Do you see yourself serving in the US Air Force in the long run? Do you have what it takes to enter the US Air Force Academy? Knowing the admission requirements can help you prepare your application. Securing a place at the institution is incredibly tough. Among the most important aspects of the admission requirements include:
Established in 1954, the United States Air Force Academy is a public military service academy located in the outskirts of Colorado Springs at about 60 miles from Denver, CO. With a campus size of 18,500 acres, the institution had a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,307 in fall 2020.
At the US Air Force Academy, students are referred to as cadets. They follow a tough schedule with only sparing free time. Yet, there are many activities and clubs they can engage in. When you enter the academy, you’ll attend a five-week training program that will prepare you for military life.
Not only will you need to pass a fitness test each semester, but each student is also required to take part in either intramural or intercollegiate athletics. The Academy’s athletic teams are known as the Fighting Falcons contest in NCAA’s Division I, with their biggest rivals being their fellow service academies, Navy and Army.
When it comes to academics, all cadets must complete a core curriculum, and may opt for a specialized field of study from over 30 majors. Throughout their four years at the US Air Force Academy, students undergo military training, including airmanship- and aviation-related instruction and courses.
However, securing a place at the institution is incredibly difficult as it only accepts 11.4% of the total applicants. Let’s take a detailed look at its admission requirements:
When seeking admission, your foremost concern should be what GPA you need to get accepted at the US Air Force Academy. Well, the average GPA for admitted students was 3.88. In other words, you need exceptionally good grades to get it.
Typically A- students are able to make it and get enrolled. However, meeting or even exceeding the GPA average doesn’t guarantee admission because various other aspects such as your standardized test scores, physical and medical fitness, etc. are considered in reaching admission decisions.
To submit an application to the US Air Force Academy, you must either take the SAT or ACT. The average SAT score for admitted students was 1320, with the lower and upper percentile scores being 1230 and 1410, respectively. For maximum chances of admission, seek SAT tutoring and try to hit or exceed 1410, which will position you above average among SAT test takers.
Based on past admissions data, the US Air Force regularly accepts applications submitted with an ACT of 28 or higher. You’ll need to be among the top 12% of the ACT test takers in the US. The average ACT score for admitted students was 30, while a 33 or above will significantly boost your chances of admission. ACT tutoring can help you accomplish that score.
As an air force institution, the US Air Force Academy has more admission requirements than any other institution out there. They include:
There’s no application fee for submitting your application. You’ll first apply as a “pre-candidate” or “Applicant” and report your class rank and grade point average. If you qualify, you’ll then apply as a “candidate”. To be considered for admission, you must apply by December 31.
To sum it up, the US Air Force Academy is one of the toughest institutions to get into. Since expectations from students are high, the standards for securing admission are also high. To be eligible for an appointment, you must meet the high physical, medical, academic, and character standards.
Since standardized test scores strongly impact admission decisions, take your time preparing for your SAT or ACT. To stand out from the rest of the test takers, seek high-quality tutoring from Club Z! Tutoring Services.
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