Pre-Candidate Questionnaire

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
1

<p>I understand that starting March of my Junior year, I can start applying by filling out the pre-candidate questionnaire online. However, I am worried that at this point, they can reject me based on my grades.</p>

<p>I am not exactly sure what kind of information they ask for in the pre-candidate questionnaire though. My grades are not terrible, but they’re not great grades – which most kids who are applying to the academy have.</p>

<p>See I did somewhat poorly in my freshman year and ended up with an equal mix of A’s and B’s first and second semester that year. I also had a C first semester. However, you can see that my grades have improved second semester, with only two B’s and four A’s.</p>

<p>First semester I only earned two A’s in 10th grade, but only two B’s the second semester - a significant improvement, at least I would consider it so.</p>

<p>Junior year, I am currently sitting on and shooting for a 4.0. But expecting the worst, lets say I end up with two B’s, but both were in a weighted class.</p>

<p>I would also like to make it clear that I have been enrolled in challenging honors/AP courses, which would explain my grades. But I was also lazy in my schoolwork and homework, however I have taken measures to improve my work habits.</p>

<p>Now that’s just my grades, I believe I have been involved in some good extracurriculars (officer of two out of four clubs that am involved in), I am in NHS, I volunteer regularly at a hospital, I also expect to attend a leadership seminar, and I will be captain of my soccer team.</p>

<p>I received great scores on my SAT’s, with a 720 in math, a 690 in CR, and a 700 in writing. </p>

<p>Anyway, my questions are, what kind of information does the pre-candidate assessment ask for, will my grades hurt my competitive-ness, and how does the rest of the application process work in terms of showing the academy your achievements.</p>

<p>I really am genuinely interested in serving in the military as well as pursuing some kind of career in engineering. That is why I really want attend the academy.</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to read this, I really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>Are you looking to attend SLS or is this just to open an application for an appointment.</p>

<p>Realize that alot more goes into the mix for an apptmt than just your grades. It is called Whole Candidate Score (WCS) for a reason. Your academic rank, gpa and SAT do make up the majority, but you have great SAT scores, well above the median to help you get over the lower gpa. You also have this entire yr to make up those grades, and what they like to see is an upward trend. </p>

<p>Keep your eye on the ball and keep the grades moving up, it will help you.</p>

<p>The true issue for you is where you are from, because of how apptmts are given out. For example, some states have so many candidates that they share the wealth on noms. I.E. each MOC does not duplicate the others slate with any name —that still equals only 20 candidates out of maybe 150, and your odds will be better of getting a Cong nom. If you don’t rack and stack high enough against your peers to receive a nom, than an apptmt will never happen.</p>

3

<p>This is to open an application for an appointment, I know I can’t do that until March of 2010 yet. Thanks a lot, your answer was very reassuring. I was very worried that my grades would hinder my chances of being competitive for an appointment.</p>

<p>From what I understand, the academy does not have a lot of applicants who are female, asian, and from California. Would this also help my chances of receiving an appointment? And I am totally pulling myself up and trying hard to earn a 4.0 this year. Going well so far :D</p>

<p>Are you a cadet at the academy? If so, you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions, do you?</p>

4

<p>

</p>

<p>We also don’t have many paraplegic gay Nazis. Does not being a white male help you stand out? Sadly, yes, but don’t count on that for too many brownie points.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Fire away. That’s the whole reason we’re here.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Especially when you come from California…a competitive state.</p>

6

<p>Oh, I’m sorry. It was only what a representative told me, that not many kids apply from California. He also told me that me being female, Asian, and a foster child would help me. I’m not counting on those factors of course, I do expect to work very hard.</p>

<p>What is life like at the academy? Would I have time to get in touch with my friends and family back home every so often or would I have time to socialize with other cadets?</p>

<p>How approachable are the teachers? Say you don’t understand something, would you be intimidated by asking a professor? I mean, I’m not shy or anything but I have had just a couple teachers who would be like “were you even paying attention in class?” if you ask them something. It’s just not pleasant dealing with those kinds of teachers.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, I really appreciate it.</p>

7

<p>Oh, do I need to get a recommendation when applying to the academy. I know I have to get one in order to submit an application to receive a nomination from a MOC, and I was wondering if the USAFA requires a recommendation as well. I don’t see anything about it in the “USAFA admission requirements”, but I am still just wondering.</p>

8

<p>The questions on the Pre-candidate questionaire are all self-reported. They include the typical GPA/ Sports/ ECA questions. Others, like Congressional District might not be anticipated. The form will save your responses if you can’t complete it all at once. You can find examples at [Service</a> Academy Admissions - Welcome](<a href=“http://www.toughestschoolsintheworld.com/]Service”>http://www.toughestschoolsintheworld.com/) . If you go to the Naval Academy precandidate questionaire example, it is one large page you can look over and the questions are similar (the AFA page requires data entry for each question before seeing the next question).
Good Luck</p>

9

<p>I am also interested in the USAFA i have great grades right now, and involved in a few clubs but i go all out for them i am an officer in both of them. I am also a Chief Master Sergeant Sustained and will be a Second Lt. in January in the Civil Air Patrol. Would this increase my chances of getting accepted?</p>

10

<p>CAPcadet-About 9-10 percent of cadets were in CAP. It will probably help because it shows leadership, but it is only one part of the WCS (whole candidate score)</p>

<p>Tents- About the teachers, we are and have been number one for most accessible teachers for a while. I ask questions all the time and go in for help whenever I am confused. They are always willing to help, and many will even meet on a Sunday if you really need the help.
As far as life at the Academy, I think it is quite different from the image you have. I think the best way to explain this is to tell you what my schedule was like freshman year and now. Freshman year you have a lot less time and very few privileges, but even so, it isn’t that bad. This is what my schedule looked like on a typical day last year.</p>

<p>0620 Wake up
0650 Go in the hallway to “call minutes” (announce every 5th minute until breakfast)
0720 Breakfast
0750-1143 Class
1200-1320 Sometimes formation then lunch, sometimes lunch then some sort of military class
1400-1730 Tennis practice (I am an IC so I have practice every afternoon, non ICs can have class or intramurals from 1320-1630, but not that whole time. Each class is an hour and most people have 2-4 classes a day)
After practice I would go get dinner then go back to my room and study</p>

<p>This year my schedule is pretty much the same, but I don’t have to call minutes. We have plenty of time to socialize and stay in touch with home. I call my family and talk for about and hour and a half every weekend and I keep in touch with my high school friends on facebook. </p>

<p>In case you were wondering, I am a sophomore at USAFA and I love it here</p>

11

<p>Does anyone have the link for the pre-candidate questionnaire? I can’t find it on any of the admissions websites.</p>

12

<p>Is this what you are looking for?</p>

<p><a href=“https://admissions.usafa.edu/secure/Online/Eligibility.htm[/url]”>https://admissions.usafa.edu/secure/Online/Eligibility.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>I think if your working hard in school and doing as much as possible in and out of school while having a little fun you have nothing to worry about. Its when you meet your senior year and you catch a little “senioritis” that you start to worry. But like most other colleges the academy understands that you have worked hard your other 3 years and as long as you don’t bomb junior year and keep up the community service and the like you’ll be alright. It’s when you meet a situation like mine(taking 3 AP classes and getting mediocre grades while not doing so hot on standardized tests) that you start worrying about your chances. Just keep up the hard work and be confident.</p>

<p>p.s. when the time comes seek every nomination possible it will pay off and it looks good</p>