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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University
Reviewed: 11/24/23
Are you interested in joining the U.S. Air Force? Keep reading as we outline how to get into the Air Force Academy.
Joining the Air Force Academy can open many doors for a lucrative career. If you are interested in joining the Academy, working with outstanding leaders, and paving the way to your future dreams, keep reading! We’ll discuss how to get into the Air Force Academy, along with tips and tricks to make your application stand out.
To join the Air Force Academy, students should strive for SAT scores higher than 1480 and ACT scores higher than 33. You should aim for a GPA of around 3.9. Top applicants also excel in physical assessments, achieving impressive scores such as 6.29-minute (male) and 7.30-minute (female) one-mile run times!
There are both legal and additional requirements to be considered for acceptance into the Academy. The Air Force Academy requirements are listed below.
The legal requirements to joining the Academy are:
You will also need to meet the academic requirements to get accepted into the Academy, which are:
If you do not meet all these academic requirements, you can still be considered for the Air Force Academy. However, your acceptance into the Academy is unlikely.
While attending the Air Force Academy, you will take part in basic cadet training. This training tests your strength, agility, and endurance.
Therefore, you will need to successfully pass the Candidate Fitness Assessment test to qualify for admission into the Academy. The CFA tests your ability in the following areas:
The CFA test is pass or fail, so do your best in each category. It is highly recommended that you train and do multiple practice runs before you take the test.
How hard is it to get into the Air Force Academy? Well, it is very competitive to get into the Academy. The Air Force Academy acceptance rate is just 11%. The Academy’s recent class profile shows that out of the 8,353 applicants, only 1,056 students enrolled.
Here is a breakdown of the official U.S. Air Force Academy requirements and application timeline.
Source: Air Force Academy
To secure your chances of being considered for the Academy, be sure to familiarize yourself with all the deadlines. Due to the competitive nature and high demand of the Academy, late applications will not be accepted.
Those who demonstrate strong academic capabilities get into the Academy. To put it simply: get really, really good grades. Acceptance is very competitive, and the majority of students who get into the Academy have an SAT score from 1320–1470 or an ACT score of 28–33.
The Academy also takes high school ranking into heavy consideration. Most students who are accepted into the program rank in the top of their high school class.
To be considered, you also have to meet the other requirements.
As part of your application, you will be asked to write a short essay responding to certain prompts. The essay portion of the application is a great way for the admissions team to get to know you as a person, including your background, personal beliefs, and perspectives.
See below for an example of a successful essay written for the Air Force Academy application to give you an idea of expectations and structure.
Prompt: Describe a setback or ethical dilemma that you have faced. How did you resolve it? How did the outcome affect you? Most importantly, what did you learn about yourself, and how would you handle a similar situation in the future? (400 to 500 words, 3000 characters max)
“It is difficult to have to confront a problem with an adult. I had an incident in my high school where I had to step forward and help my peers in the class while continuing to show deference to our teacher. Through this experience, I learned how to show respect to everyone involved and come to a successful resolution.
During my junior year of high school, all the assignments in my math class were being graded after our unit exams. This negatively impacted me and my peers throughout the first half of the year. I believed that the late grading of our assignments was unfair for two reasons: students were unable to determine their errors and ask for help before the test and also were not given the opportunity to revise their work for a higher grade before the test.
I was faced with the issue of having to address this issue with our teacher. My classmates turned to me because they knew that the teacher respected my opinion and that I was the best person to reach out to her and see if something could be done. I first asked my parents and my advisor at school for their opinion. They both told me that a well-written email is the most effective and best way to address the situation. I wrote a draft of the email and brought it to them, and they told me how I could improve it. I then made the revisions and sent it to the teacher. Shortly after I received a response from her saying she never realized the negative effects of grading so late and that she would grade earlier in the future. She thanked me for my candidness and honesty.
As a result of this challenge, I learned a lot about solving problems. I learned how to respectfully address problems with my elders and how to take initiative when something is negatively affecting my peers. Overall, it is better to confront issues and take a leadership role in effecting change than to sit on the sidelines and do nothing.”
This essay was successful because it pulled from the candidate’s specific experiences. The applicant uses concrete examples from their life to describe how they responded and worked through the circumstances.
While writing your essay, avoid being vague or inconclusive. You’ll want to show off your strong decision-making and problem-solving skills. The candidate also demonstrates their integrity and ability to confront difficult situations. Both of these qualities are highly valued in the Academy.
While an education at the Academy is valued at $416,000, students who commit to serve in the Air Force receive their education at no cost.
Even better, Academy students are also given room, board, and benefits at no cost to them or their families.
The Air Force Academy is a competitive program, but there are strategies you can use to increase your chances of getting in!
Here is a list of some of the things you can do to make your application stand out.
You need to show off your brain power to be considered for acceptance into the Academy. The majority of applicants accepted into the Academy scored in the top 10% of their high school class. In fact, the official website for the U.S. Air Force Academy says, “proving you belong begins in the classroom.”
Specifically, do well in your English, math, and languages classes. These are classes that are important to the Academy, and are prerequisites to getting into the program. Achieving high grades in these classes will surely impress the admissions officers. If you score low in these areas, the Academy may not even consider your application.
Taking a second language class is a great way to stand out from other applicants. The Academy values those who can speak more than one language.
The Air Force is looking for youth who are well-rounded, reliable, and dedicated individuals. The best way to demonstrate these qualities is by participating in extracurricular activities and sports. Consider participating in extracurricular activities that demonstrate commitment and leadership skills, such as joining the debate teams or serving on your school’s student government.
Your participation in sports is super important in this case, as you will have to pass fitness tests to get accepted into the Academy. Athletics will keep you in shape and also show the admissions committee that you are in good physical health. This is also a great activity to get involved in to demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills on your application.
You will need to send your SAT or ACT scores to the Academy as part of your application. Neither of these tests are easy, so take your preparation seriously. The Academy accepts both SAT and ACT scores, so it’s up to you to decide which test you want to take.
The Academy will not accept applicants if they score low on either test. To ensure a good score, build an effective study plan. The key to doing well is being prepared.
Studying for the SAT or ACT is a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be boring! Follow a plan that keeps you focused and engaged to get the most out of your time.
If you have connections that can write you an out-of-this-world letter of recommendation, use them. Don’t be afraid to ask for a personalized letter from alumni or others who would write a stellar recommendation.
While not a requirement on the application, getting your private pilot license can definitely help your chances of getting accepted.
It won’t guarantee your acceptance but having flight experience is a great asset going into the Academy!
If you still have questions about how to get into the Air Force Academy, we’ve got you covered! We answer some of your frequently asked questions below.
The Air Force Academy is very competitive and has an acceptance rate of just 11%.
To get accepted, you will need to be a strong candidate. If you are seriously interested in attending the Academy, begin building your resume and academic record as soon as possible. The earlier you start preparing and working towards your goal, the more well-rounded and impressive your application will be.
The average GPA of students who are accepted is 3.78. You’ll want to achieve at least this GPA score, or better yet, even higher. As the Air Force is so competitive and has a low acceptance rate, any GPA lower than this hurts your chances of acceptance.
There is no cost to attend, but you will need to commit to a certain number of years of service, usually five years.
Before you even begin the application process, it is in your best interest to find out if you are disqualified from joining the Academy. Here is the list of potential factors that can disqualify you:
Serving in the Academy is physically and mentally demanding, and has high expectations of its students. These requirements may seem strict, but they are in place to ensure the reputation and professionalism of the Academy.
Familiarize yourself with your medical history, any potential conditions you have, and any physical or mental ailments that could affect your performance in the Air Force. If you already know you will not qualify for acceptance, there is no point in putting in all the work and time to complete an application.
If you are genuinely interested in serving in the Air Force, then going to the Academy is absolutely worth it. While it is not easy to get in, and there are a lot of high expectations of those who join the Academy, the Air Force is a great place for personal growth and opportunities.
The Air Force is one of the safer branches of service you can join; it is relatively less physically dangerous. The Air Force is also regarded as a highly prestigious branch of the military, so there are a lot of perks and good reputation that comes along with joining the Academy.
Even better, you become eligible for full retirement benefits after twenty years of service.
The Air Force is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get a prestigious education with renowned leaders. In addition to receiving a top-of-the-line education (at no cost to you!), there are many perks and benefits for those who serve in and graduate from the Academy. Benefits include a great career path, full retirement benefits, and a respected reputation.
Getting accepted into the Academy is no easy task. You will need to work hard to build your application and academic resume to impress the admissions team.
Best of luck on your future endeavors!
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