Hey yall - I got into the academy for class of 2023. Some (non intuitive) tips. Disclaimer - these are my opinions only: Varsity letters don't matter a ton. Never got one - never tried. Do a fun club sport that you enjoy and then make sure you can kill the physical exam. An ALO connection does not make or break it. I reached out to mine at least 5 times and never heard back. Nominations are not easy: make sure you ask other military academy kiddos (from your district/state!) about the questions the panels ask. Be prepared for difficult questions. Be confident walking into the interview. Grades matter a lot but do NOT make or break it and prep school is always a possibility. Take lots of AP classes. If math isn't a strong suit of yours make it one. Make sure you're on good terms with at least one math and one English teacher (recommendations matter a lot). Become the captain of an important educational club - debate club is what did it for me. The essays need to be good. When writing about a setback you've faced in life DO NOT write about a sports injury and DO NOT write any shallow essays. Ask as many teachers to read and edit your essays as possible. Medical evaluation / waiver process can be what takes the longest in the application. Seriously. I got something like 10 disqualifications (which required like 4 more doctor visits) for things going back to when I was 6 years old. Be prepared and try to finish it as early as possible. Something like 45% of applicants who actually get a nomination and complete the whole process end up with appointments and about another 10% make it to prep school. You can definitely do this. Good luck!!!
Hey, I have some QnA. My Dad is a disabled veteran of the Air Force, my stepdad is a career enlisted(20 years), and my mom was in the Air Force as well. My grandfathers, I think 2 of the 4 served in the Army, I have two police officers, and a former Marine Reservist. Will this in anyway, shape, or form boost my applicant status? Also, as being split between families and my father being disabled, I’d be graduating early to help get some more time with him, so I can’t take any AP courses as they’re all full year courses. Is it vital I take AP? Also, what SAT practice websites did you use?
I’m a senior and I have this last school year to raise my GPA up. My main issue was my entire junior year was online because of COVID which is something I didn’t want and caused me to have poor grades. Now I have my last year to get a high GPA. My advice is take as many advanced classes your sophomore year and junior and senior work your heart out. Genuinely hearing get good grades means a lot and has more realism than one would think
I’m a softmoore in high school I got a 3.6 gpa first semester without trying or knowing I wanted to go to the USAFA I hope to better semester 2 I with you luck wish me luck too.
On thing that I think is weird and flawed with the Military Academies and Ivy League schools is they place little emphasis on if the HS student held down a regular job during HS instead of participating in a gazillion high school and community events. Honestly, a kid who has high grades/SAT scores who holds down a regular job while in HS is A LOT more impressive to me than someone who enjoyed financial support from their parents and had loads of free time.
My grandson received his appointment letter in mid Dec. (I know the website says the letters go out Feb to Apr). His GPA is north of 4 and his ACT was a composite score of 35. Even with that we didn't really know if that was what selection committee was looking for. A week before his appointment letter, Col. Neff sent him an email inviting him to join the honors program. Good on him, it's his dream come true.
Okay, this is going to be long so grab a snack. I'm thirteen years old, but I have my heart set on the Air Force Academy. I am not in high school yet, but I have started preparing. I am taking a U.S. History course, a grammar/writing course, and German. My dad ( in the Army) had already told me it would be difficult to be accepted into the Air Force Academy, but watching this has kind of made me nervous. I desperately want to go to the Air Force Academy, and I don't know what I would do if I didn't. I already do volunteer work in my community, but I am a home schooler, so the teacher evaluation would not work. I have been trying to convince my parents to allow me to go to a high school, so I may be able to fix that. If I can go to a school, I'll be okay, because I'm a little bit of a teacher's pet. Physically, I can train. I'm a natural runner, I have generally strong abs and strong legs, but I'm more weak in the arms. I want to get into sports (dance, vollyball, competitive running, soccer, and softball). I am determined to get accepted once I'm old enough to even enlist, but I have some questions. - Can you go to boot camp before the Academy? - What are some extracurricular activities I can do to put myself ahead of other applicants? - What can you do if you don't get accepted ( I want to be a pilot) - How do you retake the SAT - What is a varsity letter? - Are you allowed to date while at the Academy? - Are you able to get a second ALO? - If you don't get a nomination, what else can you do? - If I can't go to a high school, what can I do to get recommendations from teachers? Can I get them from online teachers? - Is it absolutely required to take a computer study class? - What if you don't have a high class rank? - What happens if everything is good except your SAT scores? Will you still be eligible? - How well do you have to do on your athletic test? What are the standards for females? - If you don't do volunteer work, are your chances lowered significantly? - What happens if you are not a good writer? And what topic is the writing sample supposed to be on? - What do they ask about on the phone call interview? - I have Global Loton ( sp?) Meaning my core will normally be weaker than average. I can work through it, it would simply be more difficult. Would that be an issue in my medical evaluation? - Is there a pelvic evaluation? If so, will there be another same sex individual in the room to ensure the safety of the applicant? I know nothing would happen, but I just want to be sure. Thank you to anyone who answers my questions.
The things you should focus on is keeping as high of a GPA as possible. 4.0 is of course ideal, but 3.85 is the lowest normally. ACT goal is 28, range is 28-33 normally, 30 is avg, higher is better. Sports is more or less for keeping in shape. Id assume the more physically demanding the better, so swimming would be a good one imo. Also, make sure to participate in leadership opportunities
Answer to your questions (I am a current applicant to the academy) - no need if you get straight in - Any leadership opportunities, organized high school sports, community service, and any sort of competitive program - ROTC - You just sign back up for another one - Just means that you play on a varsity sports team - Yes dating is allowed - Your single ALO will help you enough although you will be interviewed by a different ALO - You can do ROTC or apply the next year. They like to see resilience. - You can take classes through home school Co-ops. Yes online teachers work. - Yes computer class is required - You should aim to be in the top 25% of the class - You will be eligible but unlikely to receive an appointment. If everything else in your application is strong, they may send you to the prep school. - You should aim to be above average. Standards are online. - You should really try to volunteer (I accumulated over 1000 hours) - There are three papers you must write for the writing sample. Try reading other peoples college application papers to get a feel for them. - In the heath records you will probably have to get a waiver for it it will not disqualify you. - Yes there is, and yes you will have a female chaperone in the room with you if it is a male doctor.
@@chandlerthomaston9001 Do you know if a varsity letter is required? I am going into high school next year and I already workout at the gym so I don't know if I should devote time to getting on a varsity team or focusing on going to the gym and doing extra curricular activities.
McCrackine, Try 4-H if you have it where you are. I am 16, home-schooled, into math, history, archery, ice-skating, and latin and will be joining up with the USAF summer after this one. I have found that one can do a lot of community service, leadership, and sports through 4-H. I am really hoping to make it to Air force Academy as well. Good luck. P.S. Try girl scouts too. P.P.S. Oh, and you have my grandmother's maiden name. P.P.P.S. I hope to become a pilot as well. P.P.P.P.S. Post-scriptum is overused by some people.
My biggest set back is the medical exam because I am hearing impaired but have hearing aids and can talk normally but I did see the the air-force may start accepting deaf and hard of hearing applicants so hope that’s works out
I've been working my whole high school career to attend a Military Academy. I just got accepted into West Point's SLE and The Naval Academy's Summer Seminar. I'll list my current stats below, I would like to currently know my chances and if there is anything I can do to increase that chance. Stats: Class Rank: Top 25% Academic Rigor: All APs/Honors/Dual Enrollment GPA (UW): 3.82 GPA(W): 4.6 ACT: 30 SAT: 1390 Band(4 years): Section Leader all of my high school career Jazz Band(4 years) Martial Arts(All of my life): Head Instructor/Team Captain all of my high school career. All-State Musician: 4th Euphonium in the state. District Musician: 1st Chair All- South Musician National Honor Society National Music Honor Society National English Honor Society (I also have a lot of awards, but there are too many to really list. Some of the awards might doxx me, so I don't want to list them for that reason also) Thank you!
@@cheesestar467 All of these accomplishments show how much you can responsibly juggle, that'll make you look competitive to the people giving out admissions.
I'm currently a sophomore in high school and I want to go to the air force academy. How early should I start to take these steps (besides academics or athletics), and I'm planning to take AP US history this summer at a community college, will that still count for my us history credit? All help would be appreciated! Thanks.
Hi! Applications open March 1st if your junior year. This is when I’d start, the sooner the better, it’s a long process so I wouldn’t rush. There’s lots of different times to contact your ALO. On the website it says to do it when you start applying (March 1st). But I’m a sophomore and I’m actually gonna reach out tomorrow. I’m just gonna introduce myself, explain why I wanna get in and stuff like that and give my contact info (phone number, etc). I wouldn’t contact your ALO much before you actually start applying, unless you have any specific questions, but a lot of that stuff is online. And yes, if that AP US history counts towards your GPA then it would count. Good luck getting in, hopefully we can see each other at the academy if we get in.
ELIT3 FR3SHN3SS wait, so March 1st of your Junior year of high school is when it’s recommended to start the application process right? Like the basics and then hope you qualify?
You need to start getting ready RIGHT NOW. Join the future falcons, maybe civil air patrol, AP courses, dual enrollment classes, sports, clubs, EVERYTHING. This is extremely competitive you have to put your head in the game.
What age would you recommend for someone to start asking for nominations and start applying for usafa also can you apply for multiple nomination as then pick one
You apply for a nomination the same year you being applying for admission, so typically the summer before your senior year or during. You can look up who your member of congress is and they should have information on their website about how to apply for the nomination and what to send to them. Depending on how competitive your district is, you can get nominated to multiple schools, but you do need a nomination for each one. I was fortunate enough to be nominated to USAFA, Navy, and Army by my MOC.
I am just starting high school next year, and I am dead set on becoming a cadet, when should I start working on getting a nomination, and where do I start?
Go to each nomination website you are eligible for and see when they suggested or preferred deadline then apply accordingly. Usually you do this whole application process is done during the spring of your junior year. I am currently in the midst of my application process.
Great info. Thanks. A couple of graphics of the Top 10 list and the median scores would have been nice to see as you were talking. Good info though. Thanks
Oh God, I am not the most fit person in the world, I was kinda nerdy playing xbox all the time getting in trouble all the time but now it's my freshman year and I'm deffinately putting myself in place I realized that I wanna join the airforce because my dad was and I want to for the experience knowledge and retirement, in just the past week I have been doing as many situps push ups and pull ups that I can running as far as a can and keeping track, I'm being a lot more engaged in school because i really want to get a spot in the academy, I have been there when I was little and remember how cool it was when I lived in Colorado springs it's my dream the get there but the problem is it is other people's too.
Hey, I’m home schooled, I take act regularly. Would it help to go to public school? Also my dad is a Boom operator, does that help? What are your thoughts, any extra advice?
I’m heading into my final year of school before college. But I go to an English school and there system is different, will that affect me in any way? Also I have calculated my GPA, and it is currently 3.57is that okay? I’m still going to raise it. About the nominations. I’m going for a presidential nomination, how do I get that to the academy, or even to myself? And finally what do I do with my final application, is it a package you send directly to Colorado, or is it an online submission? Thank you
I'm sorry but 3.57 probably won't cut it. But, grades isn't the only thing. You must stand out in some way such as participating in JROTC or Civil Air Patrol. But there is always other options such as ROTC colleges.
Great Video! A lot of information. My son is leaning towards the academy. We’ve got a few questions. 1. How many Congressional Letters (Nominations) do you need? 2. What’s the most advantageous way to go about the letters? Thanks in advance.
Applicants only need one nomination from an official nominating source. Each nominating source has a designated place where you can find their application (typically on their website or at a physical office).
Are you talking about athletic varsity letters or recommendations? In my application, I remember all my recommendation letters are done online. I provided my teachers/coaches with a link and they wrote in their thoughts. I hope that helps! I am also a 2016 grad so let me know if you have any questions!
Jackson Cude Lift weights while getting decent in running and bodyweight exercises. They are all complimentary to each other. I actually produced a video or two talking about my experiences as a cadet on my channel. Check them out!
I have had my heart set on the Air Force Academy since I was 12. One problem I have is the Medical evaluation, I have food allergies to peanut & egg. Will having a food allergy disqualify me from entering?
I know the academies accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions (for health and religious reasons) which might also include food allergies. I wouldn't let that stop you from applying.
What if my high school only offers 3 years of a science? Would this affect my chances of getting accepted? And I play varsity lacrosse in the spring and I do in indoor league in the fall. Do they want to see multiple sports or just show that I’m participating?
There is definitely no "cookie cutter" applications the Academy looks for. If I remember correctly, I took probably about 2.5 years of science in high school. They admissions might have changed their criteria so you just have to check on your own. Their website should give you a general direction of what their minimum standard to even be qualified. I was unathletic and only got two varsity letters during my senior year. I think people put too much emphasis on athletics when they really should be focused on their grades and test scores. I made a video about my "stats" and how I got into the Academy. Let me know if you have any questions! I will be happy to answer!
Participating in something that demonstrates your athleticism and work ethic helps. In fact, doing something different (like ballet) might garner you some extra attention. That said, admissions is looking for balance. Be sure to mix in some other activities to show your versatility.
I took US history in 8th grade and took the test for it and passed so I did get credit but will it count for the USAFA or do I need to take it again? I’m a junior btw
What if you were overseas the whole time. Born in Korea as US citizen but graduated in a DODEA school. Don’t have residency in any State. Is only nomination option president or VP?
You just got to check on the application. I think the last date for applications is in January, but that is when I applied to get into the class of 2016. The deadline might have changed over the years.
Dear Officer, My Dodmerb single disqualified with Myopia & Astigmatism (vision). However my vision is 20/20 with corrective glasses. I'm not interested in to be a polite. USAFA gives you waver??? I really want to get in but it is so sad....
Do I have any chances of being accepted with these qualities? I have a 4.0 GPA, but my composite score on the ACT was only 27. I will be retaking it, but will retaking it even matter? I thought I need to be submitting my application soon. I haven't done much for sports in school, but I was planning to do many next year. I have done bpa, though. I'm not sure how much this matters, but I do have a falconer's license. Will that help me in any way? What are the chances of me being being accepted, and what can I do to better my current chances? Thanks!!
Chandra Houtsma No but if you wanted to be a pilot obviously it would affect that. It also depends on how bad your eyesight is and if it can be corrected
Eyesight is not an automatic disqualifier for any of the military academies. Contrary to what most people think, you do not have to be a pilot if you want to join the Air Force. Hahaha
I myself want very much to be a pilot but I have not the best eyesight. PRK surgery corrects bad eyesight. If it can’t be corrected with PRK than you very likely cannot be a pilot.
Hello The Air Force Officer! I am interested in becoming a Cadet. I am a junior and have not taken the SAT yet, but I am very soon. Should I send my pre candidate before I take my SAT or should I wait until I send it.
This is a somewhat old post, but the answer is you can start the application process and submit your tests later. In fact, you can take the tests after your application deadline. Just be sure to take both the SAT and ACT and multiple times if possible because the academies allow super scoring.
I’m still in 8th grade and I’m ready to take any chance I got. I have 5 years including 8th grade to make this right. Also if you don’t get accepted make sure you have a plan B.
i have had depression in the past and i have a mild anxiety disorder. i can manage both without medication and i went to therapy for a while to get it under control. would i be disqualified from the academy because of this?
About those language credits. My school allows us to do Computer Classes to make up for those credits. So, if I were to study a foreign language outside of school would that still count?
Hey question idk if anyone will see this hopefully they will but I'm a senior in high school and I didn't really think about after school until now but I think it's too late I really wanna get into the air force academy but I don't think they'll allow me because of how poor my junior year was
For a fighter pilot, is there a requirement for vision (correctable)? I have -5 prescription (nearsighted) but is correctable to 20/20. Could I get a waiver or something for academy?
Watch C.W Lemoine's videos he is a fighter pilot for both the airforce and navy and has videos on how to become one. I remember him mentioning your eyesight doesn't need to be perfect as long as its corrected with glasses and or surgery.
Hey I turn 20 in a few days and I’m graduated from high school my GPA wasn’t that good and I want to retake my ACT which you can do outside of high school, could I still be accepted if I do really good on my ACT despite having very mediocre school grades? I didn’t really try in high school that’s why I did mediocre, I only found out about the academy recently and want to peruse being a fighter pilot badly. I was on the varsity Soccer team and Varsity Tennis, do I have a chance if I get a good ACT score?
I dont know how to fill th STA score part, can someone help me? I think there is no one on the office because of the quarentin! I will like to know if is possible with a GPA of 3.21 that was from school and I drop it a 2.86 at collage because of a situation that make my to drop 3 curses but I get it up agan at 3.12. You think I still can quilyfy? I want to be a pilot! To clear never will let a situation take over me agan, take with you too, stay with a positive attitude and keep going.
I’m a college applicant too. 3.12 is very low for the academy and most likely for the prep school too, so I would try to get it to a 3.8 at a minimum if you can and get around a 1350-1450 on the SAT. I have a 3.8 and I’m almost a junior and will be retaking the SAT soon. I didn’t take high school seriously until the very end, so I got a 3.49 GPA and a 990 on the SAT. I’m trying to bring my college GPA to a 3.85-3.87 by the time I apply and will aim for a 1400 on the SAT. They will super score your SAT, so keep that in mind. 😁
I'm really interested in attending USAFA, but I looked everywhere on the internet and can't seem to find whether my country can nominate candidates. What do I do? This is my dream school
I am twenty-two, have a bachelor's degree in nursing science. Six months to learn 23 is it possible to start the process now and would I be more competitive already having going to college?
@@thaddeusspendlove7437 as you might have seen in my comment im homeschooled too. I've seen videos of homeschooles who got into the academy, but i dont know what different you need to do to get in:/
Thaddeus Spendlove if you wanna get in from being homeschooled you need a really high SAT scores and a lot of community service and prove you are fit enough
I have lived in the states my whole life until I was 13, then I moved to nz. I will not move back to the us until I finish high school. Is there any way for me to get into the Air Force academy?
Hi, I'm in high school and i really want to join the USAFA after.It is required to go to the Prep-school before the USAFA or can be possible to join right after graduated from high school?
I am class of 2020, I am thinking about the AFA but the problem is that I haven’t been able to take any SATS because of COVID. Is that a legit excuse to put in my application or do I have to take it somewhere else?
@@lzgbonesy4090 I graduated in 2020 but due to COVID I couldn’t take any SATS/ACTS. And my question was that it if it was a legit excuse as the reason to not take it. Hope that makes sense.👍🏻
I’m about to start my junior year, I have a strong JROTC background being the current Operations Officer, a 4.0, and I am doing cross country for a varsity letter, what are my chances?
I am 16 years old and I am seriously thinking about going to the air force academy I think I have 2000+ community hours and I am going into Civil Patrol, I have wanted to fly for a very long time and am wondering what i should do to give me a better chance to get into AFA
I am currently a sophomore in high school. I was wondering if there is anything I can do now aside from doing well in school, maintaining physical health, and doing extracurricular activities, that will help me. Also what do they mean by a computer class? I don’t think my school has any computer classes aside from electives, so do elective ones count? Thanks
@@josiahmascarenas9982 Applying and getting in are two different things. The academy really wants to see that you are involved in different sports or clubs, and that your school is challenging you. I'm not saying that there is a 100% chance you won't get in, just that you are going to have to work a LOT harder than the other applicants. Good luck man, I really do hope you get in.
@@josiahmascarenas9982 That would probably double your chances of getting in. If you're taking college classes anyway, I might recommend going to a civilian college and joining AFROTC. You graduate with the same rank as someone who went to the academy, and you can get into a civilian college much easier than the academy.
I’m a college applicant too. I don’t believe you have to take similar majors, but I would suggest going towards something in the STEM field. I’m working on a B.S. in Energy Systems at my college.
Really stupid question here but can you join the Air Force without going to their school? Like do the basic training then going from there or is basics a part of the academy? I’m sorry but I’m just really confused and I want to join the Air Force after I finish graduating from my university
Hey yall - I got into the academy for class of 2023. Some (non intuitive) tips. Disclaimer - these are my opinions only:
Varsity letters don't matter a ton. Never got one - never tried. Do a fun club sport that you enjoy and then make sure you can kill the physical exam.
An ALO connection does not make or break it. I reached out to mine at least 5 times and never heard back.
Nominations are not easy: make sure you ask other military academy kiddos (from your district/state!) about the questions the panels ask. Be prepared for difficult questions. Be confident walking into the interview.
Grades matter a lot but do NOT make or break it and prep school is always a possibility. Take lots of AP classes. If math isn't a strong suit of yours make it one. Make sure you're on good terms with at least one math and one English teacher (recommendations matter a lot).
Become the captain of an important educational club - debate club is what did it for me.
The essays need to be good. When writing about a setback you've faced in life DO NOT write about a sports injury and DO NOT write any shallow essays. Ask as many teachers to read and edit your essays as possible.
Medical evaluation / waiver process can be what takes the longest in the application. Seriously. I got something like 10 disqualifications (which required like 4 more doctor visits) for things going back to when I was 6 years old. Be prepared and try to finish it as early as possible.
Something like 45% of applicants who actually get a nomination and complete the whole process end up with appointments and about another 10% make it to prep school. You can definitely do this.
Good luck!!!
Lucas V thank you
Hey Lucas! Could you tell me what your SAT scores were? I’m really interested and wondering what a cadet such as yourself scored?
@@kylelawson3429 Hi Kyle - I took the SAT three times and ended with a 1500. Do lots of online prep!!
Hey, I have some QnA. My Dad is a disabled veteran of the Air Force, my stepdad is a career enlisted(20 years), and my mom was in the Air Force as well. My grandfathers, I think 2 of the 4 served in the Army, I have two police officers, and a former Marine Reservist. Will this in anyway, shape, or form boost my applicant status? Also, as being split between families and my father being disabled, I’d be graduating early to help get some more time with him, so I can’t take any AP courses as they’re all full year courses. Is it vital I take AP? Also, what SAT practice websites did you use?
@@lucasvoichick2157 Hi can you send me online preparation web sites for sat test please?
I’m a freshman who doesn’t care about school but now I do
You got this man, grind hard, get good grades, do community service, be a leader in your community. Do things to be competitive.
I’m a senior and I have this last school year to raise my GPA up. My main issue was my entire junior year was online because of COVID which is something I didn’t want and caused me to have poor grades. Now I have my last year to get a high GPA. My advice is take as many advanced classes your sophomore year and junior and senior work your heart out. Genuinely hearing get good grades means a lot and has more realism than one would think
Same I now have a path I can follow and with this I have something to work for
Same I just realized I need to get my grades super high so now I’m tryharding the rest of my high school years
I'm a junior in high school who's just starting to take this seriously. It's probably too late, but here goes nothing.
I’m a softmoore in high school I got a 3.6 gpa first semester without trying or knowing I wanted to go to the USAFA I hope to better semester 2 I with you luck wish me luck too.
@@spoopypoopy64 I'm a Sophomore also, on the grind for a 4.0+
Samsmotzzz my back up is AFROTC how about you, although I really hope we both get in
Honestly I think it is one of the biggest mistakes people make when just thinking about it. Srsly sucks
Same here, haven’t seen my gpa all high school year and I’m going to summer school cause I failed two classes... just a little too late 😅
On thing that I think is weird and flawed with the Military Academies and Ivy League schools is they place little emphasis on if the HS student held down a regular job during HS instead of participating in a gazillion high school and community events. Honestly, a kid who has high grades/SAT scores who holds down a regular job while in HS is A LOT more impressive to me than someone who enjoyed financial support from their parents and had loads of free time.
There’s a whole section on the USAFA application where you describe (in detail) all work/job experience
My grandson received his appointment letter in mid Dec. (I know the website says the letters go out Feb to Apr). His GPA is north of 4 and his ACT was a composite score of 35. Even with that we didn't really know if that was what selection committee was looking for. A week before his appointment letter, Col. Neff sent him an email inviting him to join the honors program. Good on him, it's his dream come true.
The basketball throw is actually so see if you are willing to do the proper research and learn how to do something they ask properly
Okay, this is going to be long so grab a snack.
I'm thirteen years old, but I have my heart set on the Air Force Academy. I am not in high school yet, but I have started preparing. I am taking a U.S. History course, a grammar/writing course, and German. My dad ( in the Army) had already told me it would be difficult to be accepted into the Air Force Academy, but watching this has kind of made me nervous. I desperately want to go to the Air Force Academy, and I don't know what I would do if I didn't.
I already do volunteer work in my community, but I am a home schooler, so the teacher evaluation would not work. I have been trying to convince my parents to allow me to go to a high school, so I may be able to fix that. If I can go to a school, I'll be okay, because I'm a little bit of a teacher's pet. Physically, I can train. I'm a natural runner, I have generally strong abs and strong legs, but I'm more weak in the arms. I want to get into sports (dance, vollyball, competitive running, soccer, and softball).
I am determined to get accepted once I'm old enough to even enlist, but I have some questions.
- Can you go to boot camp before the Academy?
- What are some extracurricular activities I can do to put myself ahead of other applicants?
- What can you do if you don't get accepted ( I want to be a pilot)
- How do you retake the SAT
- What is a varsity letter?
- Are you allowed to date while at the Academy?
- Are you able to get a second ALO?
- If you don't get a nomination, what else can you do?
- If I can't go to a high school, what can I do to get recommendations from teachers? Can I get them from online teachers?
- Is it absolutely required to take a computer study class?
- What if you don't have a high class rank?
- What happens if everything is good except your SAT scores? Will you still be eligible?
- How well do you have to do on your athletic test? What are the standards for females?
- If you don't do volunteer work, are your chances lowered significantly?
- What happens if you are not a good writer? And what topic is the writing sample supposed to be on?
- What do they ask about on the phone call interview?
- I have Global Loton ( sp?) Meaning my core will normally be weaker than average. I can work through it, it would simply be more difficult. Would that be an issue in my medical evaluation?
- Is there a pelvic evaluation? If so, will there be another same sex individual in the room to ensure the safety of the applicant? I know nothing would happen, but I just want to be sure.
Thank you to anyone who answers my questions.
The things you should focus on is keeping as high of a GPA as possible. 4.0 is of course ideal, but 3.85 is the lowest normally. ACT goal is 28, range is 28-33 normally, 30 is avg, higher is better. Sports is more or less for keeping in shape. Id assume the more physically demanding the better, so swimming would be a good one imo. Also, make sure to participate in leadership opportunities
Answer to your questions
(I am a current applicant to the academy)
- no need if you get straight in
- Any leadership opportunities, organized high school sports, community service, and any sort of competitive program
- ROTC
- You just sign back up for another one
- Just means that you play on a varsity sports team
- Yes dating is allowed
- Your single ALO will help you enough although you will be interviewed by a different ALO
- You can do ROTC or apply the next year. They like to see resilience.
- You can take classes through home school Co-ops. Yes online teachers work.
- Yes computer class is required
- You should aim to be in the top 25% of the class
- You will be eligible but unlikely to receive an appointment. If everything else in your application is strong, they may send you to the prep school.
- You should aim to be above average. Standards are online.
- You should really try to volunteer (I accumulated over 1000 hours)
- There are three papers you must write for the writing sample. Try reading other peoples college application papers to get a feel for them.
- In the heath records you will probably have to get a waiver for it it will not disqualify you.
- Yes there is, and yes you will have a female chaperone in the room with you if it is a male doctor.
Yeah! What do you have in mind?
@@chandlerthomaston9001 Do you know if a varsity letter is required? I am going into high school next year and I already workout at the gym so I don't know if I should devote time to getting on a varsity team or focusing on going to the gym and doing extra curricular activities.
McCrackine, Try 4-H if you have it where you are. I am 16, home-schooled, into math, history, archery, ice-skating, and latin and will be joining up with the USAF summer after this one. I have found that one can do a lot of community service, leadership, and sports through 4-H. I am really hoping to make it to Air force Academy as well. Good luck.
P.S. Try girl scouts too.
P.P.S. Oh, and you have my grandmother's maiden name.
P.P.P.S. I hope to become a pilot as well.
P.P.P.P.S. Post-scriptum is overused by some people.
Currently enlisted and trying to get into the academy, watching every video possible rn
where are you now in the process ??
My biggest set back is the medical exam because I am hearing impaired but have hearing aids and can talk normally but I did see the the air-force may start accepting deaf and hard of hearing applicants so hope that’s works out
Would they count civil air patrol as community hours.
I'm also wondering about this. If CAP does count, does it matter how long you've been a member? What rank you are in Civil Air Patrol?
No, I am a former CAP cadet and, though I hear it helps with USAFA application a lot, it does not count for community service.
I hope it does.
@@liamsweeney9240 If you do community service in CAP does that count?
@@lj.853 I believe so but don't go off my word alone.
I've been working my whole high school career to attend a Military Academy. I just got accepted into West Point's SLE and The Naval Academy's Summer Seminar. I'll list my current stats below, I would like to currently know my chances and if there is anything I can do to increase that chance.
Stats:
Class Rank: Top 25%
Academic Rigor: All APs/Honors/Dual Enrollment
GPA (UW): 3.82
GPA(W): 4.6
ACT: 30
SAT: 1390
Band(4 years): Section Leader all of my high school career
Jazz Band(4 years)
Martial Arts(All of my life): Head Instructor/Team Captain all of my high school career.
All-State Musician: 4th Euphonium in the state.
District Musician: 1st Chair
All- South Musician
National Honor Society
National Music Honor Society
National English Honor Society
(I also have a lot of awards, but there are too many to really list. Some of the awards might doxx me, so I don't want to list them for that reason also)
Thank you!
Yeah uhhh....ur overqualified dude lmao
Wtf all of that was not needed but wow
@@samsmotzzz2171 Really? That makes me feel slightly better about my chances now lol
@@cheesestar467 All of these accomplishments show how much you can responsibly juggle, that'll make you look competitive to the people giving out admissions.
@@samsmotzzz2171 That is great to hear, thank you for the input.
by far the most helpful AFA app video thanks man!!
I'm currently a sophomore in high school and I want to go to the air force academy. How early should I start to take these steps (besides academics or athletics), and I'm planning to take AP US history this summer at a community college, will that still count for my us history credit? All help would be appreciated! Thanks.
Hi! Applications open March 1st if your junior year. This is when I’d start, the sooner the better, it’s a long process so I wouldn’t rush. There’s lots of different times to contact your ALO. On the website it says to do it when you start applying (March 1st). But I’m a sophomore and I’m actually gonna reach out tomorrow. I’m just gonna introduce myself, explain why I wanna get in and stuff like that and give my contact info (phone number, etc). I wouldn’t contact your ALO much before you actually start applying, unless you have any specific questions, but a lot of that stuff is online. And yes, if that AP US history counts towards your GPA then it would count. Good luck getting in, hopefully we can see each other at the academy if we get in.
ELIT3 FR3SHN3SS wait, so March 1st of your Junior year of high school is when it’s recommended to start the application process right? Like the basics and then hope you qualify?
You need to start getting ready RIGHT NOW. Join the future falcons, maybe civil air patrol, AP courses, dual enrollment classes, sports,
clubs, EVERYTHING. This is extremely competitive you have to put your head in the game.
Shelby C the applications/PCQ opens on March 1. It’s nice to get it done early though
How did it turn out?
What age would you recommend for someone to start asking for nominations and start applying for usafa also can you apply for multiple nomination as then pick one
You apply for a nomination the same year you being applying for admission, so typically the summer before your senior year or during. You can look up who your member of congress is and they should have information on their website about how to apply for the nomination and what to send to them. Depending on how competitive your district is, you can get nominated to multiple schools, but you do need a nomination for each one. I was fortunate enough to be nominated to USAFA, Navy, and Army by my MOC.
I am just starting high school next year, and I am dead set on becoming a cadet, when should I start working on getting a nomination, and where do I start?
JOIN CIVIL AIR PATROL!! It gets you ready for drill, uniform, and mostly leadership!
@@puddlekiddos Thanks, it actually looks really good.
@@package007 I also just started and I hope to go the same route as you and I joined CAP it's a good way to get prepared.
Peter also, if your school has it, join JROTC.
Go to each nomination website you are eligible for and see when they suggested or preferred deadline then apply accordingly. Usually you do this whole application process is done during the spring of your junior year. I am currently in the midst of my application process.
For our GPA do they only look at senior year or all of high school.
I would assume our entire high school career
Great info. Thanks. A couple of graphics of the Top 10 list and the median scores would have been nice to see as you were talking. Good info though. Thanks
Oh God, I am not the most fit person in the world, I was kinda nerdy playing xbox all the time getting in trouble all the time but now it's my freshman year and I'm deffinately putting myself in place I realized that I wanna join the airforce because my dad was and I want to for the experience knowledge and retirement, in just the past week I have been doing as many situps push ups and pull ups that I can running as far as a can and keeping track, I'm being a lot more engaged in school because i really want to get a spot in the academy, I have been there when I was little and remember how cool it was when I lived in Colorado springs it's my dream the get there but the problem is it is other people's too.
two years later and I just came across this comment. Well I guess I got where I wanted to be.
Thank you for making this video. I been looking for something like this, and this was exactly what I needed.
Hey, I’m home schooled, I take act regularly. Would it help to go to public school? Also my dad is a Boom operator, does that help? What are your thoughts, any extra advice?
I’m heading into my final year of school before college. But I go to an English school and there system is different, will that affect me in any way? Also I have calculated my GPA, and it is currently 3.57is that okay? I’m still going to raise it. About the nominations. I’m going for a presidential nomination, how do I get that to the academy, or even to myself? And finally what do I do with my final application, is it a package you send directly to Colorado, or is it an online submission? Thank you
I'm sorry but 3.57 probably won't cut it. But, grades isn't the only thing. You must stand out in some way such as participating in JROTC or Civil Air Patrol. But there is always other options such as ROTC colleges.
Great Video! A lot of information. My son is leaning towards the academy. We’ve got a few questions. 1. How many Congressional Letters (Nominations) do you need? 2. What’s the most advantageous way to go about the letters? Thanks in advance.
Applicants only need one nomination from an official nominating source. Each nominating source has a designated place where you can find their application (typically on their website or at a physical office).
Are you talking about athletic varsity letters or recommendations? In my application, I remember all my recommendation letters are done online. I provided my teachers/coaches with a link and they wrote in their thoughts. I hope that helps! I am also a 2016 grad so let me know if you have any questions!
Alex Tsang what would you recommend for fitness, and what is like getting in?
Jackson Cude Lift weights while getting decent in running and bodyweight exercises. They are all complimentary to each other.
I actually produced a video or two talking about my experiences as a cadet on my channel. Check them out!
First you have to agree that the lesbian and homosexual lifestyle is what America stands for.
What should I focus on as a freashman? When should I start to focus on the application?
Keep your grades up. You can open an application portal at the AFA on March 1 of your junior year.
I have had my heart set on the Air Force Academy since I was 12. One problem I have is the Medical evaluation, I have food allergies to peanut & egg. Will having a food allergy disqualify me from entering?
I know the academies accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions (for health and religious reasons) which might also include food allergies. I wouldn't let that stop you from applying.
i’m in the same exact position as you are, i have allergies to peanuts nuts fish and seafood. it’s been a huge set back for everyday life lol
What if my high school only offers 3 years of a science? Would this affect my chances of getting accepted? And I play varsity lacrosse in the spring and I do in indoor league in the fall. Do they want to see multiple sports or just show that I’m participating?
There is definitely no "cookie cutter" applications the Academy looks for. If I remember correctly, I took probably about 2.5 years of science in high school. They admissions might have changed their criteria so you just have to check on your own. Their website should give you a general direction of what their minimum standard to even be qualified.
I was unathletic and only got two varsity letters during my senior year. I think people put too much emphasis on athletics when they really should be focused on their grades and test scores. I made a video about my "stats" and how I got into the Academy. Let me know if you have any questions! I will be happy to answer!
Alex Tsang thank you. This information is great!
i do ballet is that considered as a sport???? would that help or not
Participating in something that demonstrates your athleticism and work ethic helps. In fact, doing something different (like ballet) might garner you some extra attention. That said, admissions is looking for balance. Be sure to mix in some other activities to show your versatility.
I took US history in 8th grade and took the test for it and passed so I did get credit but will it count for the USAFA or do I need to take it again? I’m a junior btw
What if you were overseas the whole time. Born in Korea as US citizen but graduated in a DODEA school. Don’t have residency in any State. Is only nomination option president or VP?
Could you make a video for Prior-Enlisted people trying to join the academy?
When do you think it’ll be too late to apply. I’m a senior as of right now and barely looking into this
You just got to check on the application. I think the last date for applications is in January, but that is when I applied to get into the class of 2016. The deadline might have changed over the years.
If your recruited for a sport at the academy, are you automatically appointed as a cadet?
My Son is an American Citizen but has grown up overseas. Can he get a nomination
Yes, check the academy website or ask your ALO. My grandson went to German primary school for 5 years. He's now a first year cadet.
Dear Officer,
My Dodmerb single disqualified with Myopia & Astigmatism (vision). However my vision is 20/20 with corrective glasses. I'm not interested in to be a polite.
USAFA gives you waver???
I really want to get in but it is so sad....
Do I have any chances of being accepted with these qualities? I have a 4.0 GPA, but my composite score on the ACT was only 27. I will be retaking it, but will retaking it even matter? I thought I need to be submitting my application soon. I haven't done much for sports in school, but I was planning to do many next year. I have done bpa, though. I'm not sure how much this matters, but I do have a falconer's license. Will that help me in any way?
What are the chances of me being being accepted, and what can I do to better my current chances?
Thanks!!
Take the ACT as often as you can. Only your high score on all the tests count.
wait so anyone that doesnt live in America cant join? I'm english
A small number of non USA citizens go to AFA every year. They need to be recommended by their own air force.
What if you're homeschooled?
*you're
When should I get in contact with my ALO. Before I apply or during the process?
Great video!
How are you doing? Are you still in the AF?
Does having an GED disqualify you
Thank you for the very informative video but my eyesight is very poor so would that affect my acceptance?
Chandra Houtsma No but if you wanted to be a pilot obviously it would affect that. It also depends on how bad your eyesight is and if it can be corrected
Eyesight is not an automatic disqualifier for any of the military academies. Contrary to what most people think, you do not have to be a pilot if you want to join the Air Force. Hahaha
I myself want very much to be a pilot but I have not the best eyesight. PRK surgery corrects bad eyesight. If it can’t be corrected with PRK than you very likely cannot be a pilot.
I go to a private school with not a lot of people and they're all really smart rip
Hello The Air Force Officer! I am interested in becoming a Cadet. I am a junior and have not taken the SAT yet, but I am very soon. Should I send my pre candidate before I take my SAT or should I wait until I send it.
This is a somewhat old post, but the answer is you can start the application process and submit your tests later. In fact, you can take the tests after your application deadline. Just be sure to take both the SAT and ACT and multiple times if possible because the academies allow super scoring.
I’m still in 8th grade and I’m ready to take any chance I got. I have 5 years including 8th grade to make this right. Also if you don’t get accepted make sure you have a plan B.
same
You can reapply if you don't get in the first time. The selection committee likes to see persistence .
i have had depression in the past and i have a mild anxiety disorder. i can manage both without medication and i went to therapy for a while to get it under control. would i be disqualified from the academy because of this?
Yes
Samuel Richardson 💀
About those language credits. My school allows us to do Computer Classes to make up for those credits. So, if I were to study a foreign language outside of school would that still count?
Can you use one of your older teachers or does it have to be a current teacher for reccomendation
My biggest set back is I’m not interested in any sports or educational clubs and I suck at math and biology
Go to a civilian school. You won't get in.
Hey question idk if anyone will see this hopefully they will but I'm a senior in high school and I didn't really think about after school until now but I think it's too late I really wanna get into the air force academy but I don't think they'll allow me because of how poor my junior year was
Forgot to ask the question but like do you guys think I could make it into the academy?
"all that good stuff" lol
For a fighter pilot, is there a requirement for vision (correctable)? I have -5 prescription (nearsighted) but is correctable to 20/20. Could I get a waiver or something for academy?
Aaron Carranza im not positive, but i think with the computer innovation, slightly bad eyesight is acceptable
As long as its correctable to 20/20 you should be good. Ultimately it will be up to the doc at MEPS
I remember reading that for a fighter pilot 20/20 uncorrected is required, im not sure tho
Watch C.W Lemoine's videos he is a fighter pilot for both the airforce and navy and has videos on how to become one. I remember him mentioning your eyesight doesn't need to be perfect as long as its corrected with glasses and or surgery.
Yeah having a 20/20 is acceptable
Hey I turn 20 in a few days and I’m graduated from high school my GPA wasn’t that good and I want to retake my ACT which you can do outside of high school, could I still be accepted if I do really good on my ACT despite having very mediocre school grades? I didn’t really try in high school that’s why I did mediocre, I only found out about the academy recently and want to peruse being a fighter pilot badly. I was on the varsity Soccer team and Varsity Tennis, do I have a chance if I get a good ACT score?
A high ACT score can compensate for low GPA to some extent. You should also pursue aviation through ROTC at a civilian school.
What about all of the ASVAP tests?
I dont know how to fill th STA score part, can someone help me? I think there is no one on the office because of the quarentin!
I will like to know if is possible with a GPA of 3.21 that was from school and I drop it a 2.86 at collage because of a situation that make my to drop 3 curses but I get it up agan at 3.12. You think I still can quilyfy?
I want to be a pilot!
To clear never will let a situation take over me agan, take with you too, stay with a positive attitude and keep going.
I’m a college applicant too. 3.12 is very low for the academy and most likely for the prep school too, so I would try to get it to a 3.8 at a minimum if you can and get around a 1350-1450 on the SAT. I have a 3.8 and I’m almost a junior and will be retaking the SAT soon. I didn’t take high school seriously until the very end, so I got a 3.49 GPA and a 990 on the SAT. I’m trying to bring my college GPA to a 3.85-3.87 by the time I apply and will aim for a 1400 on the SAT. They will super score your SAT, so keep that in mind. 😁
I'm really interested in attending USAFA, but I looked everywhere on the internet and can't seem to find whether my country can nominate candidates. What do I do? This is my dream school
Very good video
At what point of the process do you have to pass the PT test? Is that to get accepted?
if i went to public highschool and was homeschooled the rest is it possible for me to get in?
Do you need experience in a sport?
I am twenty-two, have a bachelor's degree in nursing science. Six months to learn 23 is it possible to start the process now and would I be more competitive already having going to college?
I am ranked 8 out of 62 people in my class and I have a 4.03 gpa. That means i’m only in the top 13% of my class, will that cut it?
I am in CAP and I aim to get the Spaatz award. How much will this help my likelihood of getting accepted ?
I am also homeschooled.
@@thaddeusspendlove7437 as you might have seen in my comment im homeschooled too. I've seen videos of homeschooles who got into the academy, but i dont know what different you need to do to get in:/
Thaddeus Spendlove if you wanna get in from being homeschooled you need a really high SAT scores and a lot of community service and prove you are fit enough
@@harveyrosas7208 thanks
Harvey Rosas thank you.
Can you just leave the campus at any time like after the school day or during the weekend? Like any other college?
I have lived in the states my whole life until I was 13, then I moved to nz. I will not move back to the us until I finish high school. Is there any way for me to get into the Air Force academy?
If you're a US citizen plus other requirements you may apply. Check on the academy website for details.
Does civil air patrol help in admissions?
keith brown most likely since you’ve had experience with something similar.
What if your homeschooled like me, can you still get into the usafa
Also what do you write about?
Hi, I'm in high school and i really want to join the USAFA after.It is required to go to the Prep-school before the USAFA or can be possible to join right after graduated from high school?
You don’t have to go to prep school
@@rck3321 okay.... Thanks
I am class of 2020, I am thinking about the AFA but the problem is that I haven’t been able to take any SATS because of COVID. Is that a legit excuse to put in my application or do I have to take it somewhere else?
2021?
@@lzgbonesy4090 I graduated in 2020 but due to COVID I couldn’t take any SATS/ACTS. And my question was that it if it was a legit excuse as the reason to not take it. Hope that makes sense.👍🏻
@@ar-1571 gotcha
How does one make the golf team?
Will dual enrollment classes be taken into account if you don’t have any ap classes
Jack Bowman this is really late but sadly no :(
Actually they do. College courses are taken into account as it is an indicator of how well you can do in college courses. They are actually preferred
I’m about to start my junior year, I have a strong JROTC background being the current Operations Officer, a 4.0, and I am doing cross country for a varsity letter, what are my chances?
If you have a GPA around 3.85 or higher and an ACT of 32 or higher, very good.
Can a foreign become a air force pilot
dang, I'm 18 and I wish I'd made the decision to join the military earlier🙁
Why?
What is a dependent
I am 16 years old and I am seriously thinking about going to the air force academy I think I have 2000+ community hours and I am going into Civil Patrol, I have wanted to fly for a very long time and am wondering what i should do to give me a better chance to get into AFA
im a senior in high school
i am beyond too late XD
Does air force use the super score policy for sat's
Yes
I am currently a sophomore in high school. I was wondering if there is anything I can do now aside from doing well in school, maintaining physical health, and doing extracurricular activities, that will help me. Also what do they mean by a computer class? I don’t think my school has any computer classes aside from electives, so do elective ones count? Thanks
I am also a sophomore in high school they do mean electives like in my school we have CAD (Computer aided design) as well as a robotics course
What is the conditions for home-schooled candidates?
If you are homeschooled, your chances are next to nothing. sorry man
Are you sure because on the application you can be homeschooled and apply
@@josiahmascarenas9982 Applying and getting in are two different things. The academy really wants to see that you are involved in different sports or clubs, and that your school is challenging you. I'm not saying that there is a 100% chance you won't get in, just that you are going to have to work a LOT harder than the other applicants. Good luck man, I really do hope you get in.
@@willbryce1983 what if I took college classes after I graduate high school and then applied would that help my chances
@@josiahmascarenas9982 That would probably double your chances of getting in. If you're taking college classes anyway, I might recommend going to a civilian college and joining AFROTC. You graduate with the same rank as someone who went to the academy, and you can get into a civilian college much easier than the academy.
Would it be hard to get in if you were homeschooled throughout high school?
You are not going anywhere if you were home-schooled....blame your parents.
@@2IzzyReelzFishing That's not exactly helpful
For college candidates, Do you have to take similar Majors like the Academy to get in?
I’m a college applicant too. I don’t believe you have to take similar majors, but I would suggest going towards something in the STEM field. I’m working on a B.S. in Energy Systems at my college.
@@chloeminer yeah, it’s very hard for me to decide. So far, I’ve chosen Undeclared and I’ll try out different classes when I’m in college to find out
How to apply and the qualification
bro can a foreigner student join usage
👍👍👍👍
I’m going to Valor high school and want to attend the academy. Any good tips for getting ready to apply?
Nick Kasten get your GPA as high as possible, a really high SAT score and be fit. Good luck
Participate in extracurricular activities, community service, join Civil air patrol, and build connections with your teachers
Please how can international student be nominated❤
Thru your home countries air force. There are few foreign students every year. Last year the valedictorian was a foreign student from Taiwan.
My son will be starting the 9th grade soon. He is 14 years old, is it too early to start this process?
It's never too early
March 1st of your junior year you may open an application portal.
We're in 2021, Can you get into the Air force if you have a Child, did the Rules Change❓
You cant
Does dependance count girlfriend?
Really stupid question here but can you join the Air Force without going to their school? Like do the basic training then going from there or is basics a part of the academy?
I’m sorry but I’m just really confused and I want to join the Air Force after I finish graduating from my university
Peyton Stropes late reply but if you want to join after graduating college as an officer you would have to go to ocs
Can you join academy at 24?
Cut off is 23rd birthday
Damn Big Problem is you're a foreigner ain't easy to join LOL
So im 23 im to old to apply?
yes it says on their website to be eligible to apply must be at least 17 but not past your 23rd birthday by the year they would join the academy
you not they my bad
Does having an GED disqualify you