Few questions about the USAFA

[llowwelll]

It's been quite a while since I got into the Academy. However, I know that involvement with sports is considered a big deal in gaining admission. It sounds like you definitely need to beef that portion of your background up. Also, I think it's very important to make yourself known with your congressman and/or his staffmember that handles Academy nominations especially when you might not be an absolutely outstanding candidate for nomination. I started calling and visiting my congressman's office when I was a sophomore in high school. By the time it came to nominate folks, my congressman's Academy rep was familiar with who I was and how much I wanted to go which I think made a big difference. Lastly, historically, standardized tests have been a major determinant in getting an appointment. After I first took the SAT with a score of about 1250 I was sent the equivalent of a rejection letter...after I retook it and got about a 1350, I was sent a letter saying that I would be appointed as soon as I got a nomination. The only difference had been my SAT scores, nothing else had changed.
Finally, don't be too upset if you end up not getting in. I was dead set on getting in at the time and it would have been devastating to me if I had not. I really would have had no reason to be devastated. The Academy, as it turns out, is certainly not the end all-be all. You will probably have a lot more fun if you end up at a civilian school and that is worth a lot. To be brutally honest, quite a few folks I have talked to have said if they had it to do over again, they would not. Don't get me wrong, the Academy offers a lot of advantages and experiences you won't have elsewhere, but it carries it's share of disadvantages as well. Like others have said, you can still end up with a commission and a pilot slot through other avenues.