Quick Air Force Academy Question!!!!

[jn99_2000]

I am scheduled to have an interview with the admissions officer/counselor from the Air Force Academy Monday!!!

What type of questions should I expect to be asked??

I know that I should answer what I truly feel, but is their any big Do's and Don'ts to remember besides then normal ones in any interview.

Thanks

 

[TonyC]

What type of questions should I expect to be asked??

I can't really answer your question (what should you expect) but these are the types of questions I would ask. I would want to try to determine your true motivation.

Why do you want to go to USAFA?

Where do you want to be 10 years from now? (USAFA plus a commitment will take you at least that long.)

Have you considered ROTC? Air Force Reserves? Air Nat'l Guard? Why? Why not?

Again, do you really want to go to USAFA? Why?


Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discourage you. Just encouraging you to do some serious self-reflection before going down a path that will literally consume a huge part of your youth, and establish the course for your entire life. The primary root of failure at USAFA is the lack of proper motivation to begin with. If you're not in it for the long run, don't take up somebody else's spot.

Good Luck!

 

[talondriver]

I'm sure it would be a rewarding experience going to the USAFA...

but I enjoyed going surfing before my AFROTC class

 

[RShebib]

I like the "have you considered ROTC" and that's a really good question....have you? Why do you want to go to the AFA? I went to a civilian university, went through ROTC, and had a BLAST! The reason I ask this is, if it's for the financial considerations (free college), then I don't blame you one bit. If you're going so that you can get to pilot training, then I'd keep all my options available. I got a pilot slot out of ROTC, and I'm currently flying F-16s.....if you asked 100 guys/girls who went to the academy, I'd say that over half would tell you that if they could do it over again, they wouldn't go there.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great school and you'll leave there with an outstanding education and no tuition bills! But your quality of life will suffer substantially. You can get a pilot slot from ROTC, and enjoy the 4 best years of your life........all else equal, that's the route I'd take

Good luck!

 

[jn99_2000]

Yes, actually am giving great consideration to AFROTC.
Where did you go to school at and what was your major?

In all honesty I would rather go through ROTC but, if given the opportunity to attend the "zoo" then I will go.

 

[Snoopy58]

regarding quality of life at USAFA...

For those who are considering a service academy vs ROTC, may I recommend the book "Absolutely American" for you. It is about West Point, so many of the specifics will be different for USAFA or USNA, but the most salient point is this: the writer worked for Rolling Stone (not exactly a military zealot), and he did research at USMA and many civillian colleges over several years, and concluded that, to his great surprise, the military academy cadets were actually the happiest group of students he found. While they were complainers par excellance, he saw them, compared to their peers elsewhere, as having the most purpose in life, the greatest sense of belonging, the fewest doubts about their future, etc.

Being in ROTC with a certainty of going into the service after graduation would duplicate some of that sense, probably, but NOTHING will duplicate the entire academy experience, but a service academy. For some people, the freedom of "going surfing before ROTC class" is a great thing; for others, perhaps not. For some people, the structure and immersion in the military will be a "drag," and others will thrive in it. It is an individual choice, and I certainly don't propose that a service academy is the right fit for everyone. To those who are making that choice, I recommend "Absolutely American," and I wish you all the best.

 

[RShebib]

I went to Miami University (Oxford, OH) and majored in Business Administration. You need to really evaluate what you want out of your college experience to determine where you want to go....if you want discipline and structure, then the academies are a good option. Just don't think that if you don't go to the zoo that you can't go to pilot training or you'll be considered less for promotions or job opportunities, because you won't......the zoo is a great educational facility, but be honest with yourself before you make a decision like which university you want to attend

 

[TonyC]

Rather?

In all honesty I would rather go through ROTC but, if given the opportunity to attend the "zoo" then I will go.

I guarantee you, if you make it to the zoo, you'll revisit this preference in the form of regret. There WILL be a time when you'll be forced to dig deep into your soul to find the motivation to continue one more day, one more hour.

Regret is an extremely powerful DE-motivator in that hour of despair. It's at THAT moment that one must rely on a deeper motivation, a fundamental reason for being there. If your motivation is money, or prestige, or the acceptance of your peers, or the pressure of your parents, your chances of failure are great. You'll reach the point where it's just not worth it. If the motivator is a strong internal desire to succeed, to meet YOUR goals, you'll do fine.

IF USAFA is your second choice, do yourself and somebody else (the guy whose slot you may take) a favor and don't go. There are other ways to fly.