Aim

praying eagle · 12-28-2007, 07:55 PM

I know that the Aim application is available on January 1, 2008. I did pretty badly on my PSAT: 58(v) 55(m) 57(cr). I am taking the SAT on 1/26. These results should be much better. Should I wait for these results or just submit the PSAT scores. Also, I took the PSAT twice I did slightly better on one of the sections the first time, Can I use original score and the newer scores? I have good Ec's and GPA, I am not really worried about that part, but I am afraid that the PSAT will keep me from attending. It kept me from getting into West Point SLS. PLEASE HELP!!!!

wafflebear12 · 12-28-2007, 08:28 PM

Is the west point sls application already open from the summer 2008? For AIM it is a lottery for who gets accepted. Keep working on your scores. If it helps I went from a 43 PSAT sophomore year to a 660 on my SAT. The scores that I sent when applying to AIM and other service academy summer programs were 58 math, 54 verbal, 54 writing. Now I am a senior and have been accepted to both the coast guard and naval academy. best of luck to you.

praying eagle · 12-28-2007, 08:56 PM

Thanks! That's really encouraging that you went up that much in that amount of time. Can I ask you what you did to prepare for the SATs? Also, did you get into the Summer Seminars?

Luigi59 · 12-28-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

For AIM it is a lottery for who gets accepted.

Not tue at all. AIM candidates are selected on the merits of their application, they are ranked and scored, and the most qualified 450 applicants are selected.

Selection for AIM is a holistic process which looks at a variety of factors in the student’s life. Weighed in the process are: the online application, teacher recommendation, essay (topic will be provided), and most recent high school transcript. When the four required items are received, the USCGA Admissions Office will evaluate your application. Each student is evaluated by a team independent of other applicants, thus highlighting each individual’s accomplishments.

Each year we have more qualified students than we have spots available. If you are not selected, however, please do not feel that you will not be competitive for an USCGA appointment in your senior year. Many students not admitted to AIM apply for and are offered appointments the following year.USCGA Website

Call the admissions directorate at 860-444-8500 and ask them yourself.

wafflebear12 · 12-28-2007, 10:32 PM

In regards to the lottery. I am merely stating what I was told by admissions.

In order to prepare for the SATs I had a tutor and I retook the test several times. Also, I would recommend taking the ACT and work on vocabulary with flash cards. I attended the Air Force summer seminar, Naval Academy ss, and AIM. If you need any help with the application process, just private message me and I'd be more than happy to help.

praying eagle · 12-28-2007, 10:51 PM

Thanks wafflebear, I don't have any more questions now but I'm sure i'll think of some soon. I also heard from admissions that it was a lottery. Congratulations on your acceptance to USCGA and Annapolis. Have you decided where you are going to go?

Luigi59 · 12-29-2007, 09:34 AM

Quote:

I also heard from admissions that it was a lottery.

No, not a lottery.

AIM, just as the other summer programs at the other academies, is highly competitive. Many applicants for few spots.

All candidates are evaluated and selected on merit, a holistic process than evaluates many factors. Grades, test scores, rank, EC's, essays, etc.

I was told by a USCGA admissions officer that the "lottery" myth may have been started by un-selected candidates/parents trying to justify their exclusion as "bad luck" or some other randomness of which they had no control.

Now, the alternates (or those on the AIM waiting list) may have been randomly picked to fill-in the class after the first tier candidates have been notified, but those alternates were also evaluated and placed on the waiting list via their merits, rather than simply thrown in a spinning bin and selected via blindfold.

longrun12 · 12-29-2007, 10:16 AM

Directly from my Son's AIM letter
"I'm pleased to let you know the review committee was impressed with your record, finding you among a select group of students qualified to attend AIM. Unfortunately we were not able to offer a spot to all the students with your qualifications. Therefor we instituted a lottery to choose among the best qualified applicants."

AtlantaDad · 12-29-2007, 12:05 PM

Correct. It is competitive and there is a benchmark or cutoff. This year due to more qualifiers than space allows for there was a lottery of qualified applicants. Those not chosen through the lottery were invited to Cadet for a Day, which is invitation only.

Luigi59 · 12-29-2007, 04:15 PM

Believe whatever you wish, but according to two different USCGA admissions officers, (one was answering as a direct question, the other stated it in a group briefing/presentation), selection to AIM is not a random lottery.

AtlantaDad · 12-29-2007, 04:23 PM

Re-read my answer. I never said ANYTHING about the lottery being random. I got my info straight from my son's letter and the DOA. Just trying to help, not looking for a debate.

zachogden · 12-29-2007, 09:53 PM

Jimeny, jimeny, jimeny. Time to settle this.

The AIM selection board rounds up the best qualified candidates. Unfortunately, there are a _lot_ of well qualified candidates, so the people they believe are "good" enough for AIM are put into lottery to decide who is offered a slot first. The quote from the letter above supports this, as does the USCGA website.

Just do your best and hope you get in. If you don't, AIM's no dealbreaker so don't sweat it and keep improving.

Luigi59 · 12-30-2007, 09:49 AM

And your rank and title in the admissions office is?

They choose exactly who they want.

You're only kidding yourselves if you think otherwise.

longrun12 · 12-30-2007, 11:22 AM

Not sure how these discussion get to be so confrontational.....The fact that I had a son go through this process and quoted his letter was my intent to provide factual information. There are candidates who shine above the rest and are not put in the pool. There are candidates who meet the qualification and they are put in the lottery. Applying does not get you place in the lottery being determined to be qualified by the selection board get you placed in the lottery......

Good luck

Luigi59 · 12-30-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longun12

There are candidates who shine above the rest and are not put in the pool. There are candidates who meet the qualification and they are put in the lottery.

I don't disagree with that at all.

You have correctly pointed out that they score each candidate and first offer AIM admission to the higher scoring applicants, before any random selection process that may take place.

Not trying to be confrontational at all, just trying to clear up (as the admissions officers stated it) "a common misconception" about how AIM attendees are selected.

To think that the "800/800 Eagle Scout football captain class president" has the exact same random lottery chance at AIM as the "minimum acceptable scoring applicant" is illogical, and not true at all.

Thus my problem with the universal statement "AIM it is a lottery for who gets accepted."