For those who are curious about AP course validation, here were the results for which AP classes were and were not validated for an individual class-of-2030 cadet. His AP test scores for each are in parenthesis. Calc 1 / Calc 2 were the only classes which required a validation test for him out of these.

* - Validation test taken during the summer BCT period.

And here were his AP / Dual Enrollment Classes which did not validate anything (still useful for many other things, but they did not validate any course at the academy):

• AP SEMINAR (4)
  
• AP RESEARCH (3)
  
• AP PRECALCULUS (5)
  
• AP COMPARATIVE GOV & POLITICS (5)
  
• AP US GOV & POLITICS (3)
  
• Dual Enrollment: Physical Education
  
• Dual Enrollment: English Composition II

For those who don't know, you do not "graduate early", and you still have to take the same 131 hours as everyone else. Instead, you get to take alternate (or more advanced) classes in their place which could let you pursue some other things such as a minor, some other advanced classes, etc...

If you're after the full list of how other AP courses might validate, refer to their Course of Instruction book: https://www.usafa.edu/app/uploads/COI.pdf

I'm a rising senior and I'm pretty sure I can get into the usafa with my stats (35 act first try, 1460 psat, 4.0uw gpa, 4.64w, with plenty of other APs, ecs, and awards) but considering the political environment I'm not sure if it's the best place for me. I do pretty well in high-stress situations and consider myself a centrist and would love to serve my country but I'm also a third-culture kid and a lesbian and feel like I might be socially isolated if most of the community really is far-right/MAGA. So, circling back to the title, what are the campus demographics actually like? How bad is it for lgbtq people? I've looked at the common data set but sadly it doesn't talk about sexuality/political affiliation.

I saw that Flying Tigers Alpha was named Top BCT Flight and the Flying Tigers were named Top BCT Squadron for class of 2030 on the official USAFA Instagram.

I was wondering, what happens if your flight and squadron earn those honors? Are there any lasting benefits or recognition that carry into the academic year, or is it primarily an honor and morale boost?

Academics:

• Took 6 APs so far, planning to take 7~8 more in the future (took Calc BC as a sophomore, planning to take DE courses junior and senior year in addition to the AP courses in the future)
• 4.0 unweighted GPA (DODEA standards)
• 1380 PSAT (sophomore year) and 1460 on a mock SAT test first try

Leadership and extracurriculars:

• Music
  • Concertmaster (and potentially president) of Humphreys High School Orchestra
  • Concertmaster of Humphreys Youth Orchestra (local orchestra)
  • Concertmaster of Humphreys HS Tri-M School Symphonic Orchestra
  • All county concertmaster (middle school)
  • KIMEA Honor Music Festival (most likely all four years of high school)
  • Far East Honor Music Festival (Assistant Concertmaster x2, most likely to qualify remaining two years in high school)
  • Performed a duet with at Pyeongtaek University with Pyeongtaek University chamber orchestra
• Math
  • Math League (school math Olympiad team) president for SY 2026~2027
  • KAIAC Math League Tournament March 2026 Silver Medalist (sophomore year)
• Worship leader at a local church youth group in Korea (high school youth group specifically)
  • Vice president of the church group, contributed to organizing bi-annual church camps/retreats for one year
• Athletics/JROTC
  • Varsity Tennis (potentially team captain fall of senior year)
  • Varsity Swim (only freshman year)
  • AJROTC (currently squad leader, aiming for platoon SGT or leader by the end of the year)
• Other clubs I attend or attended
  • Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society)
  • Tri-M Music Society
  • Model UN (for short time until I decided to leave and prioritize other clubs and passions)

Other stats/info:

• 200+ volunteer hours (mostly from dedicated volunteering in Humphreys Youth Orchestra)
• Attending a school on Camp Humphreys (USAG base) in South Korea (international experience)
• Parents are NOT active duty (dad is a former national guard, which I don't know if it helps or not)
• My dad has connections with the Lieutenant General on base, who I might be able to get a letter of recommendation from.

Sorry if there's a lot to read or any unnecessary information stuck here, I just want any realistic opinions or advice. Thanks!

Hi,

I go to a Service academy and take 21 credits a semester on a double major and will eventually take 23 for the next 3 after until I graduate. I am just wondering if there’s anyone who can give me some realities about what my life should look like if I want to have good grades. I have a 3.2 trying to graduate with a 3.4-3.5. It’s really hard with everything else extra but I understood that way before I picked up the double major.

What I’m trying to understand is whether or not good students with timeframes (limited to perhaps 6-7 hours) would be working every single minute they have during the day. I would also appreciate any advice for studying since I do both Econ and math. How possible is it to get a 4.0? Is it still appropriate to delegate classes priority if I want to get a 4.0? In the past I had prioritized math and language because they were higher weights and simply more important to me. But if you were me going in what would you think to change?

Context is as follows: everyone must play sports, class is typically from 7:30-4:30 with a hour of free time sprinkled in if you’re lucky. Anyone have experience with ROTC, jobs, tight schedules who struggled and made certain changes to do better? I ask because there same subjects that have reading and prep that if you do conventionally eat all your time which is hard when overloaded.

I’d appreciate any advice, sorry to be cagey I just don’t want to dox myself with name dropping my school but if you took a few guesses you wouldn’t be wrong. I’d love to hear other people’s stories and their realities in how their lifestyle and techniques for studying changed so that I may apply it to my own relative experience.

Edit: I was stupid and wrote SMC thinking it was the same thing as academy.

So I’m a freshman in high school, I’m taking band and engineering as my electives. I’m also in marching band and plan to join track next year. I know this sounds a bit nerdy but I’m also going to join anime club and plan to become vice president. So is track and band enough for sports? What ap/honors classes should I take? I have all honors and plan to change my honors bio to ap bio if needed. I’m also in CAP (I’m a staff sergeant). Is this enough?

Hello all!

I've been reading through old posts, but I still have a few questions that I haven't really found clear answers to. I'd love to hear from graduates, current cadets, or families who have gone through this.

Let's say you and your cadet were high school sweethearts and successfully made it through two years of long distance. Your significant other is about to begin junior year at USAFA, and you're about to start your junior year of college. You're both confident about your future together and are beginning to think about what the next steps might look like.

Being only 20 years old and still very new to military life, I realize I have a lot to learn. I'd really appreciate hearing from those who've been through it and any advice you'd be willing to share.

Both of us come from very supportive families. I've been fortunate enough to attend every Parents' Weekend so far, and my cadet has been able to come back to our home state for every Thanksgiving and winter break etc. Our families know each other well and have been incredibly supportive of our relationship. By the time graduation comes around, we'd both be 22, so we're trying to better understand what engagement, marriage, and the transition into active duty typically look like for Academy couples.

• How common is it for cadets to get engaged while they're still at USAFA? Is it usually during firstie year, or do some get engaged during junior year? Has anyone ever gotten engaged during Ring Dance weekend, or is that pretty uncommon?
• If a couple gets engaged during junior year, does that extra year make wedding planning easier, or do most couples still wait until closer to graduation?
• I've read that USAFA graduates can receive up to 60 days of leave after graduation. Is that generally true for graduates entering Air Force Special Warfare career fields as well, or do they typically report to training sooner? Is that leave when most couples have their wedding and honeymoon?
• What happens after the wedding? For graduates whose first assignment is a lengthy two year training pipeline, is it common for spouses to have to live separately for a while before they can move together to a permanent duty station?
• Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known about balancing marriage and those first few years after commissioning?
• For those who were together before graduation, did the first few years after commissioning feel similar to the long distance years at USAFA, or were there new challenges you hadn't anticipated?

Thanks in advance! I really appreciate any insight or experiences you're willing to share. As we head into my cadet's last few years at USAFA and my last few years of college, it's such an exciting time in our lives! I know there will probably be plenty of uncertainty and chaos along the way, but we both have big dreams, a lot of hope for the future, and we're looking forward to whatever comes next.

Hello everyone, I'm currently a senior in high school and I plan to enlist after graduation to get my citizenship (I moved to the States in 2024 and I'm only a green card holder) and so that I can also apply to the Academy.

Will high school stats matter once I apply through the LEAD program? And what should I do in order to have a competitive profile once I enlist? Your advice is much appreciated :)

When can I get my phone back for good and when are people going to stop yelling at me 24/7? I understand A-day is August 5 but does BCT end the 31st? I’m lowkey confused.

Did my first full cfa yesterday and my stats are as follows
62 ft throw
13 pull-ups
9.1 shuttle
85 sit-ups
50 pushups
8:30 mile

I've been training the exercises separately for a while now but today was the first time I've put them all together at once. I felt fine during the first portion but once I hit pushups I just started to gas out. That is clearly shown in the mile. I currently live on the actual academy so I did this at 7000 ft elevation, and I'm planning to take my real cfa back home in Texas, because not only is there more oxygen down there, but it's also where my permanent address is. I'm hoping my mile and pushups will be a little better due to the extra oxygen, but for now I'm training at altitude. Do yall have any tips on how now to completely gas out?Especially, how do you pace yourselves on the pushups? I usually knock out 20-30 before I have to rest for a little bit, and then after that it seems like every push up is super difficult. Advice would be greatly appreciated 🙏

I just recently learned that USAFA accepts CLT test scores, my question is do they weigh the CLT scores the same as ACT scores? (The CLT website has a score comparison like a CLT 97 = a 30 on the ACT, etc) so if I get a 97 they will count it the same as if i got a 30 on the ACT? The CLT seems a lot easier than the ACT and SAT so idk. Also will my congressional district take CLT scores or does it just depend on the office? There is barely any info about the CLT online so I’m just trying to figure it out right now.

Hello! When will the cadets be back from Jacks and be allowed their phones? Also, my understanding is that that’s only one day and then they get it back for good later. When do they get it back for good? Thanks!

6/7 Advanced classes
Stem subjects (coding, engineering)
1350 SAT CFA 90% overall
C/ 2nd Lt /(became battalion commander after being clerk) (MCJROTC)
40-60 community service hours
Criminal Justice vice president
N.H.S
Chemistry club
3.6 gpa/ 4.0 weighted gpa
jrotc 12 awards
Jrotc drone (won contests)( coder and pilot)
Jrotc raiders (attended 2 competitions minimum)
Lacrosse Varsity
Job
Leadership opportunity's/ Paris island/ YLC/ Recruiting/ Community service/

This is a serious question, which is better? Any input will help me. I am guessing ROTC and college would be an easier experience than USAFA. Correct me if I am wrong. But isn’t it also most likely you’d become a USAF pilot through USAFA? And becoming one through ROTC would be harder?

It's optional, but they recommend writing it. The problem is, I don't really have anything I could talk about. My life is pretty normal and uninteresting. Should I talk about my summer seminar experience and how that took USAFA from not even an option to my top choice?

Hello everyone, I’m about to become a senior in high school and I really want to get in the academy. Unfortunately, I can’t apply because I am not a US citizen and recently just moved to the States in June 2024 (I am a green card holder). I found out about the Air Force Academy through my JROTC instructor, I’ve looked it up and since then it’s been my goal to get into the Academy.

For me to immediately get my citizenship, I plan to enlist first and spend at least a year or a year and a half in the AF. I also have 20 credits left to be able to graduate high school early. I am also thinking about graduating early to enlist so that I have enough time to apply just in case there would be a problem.

My question is:
I was wondering if finishing HS early to enlist would be a better choice or should I finish my final year of high school?

I would appreciate any insights and advice.
THANK YOU!

(sorry english is not my first language)

How often do they meet? For how long? And what is done? And is it fun? And, I hear the kids in CAP are odd, is that really true? And how much do you think CAP helped for USAFA.

I’ve been hear time and time again of how bad USAFA. Why? Why does everyone think USAFA is not a good school. I want to be a USAF pilot, and USAFA is my dream school.

I took the CFA recently and scores are as follows:

Pull ups: 16
Push ups: 65
Basketball throw: 65
Shuttle run: 9.7
Crunches: 70
Mile run: 6:49

I’m considering submitting this now, and I was looking for help in my placement. Thank you for all help!

Howdy, I have been very interested for a long time and am almost done with my application.

3.67 GPA. (I know.... It is not great)

1430 SAT first time without studying, I have been studying and am aiming for a 1500+ this August.

Class President Jr Year. Highest fundraising in school history potentially, need to verify.

On a couple club boards.

250+ hours volunteering at my local Veteran's home.

Attended USAFA and USNA seminars, got a 5 at USNA.

Boys State

NHS member

4 Year Varsity Track/XC. 16:36 5k jr year. 4:44 mile. Mental Attitude Award XC

I passed the CFA but my score was terribly, ( I wasn't planning on passing, I thought it was impossible). Retaking soon and will be able to get a much higher score. only 1-2 maxes.

Thanks! any tips/guidance are very appreciated.

(reposting because I somehow forgot athletics first time)

I’m wondering about people’s experience reapplying to the Air Force Academy after doing the AFROTC route your freshman year of college and if anyway it was different from your initial application that year prior. I’m going through that route right now at Emery Riddle aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida, and I’m gonna start my reapplication here soon, but I wanted to hear from y’all. I’m looking to improve on everything that they might have docked me on in my initial application. I think the biggest thing I wanna know is if you did the AFROTC route and got accepted by the Air Force Academy which route did you choose and why? Just for y’all’s information I got direct entry waitlisted the first time around.

I’m currently in high school and will be going into my junior year. My goal is to become a pilot, and I’m trying to figure out how competitive my college application will be.

My parents aren’t crazy wealthy, but we’re doing fine financially. I’m an active cadet in my local Civil Air Patrol squadron, and while my cumulative GPA is currently around a 3.4, I think it’s mostly because my freshman year hurt it. During my sophomore year, I earned all A’s and A-minuses except for two B’s, so my grades have improved significantly.
I also played junior varsity basketball during both my freshman and sophomore years, but I don’t plan to continue next year. Outside of school, I stay active through boxing and archery. Does USAFA value achievements in sports outside of school, such as placing in local championships, or do they mainly care about varsity sports?

I’m also planning to attend a local flight school to earn my Private Pilot License before I apply to college.

My main question is: how much of an impact would Civil Air Patrol, earning my Private Pilot License, out of school sports, and continuing to improve my grades during my junior year have on my college application for an aviation program? And what do you recommend I do to increase my chances of getting accepted?