txpilot

Hi everyone,

I'm applying for class of 2016, entering in 2012. I took my CFA today:

(male)
Bball: 54ft
Pullups: 5
Shuttle Run: 9.02
Situps: 82
Pushups: 66
Mile: 7:45

I'm happy with my shuttle run, sit ups, and pushups as they are all above average and are personal bests. The others though, I don't know what happened. I've been practicing the CFA for a while and I've thrown 60ft, done 8 pull ups, and run a 7 minute mile but today I was disappointed with myself. I suppose it was nerves or something, I don't know.

My grades are very good. I got a 34 on the ACT with a 36 in science, and a 2080 on the SAT. I also have a private helicopter pilot's license and I want to continue flying helicopters in the army if they'll let me into flight school . Anyway, when I went to West Point the admissions major looked at my resume and told me he didn't think I'd have a problem getting in, and told me to just do well on the CFA.

I'm not sure if I'd consider those scores 'doing well' on the CFA haha but we'll see.

I've seen a lot of posts about this but I haven't really seen a clearcut answer for some of these...

Do you have to pass each event, or the CFA as a whole, to be qualified?
If West Point feels that the scores aren't good enough, do they just say "See ya!" or will they ask you to retake the CFA?
Can the rest of your application make up for a poor score in a CFA event?
Could I take the CFA again and mail the new scores?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and help me out!

agraves93

First of all, don't worry that some of your scores aren't as good as when you practiced before! They know that your mile time isn't going to be your best, because you just completed several rigorous events right in a row.

In answer to your questions, you do have to pass each event, and this is hard to know how you did since they don't give you the "passing" scores. However, the average scores that they give are the averages of candidates that were admitted, so as long as your scores were close (and it looks like they were) you don't need to worry. In the event that you did not pass the CFA, your admissions liason will notify you as to which specific event you did not pass, and you will have the opportunity to retake the whole thing.

The CFA actually only makes up 10% of your application, although passing it is a requirement. In addition to receiving a pass/fail grade, you also receive a score of 1-100, which goes on your profile. Although, seeing as the physical aptitude portion is such as small percentage (as opposed to academics, which is 60%), I wouldn't worry about it too much, especially since you are so well prepared in that aspect. The other portion, in case you were wondering, is leadership which is 30%, and is determined by your COE's and sports/extracurriculars participation, which I take it you have as well.

You can retake the CFA if you really want to, but you would have to contact your liason to find out how to mail those scores. I'm not sure. I would ask him, because it could be that you can only retake it if you didn't pass it the first time. You can find his contact info under the "liasons" tab on the candidate portal. Let me know if you have any other questions! Good luck, and Go Army!

txpilot

Thank you so much for the quick response! I appreciate your taking the time to talk to me, your post settled my nerves quite a bit actually haha

Just curious, how are you affiliated with West Point? Cadet, parent, etc?

Thanks again!!

agraves93

Hey no problem! Well I'm actually applying as well, for Class of 2016. However, my dad and grandfather both went there, and my dad was stationed there as a math professor there from 1998-2001 and 2006-2009, so I actually lived on post for 6 years. How did you become interested in WP?

txpilot

Sorry for taking so long to reply!

That's really cool man, you'll get in for sure then huh? lol

I've been interested since I was a little kid. I have a helicopter pilot's license, and I want to keep flying in the army. My hope is to go to West Point and then branch aviation. They say if I only want to fly to become a Warrant Officer, but I like everything that goes along with being a commissioned officer as well. This way, they tell me, I'll get to fly for a couple of years. Then, I'll be promoted (hopefully), and I won't be allowed to fly the dangerous missions anymore, but I'll still get to fly enough to keep my licenses current, which is exactly what I want.

Do you know which branch you think you want to go into after West Point?

And I had my interview the other day, it went very well. He said I had a very strong application. He also said I had 'admissible' status. What are the other statuses you can have? Is this really good, or is this a normal thing? I read somewhere that most people with admissible status get a LOA but I haven't gotten one yet. Is it too late for that?

Thanks for all your help again!!