Writing Sample?

<p>As I browsed the AFA website I noticed that it states there is a writing sample that is reviewed by the selection board. What exactly does it ask or what is the prompt that it asks you to write about?</p>

<p>They are pretty standard questions, but I don't know if they are different per user. It's two 250-word responses, something along the lines of "Why are you doing this?".
Sorry, I already submitted mine and can't view the questions anymore.</p>

<p>You will most likely have to write different essays for your noms too. Get the pen ready b/c colleges will have their own essays to write. Everyone who has gone through this process is to make sure you apply to "conventional" colleges also. The AFROTC will ask for essays when applying for scholarships. </p>

<p>Our DS's ALO was very involved with the process. I suggest that you discuss this with your ALO once you complete the pre-candidate questionnaire and are assigned an ALO.</p>

<p>if i can remember..
1 was something like name an adverse situation and describe how you overcame it
2 said what do you think the hardest part of the AFA will be (physical, academic, or spiritual), why, and how do you plan to overcome it
3 was somethin like why do you want to go to the academy and be an officer</p>

<p>i think those are correct; they asked you to choose between 1 and 2, and everyone has to do 3. dont quote me as those being perfectly accurate but i'm pretty sure that's what they were.. i never had to write for my congressman or senators, however that varies by state..</p>

<p>If your congressman or senator makes you write another essay, you can usually tweak essay to fulfill that requirement. I think i even used it to apply to other colleges</p>

<p>Haha, yes, I remember that... I think I only wrote 4 or 5 short essays, and finagled them to make many different ones for different people and colleges. And those topics were spot on for me; I guess maybe they aren't unique.</p>

<p>For this years it was
1. Why/How did you find out about the AFA, and what do you want to do in the future (something along those lines)
2. Which aspect (spiritual/military/academic) do you think will be the most difficult for you and how do you plan to overcome it.
3. Describe an ethical setback/dilemma, and how you overcame it, and what you learned from it.<br>
Answer either 1 or 2, and answer 3.</p>

<p>I went and found my old essays. It looks like they were written to the following specifications:</p>

<ol>
<li>The moral dilemma one (500 or fewer words)</li>
<li>The "What'll be the hardest for you?" one (250 fewer words)</li>
<li>Unknown; I think the "Why do you want this" one goes here, though.</li>
</ol>

<p>I'm pretty sure number 1 was mandatory, and your choice of one of the other two, which were both 250-word limits.
Don't sweat the essays too much. Remember, people read them, not machines. They are trying to find out what quality of person you are, not if you can figure out what they'd like to hear. Just write like you really feel, express yourself naturally and proofread for silly mistakes or unclear points and conclusions. Then proofread it again. And again.</p>

<p>Edit: That's what requiem just said. Sorry, buddy.</p>

<p>Does anyone have one of their essays that they'd like to share? I'd love to read one. No plagiarism will be occuring here.</p>

<p>that might be treading on thin ice??? </p>

<p>keep it clean now ya hear... ;)</p>

<p>^^^ I concur.</p>

<p>You need to write what you feel, seeing other essays will not help you, and G forbid you lift one line, you are placing yourself in a whole world of pain....also known as the honor code.</p>

<p>I can guarantee you that our DS's esssay would not help you in the very least...it pertains to how he came to this junction in his life. </p>

<p>I for one would get on our DS for handing any essay out for someone to get an idea of what to write. Part of the essay process is for them to get into your mind. However, Bullet and I did not allow DS to edit any of his essays to fit for another essay at another college. This maybe why he has been accepted to honors/scholar programs at other universities. They were about him and not a one size fit all, and let me tell you what I think you want to hear. </p>

<p>My suggestion: you have over 6 months, you know what the questions are about and when time comes have your ALO review it and edit it, don't concern yourself with what others have written. Afterall, how do you know the SA thought the essay you read from someone else was good?</p>

<p>Understood ;) Sounds like sound advice to me, thanks!</p>