<p>USAFA’s admissions are very holistic. You need to be involved in ECs, sports, have great grades and scores, have good recommendations, etc. Getting a nod from your HS GC and Liaison officer don’t mean much. You need a nomination from your congressman.</p>
<p>I agree. I was scratching my head when the OP wrote that these folks had indicated that he had a good chance.</p>
<p>Getting into military academies can be tough competition. Getting nominations from congresspeople is no small feat…especially if you live in an area where a good number of kids are seeking those nominations. </p>
<p>In my area, there are many kids seeking such nominations. It’s not unusual that those who get nominated are the children of West Point grads, Annapolis grads, etc. They have been carefully guided through the process by parents who know the ropes. Virtually every higher ranking officer that I know has or had a child at an academy. (I live within 5 miles of a major army base…There are 2 generals, 4 full-bird colonels and and 2 Army doctors on my street.)</p>
<p>This student cannot count on getting a nomination, especially if they haven’t done all the things that are expected of a nominee. </p>
<p>Since money is an issue, this student needs a careful strategy that creates a list of schools that will be affordable.</p>
<p>If he can, he needs to determine what his EFC would be. I’m not sure if he’s beyond Pell grants or not.</p>