Could Use Some Opinions

<p>I’m currently 17 and will be graduating in June 2009. About a week ago I had an Arthroscopic Bankart Reconstruction Surgery on my shoulder so I’m pretty much screwed for the pre-candidate fitness assessment. So here’s pretty much what I was like before.</p>

<p>Push Ups: 40
Pull Ups: 6
Sit Ups: 50
Mile:7 Minutes</p>

<p>Current scores for tests.</p>

<p>SAT: 1840
Reading: 610
Math: 630</p>

<p>ACT: 28
English: 25
Reading:28
Math: 31
Science: 29</p>

<p>What do you guys think my chances are for getting accepted? BTW I’m going to the Boys State thing if thats a factor at all. Thanks.</p>

<p>Theres no hope of recovering by October and taking the PCFT again then? That way you might be able to work your numbers higher.</p>

<p>What recovery time are you looking at?</p>

<p>(and work on those sit-ups! It's not that hard to get 95 in 2minutes)</p>

<p>Max recovery time is six months so yeah about October. Working on the sit-ups now thanks.</p>

<p>cfa scores could go up some, like i said somewhere else shoot for above the averages. always do the best you can, so if you're satisfied w/ your act and sat, leave it. but remember there's always room for improvement; it's always up to you whenver you wanna turn stuff in, but remember you can update everything. as soon as you recover, hit that cfa practice and try to get it done. dont hurt yourself though! there's plenty of time</p>

<p>Any idea as to what dates are available for the CFA?</p>

<p>Check with your CFA test administrator (usually your ALO). I believe that you'll find a day that works for both of you then take it!</p>

<p>I'm in a very similar situation... I broke my ankle and screwed up the ligaments so I had to get 2 screws put into myankle. They will be taken out late june of this year. I'm looking at the same recovery date...early October. I hope we can get our scores up in such a limited amount of time...good luck Jlimmy!</p>

<p>Thanks you too.</p>

<p>Get to PT as soon as the doc clears you!! Tell them your goals and they will work with you to reach them. Make the appt NOW~!</p>

<p>you can take the CFA any time you want. you can get your ALO to administer it, or even a high school coach. my ALO lived 3 hrs away, so i got a coach to give mine, and it was very convenient. we did it during my last class period of a school day in october. either will work and be accepted unless they've changed the rules</p>

<p>DODMERB may be more of a concern than the CFA.</p>

<p>Make sure you have all your medical records from your surgery. Have your doctor write a letter explaining that you are released to full activity status and there is no reduction of motion from the injury or the surgery, and a letter from yourself explaining how the surgery does not limit your participation in any sports or activities.</p>

<p>If you receive a remedial or a DQ from DODMERB after your physical, you will be prepared to ask for a waiver without any delays. </p>

<p>Waiver requests can take 2 weeks or they can take 30 weeks. The sooner you can get it in, the better.</p>

<p>^^^ I agree, as soon as I read the part reconstruction and the other one saying I have screws in my ankle, I thought uh-oh.</p>

<p>I would go over to United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin and ask the q? about if you would need a waiver.</p>

<p>BTW you can take your CFA up until Mar 1., when your entire packet is due. Remember you only want to take it once and get the best scores</p>

<p>Bearer of more bad news, re-take the SAT, the scores are kind of low, the avg MA for 11 was 658. The SAT Verbal needs to go higher since the site states the min is 590. Your ACT English is at the very low end, on the AFA site it states you need at least a 25 to be considered for candidcay. </p>

<p>I know it feels like I am raining on your parade, but you can pull those scores up very easily, our DS pulled his up 120 pts (I think, maybe it was 110) on his 2nd try without ever taking any special courses, it was just having higher classes so he knew how to do the harder math questions</p>

<p>Test Scores -
Take the ACT multiple times. About every other ACT test you can pay an extra $7 or $8 and they will send you a copy of the test questions and your answers (check their website). Then you know exactly what questions you missed and where you need to concentrate your studying in order to improve your score.</p>

<p>Good luck! </p>

<p>I second the recommendaiton to post the medical question on serviceacademyforums.com. There is a former DoDMERB employee that posts on the DoDMERB subforum and is very helpful. My son followed his advice and his waiver request was approved.</p>

<p>Beisides DodMerb, what is missing here?</p>

<p>What is your course work like? Honors? Are you taking a high level of core courses, English, SS, Math - up to Calculus or at least pre-calc, Science - including biology, chemisty and physics? Foreign language?</p>

<p>Varsity Athletics? Any Athletics?
Any leadership besides boys state?</p>

<p>Getting into any academy is far more than test scores and the CFA.
Do you fit the model of an all around scholar, leader, athlete? If not all around do you really excel in at least or two areas?</p>

<p>^^^ You are right JAM4,</p>

<p>Boys State is great for resume purposes, but it is the whole character that the SA's look at.</p>

<p>Since the OP is very early into the process, they still have the ability to fill the holes in their resume.</p>

<p>I did take the assumption that to have reconstructive surgery on the shoulder meant it occurred due to sports. </p>

<p>JLimmy, how did you manage 6 pull ups with your shoulder?</p>

<p>My suggestion is to try find old threads with CFA results. </p>

<p>My DS's CFA was as far as I remember:
7:14 run
77 BB throw (max is 100 I think)
7 pull-ups (max is 18 I think)
98 sit ups (max is 95 I think)
79 push ups (max is 85 I think)
9.4 shuttle</p>

<p>Try to work on what you can without injuring yourself...it is better to heal yourself and wait until Oct to start training.</p>

<p>Remember before an appt can occur, you need a nom., most MOCs will not even start handing out their noms until Nov. The board does not even begin to meet until mid/late Oct. Typically only 10 - 15 % receive early appts., most (what is known as the mass appt) come out in mid-late March.</p>

<p>You are way ahead of the game and use this board and serviceacademyforums for informational wealth. Don't worry, don't panic just keep plowing ahead to be the best candidate.</p>

<p>Also remember some states are highly competitive, so if you are from one of those areas, use the summer to your best advantage and show them you have leadership abilities with a well rounded background</p>

<p>If your academic composite is high enough, you don't have to do that amazing on the CFA. I actually did pretty horrible on it and still got one of the first LOAs for my class. What's your GPA, JLimmy? I know you want some advice on the CFA, but if we see some of your other stats/extracurriculars/leadership, etc. we might be able to give you a better idea of whether you're competitive for an appointment or not. ;)</p>

<p>Okay. I'm taking all classes for the International Baccalaureate Diploma, Winter Scholar Athlete, National Honor Society, Academic Letter, Perfect Attendance, Junior Varsity Track and Soccer (Most Improved Player), Varsity Track (Made it to sectionals), Ski & Snowboard Club and Police Explorer Post.</p>

<p>GPA is about 3.495 / 4.0
IB Physics, IB Biology, IB Math, IB English, IB US History, 5 years of Spanish, fluent in Korean.</p>

<p>As for leadership I'm pretty lacking.</p>

<p>bulletandpima I could do 6 pull ups before I dislocated my shoulder.</p>

<p>Thanks for the quick and helpful responses guys.</p>

<p>leadership--gotta get it up there. i know it's all IB, but try to get that GPA up too.</p>

<p>Yeah thats one of the reasons I'm doing absolutely everything I can for Boys State just to have something on there. Also my GPA is unweighted if thats important.</p>