What the Time Table to apply to Academy

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

<p>Please try to be as detailed as possible. THe people who could help me with this, are those who applied, and those who are knowledgeable bout this kinda stuff.</p>

<p>Hello Everyone,</p>

<p>I wont waste any of your time, telling my specs { with LOTS of extracurriculas and AP classes. } (if you would like, I can post them). I am currently in 11th grade. Very fit (physically), no medical conditions. I am in my school Hockey Team [spring sports just started]. And am going to apply to USAFA. The application will be starting on March 1, 2006 if I want to join the Academy in the year 2007.</p>

<p>I have already read the timelines, on the official website
[[[<a href=“http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/howtoapply/timeline.php]]][/url”>http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/howtoapply/timeline.php]]][/url</a>]</p>

<p>But what I would like to read, is how and when you people went about with your admission schedule. I know not everybody does it the same, so of you could please just mention a smal bit of how/when you did the steps, I would be very grateful to you.</p>

<p>Thank You
Jashan</p>

2

<p>My personal timeline:
summer
1. preliminary application/precandidate questionaire (online)...wait...
2. recieved a precandidate kit
3. DoDMERB eye and physical exam...wait...
4. recieved a candidate kit (including the actual application)</p>

<p>fall
1. sent in a request for nomination...wait...a long time
2. started sending in bits of my app
3. asked the teachers who were required to write recommendations for me to do so, plus my two soccer coaches, the teacher I TA for, the college guidance dude and my headmaster (I think recs are important...can you tell?)
4. ALO interview (I had the privilege of meeting her in the spring and contacted her throughout the summer with my questions/concerns)
5. CFA
6. recieved a presidential nomination</p>

<p>winter
1. writing sample (Iwould recomend not waiting this long to finish this up, it's not really that hard I just procrastinated)
2. recieved a offer of appointment (after coming home from Christmas break)
3. recieved a congressional nomination (same day as offer)
4. accepted offer</p>

<p>This is a very simplified version. At the time it seemed very discombobulated and frantic (running around like a crazy person).</p>

<p>One thing that I'm glad I did/spent so much time doing was my resume. Over the course of the entire summer I thought up all the things I had ever participated in and included them (it was 2 pages long). I also included my interests like camping, hiking, collecting spoons and pencils (I actually left those facts in).</p>

<p>Basically your application is you on paper. You want the panel to be able to see a person with a personality, and not necessarily some one with all the right answers.</p>

3

<p>Find out when the earliest possible time is to get/turn in application and do just that. Don't let applications slip...if you get everything in early...you've set yourself up as good as you can.</p>

4

<p>K10's timeline similar to ours (nice job K10 by the way). Suggest doing EVERYTHING as early as possible. Benjo6 (my son) did all the work (of course) and found reasons to be calling the academy and his Congressman -- without being a pain. I believe they came to know who he was and that that probably helped. Be driven and diligent. Best of luck.</p>

5

<p>Thank You Very Much (AFDAD2010 - falconhopeful06 - K10), with all this wisdom surrounding me here, I feel myself to be better prepared. If I have any other questions, I be sure to bring it to your guy's attention.</p>

6

<p>This board is a great place to check if you are on schedule. The general application trend is well reflected here.</p>

7

<p>There are a couple of advantages to applying early. My Admissions Laison Offier (ALO) told me that early submitted applications are looked upon favorably (it shows that your are "gunned" to enter the academy), yeilding a higher chance for admission. Secondly, if you have decided that AFA is your first choice and you turn all your stuff in by November or even October (which is possible as the academy sends out all the stuff in August), you'll probably know that you're accepted by like November or early December. That saves you A LOT of time and money on other college applications. I really wished that I had applied early, but I was stuck in some DoDMERB quagmire (did you know braces are disqualifing?) So I ended up apply to 10 schools. Juggling that with my busy schedule made the beginning of my senior year pretty miserable...so yea, I would turn in my stuff ASAP. Plus, it's nice to know where you're going when your friends are starting to fill out their college apps.</p>

8

<p>One more thing, applying early increases the chances for an LOA (letter of Assurance) which means the Acaedmy can select you conditionally upon receiving a nomination. A nomination is all but guaranteed if you have an LOA.</p>

9

<p>I believe I had my application in sometime in early-mid september, and I was able to snag an LOA in the first batch...</p>

10

<p>Yes, get it in early. My dd had her stuff all in by October and had her LOA and nomination in December.</p>

11

<p>When you are turning things in...never assume they have gotten it until you see that they have it (on the website). Also, be sure to check to make sure they got your request for a waiver (if you need one). My mistake was believeing they had my request for a waiver, which they didn't. They said I would've heard from them much earlier if I they had known I was still interested (which I definitley was). Nonetheless, I still got my appointment in February, which is still early.</p>

12

<p>Thank You, all, for contributing your bit to help make the big picture for me. But I was thinking:</p>

<p>If I have 215(thats what I have[215]) - 300 hours of Community Service, how much does that help? </p>

<p>How many varsity letters do you need? Is one-two(Hockey, and Volleball, all teamwork sports) good enough, if your academics, and other stuff are really good. (Not a lot of people apply from my school, last year, there was one, out of 2000 :-) )</p>

<p>Also, earlier I used to fluctuate, as to if I wanted a military job (pilot) or not. All I needed was some "serious" thinking-alone time. Well I gave myself that time, in 4 years, to make up my mind. You know how, they ask like if you did student government or not. Well this is how the next question goes.</p>

<p>Is it neccesary to actually get involved in Student Government, or does some stuff in school (like fixing broken or mesd up computers, along with others), sort of offset for that. I understand the leadership stuff, but unfortunately, when I was forecasting for next year, I did not pick up any leadership classes, like for example (Student Government). but now its too late.</p>

<p>And Second to Last Q, do winning scholarships from some universities, well, do a good impression.</p>

<p>And the Last Q, well, out of all the people who apply to the academy, how many hours in average do those people have of C.service or Service Learning.</p>

<p>And I working on my SAT and ACT's day and night, barely any sleep at school. And after school I have online classes, online from this place (BYU, google it!! and Apex Learning) I have to pay $375/Semester. For taking AP classes, [very easy, than school], because my school only offers two, AP stats, and AP US History. Both are LAME (at school) because they are sloow, wait for teacher to grade this and that. Online, you fill in answers, and its instant grading baby... and also, I can work at three times the pace of a regular class, so I can have them stamp that on my high school transcript. And also things are not too good at home. I have to work, but I work online (500/mo..not much) doing freelance work. I am also, building an Ebay App, you know the ones that run on your desktop, so you can do everything you do on ebay, but at double the speed, and more things at once, hoping that would be finished at the end of march (bring some dollas, so I can take more AP classes) In all, the total cost of taking all those classes will be around $9000 (right now its, only 375, but hoping money comes from ebayapp). I so dont care about money, if god grants me an entrance to that school. Also I need beta testers, if anyone wants to help out (later once I am finished). Oh and BTW, its built in VB/C#.NET. I used to learn a lot of this from e-books I bought.</p>

<p>Again, and Again, I sooo much appreciate you guys helping me with this process. Thank You, each and everyone of you, and may god bless you all.</p>

13

<p>You can build a leadership resume without school student government. Get involved in some clubs (significantly involved...they like commitment) and earn your leadership roles there if you don't want to in student government. As for community service...I had about 80 hours was just fine with that.</p>

14

<p>Don't burn yourself out by working too hard. You want to keep your academics up a lot and all that stuff, but a lot of people make the mistake of going way above and beyond, then burn themselves out and hate it there because they just need a break. Just be careful :). It isn't necessary to get involved with Student Government, but leadership is very important to them so keep that in mind. I don't think they really care about you winning scholarships from other universities. One or two varsity letters is just fine, I know people who have gotten in with none. Your community service is impressive, and they will like that.</p>

15

<p>Sounds to me like you're a solid candidate. Your eagerness and motivation will pay off, but as previously stated DO NOT burn yourself out. USAFA will like your determination and drive.</p>

16

<p>Ok m question of the day...My ALO said he would get in touch with me after I went to the summer seminar in June (session B). About a week ago I got something in the mail about doing the pre-candidate questionaire on March 1st. So should I do the questionaire as soon as I am able to or wait until late June when my ALO gives me a call to see if I am still interested after going to the seminar? Any input would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks!
PS please excuse any typos I am horrible at typing!</p>

17

<p>Oh Boy.. I think I can answer this one. If I were you, I would go right for filling in the Pre Canditate Questionnaire on March 1st and send everything in as soon as possible. Other than the Nomination and your resume (if youre stuff is good enough or not). You should try to get everything in everything as fast as possible. My process will ve relatively quick, but am still hoping to get my admission by the February/December, so that I will stay happy for the rest of my school days. I will still word hard, to show that I am worth investing $34,000 X 4 into.</p>

<p>Hope that answers everything.!!</p>

18

<p>I may be wrong but as I read the "Applicant/Precandidate Questionnaire (PCQ) Instructions" which I got off of the USAFA website, you should not send another questionnaire.</p>

<p>Refer to page 2 under "General Instructions", second paragraph. "Do Not Send Us Another PCQ if you've already completed . . . or if you've already completed a USAF Academy Summer Scientific Seminar application for the 2006 program.</p>

19

<p>From what I've read, and heard from both my ALO, current cadets, and graduating high school seniors who have already been through the process they all have said that if you have been accepted to the Summer Seminar then there is no need to fill out the precandidate questionnaire, as being accepted to SS automatically opens you up a file with admissions at the academy, thus passing the initial screening that the PCQ does. Also the 2 forms are almost identical for all of the academies, only difference is that the SS asks you your preference on seminar classes.</p>

<p>Also on the Naval Academy website(assuming most of the academies have the same procedures) when you go to fill out their PCQ it sorta states that it is not required if you have already filled out a SS form(different wording), the link is <a href="http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps3.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps3.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm curious to know this aswell</p>

20

<p>Thats Right, Darla-- You only need to send it once. But You see, when I said said...send in your PCQ.. I said it on the basis --presuming that you have never sent a PCQ in there before. So this is just to clear things up.</p>

<p>Jashan</p>