How to Academically Prepare for the U.S. Air Force Academy
The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) is one of the most prestigious military institutions in the world. It’s known for producing top-notch leaders who eventually serve as officers in the Air and Space Forces.
However, getting into the Academy isn’t exactly easy. It’s a highly competitive selection process, and academic performance plays a key role in landing a spot as a cadet. To underscore just how important scholastics are, note that 60% of your application is evaluated solely on academics, with two-thirds of that coming from your standardized test scores. This means that, above all else, you should prioritize your application efforts toward academic excellence whenever possible.
What Classes Should You Take?
The Air Force Academy has specific academic requirements that make for a competitive application. It’s recommended that high school students take the following courses to maintain a competitive edge:
- Four years of English, with a strong focus on writing and literature.
- Four years of math, including geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus.
- Four years of science, including biology, chemistry, and physics (lab-based).
- Three years of social studies, including U.S. history.
- Two years of a modern foreign language.
- One year of computer science that focuses on coding, programming, or web development.
These recommendations aren’t strict requirements per se, but they are strongly encouraged. Most high schools offer a standard curriculum that aligns with these guidelines, though the most important decision you’ll make is how challenging you want your course load to be. This is particularly important during your junior and senior years.
Course Difficulty: AP vs. Regular Classes
Every high schooler eventually must choose what level of a certain class they want to take. For many, they’ll be faced with deciding whether to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses, Honors, or regular classes. The USAFA places a high value on advanced coursework, so taking AP or Honors is a good idea to stand out from the crowd.
In almost all cases, it looks better to take a more challenging iteration of a class and get a slightly lower grade than it does to take a standard one and score a few more points. But it’s still important to strike a balance between challenging yourself and maintaining a strong GPA. If you’re going to take AP classes, ensure you’re prepared for the workload and rigorous curriculum before enrolling.
Understanding GPA and Class Rank
Your goal should be to take as many higher-level courses as you can handle while maintaining quality academic performance. Performing well in AP or Honors classes will grow your GPA and thrust you higher up the class rank totem pole.
How the Academy evaluates your GPA
Your GPA is among the most significant factors in determining how you’ll fare in the USAFA admissions process. Most high schools use weighted GPAs for AP and Honors classes, which means crushing it in these courses can raise your GPA above the traditional 4.0 scale. The Academy, however, calculates your GPA based on an unweighted 4.0 scale for consistency, allowing them to compare students from different schools fairly.
For example, if you earn an A in an AP class, it will be weighted higher at your high school, but the Academy will look at that grade as an unweighted A. This means your GPA will be calculated without any bonus points for advanced coursework, which may make it look slightly lower than the GPA you see on your transcripts.
Even so, taking AP or Honors courses can still significantly improve your application, since these classes show you can handle greater academic demand. They will also improve your class rank.
Understanding class rank and its significance
Your class rank is another significant factor in how the USAFA evaluates your academic competitiveness. Class rank is a fancy way of saying how you performed relative to your peers during your high school career.
Sadly, class rank isn’t something every school calculates for its student body. Some schools straight up refrain from ranking students, while others use unconventional grading scales that prevent ordering.
But don’t worry if your school doesn’t rank. The Academy will consider this and focus on other controllable factors, like GPA, leadership skills, and community service.
If your school does rank and your spot in the lineup isn’t exactly top tier, it’s not the end of the road. The Academy understands how class ranking can vary by institution. What’s more important is how you perform in relation to the difficulty of your classes and the overall rigor of your coursework.
Standardized testing’s role in admissions
In addition to rank and GPA, standardized test scores carry significant weight in how the Academy views your candidacy. While many universities are slowly moving away from standardized tests, it’s still important to study for and take them seriously if you want to earn your spot as a cadet.
Deciding between the SAT and ACT
Both the SAT and ACT are renowned, reliable tests for assessing a student’s academic prowess. They’re also a crucial tool when it comes to preparing for life at the USAFA. The Academy weighs both tests equally, so there’s no inherent advantage to choosing one over the other.
Still, you should understand what each test entails, compare that to your scholastic strengths, and choose accordingly. For example, someone with writing chops and an eye for text analysis might score higher on the SAT. Meanwhile, a math whiz and someone with a penchant for science would probably find the ACT’s questions more comfortable.
The Academy’s “superscoring” policy (and how it helps!)
Another reason why standardized testing is so crucial for your application is that the Academy superscores both the SAT and ACT. This just means that they take the highest scores from each test’s sections, regardless of your number of attempts, and combine them in a single aggregate score. Put another way, if you score higher on the SAT’s reading comprehension questions than the ACT’s, they’ll use the former number when considering your aptitude.
Preparing for the SAT and ACT
There are several ways you can increase your odds of scoring high on whichever standardized test you take. For starters, pre-tests like the Pre-SAT or Pre-ACT are invaluable resources that can help you simulate what actual testing will feel like.
In addition, everyone applying to the Academy should practice. The USAFA places greater emphasis on the quantitative portions of both the SAT and ACT, so make sure you brush up on your algebra and calculus before sitting for either exam.
Minimum Score Requirements
The Academy has minimum score requirements for both the SAT and ACT:
- SAT: Typically, a score of 620 or higher in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 580 or higher in Math is needed to be competitive.
- ACT: The minimum required scores are 24 for English and Reading and 25 for Math and Science.
Conclusion
Academic excellence is the single greatest differentiator you can have on your side when applying to the USAFA. Your performance in school, the courses you choose to take, and the test scores you receive will also contribute toward your dream of becoming a cadet. Keep your goals in mind, stay disciplined, and put in maximum effort. If you do that, you'll be well on your way to four years at the Academy.
If you want to take the next step and maximize your chance of getting accepted into the Air Force Academy, you can enroll in our full Academy Blueprint online course, here.
