<p>I know of at least one that came from a community college. It isn't an easy road, but it is possible.</p>
<p>Thanks for telling me this. I spoke with someone at admissions and was told that I have to be fresh out of high school to attend...Hmm I need to get this figured out. >.<</p>
<p>Problem seems rather simple, raise your SAT/ACT. It's going to take effort on your part to seek options to do this. We can say things and give advice till we're blue in the face. At the end of the day, it will be you deciding to go out and develop yourself in order to attend. That's what this place is all about.</p>
<p>There is is a lot of good advice on these forums -- including the SAT/ACT prep parts of this CC website. Check out this first: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggi-s-sat-prep-advice-47.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggi-s-sat-prep-advice-47.html</a></p>
<p>This talks about how to get your scores up by focusing on practice -- BUT, it tells you how to do that. The "Xiggi" method you'll see from the link above, has 47 pages of posts, and lots of people who swear that it works. It has helped my son, but the key is practice, practice, PRACTICE! As the Xiggi method says, there are 8 practice tests in the "Big Blue Book" (the Official College Board study guide) and if you take all of them you'll improve your score.</p>
<p>Oh, and the "Kaplan," "Barron's," "Sylvan" courses? That long thread discusses all that too. You can learn a lot just by reading from page 1 to the end.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>My daughter used the Princeton Review "joe blog" method. She also practiced a lot. She improved her score 250 points from 1890 to 2140 over a period of 10 months.</p>
<p>I noticed you said you have a book, but you never have time to open it. Then you mention you want to take a class. My question is, if you don't have time to open the book, how will you have time to take a class.</p>
<p>To succeed at USAFA you will definately need to be a self starter and highly motivated. If you have the book, get going on it and see where that gets you.</p>
<p>Maybe you should just find a new dream. If you can't score above a 19 on the ACT I don't see how you will be succesful here. All A's and B's at a community college really isn't a huge accomplishment. This place is tough academically. I seriously doubt someone that can't pull off straight a's a community college and can't score above a 19 will be succesful here. But, hell, what do I know? Prove me wrong and prove that you deserve to be here.</p>
<p>Well, to each his own. I personally suck at these standardized tests, managed to get a prep school slot, and am doing just fine here with about a 3.0.</p>
<p>Goodluck to you!</p>
<p>For AC232323:
Find a new dream? I am not stopping until I am too old!</p>
<p>DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT AGAIN!<br>
Get off this thread and do not ever come back. Seriously!</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>O yeah! And a little side note for you. Don't listen to people who say that community college academics does not stand up to university academics. Not true at all. Same thing, just not offering a four year degree. My community college has one of the hardest physics department in the state. It is taught at a grad level and is harder than all of the universities anywhere around. And yes you did get me very ticked off.......</p>
<p>Yeah I said I do not have time for the book and hive time for a class because I was referring to priorities. If I was in a class I would be forced to study for the SATs or ACTs. I just work off of my priorities of school and work...So I just want to be thrown into a class. But I do not really know what else there is to say.</p>
<p>Just to summarize what many other people have told you: If you truly want to do this, find a way. Don't make excuses. Don't try to convice us you're good enough. Don't discount people's suggestions because they're not convenient enough for your lifestyle. Don't say you don't have time if you spend this much time on a message board. And definitely don't be under any sort of impression that life at USAFA (or active duty) gets any easier.</p>
<p>SD, I admire your determination on congratulate you on your dedication to your dream. But please allow me to offer some perspective. What should your dream be? Is your ultimate goal just the Academy, or is your dream to one day become an Air Force officer. Please remember, if your dream is just to go to the Academy, the end result of your dream will be your commision and years of service in the Air Force. IMHO, the Academy is just the stepping stone, a start in your journey into becoming an Air Force officer. </p>
<p>Is the AFA a great way to start that career? Oh boy, is it ever! It is a great place to learn to become an outstanding officer and invaluable contribution to our service and the defense of this country (and this is coming from a former 20+ career officer who DIDN'T go there). </p>
<p>But, there are other ways to get there. ROTC and OTS are also outstnading ways to get you to that butter bar. And quite frankly, after the first few years in your career, your squadron mates will care little about your commissioning source (outside of some friendly rivalry when the Academy might play THIER Alma Mater, or when you and some classmates plan to get togeher for a reunion.) </p>
<p>I'm not trying to tell you to give up the dream of the Academy. Strive with all your strength, heart, and soul to ean that slot! But, in the event that THAT dream is unreachable, NEVER forget that it was only one of several ways to get you to what should be YOUR TRUE GOAL, an appointment as a Lt in this great service of ours...</p>
<p>I can relate with SD when refereing to the class. I have a hard time getting off my rear end and excercising especially since its getting colder and colder and the streets are hot this time of year. It's not that I can't do it, if i was with a group of people that had the same goal or a mentor, or a personal trainer that I paid for I would be more motivated because it is a immediate feedback. Don't study for SATs = dont get into academy in a few months</p>
<p>Dont study for SAT prep class = lose money, cant take the subway tommorw.
I recommend get someone, your girlfriend, mommy, friend whoever, anyone that has anykind of leverage over you to sit down with you for an hour a day or something. But it does take some kind of starting on your own. </p>
<p>SD have you considered going to a prep school as a free agent (no Falcon)? Like northwestern you can go for one semester and they really focus on SATs</p>
<p>I'm going to echo AC and UNcynical. Get off the boards and hit the books or classes or you're not going anywhere. No one puts up with excuses here, they aren't going to get you anywhere. You are at community college. No matter how hard you think the classes are, they will be tougher here and you will be expected to do well while also performing military and athletic duties.</p>
<p>There is a lot of great advice here. I hope you realize that everyone here is trying to help you. The pool of candidates reflect the brightest youth this nation has to offer. I am amazed by these talented young people when they are kind enough to share their accomplishments. It is so much more than just test scores--but those scores have got to be there for you to compete.</p>
<p>My son's test scores are decent--SAT 2020, ACT 31. He has all A's in his college courses (he is taking joint enrollment for his senior year) and has a 4.0 GPA. Captain of his baseball team, VP of his Math club, swim team. Seriously lacking community service in comparison to other portfolios I've seen listed here. Anyway, he was not deemed competitive enough to even warrant interviews with both of our senators. So, he is watching HIS dreams of attending the Academy slip away . . . </p>
<p>The excellent advice I've read on this forum given to others who were not competitive enough for whatever reason their first try is to attend the toughest college you can, taking the toughest courses you can, EXCEL academically while pursuing ROTC, sports and whatever else you can fit in there. Then try again.</p>
<p>I join the others in commending you for your dreams and wishing you the best of luck.</p>
<p>and SD, just a piece of advice, take it or leave it:</p>
<p>no matter who you are, where you go, or what you do, there are going to be people that doubt you, tell you you can't do something, or just simply bring up a reality that you may not want to look into. Regardless of whether the criticism is legitimate or totally off the wall, you're going to hear things you don't like. It'll help you out if you learn to listen to the criticism, acknowledge it, and then do what you choose. blowing up will not get you anywhere.</p>
<p>again, just personal thoughts, but a more appropriate response could have just been thanks for suggesting, but at this point i am determined to reach my dream and instead of spending time right now on this forum i'm going to go to an SAT website and practice right now....</p>
<p>Jacksmom, </p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyway, he was not deemed competitive enough to even warrant interviews with both of our senators. So, he is watching HIS dreams of attending the Academy slip away . . .
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't understand something that may be obvious from some earlier post of yours but.... my son (oldest) was in exactly the same position, Senators would not give him a shot, competitive state etc and so he just focused on his Congressman, rec'd a nomination (1 of 8 nominees) and as they say the rest is history. What about nomination sources outside your two senators?</p>
<p>rjzoom57--thank you SO much for your post. We have not heard yet from our congressman (he does not interview until Dec 9) so we are certainly keeping our fingers crossed that he will grant him an interview. It is very encouraging to hear your story--so there still is hope. He has also applied to VP--I am not aware of any other sources.</p>
<p>He is medically qualified, passed CFA, etc., so I really don't know exactly what is lacking, except that it is just so competitive! (And, while he does have a few service trips, church type of service work, etc., he does NOT have hundreds of hours of community service.)</p>
<p>(I had posted in the past that he had made a mistake on his essay, but that ended up NOT being a problem--it somehow had been "lost" in the system and he was able to resubmit it with the correction.)</p>
<p>Again--THANK YOU--I don't want to hijack this young man's post!! But I do appreciate you taking the time to offer encouragement.</p>