<p>Other than my CFT and nomination, my application is complete. My goal was to complete it in time for October early admissions. I just have one issue; I can score well on the CFT except for the pull-ups. I’m extremely bad. I know I should be better and I can get better before beast, but I don’t want to take the CFT and get like 2-3 pull-ups. It it in my best interest to wait longer to score better, or should I take it now, do my best, and hopefully be looked at during the early admissions.</p>
<p>This might be one of those times where you might want to call your "Counselor" and ask if you still can make early selection. There have definitely been different scenarios in the past. It's already mid-september. Last time we checked, prior to 1 sept was pretty much early selection capable. Prior to 1 Oct was going to be hit or miss. After Oct pretty much no early selection.</p>
<p>Now, what make this interesting is that many have been told that it's not just EARLY SELECTION OR MARCH. Many have been describing a "Rolling" selection process in which they start the early selection in Oct-Nov, but that they then start sending out LOA/Appointments regularly up until march where they then drop a large selection at once.</p>
<p>The CFA is pretty much a Pass or Fail. If you can do what is required to pass, then good. If you aren't sure, then consider that. Later... Mike....</p>
<p>If I were you, I would designate 3, maybe 4 weeks to work on your pull-ups and overall strength. If you spend a couple of hours a day 5 days a week on working on your pullups, you will be able to improve immensely. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get 10 in between now and then if you really work on it. I spent the last month working on pull-ups because I couldn't do any after basic, and now I can do 3, which isn't too bad for a girl. So just stay motivated, set a deadline for yourself, and you'll still have time to improve before the CFA and simultaneously get your package in early. Guy4Christ posted a pull-ups workout last year that is pretty brutal, and I'm pretty sure cdk0089 posted a link to it recently for all of you guys prepping to come to the Academy. Try it! Don't get discouraged; you can do whatever you set your mind to.</p>
<p>Also, as far as admissions, you can still get a LOA if you submit your application after October. LOAs are offered after your application is complete, but before you've officially recieved a nomination. I got an LOA in October because I did not have a nomination yet but my application was complete and they liked what they saw. As soon as I got my nomination in December, I got an appointment. So you can still get an early appointment even if you don't get an LOA. It is sort of a rolling admissions procedure (they offer LOAs and appointments to those candidates who really stand out) until March, when about 1,000 appointments are offered.</p>
<p>But word to the wise, get things in early. And try not to procrastinate the CFA too much longer, because then you'll end up just putting off training for it, and it won't help anything. Good luck!</p>
<p>I know that they are rolling admissions because of my situation last year, I hadn't even decided I wanted to go the academy till halfway through October of my senior year. So in about two weeks my mom and I got done with all the application stuff, including setting up a interview for a nomination along with all the other "fun" stuff you've done by now. All I had left was the CFA, but I got injured right before I had planned on taking it and therefore wasnt able to take it for a month. We explained my situation the Admissions team, they said send in the application w/o. I then took the CFA in early December, I believe. We sent the reuslts in immediatly and by the end of December I had my LOA. So basically yes there are rolling admissions. So you dont have to get in immediatly, however the sooner the better. For you, I would say try to get a few more on the pullups, unless you can max everything else to balance out the low pullup score.(and i was in the same boat as you were with pullups)</p>
<p>gglock08, i am in the EXACTLY same situation. everythin is in except CFA and nomination, i wanted to try for an LOA, and my pullups are my weakest area. i do recommend calling your counselor about it, but i havent been able to get in touch w/ mine and i've been tryin for the past month. so.. we're in it together :)</p>
<p>if you get in touch with yours and get any advice, PLEASE send me a private message or email me at <a href="mailto:gglock08@yahoo.com">gglock08@yahoo.com</a> thanks!</p>
<p>Honestly, the CFA is to see if you have the ability to survive BCT. If they think you can't handle minor physical exertion before coming, chances are people can't make it. For kicks and giggles I will post my CFA below. I am here NOW. They told me the reason I did not get an LOA (coming from USAFA counselors) was my lack of team athletics, NOT the CFA. So while the CFA can certainly keep you out, if you can pass it, it won't help much more.</p>
<p>Pull-ups: 9
Push-ups:41
Sit-ups: 69
Shuttle run: 8.7-9 (I think)
Mile: 7:41 (yes, this bad)</p>
<p>Now, PFT scores as of 2 weeks ago:
Pull-ups: 19
Jump: 7'11"
Sit-ups: 95
Push-ups: 54
Run: 2:19 (this is my only worsening score since BCT)</p>
<p>none taken, trying to point out that people's physical fitness doesn't have to be perfect to get here. Where I lack there, I more than make up in other places. ;)</p>
<p>lol yes indeed..... My mouth was like a desert going into it and I was a tad congested. While that shouldn't kill me that much, I think its general lack of anaerobic running. I did it in 1:51 in BCT, gotten worse ever since!</p>
<p>For all of you hoping for an appointment to 2012, please don't stress too much about the CFA. Like hornet said, the point of the test is to make sure that you have what it takes to make it through basic and meet the physical challenges while you're here. Much of 1st Beast is spent getting you into shape and acclimated to the altitude, and if you're still having problems with fitness after basic, they'll help you get to where you need to be, believe me. My CFA scores were absolutely horrible (no I'm not just being modest) and I still got one of the first LOAs sent out.</p>
<p>BB Throw - 40 feet
Arm Hang - 12 seconds
Shuttle run - 10 seconds
Sit ups - 40
Push ups - 35
Mile - 7 flat</p>
<p>That was almost a year ago, and now on the PFT events, I can max out sit-ups, push-ups, the run, get a few pull-ups, and get a decent jump. I don't mean to give you a false sense of security, because you should still be striving to improve in all areas, but really just do your best and make sure you can pass at this point. Good luck to you all! And if any of you girls need help with how to get some pullups, message me and I'd be glad to help!</p>
<p>That may be true, but call an admissions counselor at USAFA just to double check. ALO's don't always have their facts straight and the counselor will have the most reliable info. West Point and Annapolis have minimum scores, but USAFA has been avoiding that lately (unless they've changed). Still, sounds like good advice to wait and score higher.</p>
<p>I would suggest looking on their websites. I can't keep the scores in my head, but I get literature from all the academies every year (part of my job). My son (class of 2010) was really scared of the CFA and was greatly relieved when told by an admissions counselor that USAFA had no minimums. The literature from the other academies did give pretty specific minimums and implied that failure in any one event would deem an applicant non-competitive. I seem to recall that some of the older USAFA catalogs did give minimums, but about 3 years ago the CFA was changed. My son was really sweating the basketball throw and I think West Point and Annapolis required 64' in that event. If USAFA had ironclad minimums to pass the CFA, I'm sure they would say so openly. But as has been stated earlier, their primary concern is that cadets be able to survive BCT. My son was marginal on the CFA, but did fine in BCT; went on athletic probation his first year, but a semester of recondo brought his PFT score right up where it belongs. He hasn't had any trouble with the PFT since.</p>
<p>For those of 2012 who don't know who I am, I'm a 4-degree here at USAFA, and I know from experience that the CFA is not the biggest part of your competitiveness. Like people on here have said before, USAFA looks at the "whole person", not just one area. I did ok (close to average on most stuff except the b-ball throw and the run), and I made it here and then through BCT, and I passed both my PFT (push ups, pullups, stuff like that) and my AFT (1.5 mile run...down hill for a lot of it), so don't sweat it too much. </p>
<p>Personally, I would recommend getting your CFA scores in sooner rather than later, unless you still can't reach close to average on almost anything, although redhead is proof that it is possible to get in with PFT scores you're not real happy about. The longer you wait, the more people you will be competing against, while those who sent it in way back in August or even July have a smaller pool of people to compete against. </p>
<p>Any way, good luck, 2012. Believe me when I say that I and many of my classmates are looking forward to when you get here (since we'll all be upperclassmen then!). It will come sooner than you think.</p>
<p>June 26, 2008! I'm starting to see what 2010 meant when they said it was great to see our bright GOLD :) caps. Seeing blue is going to be amazing! But I probably shouldn't be thinking that just yet... we've only been four degrees for a month and a half! haha</p>
<p>RTBDad:
I hate to say you may have been given misguided information - perhaps you confused those "minimum" with average scores.
The only score USMA and USNA publishes are averages. I believe that USAFA publishes averages on their website as well. USMA and USNA may have minimums but don't make that info public.</p>
<p>Anyway, the CFA for USMA, USNA and USAFA is 10% of your whole person score - if you are very strong academically and do pretty well on the CFA then get it in. I know at USNA you can take it again to improve your package and at USMA if you are an otherwise strong candidate then admissions may ask you to retake the test.
Not sure about re-takes at USAFA.</p>