<p>I have been advised to turn my application to the academy in when I turn 17. The problem I’ve been told I can’t turn an application in Novemeber. And I’ll have already graduated high school by then. Since I am not 17 I have not really been given permission to see any recruters, and I can’t sign up for much on the Academy website. Can anyone give me some pointers here?</p>
<p>When will you graduate high school and when will you be 17?</p>
<p>Have you spoken to the AFA Admissions Office yet? My son started the application process spring of 2005 eventhough he was 16 yrs old.. He did not turn 17 until July 05'. He starts BCT at age 17. Because he is not 18 yet, we (parents) had to sign a few of the legal documents. </p>
<p>By the way, are/were you homeschooled? </p>
<p>Get back with us, there are many people on this forum that are here to help.
Best wishes. </p>
<p>PS. If you are too young, consider attending college for one year and reapply.
You would not be the first one to enter with college credits.</p>
<p>AS momof3boyz has said, you can attend college but still apply for the Academy. If you miss your junior year, you still have time, provided you keep high grades, involvement in sports, EC activites, that kind of thing.</p>
<p>However, I don't understand this problem with you not being 17. I only just turned 17 and I leave for the Academy in 20 days. I was accepted only six months after I turned 16. You should be able to talk to a Liason Officer and Admissions regardless of age. </p>
<p>My advice is that you call admissions (look up their number on their website). They are very friendly and will be able to tell you who to contact.</p>
<p>I think I mentioned this on another thread...you must be 17 by July of the year you enter the academy. As others have mentioned, attending college for one year would be a good option.</p>
<p>I will not be 17 when I graduate high school. I have never been in a traditional school enviroment, (I've been homeschooled all my life), but all the people that I have talked to have told me to not go to college before academy, as it probably won't get me anywhere. I did try to talk to the admissions department, but it really didn't get me anywhere. They just told me all the things that I already knew, and they told me to contact the admissions office (which is what I thought I did, at least that is what they said at the start of the conversation). But everyone has told me that I can't apply before I am 17. I can't even get nominated before I turn 17 according to the people that I have talked to.</p>
<p>You can certainly apply before the age of 17 and you can also receive a nomination before 17, but you must be 17 the July you enter the Academy. I disagree that college won't get you anywhere. At the very least you will maintain/improve your writing skills and obtain a good foundation in math and science (depending upon the courses you take) in preparation for classes at USAFA, if you receive an appointment. If you do not receive an appointment or do and decide not to accept it, then you will not have wasted a year and will have a year of college behind you. When will you be be 17?</p>
<p>Not attending college this next year (and doing well in academy equivalent courses) would probably be a big mistake if you want to attend a service academy. You simply can't apply to an academy until you are old enough. How you spend this next year will be absolutely critical to your application. As far as a year of college "not getting you anywhere" is concerned, you should be smart enough to know better. Home-schooled applicants will have a stronger application when they can show academic work, leadership, and sports involvement outside the home environment. How you spend this next year will be an important decision for you. We'll be praying that you make the best possible choices.</p>
<p>There are a number of home schooled students at all the academies now, so that is not the issue - but your age is. Since you are so young, it would be a good idea to go to a "regular" college until you are old enough - it would give you more experience and a better grasp of classroom and social dynamics. While you still have to start at the beginning at USAF, you might get into more advanced classes. Might as well start the application process to get into the system - and start working on your nominations!</p>
<p>Do you get assigned a job after Academy, or do you get to pick out what career position that you want? Because I would like to have a job as either a Search and Rescue pilot, or as an Emergency room physician.
I have belonged to a homeschool group before, so I do know quite a bit about class room dynamics, and although I have never been in a school system I have taught children in classes. The homeschool group that I belonged to happened to have a day for homeschool classes, where they would spend the whole day just doing different classes, such as math, science, history, etc.
At the moment I am a junior in high school (almost senior). I am curious to know what to send into the admissions office. I haven't graduated yet, which means I do not have my GED. Would that make any difference?</p>
<p>It might be good right now for you to go to the academy admissions web site and read everything on it so many times that you almost have it memorized. Successful candidates seem to do that. Even then you forget things. Applying to a service academy is almost like taking another course in school. You have to study, study, study until you have absolutely mastered the information. Do the homework (i.e. fill out the forms, write the essays, get the recommendations). At your age you might also be thinking about what organizations and activities you need to get more involved in - sports, scouts, Civil Air Patrol. If you haven't already taken the ACT or SAT tests, do so as soon as possible to give yourself a baseline for improving your scores. Practice and tutoring can really help with those scores and they are a major part of your application. We are almost in a homeschool situation ourselves, and my son's ALO said they look particularly carefully at SAT/ACT scores for those who are in small school/homeschool environment. Also, are your parents involved in this process? Their maturity will be more help than you can imagine.</p>
<p>christian4christ- could you be more specific? What is your birth date?<br>
You mentioned you will not be 17 when you graduate. You also mentioned that you are "almost" a senior in high school. When is your projected "graduation"? I ask because, as a home schooler, it is posible to complete your state's requirements for graduation at any time of the year. </p>
<p>Don't believe everything you hear (except for us :), just kidding). Follow the instructions on the USAFA's main web sight. Your request for an application will get the ball rolling. Your name or file will be assigned to an admissions counselor. If the assigned counselor determines you are still too young, don't fret. As others have posted, how you decide to utilize your time after you graduate will have a huge impact on your application. Appointments are offered based on the "whole candidate". Grades/test scores alone will not turn heads. Great athetes need more than their athletic talents. A spectacular leader with hours of community service may get noticed by those in one's own home town. You must be able to maintain a balance of all (academics + athletics + leadership/community service). There is a lot to be said for a young person that is able to endure the less traveled path. Take colleges courses, coach a local youth sports team, run in any open road races (5K, race for the cure, etc.), teach sunday school, assist a scout leader.......the possibilities are endless. The bottom line is....keep challenged, keep focused and by all means follow your dreams.</p>
<p>Wait a minute. First - maybe you need to do a LOT more research if you are asking this! Of course you must have a HS diploma or GED before you enter an academy. You must apply the year before you "graduate." You must get a congressional nomination and apply for that. You must apply to an academy. You must have stelar qualifications. You must want to serve your country in the military. You must prove it. Depending on your interests, qualifications and the military needs, you are commissioned and then get additional job training.<br>
Go talk, research online - there is alot there. This was recently posted in the parents forum and you may find it useful: <a href="https://admissions.usafa.af.mil/RR/Congressional%20Guide.pdf%5B/url%5D">https://admissions.usafa.af.mil/RR/Congressional%20Guide.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>I tried to contact the admissions office, but I just got a recorded message. To get an admissions couselor I only have to apply online? My specific birth date is Novemeber 27, 1989. I am not 100% sure when I will graduate, as it depends on how fast/slow I progress.
I have been on a swim team, in karate, and I teach at Sabbath school (for kids that is). Right now I am in the Civil Air Patrol. (this summer I get to be a flight sergeant at encampment! I am really excited!)</p>
<p>"I will not be 17 when I graduate high school" "At the moment I am a junior in high school (almost senior)." "My specific birth date is Novemeber 27, 1989."</p>
<p>If you are currently a junior in HS and will be a senior next year and will turn 17 during your senior year in November...you will meet the age requirement.</p>
<p>I am going to be graduating before I turn 17. Since I'm homeschooled I get the liberty of graduating whenever I finish my schooling. Because of homeschooling I am doing school over the summer. I have run into a slight problem with things, as I didn't get my SAT done this summer, and I haven't taken a registered one for a while, I am going to have to wait until Oct. 15 to take the test.</p>
<p>Check out the ACT test home page. They offer a a test 9/16/06 in certain states.</p>
<p>I did check the ACT page, but can I get into Academy on JUST the ACT? I thought the SAT was manditory, and the ACT was optional. Or is that just the impression that I got? Is there any good things that I can work on now, since I don't have my SAT or ACT scores?</p>
<p>Please also check your congressman's and senators' deadlines for taking the college board tests. They have to have them before their selection committees meet. As good as the advice is here in this discussion group, it is no substitute for carefully studying the information on the USAFA admissions web site. You're already beginning to push up against some important deadlines. Missing them will wreck your application. You're going to have to be really mature and responsible about this, because if someone has to take you by the hand and lead you through it, there's a good chance you won't succeed. It's not like applying to other colleges. Service academies have their own way of doing things, and that by itself has become one way they weed people out. We very much want to help you, and we wish you the best, but you're really going to have to take the initiative and work things out for yourself. Pardon me for slipping into "dad" mode.</p>
<p>lol, you sound like my Mom. Like I said though, I tried to contact the Admissions office. But I didn't get anywhere with that. Then I emailed them, and the reply said to contact Admissions. So I am at the end my rope trying to figure out where to call/contact them. My CAP squadron commander even tried to call them, but she didn't get anywhere either. In her own words "they were as much help as putting salt on a slug".
Ike Skelton said that he would write me up a nomination, but he needs my ACT/SAT scores first. All my state congress have nominations at least thru October 31.</p>