Michael Said:

Air Force Academy application process question?

We Answered:

Earlier than other candidates?
Or earlier than other academies?

Whatever you do, make sure you don't miss ANY deadlines.
There's a saying that goes 'If you're early, you're on time. If you're on-time, you're late. And if you're late, you're dead'.
Take that to heart. you don't want the admissions committee to think you're not committed to this.
They got over 13, 000 applications last year, of which less than 2,000 got invitations, and 1,300 were there on inprocessing day.

And this has to be about what YOU want.
Not your mum and dad.
Or anyone else.
They won't be there during basic cadet training, only you will.

Good luck

Walter, father of a 2* [junior] at USAFA

Wade Said:

Where can I find the pre-candidate questionnaire for the US Air Force Academy?

We Answered:

If you apply for the Usafa summer seminar, you will fill out the pre-candidate questionnaire. The application for the summer seminar is also an application to the academy. Usafa summer seminar opened for applications on Dec 1 and closes on Feb 28.
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/S…
They have already begun sending out acceptance notifications, regardless that on one part of the Usafa website it states they won't till April. On another portion of the site it says they send out acceptances during the application period and they are this year. My understanding is that almost half the students who attend summer seminar at Usafa end up accepting an offer of appointment to the academy. The selection process is identical at Usafa, Usma and Usna. Usafa summer seminar has 1125 places, Usma has 1,000 places, Usna has 2250 places, Uscga Aim has the least, not sure of the exact number. If you would like a copy of the instruction booklet to the Usafa pre-candidate questionnaire class of 2014, message me with an e mail address and I will forward a copy I have stored. It is helpful because it has some of the "selection" information that was taken off the Usafa admissions website when it was redesigned in August. The stats given in Usafa's Class of 2013 profile are indicative of the academic profile(PAR + ACT/SAT) for a pre candidate not recruited to meet athletic or other academy goals, since they do not include USAFAPS students.
https://admissions.usafa.edu/RRC/Class_o…
The selection process is nearly identical at the Air Force Academy, West Point and Annapolis. The biggest difference is probably in the qualifying medical standards and waivers granted for varying medical conditions. Great advice to prep for any service academy is offered on the Usafa website:
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/P…
[Be sure to open all links to the left of the dialog box. Full CFA instructions at end of physical prep link.]
It is helpful to read the first chapter of the Air Force Academy catalog on Admissions. The weighting of the whole candidate score for the average candidate(non recruited) by which selection decisions are made is depicted on the top of page 7.
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/V…
The academies consider the Academic composite.
Academic Composite=PAR + Standardized test scores
PAR = Weighted GPA + Class rank based on weighted GPA.
The Academic Composite which makes up about 60% of the Whole Candidate Score, as noted in the Pie Chart at the above link.
Usna Class of 2013 Portrait shows similar accomplishments:
http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents…
Likewise with the Usma Class of 2013 Profile:
http://admissions.usma.edu/moreInfo/Prof…
It is helpful to understand the three tiered nature of competition for an appointment, and that each MOC(candidates rep or senator) can have five nominated cadets/mids at each of the four service academies that use nominations at any point in time, so 20 total. Uscga does not use nominations. For each vacancy due to graduation or other separation from the academy, an MOC can nominate 10 cadets to compete for the appointment.
1) National competition for an LOA(letter of assurance)
http://www.usna.edu/admissions/steps10.h…
[Note: appointments on an LOA are not charged off to the nominating MOC]
2) Competition within nominating sources
3) National competition for declined offers of appointment, strictly according to whole candidate scores.
Be sure to also apply for the summer seminars at the Naval Academy, and West Point during Junior year and the afrotc, rotc and nrotc scholarships. This year West Point began accepting Summer Seminar applications on Dec 14 and Usna opened for Summer Seminar applications on Feb 1 and is the best chance to attend a summer seminar. 2250 places v 1000 at West Point and 1125 at the Air Force Academy. Make sure that you have practiced to knock off a maxed out CFA at Summer Seminar.
1)Prep for the SAT and ACT and take both till you have scores in LOA range. The Math on the SAT is limited to Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. The ACT includes Trigonometry. There are three SAT test dates left this year. Don't have your scores sent to anyone at this point, except of course the scores needed for summer seminars if you are a Junior.
2)If you are a team captain that will also help as the academies consider team captain to be significant leadership, around 2/3 of each service academy class are team captains.
3)Be sure to compete for selection to Boy's State during Junior year as the service academies consider Boy's State a very high form of leadership and recruit at Boy's State events.
4)If you are not an NHS member, do the community service needed to apply and be selected. The academies consider NHS to be a sign of leadership and around 2/3 of each class have been NHS members.
5) If a Boy Scout complete Eagle Scout and if

Regina Said:

Do students have more of an advantage if they turn in the pre candidate questionnaire earlier than others?

We Answered:

I do not believe that there is any advantage other than making certain that the deadline has been met./

Bobbie Said:

How do I apply again for Air Force Academy?

We Answered:

I don't think so. I'd say ask your ALO about it.

When did they send you the letter? I'm still waiting on mine from the USAFA and USNA. I'm starting to get really nervous.