| Getting into the United States Air Force Academy | | | | that they're not just a bookworm. Perform in |
| is the dream of nearly 60,000 applicants | | | | extra-curricular activities, particularly sports, to |
| throughout the United States. Applicants are | | | | show that you're athletically up to snuff for the |
| selected on several grueling categories, measuring | | | | Academy. Sports that are "good indicators" are |
| their academic performance, athletic capabilities, | | | | basketball, football, track and field, trap shooting |
| leadership, community involvement and belief | | | | and fencing. All of these sports build good |
| systems. Falling short on any one of these | | | | cardiovascular endurance, and emphasize upper |
| categories could put your application in jeopardy! | | | | body strength. |
| Of those 60,000 applicants, approximately 1,300 | | | | The Air Force, like all of the services, puts a |
| are selected to enter the incoming Cadet Class | | | | strong emphasis on leadership. So, it's not enough |
| each year. That's an acceptance rate of one in | | | | to participate in extracurricular activities, you also |
| fifty, about 2%. What sets the successful | | | | have to have strong community involvement. Do |
| candidate apart is a number of factors. | | | | things that show your ability to lead, your ability |
| First, the successful candidate has to have strong | | | | to organize and your ability to get others to sign |
| academics. You don't need a straight A average, | | | | on to your plans and make them happen. |
| but you can't have failed any classes. The Air | | | | While the Air Force is officially agnostic, candidates |
| Force Academy will also look at what kinds of | | | | who are involved in their local church services |
| classes you took - a lower GPA taking harder | | | | tend to get preferential admission. It doesn't |
| classes, particularly classes dealing with solid | | | | matter what religion you believe in, it does matter |
| academic subjects, like calculus and physics and | | | | that you believe in something is the official Air |
| Advanced Placement classes, will be weighted | | | | Force position. |
| more strongly than ones where you took the | | | | Hopefully, these bits of advice will help you |
| easiest classes possible. | | | | become an Air Force Cadet! |
| Second, the successful candidate has to show | | | | |