth time a 680...so scores can deffinatly improve. I went to the SAT web page and took that "Problem a day" thing, turned out the stradegy used on the current problem was used FOUR TIMES on the test! That was the one i got 650.</p>

<p>So i think there are some good test preps out there. Best of luck to you and your son and congradulations on his nomination!</p>

20

<p>To reiterate what everyone else has been saying, I took the SAT 5 (five) times before I finally got some good scores. The first four times I got roughly the same verbal score, but the fifth time I studied and was able to raise my score ~200 points. I don't know if I got lucky or if I got an "easy" verbal test or what, but for me fifth time was a charm. Some lessons I learned along the way:</p>

<p>1) Many colleges consider how many times a person takes the SAT, and after 3 takes the scores are averaged; however, if your son is bound and determined to go to USAFA then he should take the SAT (and ACT) as many times as possible until he gets at least the minimum score. USAFA doesn't care how many times he took the SAT.</p>

<p>2) Studying pays off. I got the CollegeBoard's Blue Book and worked through each of the eight practice tests in it; the first four I just learned the strategies, tricks, and types of questions asked; the last four I timed myself. Sure, this takes a huge chunk of time, but will it be worth it to your son come Inprocessing Day? He will most likely have forgotten those long hours studying for a dumb test by then.</p>

<p>3) I suggest you direct your son to the test prep forum on this site and take a look at the "Xiggi" method for studying for the SAT. It really is helpful; it really benefited me a lot.</p>

<p>4) Tell your son to read and write a lot; if he is able to read quickly then he will have more time to answer questions. More importantly, he needs to be able to read for content--that is, read through an article quickly and summarize what was said. This was my biggest hurdle. I could read, but I couldn't always comprehend so quickly. Reading and studying the test will help with this--by studying the test your son will get to see the types of questions asked again and again, and the corresponding answers, so he'll het a feel for what the test makers are looking for.</p>

<p>5) Remember, the SAT does not measure intelligence, it measures how well a person takes the SAT on a given Saturday morning. How well a person takes the SAT depends on how well they understand the test and its logic--your son needs to know the directions for each section so that he doesn't waste time reading them. He needs to know quick ways the he can solve math problems--every problem can be solved without a calculator; sometimes the calculator just makes it faster. This is not calculus here! Finally, for some people the SAT just doesn't work. Maybe your son could consider studying for the ACT and seeing how that goes second time around. </p>

<p>I know I'm forgetting a lot of things that I could mention, but most of this can be found in the SAT/ACT prep section of this forum. I wish your son the best of luck; I can empathize with him because this was also my biggest obstacle--but it's not impossible to beat the SAT.</p>