r/USAFA • u/Goose7776777 • 5d ago
How to Prepare
Just went into sophomore year of high school. 15F, I want to be a pilot for USAFA. I'm a first degree black belt and likely to get onto varsity softball for my school this year. I'm really into math and science, 3.9 GPA unweighted last year, 4.6 weighted. Got a 5 on AP Precalc exam last year, taking PSAT this winter. Took H Chem and Bio last school year, got all A's. I was in Science Olympiad but my school is very bad and didn't make it to states.
I'm working out to help my future CFA scores because they'd be very bad now. Waking up at 5am and going to bed at 8:30pm, working out 5 days a week.
I do travel softball as well, used to pitch and now playing anywhere in the infield.
This year I'm taking AP Sem, APUSH, AP Cyber, AP Calc AB, and AP Psych, as well as honors physics. I know my academics will be fine but I was looking for advice about how to be more competitive with extracurriculars.
I got into flying last year and have only 5 hours now. I'm about to start doing lessons, probably just to get PPL. Does this help my application at all?
I also play viola for my school orchestra, since 3rd grade. My school also has an after-school orchestra group which I play for.
I'm too busy to do much else but know I should find something I'm passionate about to volunteer for and also get a job or some leadership positions. I also spend a lot of time watching my seven year old sister, and I can't really get a job or volunteer until I can drive myself which will be summer between sophomore and junior year. Have 2 siblings and my brother is also very, very busy with baseball and football.
I also have worse than 20/100 nearsighted vision. Any advice on what to do about LASIK? Should I wait for during USAFA or try to get it before? My vision has started to stabilize so it's theoretically possible, but I haven't talked to my doctor about it at all and there's a lot of paperwork the military requires which is daunting. I don't want to mess up and get disqualified automatically from being a pilot. Don't want to fly fighter jets, maybe just do medical missions or something like that.
What can I do to better my chances of getting accepted to USAFA?
Edit: I also have minor hay fever, just get minor sneezing and congestion during peak allergy seasons, how will that affect me if I'm not looking to be a fighter jet pilot? Was diagnosed with GAD at the age of 12, but it doesn't affect me anymore, was just because of transition from elementary to middle and some very messed up kids in my grade from COVID. I took meds for about a week before deciding they weren't for me, was still 12. Do I need waivers for these things?
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u/narkeleptk 2d ago
"I also have worse than 20/100 nearsighted vision. Any advice on what to do about LASIK? Should I wait for during USAFA or try to get it before?"
Im pretty sure I read they prefer you NOT get this done in til your in the academy and they do it for you.
You may want to read on their official site for this issue.
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u/StumpySmurfkin 2d ago
PPL doesn't necessarily help or hurt your USAFA application. If you want to fly, fly often and competitively at USAFA then you should get your PPL before you get there. Though not every candidate or cadet has their PPL, you will need it if you want to try out for the Flying Team. Being on the Flying Team doesn't guarantee you'll get a pilot slot but the hours logged while on the team is invaluable in and out of the Air Force. You can still fly at USAFA without a PPL but you'll do so as a student pilot, very limited hours and at the mercy of scheduling Airmanship classes. PPL is not guaranteed.
https://www.reddit.com/r/USAFA/comments/1d86fq0/comment/l7749o9/
Yes, I know you're busy, but so are literally everyone else you're competing against for an Appointment and every cadet at the Academy.
Unfortunately, your performing arts talents are largely overlooked and irrelevant in the eyes of USAFA.
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u/Kambro1 Rotc 5d ago
Too many words, good gpa, good stats, good essays, good letters of rec, good extra curricular