<p>I am a prospective USAFA cadet currently about to complete my first semester of my junior year. I have been following many posts on this and other forums and noticed that many (most, in my perspective) candidates/candidates-to-be have participated in a varsity level sport of some kinda and have lettered in them (many prospective candidates have letter in multiple sports).</p>
<p>I am aware that the AFA website states that 83 percent of cadets have received at least one varsity letter in sports. But does not participating in a sport lower your chances of obtaining an appointment?</p>
<p>I am aware that the academies do not want a couch potato cadet but isn’t that a part of what the CFA is for? I also realize that they want you to juggle multiple things and still do well in school.</p>
<p>I am an active member of my AFJROTC drill team, and when I joined I committed to doing that. It is a year-round extra curricular so it takes away my chances to participate in a seasonal school sport. I am also a regionally ranked Irish dancer so does that count for anything? What I suppose I’m trying to ask is how did the other 17% of cadets chosen?</p>
<p>(I apologize for the long post and multiple questions.)</p>
<p>According to [url=<a href="http://www.usafa.af.mil/scripts/aweb/newsPopUp.cfm?newsid=1746%5Dthis%5B/url">http://www.usafa.af.mil/scripts/aweb/newsPopUp.cfm?newsid=1746]this[/url</a>] Academy press release, 96% of my classmates earned varsity letters in high school. The AFA Admissions crew looks highly upon athletics, largely due to the competitive spirit and leadership potential. That being said, it's definitely possible to receive an Appointment without participating in high school sports. Take hornet for example - while he is insane when it comes to taekwondo, his resume didn't include any varsity sports, but he was admitted and is well on his way to Fall '09 Wing Commander (;)). So, does "the man" like to see high school sports on your transcript? Absolutely. But will this one thing keep you from a spot at USAFA? Probably not.</p>
<p>Don't let it discourage you, but both G4C and hornet are Academy scholars (AKA geniuses). You're talking to a SEM major and a biochem major, respectively. </p>
<p>Like I said though, they aren't...normal. ;) You don't need a perfect SAT score or anything like that to get in, even if you didn't play varsity sports in high school. Just try to show some leadership experiences in other areas and you'll likely be fine.</p>
<p>Haha, as if SEM (Systems Engineering Management) is anywhere as hard as biochem...it's a total cop-out major...but quite useful. ;)</p>
<p>Yes, I am in the scholars program, but there are others here with higher GPAs than myself who are not Scholars. So it doesn't necessarily correlate to anything...though I have to confess I'm not exactly sure how they choose the Scholars...perhaps hornetguy has a better idea.</p>
<p>Anyways, I had good stats, but not perfect ones. My GPA was great, around 3.95 unweighted (my AP and college classes brought the weighted average up), but my SAT was below 1400. I had plenty of EXC, another strong point that the Academy likes to see (especially stuff that shows character, such as ministry, missions, or working with children, the disabled, the elderly...), but I also had no varsity sports (though I fenced and played club soccer).</p>
<p>Make sure you focus on your strong points, but don't be afraid to show that you're interested or are making efforts in the stuff that you are not strong in. If you don't have varsity sports, don't eschew sports altogether. Get into a club sport or something unique like fencing or karate...as long as you show that you are in good physical shape and are willing to try in things that are not your "selling" points, you will be just fine.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if 96% of those admitted had varsity letters in High School that is the same as saying only four out of every hundred young men and women admitted did not have a varsity letter---Some other part of their application had to be the mitigating factor to make up for it. While not necessarily a "deal breaker" it certainly is a hurdle that has to be overcome if it is lacking in one's application.</p>
<p>Scholar's program is determined by your academic composition entering (out of 4000 based on SAT, GPA, class rank, School, etc.) and prog (midsemester GPA). They must be 3600 and 3.6 respectively. </p>
<p>My stats:
1400 SAT (I think, maybe 1390)
3.86 UW GPA (4.61 weighted)
14/651 in class
High rated public school in the system (hard to explain this)
NHS</p>
<p>Two time State champion in Taekwondo
Ranked 6th in world Taekwondo
TKD instructor
TKD tournament and testing judge</p>
<p>Worked the IT and customer relations at two major business jet brokers
Interned at my father's engineering office for school</p>
<p>Right now I'm ranked about 26 academically here at USAFA. I am a biochem major and a Japanese Minor.</p>
<p>Hey Hornetguy, being a foreign language minor do you know much about foreign exchange? It sounds pretty fascinating and I think I may want to pursue that, although I heard it is really selective.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the help! Especially the current cadets at the USAFA, I'm sure that you are extremely busy and I'm very appreciative that you take time out to help the prospective cadets. Again I appreciate your help and I have truly learned a lot.</p>
<p>We are here to help since we were helped before. :)</p>
<p>AZcadet, I know a bit. Unfortunately I cannot exchange foreign or even to the other academies here because we don't take anyone else's chemistry credit. At a minimum, I can find info if you are curious.</p>
<p>My weak area was sports (2yrs of tennis), but I managed to make up for it in academics and ECs. </p>
<p>While they certainly look for well-rounded people, having a strong area can make up for some shortcommings in another area. Being good at everything just makes you that much stronger as a candidate.</p>
<p>Exchange programs are for 200 level language students (at a minimum) and have an application process within the department of foreign langauges. I don't know about semester exchanges, but there are summer programs that are very popular.</p>
<p>Varsity sports are not a deal breaker, but boy they do help. Potter didn't have sports at her HS, and had to participate with her zoned HS. This meant she wasn't able to do sports until her Senior year when she could drive. She recieved her USMA appointment in December, and her USAFA appointment in early January. We have always believed that the sports thing prevented earlier appointment.
Like Hornet and G4C she did other things that were athletic just not team Sports. She is a TKD Blackbelt and competed Nationally like Hornet. West Point had a greater appreciation of these skills (Duh). She is a very strong runner, but slacked off just before BCT, and she paid for that. When second BCT hit she struggled physically. Team sports can build that discipline to exercise regularly.
All that said again Team Sports are important, but as the Cadets here will tell you not a Deal Breaker.</p>
<p>Hornet,
what state were you TKD champ. S is also 2 time (AAUand USTA). Bronze medalist at Jr. Olympics. Did you compete 2003-2005? If so what belt and weight class. He was fly weight, green and purple. He became black belt and a TKD instructor too.</p>
<p>For zoomie,
The acad does look at your sports. My s was never a varsity letter either, what we did was submit a letter from his TKD master explaining that he competed nationally and practiced 20-30 hrs a week year round.
He was also a lifeguard and we had his boss send a letter saying he works 20 hrs a week(40 in summer) has had 20 saves and must be tested monthly that includes what they are tested on...i.e swim 600 meters, surface dive, retrieve 10 lb weight and exit the pool without stairs within 90 sec on top of what the red cross makes them do.<br>
These letters helped the board understand that although he did not have varsity, he had been very involved athletically. I would suggest that when the time comes, send in letters with your paperwork to your area rep, so the board will have this to review your package. Better more info at the beginning than to have to go back and explain yourself. Letters should come sealed with signature and letterhead from them. Doing that they will give you more points.</p>
<p>I was in TX with ATA/ I competed in 2002-2005 (2003-2005 full seasons) as a second and then third degree black belt. It was by age for us, not weight. I was in 14-16 then 17-29. Sparring sucks against a 28 y/o guy who devotes all his time to TKD while I'm still in HS with a job! Still enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Potterfan was a Blackbelt and competed in the AAU. Nevada and California Regionals, and Nationals in Florida. It did help, but when she lettered in CC the appointment came right after.</p>
<p>So basically, the moral here is that HS sports arent a necessity ya definitely have to prove yourself as committed to more than just school work. Now no, I have not received my 2012 appointment yet, but I am on the verge of doing so, (I hope). I have lettered in 3 sports all of which multiple times. (2 yrs Cross Country, 3 yrs wrestling, 2 yrs track and field) but I also played Varsity Soccer for 2 yrs till I made the switch to XC. Dont sweat the no sports stuff. It sounds like you have done many extra activities outside of school and that in it self will show the board that you are well rounded. Haha, I used to panic when the AFJROTC and Scouts and Civil Patrol areas came up because I never even considered those as activities, so that kinda gives ya a one up on the other competition. Good Luck Zoomie!</p>