Welcome to a new school year and our back-to-school edition! For those of you we were in contact with over the summer, you should be well on your way to beginning the admissions process; you new candidates – it’s time to get started.

Apply for Admissions! 

If you haven’t yet started the admissions process – start now. Assume your competition has already begun (which it has). The place to begin, since most of the process is now done on-line, is at:

www.academyadmissions.com

The Air Force Academy (AFA) has developed a very good web site from which to begin the process. Go there and follow the directions. 

Once you’ve done that, ask your high school counselor for the name and contact information for your school’s Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO). If they do not know who that is, call the AFA Admissions office at 1-800-443-9266 and ask which ALO is assigned to your high school and how to contact them. Once you have that information, call them up, introduce yourself, and let them know you have applied for admission. Then, ask them if they have any advice about preparation (what you should, and should not do).

If you have not contacted your elected representatives for a nomination – do so as soon as possible  

Remember, you must have a nomination to ultimately be accepted (the Congressional nomination being one of several, but the category in which most candidates compete). To obtain a nomination, you’ll have to contact your elected senator or representative.

To find out how the entire process works, you can either obtain this information at the Academy Admissions website (see above), or if you’d rather discuss it, contact your representative’s office and talk to the person who’s in charge of (all) academy appointments. To find out who your representative or senator is (if you don’t already know), you can locate them at this web site:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

(A bonus to be found at the Academy Admissions web site: example letters requesting a nomination. You can cut, paste, and modify that information for your own use.)

Physical Fitness 

At some point in the process, usually in the early Fall, you will perform the Candidate Fitness Test (also known as the Physical Aptitude Exam). It’s a series of activities designed to measure endurance and strength. Very few candidates can simply show up, without preparation, and perform to minimum standards. If you aren’t in physical shape, you’ll need to be. This link explains the test in more detail: 

(As always, before participating in these events, or training for them, consult with your family physician to ensure you are physically qualified to do so).

http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/eligibility/pae/index.php

Do you really understand what it takes to be selected for an appointment to the Academy?

The United States Air Force Academy (just like the Air Force does when its airmen and officers are evaluated for promotion) looks at what’s called the "whole person" concept when rating candidates and deciding who is selected. The admissions panel wants to see excellence demonstrated across a spectrum of attributes. At a minimum, they look at: 

Grades

Work experience

Standardized tests (SAT/ACT)

Demonstrated leadership

Varsity athletic involvement

Extracurriculars (e.g., school clubs)

Community involvement

Scouting (if applicable)

These factors are combined into a selection composite (or matrix) from which the admissions panel reviews each applicant and ultimately makes a selection. The matrix breaks down thusly:

• Academic Composite–60% of final score, includes high school or collegiate grades and the SAT and/or ACT scores.

• Extracurricular Composite–20% of final score, includes athletic participation, leadership (especially those in the extracurricular realm and athletics), community involvement, scouting, and work experience (if any).

• Admissions Panel Composite–20% of final score, comprised of the liaison interview, writing sample, and the candidate fitness assessment.

Keep these percentages in mind as you map out your individual strategies on what classes to take, extracurriculars to participate in, and how well you will need to perform.

Have you spent any time finding out what life is like at the Academy?

If not – do so. Attending the AFA is not like being a student at “State U.” The simple fact the Academy is a military training institution 24 hours a day, seven days a week, should tell you certain sacrifices (like losing personal freedoms for a some time) will need to be made if you want to attend. The best way to find out what to expect is to ask former and current students. Ask your ALO is he or she went to the Academy and if so, what were their experiences? If your ALO has been involved in the admissions program for any length of time they should have at least one candidate in the Academy or recently graduated.  Ask them for a name (or two) that you could contact. They are the very best source for the type of information you need.

Remember this rule: you can’t find out too much information about the Academy. 

For those of you who have already applied and received notification that you are qualified, expect an interview in early September

The “ALO” interview can be unnerving or relatively easy (if you are a good communicator). If you do well, you help yourself. Conversely, a poor showing can hurt (but not eliminate) your chances. In semi-technical terms, the ALO interview is a “behavioral” interview. What does that mean? Simply put, it’s designed to predict future behavior based on the evaluation of the past. This is probably a much different kind of interview than many of you have previously had, and it is going to take special skills on your part to perform at the highest levels during the interview. Many types of questions can be asked and we’ll go into some of them in the September newsletter. If you are scheduled for an interview before you receive the next newsletter and have questions about how to prepare, you can write Mike at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Class of 2012 arrives

The Class of 2012 arrived at the Academy on June 26^th to begin Cadet Basic Training.  The 1,369 member class boasted the largest percentage of women entering in Academy history at 21.48 percent. 287 minority students, or nearly 21% are also included in this class.  Nearly 9,000 applicants applied for admission.

Other points of interest for the Class of 2012 include:
-- 47 prior-enlisted members. 
-- 17% were either high school class presidents or vice-presidents. 
-- 62% were in an academic honor society. 
-- 95% were athletic letter award winners. 
-- 30% were in band or orchestra. 
-- 28% were Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. 
-- 9% were in Civil Air Patrol. 
-- 13% were in junior ROTC.

The high school grade point average for the Class of 2012 was 3.85, with an average SAT score of 1,290.

Thoughts from graduates

Last year we included this segment in the newsletter and comments were very positive. All the words in the world about the Air Force Academy are meaningless unless you, as a candidate, are able to relate. The information in these monthly newsletters and Afterburner are no different. While we have attempted to present the very latest data about the Academy and what to expect, there is still one remaining: a perspective from graduates, old and new, that might help you strengthen your commitment to going (or dissuade you from applying) and answer any lingering questions you might harbor. While you may find some of the responses are very positive and other that are the opposite, they are the heart-felt answers from a number of graduates. Just as in life, there are good and bad experiences, at the Academy you will experience both. 

Question: what was/were your reasons for wanting to attend the Academy?

“I wanted to be an Air Force officer, and I wanted to be commissioned as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.”

“The educational opportunities and facilities really drew me to the Academy. I knew there were few schools in the country that were comparable.”

“My older brother went to the Academy and always talked about the experiences and friendships he made. I wanted those same experiences as well and knew I was not going to get that anywhere else. In retrospect, I cannot think of a better place to have gone to college.”

“My goal was to be a pilot, and I knew that graduates from the Academy would, if qualified, receive special consideration.”

“I wanted a view of the mountains…just kidding. It was the education, opportunities, and being a part of a great institution that brought me to the Academy.”

“I have always had a sense of duty, and I believed then, as I do today, that the Academy was the place that helped me focus my energies and skills towards that end.”

“It certainly was not for the college life! The main reason I wanted to attend was to help me build the necessary foundations in terms of technical expertise, character development, and leadership I would need not only on active duty but throughout my life.”  

“I wanted a place that would challenge me…and I got that. At times I thought it was too much of a challenge, but all-in-all I am glad I went.”

“I wanted the experience of a lifetime and that is exactly what I received. There were so many reasons I wanted to attend to include the education, the facilities, the opportunities to lead others and push myself, and many other personal reasons.”

Academy Horizons LLC provides experience, proven strategies, and an intimate knowledge of the admissions process to applicants and candidates seeking appointments to the Academy. We can assist you in your quest. We can equip you with practical information and tips, and we can help you achieve your dreams. Afterburner: Your Guide to the Air Force Academy Admissions Process is a concise action plan that explains what the Academy expects (and how to exceed those expectations) and helps you establish a blueprint for success.