I have a question. I currently attend a hybrid high school that does not have sports or clubs, and surrounding high schools do not permit outside students to join their teams. I am interested in applying to the USAFA, but I am afraid I will not have the kinds of leadership or athleticism that the other competitors have, due to attending a smaller school with less opportunities. Do alternative leadership roles, such as serving as a volunteer teacher's assistant or organizing school events, hold the same value as positions like a team captain or student government? Additionally, does participation in less common sports, such as falconry or equestrianism, provide a strong chance of selection?
We recommend finding ways to get involved in traditional athletics (club sports). Team sports are best, where there are opportunities to lead. These should have strength and/or cardio development. If student government does not exist in your school, find other ways to lead your peers in areas you are passionate about. Join Sea Cadets or Civil Air Patrol. Find community service projects you can get involved with and eventually take on a leadership role in. Quality over quantity is the key here.
Do the academies give equal credit to scouting groups other than Boy Scouts? Let’s say the candidate achieves an award equivalent to Eagle Scout, but it’s in one of the religious scouting groups?
Question. If a student can take the same class either AP online or onsite at a local state university which looks better? For example, if he can take AP calculus online versus calculus 1 at university, is one viewed better than the other?
It depends! Can you get a letter of recommendation from the college professor, or is the class so large that the students blends into the background? Can you get to know the online instructor well enough for them to evaluate you fairly? The important thing is not AP online versus in-person college classes, the important thing is that the student is pushing themselves and also achieving within the class.
I have a question. I currently attend a hybrid high school that does not have sports or clubs, and surrounding high schools do not permit outside students to join their teams. I am interested in applying to the USAFA, but I am afraid I will not have the kinds of leadership or athleticism that the other competitors have, due to attending a smaller school with less opportunities. Do alternative leadership roles, such as serving as a volunteer teacher's assistant or organizing school events, hold the same value as positions like a team captain or student government? Additionally, does participation in less common sports, such as falconry or equestrianism, provide a strong chance of selection?
We recommend finding ways to get involved in traditional athletics (club sports). Team sports are best, where there are opportunities to lead. These should have strength and/or cardio development. If student government does not exist in your school, find other ways to lead your peers in areas you are passionate about. Join Sea Cadets or Civil Air Patrol. Find community service projects you can get involved with and eventually take on a leadership role in. Quality over quantity is the key here.
Do the academies give equal credit to scouting groups other than Boy Scouts? Let’s say the candidate achieves an award equivalent to Eagle Scout, but it’s in one of the religious scouting groups?
Leadership is leadership - make it clear in the application that it's equivalent to the Eagle Scout award.
Question. If a student can take the same class either AP online or onsite at a local state university which looks better? For example, if he can take AP calculus online versus calculus 1 at university, is one viewed better than the other?
It depends! Can you get a letter of recommendation from the college professor, or is the class so large that the students blends into the background? Can you get to know the online instructor well enough for them to evaluate you fairly?
The important thing is not AP online versus in-person college classes, the important thing is that the student is pushing themselves and also achieving within the class.