<p>Does the AFA request senior grades? Is it required for all applicants to submit them, or is it only required for select applicants? Is it possible for them to take back an appointment if your grades fall?</p>
<p>I ask this because last quarter I ended up getting a C in AP Chemistry, and I’d hate for them to see that. Well, thanks -</p>
<p>Yes, ALL grades in high school are seen and it is possible for them to deny a previously given appointment with low class grades. While I don't see a C in AP Chemistry knocking you out of the running, if it is seen prior to receiving an appointment, it could hurt you. Do your quarters count to final grades? If its more of just a progress report, then I wouldn't worry then.</p>
<p>Senior grades do not effect our GPA. Basically, all grades are final the end of Junior year and that's what colleges see. The senior grades are just to make sure you are passing your classes to earn your degree with enough credits. I'm working hard to bring up my AP Chem grade 2nd quarter.</p>
<p>As for final grades, all 4 quarters are averaged to create a final grade which counts towards GPA. For example, I got a 4.0 in 9th grade, but I didn't get a 4.0 every quarter of 9th grade. Everything just averaged to an A in each class.</p>
<p>One more questions... if the academy does request senior grades, is this done at the end of the year, after 1st semester, or whenever they feel like it? And, do they ask me to submit them, or do they just contact the guidance dept. for them without informing me?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>IIRC, they ask everyone to send their final transcripts.</p>
<p>Ok. So I have time to pull up my grade. I'm sure one C won't kill me - at least it's an AP class. Thanks.</p>
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IIRC, they ask everyone to send their final transcripts.
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Ok. So I have time to pull up my grade. I'm sure one C won't kill me - at least it's an AP class. Thanks.
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<p>Correct and correct.</p>
<p>Some people get straight C's second semester of their senior year and the Academy doesn't really care. In my experience, you really get into the Academy based on the first 3 years of high school. That's not to say that you shouldn't do your best and finish strong, but honestly your performance now shouldn't affect you too much as long as you stay pretty consistent. Don't take that the wrong way... you still need to keep it up and do well. I also got an LOA in October of last year and the Academy didn't get my transcript until I already had an appointment. Nothing is set in stone, but if you've come this far and are still in good shape, you honestly probably don't have a lot to worry about.</p>
<p>So what if you didnt have a 4.0 at all in high school but your freshman and sophmore year were pretty good and your 1st semester jr. year sucked. If i bring my grades up for second semester and do well on my SAT/ACT will i have a good chance? And i have a few EC's so what do you think? ADVICE?</p>
<p>jester54, have you tried talking to your ALO or admissions counselor about any of this? My ALO in particular has been really helpful with answering these types of questions for me.</p>
<p>and my dad bit my head off when I brought home an 89 in precalc and AP Lit this 1st semester... only my second and third B's in high school so iam not to worried. My high school averages the exact percentage of both quarters to get the midterm or semester grade. (precalc shouldve been a 90 but oh well) The basic idea I got from my ALO is dont go from an A and B student to a D student, that may affect you. </p>
<p>I am nototrious for treading on the thin line of 90 and 89...</p>
<p>Jester- keep it up bud, push hard and do well on SAT/ACT and boost your other credentials</p>
<p>Besides you posting this on EVERY thread on the board..... it is looked upon favorably if one starts bad as a freshman and moves up, but moving down at the end is not good at all from admissions standpoint.</p>
<p>Jester- if your grades aren't super strong you may want to work on being really strong in other areas like leadership. How strong are those "few EC's"?</p>
<p>Honestly, academics are really key to getting in, so if you could define "sucked" a little bit more we could probably give you more pointers on how to improve your chances of admission. :)</p>
<p>well redhead to clear up my statement sucked i mean i had like a 2.67 GPA so yeah thats about where i am at i have a 2.9 right now but it still needs work. I am going to run for Gov. next year. So any advice</p>
<p>Uhh...that's really not good considering the average GPA for incoming cadets is almost a full point above that. You better get crackin' at that. Probably have to go to college for a year or two first to prove you can handle academics at the college level to USAFA.</p>
<p>A 2.67 is absolutely too low to even really be considered for the Academy, as is a 2.9. I don't mean to discourage you, but that's the truth. If you work really really hard you might be able to get an appointment to the prep school, but I agree with hornet. It looks like you will have to spend some time in college and do well there before you would be competitive for an appointment to the Academy.</p>
<p>well its not the work that made me slip. I was offered to move up a grade, twice actually but i said no and than at the middle of last year i kinda stoped caring about my work and started helping others. But the Academy is somthing i really want so i figure i will stop helping others and worry about me. Thanks to all of you are giving the advice and sorry for the amount of threads.</p>
<p>Wow, that's even worse to simply worry about yourself and not care about others. The Academy definitely wouldn't like that, or making excuses for "not caring."</p>
<p>There is so much good advice given on this forum by current and past cadets. You all are a fantastic tool for those contemplating applying to the Air Force Academy. Thank you all so much.</p>
<p>Having said that, I need to add my $0.02 to many of the posters who have asked the ultimate question; or variation of; "What are my chances?" As pointed out numerous times; your grades, difficulty in classes, sports, extra curriculum, volunteer time, etc... all play a major role in your chances of selection. I am not beating down on the poster, but need to express for others who read these posts and are asking the same questions about themselves. Except for very rare situations, excuses don't matter. Why you have a 2.xx GPA doesn't matter. Why you choose to NOT play a sport doesn't matter. Why you aren't taking AP classes or are in the IB program doesn't matter. Why you aren't involved in extra curriculum activities and aren't pursuing roles of leadership, teamwork, and service to others doesn't matter. The competition is too great; the standards of a cadet and a military officer are too high; and what is ultimately going to be asked of such an officer is too important to be judged on excuses. </p>
<p>This isn't to say that $h*t doesn't happen. If you've maintained a high GPA but it fell during a particular semester because of extenuating circumstances; there are procedures in the process through your ALO to explain this. If you couldn't participate in a varsity sport because of scheduling conflicts and classes, but was able to make up for it in another arena outside of school; such as martial arts, city leagues, etc... this can be explained and accepted. For many areas where there is a period of your high school life that goes outside of the norm, this can be explained. However, if you never participate in sporting or other team building activities; don't ever get involved in extra curriculum activities that broaden your leadership and following skills; aren't taking challenging classes and excelling in them as the norm; (3.5 and above) and don't do well on the SAT/ACT, then there are no excuses. This doesn't mean that there aren't some excellent colleges and job opportunities in your future. Just that the Air Force Academy probably isn't one of those options.</p>
<p>Of course, there are always exceptions to almost every rule. If you pull off a 2400 on your SAT and a 36 on your ACT, but for some reason have a 3.0 gpa; I'm sure they will most definitely look at you. Especially if everything else is covered, such as sports, EC, volunteering, leadership, etc.... But even the athletic department recruiting one of the best athletes in the country, would have an almost impossible task of getting them an appointment if they have a 2.9 gpa. Again the standards are much too high.</p>
<p>Again, this is not to deter or discourage anyone from applying or seeking out an appointment to the academy and a career as a military officer. Just stating the hard truth and reality. Remember, there are a lot of military officers who didn't go to the academy. There are those who go to college with an ROTC scholarship. (Although, their academic requirements to get accepted are also very high). There's also many who go to college on their own and then come into the Air Force through the OTS process. Again, the point is that the military doesn't look at or care about WHY you didn't meet the requirements. There's too many applicants that have met the requirement that they don't need to look into the whys. But a slip in an otherwise competitive application can most definitely be addressed. Grades however are #1. They can look beyond sports, ec, etc... They can't look beyond a 2.9 gpa. That's a culmination of 3-4 years. That isn't a slip. That isn't something that you can have an excuse for. The fact is, the grades just aren't good enough for the academy. Hopefully this will help others who read this as a way to judge their potential.</p>
<p>Excellent post, Christcorp.</p>