<p>Hello,
My name is Tim, and I am from Sonoma County, California. I’m 15, going to be a sophmore in High School; and I’ve been interested in being a pilot for the United States Air Force for the past 6 years of my life. Heh, you should see my room. I’ve got probably $500 worth of models and posters on my walls and shelves. Anyways; my aunt actually, lives just outside the academy and recently suggested that I persue it, and so I’ve started looking into it. I see what sort of requirements there are; but I’m not sure how to make sense of them. Here, let me fill you in on some information about me and tell me if you think that this is the right route and what my chances are at even getting in yet alone getting the job of my dreams.</p>
<p>Age: 15
Grade Point Average: 3.66 - Next Year Hoping 4.25 with 3 Honors Classes
Strong Points: I have an A+ In English, an A In Math and Humanities
Extra Curricular Activities - Debate Club, Politics Club, Civil Air Patrol, Rotary Volunteer
Pilot Training: So Far I am 1/2 done getting my pilots liscence, I intend on getting my instrument and commercial certification by the time I apply. I currently have 40 hours in a fixed wing single prop and around 3 in a twin prop; I’m just jumping in. Another few months and I’ll be soloing!
Other: I also know about 4 pilots who recently graduated from the academy as well as one pilot who graduated over 20 years ago, who will all be giving me letters of recomendation.</p>
<p>I was just curious what you guys thought of it; am I at the standard? Does having a pilots liscence count for anything, at all? I’m just laughing here because me and my parents are so confused and it doesn’t help that everyone I know that graduated are in the middle east so I can’t got to them. If anyone out there knows a lot on this subject or is a student or graduate and would be willing to help me; or if any parent’s can link me up with their cadet kids; I’d really sooooo much appreciate that. I have MSN and AIM too if email or PM doesn’t work.</p>
<p>Just reply here; I’ll be checking in a lot!</p>
<p>Well, i'm sure you've checked out the website <a href="http://www.academuadmissions.com%5B/url%5D">www.academuadmissions.com</a><br>
There is a timeline in there that could be helpful. Seek leadership positions, keep pushing up the GPA, take a study prep for the SATs and take the SATs and/or ACT early and often. The pilot's license counts like any extracurricular, maybe a little more because they do specifically ask about how many hours you have. It certainly shows interest and dedication/passion! That's great! You didn't mention atheltics, but that's obviously very imposrtant as well. Strive for leadership there too. PM your email address and i'll pass it on to my son. He'll contact you, perhaps via cellphone, if you'd like to talk to a cadet. Good luck and be encouraged, you're off to a great start!</p>
<p>You have plenty of time to prepare yourself for admission to the Academy.
Can't say if you have a chance or not because it is way early for you.
Keep pushing that GPA, get sports on there, do good on SATs, and get leadership positions, and you may have a solid chance.</p>
<p>Wow thanks you guys! Yea, I'll definatly do some sports. Probably Track and Cross Country. All righty; well my email is <a href="mailto:stspilot@gmail.com">stspilot@gmail.com</a>, or <a href="mailto:hitmanif@gmail.com">hitmanif@gmail.com</a> on MSN Messenger or SkyBlueCEO on AIM.</p>
<p>Hi there. I live in Napa, CA and applied and got into the Academy this year. I am also in Civil Air Patrol (Sqd. 157). Which Squadron are you in? Feel free to message me on aim or msn if you want to ask me anything.</p>
<p>STSTim the Academy is all about milestones. As a Sophmore (grades, sports, activities) are what you should be concentrating on.
If your parents have any affiliation to the military you may be able to attend TAC teen aviation camp. TAC is held at the prep school in the last couple of weeks of June. You can contact the Youth Services at Travis to find out more.
Next summer you should plan on applying to Summer Seminar. A week in the main cadet area in a program lead by current cadets. You will eat at Mitchell Hall, live in Vandie or Sijan, and attend classes taught by Academy instructors. (Keep the grades up, get good PSAT scores, and enjoy an interveiw with the ALO).
Your Senior year will teach you even more about patience as you wait for SAT scores, Congressional interveiws, DoDMERB results and the rest. If all measure up you will get a call and can wait for orientation.
This week the 2010 doolies have been waiting "enduring" their latest milestone "Recognition" a week of pain, but when it is over they will move on to the next challenge becoming leaders.
Good Luck Tim</p>
<p>Just to echo what everyone else is saying, focus on getting your grades up and taking challenging classes, and also focus on leadership, sports, and test scores. :) Good luck! Like Mateus said, it's a little early to judge how competitive you are, but the good news about that is that you have plenty of time to work towards being a very competitive candidate!</p>
<p>Is the swim team a good idea? I'm not a big athlete but I'm relativly strong.</p>
<p>Swimming is good, yes.</p>
<p>What about maybe Cross Country? How much sports do you suggest because ha it's difficult for me to keep my GPA up, do sports, and volunteer!</p>
<p>Hey, it's never too early to learn some time management. Believe me it will only benefit you.</p>
<p>Cross Country is good too. ;]</p>
<p>Don't forget that school and your grades come first so try to keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Also, the academy likes to see dedication rather than a long list of activities you have ever participated in.</p>
<p>That's really good advice. Are you a past cadet?</p>
<p>I've been appointed to the Academy Prep school so I've been through the application process. Learned a few things along the way ;]</p>
<p>Cross country is the best sport ever in my humble opinion :), and it seems that a lot of us 2011ers are distance runners, but make sure you do something you enjoy. What the Academy wants to see is dedication. We've heard from the 4 digs on here that we need to run, run, run, run and never stop running before basic, but that doesn't mean that you should necessarily choose XC over another sport you truly enjoy. And as cadets we're going to have to balance intense academics, athletics, military duties, etc., so I definitely echo Mateus' adivce to start learning time management now. Yes, you'll probably end up missing out on some stupid parts of high school if you choose the higher road towards getting into the Academy because you won't have much time to waste, but it's worth the sacrifice.</p>
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Cross country is the best sport ever
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</p>
<p>In the words of Warren Frantz, "true, true, this is true."</p>
<p>Redhead, you took a whole minute to respond, come on. Let's see some dedication for a change... :)</p>
<p>Time Managment? No problem! Well; I already told my girlfriend that I was sorry but I have too much to handle and this wouldn't work out; I spend my lunches most of the time studying instead of hanging out with my friends...I'm definatelly willing to make sacrafices.</p>
<p>Poor girlfriend haha, I'd atleast try to see her sometime on the weekends =P</p>
<p>Other than that your off to a good start ;]</p>
<p>Try to add in some fun as well haha, enjoy these years.</p>