<p>I am a freshman in High School, and all my life i have dreamed of becoming a pilot and graduating from The Air force Academy. This is what i do and plan on doing.
I am on the Varsity Cross Country Team right now, and plan on joining the Indoor and Outdoor track team. Hopefully i will be made captain of one of them next year.Its too early in the school year, but i plan on joining the Activities committee, community service club, and the National Honors Society. I am in excellent physical shape and I take all Honors classes. For now its just Honors (and my grades are mostly high A’s) but when they become available next year i will be taking AP courses. I am in ROTC and very soon plan on starting Civil Air Patrol and earning the Mitchell Award. I was a Boy Scout and got up to First Class but had to stop, but i heard of another troop in my township so im thinking of starting that up again for the community service aspect, and i heard being an Eagle Scout really helps. I come from a military family, and having both parents in the Air Force, i know all there is to know about military life. I am in contact with my State Senators and Reps and they know i will be applying in 2 years and they support me. Do i have a chance, and if not can you tell me what i should do to better my chances? Thanks a ton, i apprecitate it a lot.i know it dont have SAT and class rank or GPA, (as of now its a 4.0, and im a month through school) but still. Thanks.</p>
<p>Of course you have a chance. There are already posts here, just a few back, with a lot of suggestions for someone who asked the same question as a 10th grader. </p>
<p>Basically, get the best grades you can. Take the hardest classes you can that can maintain those grades. Stay active like you are in sports, extra currilulum, volunteering, leadership roles, etc... Do well on the ACT/SAT tests.</p>
<p>Most of all, and this is very important, do all these things (especially the extra curriculum) because you WANT TO. Don't do them because you think it will get you into the air force academy. Do them because those are the things you are interested in. Remember, the air force academy and their selection board, Liason officers, reps and senators, etc... are not idiots. You aren't the first candidate to come along and you won't be the last. They can tell how sincere you are in what you are doing. They can tell your motives. You should volunteer to help people because you want to HELP them. Not because of what you are getting out of it. Play sports because it's fun and you like the physical activities. Not because it looks good on the resume. Take AP or IB classes because you like the challenge. etc....</p>
<p>If you can do all this because you want to, then the air force academy could be the perfect fit for you. If you don't like doing these things, just because, then you probably wouldn't like everything the academy requires of you. This is all about you. Not your parents, teachers, brothers/sisters, or anyone else. Not the glory of flying jets or living in far away countries. Not even the fact that the academy offers a great education. The academy is an extension of the military, and the military is a "WAY OF LIFE" NOT a Job! </p>
<p>It sounds that you are definitely someone who is definitely in the position to be a part of the academy and the Air Force family. Good luck to you. Later... Mike....</p>
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<p>....i know all there is to know about military life.
</p>
<p>Ah, youth. :D</p>
<p>PS - You're on the right track, but you may consider a team sport as well.</p>
<p>cross country is very much a team sport, contrary to popular belief. XC runners NEED their teammates to get through those grueling workouts =]</p>
<p>It's probably a little early to be asking what your chances of getting in are, because most of your resume for applying to the Academy has yet to be built. Most of the information you provided is where you expect to be and what you expect to do in the next few years, and it's great to set goals, but now you just have to make sure you follow through with them.</p>
<p>I was a cross country runner, too, all four years of high school. It's true that a lot of people don't realize what a team sport it is, but honestly your ALO will probably fall into that category and eventually recommend that you do a sport that involves more teamwork. However, I honestly don't recommend that you stray from what you obviously love doing... running. I did XC, indoor track, and spring track, and that ended up being just fine. Eventually you'll just have to emphasize the fact that you have other teamwork experience, either in a leadership role, community service, etc. The Academy, and especially basic training, is all about teamwork, but there are ways to show that you are a team player than just sports.</p>
<p>Here's a few tips on what the Academy is looking for:</p>
<p>-Academics: get great grades, SAT scores, class rank, etc.
-Leadership: be a leader all four years, whether that means participating in student government, a youth group leadership team, sports team captain, club president, etc. Try to get some experience with leading people or organizing events so that you have experiences to draw on your junior/senior year when you first start interviewing with your ALO.
-Athletics: 3 sports if you can, do your best to stay on varsity and letter. Be consistent, and choose something that you love... don't just do something for the sake of looking good on the application.
-Extra Curriculars: this includes school clubs, community involvement, etc. Start them now at the beginning of your freshman year and stay consistent with them (eventually you'll get a leadership position).</p>
<p>I think it's awesome that you're setting your goals so early based on a desire to come to the Academy. Just stay focused and remember to do what you love, and you'll be on a track to success. You don't have to be perfect, just well-rounded and a motivated student, athlete, and leader. Good luck to you and keep us posted on how you're doing throughout the process!</p>
<p>My impression from your post is that, from what you would do, you expect to get in and you just want affirmation of that. I don't say that to be rude at all, many people come on here just to do that and its great to get actual cadets to say, "ya, we did that type of stuff and we're here now." So, IF you can actually do everything you say you want/can do, you're well on the track to being accepted, from the USAFA point and congressional point. (Don't forget the presidential since you are a military brat). </p>
<p>ENJOY high school. I can't think of much worse than killing yourself with things you don't like doing in HS, get in here, then continue doing the same type of things and still not being happy. Work your tail off for the next 4 years (I would say forever, but that's not relevant here ;) ) but find ways to have a blast. Let me tell you, knowing that hard work got you here (USAFA), but knowing you still had a great time is a rewarding feeling.</p>
<p>Good luck, keep up the motivation and you can do it.</p>