| The Air Force Academy inducts 1,300 cadets | | | | should start making preparations for it during their |
| each year, and the competition to become an Air | | | | junior year of high school. |
| Force Academy cadet is fierce. Cadets are | | | | What stops most candidates who get through the |
| selected for strong academics, athletics, | | | | initial academic screening is weak letters of |
| character, and demonstrated leadership ability. | | | | recommendation. It's worth your time to try and |
| However, it takes more than a 4.0 GPA to get | | | | contact other Academy inductees to see what |
| into the Academy. Cadets must also meet certain | | | | they went through to get into the Academy. If |
| minimum physical requirements, such as an 8 | | | | you're weak on the academics, there are |
| minute timed run on the mile, the ability to cover | | | | programs that you can take that will instill strong |
| 50 miles with a heavy backpack, and several | | | | study habits in you, including rigorous time |
| other stringent requirements. However, this article | | | | management techniques and more. |
| isn't about those requirements. It's about the | | | | Even if you have good academic scores, you'll |
| some of the more challenging ones to meet. | | | | want to improve your study techniques. All of the |
| No Air Force Cadet ever gets into the Academy | | | | service academies demand not just a rigorous |
| without a good letter of referral; these letters of | | | | course in engineering, but that every student |
| referral should come from people prominent in | | | | participate in at least one sporting endeavor, while |
| your community, such as your pastor, your high | | | | also working through leadership and |
| school teachers, employers you've worked for | | | | character-building exercises. Solid study skills are |
| and the leaders of any volunteer organizations | | | | an essential component to not flunking out of the |
| you've belonged to. They should focus on your | | | | Academy. |
| strength of character, your work ethic, and your | | | | However, the swing vote on getting an |
| ability and willingness to go to extreme efforts to | | | | Appointment to the Academy is almost always |
| help others, and to accomplish difficult tasks. | | | | the letters of recommendation and the personal |
| You will also need an appointment letter. Every US | | | | essay by the candidates. Academic grades, and |
| Congressman and US Senator is allowed to make | | | | standardized test scores tell how well a student is |
| five appointments per year, as are the US | | | | at taking tests and following instructions, but it's |
| President and Vice President. Additional nomination | | | | the essays and the letters of recommendation |
| slots are available for the children of career | | | | that show the leadership and character that the |
| military personnel, the children of veterans killed or | | | | Academy is looking for. Candidates with excellent |
| disabled in the line of duty, and the children of | | | | letters of referral and weak academics have a |
| Congressional Medal of Honor winners. The | | | | better chance of getting in than candidates with |
| admission process is difficult and lengthy. Most | | | | strong academics and average referral letters. |
| students considering an Academy appointment | | | | |