<p>Well, I really think it depends on the person you’re getting the nomination from and where you’re getting it. I’m sure in un-competitive districts, the interview process is pretty informal. If you’re up against a slew of highly qualified people all fighting for five slots, then the interview suddenly becomes alot more important and the questions all the more extensive. Then again, it also depends who sits in on your board.</p>
<p>My district was pretty competitive, but my friend had a reasonably mild board of officers sitting in on her interview. She told me they were pretty relaxed and didn’t prod her too much. I on the other hand felt somewhat antagonized by the kinds of things they were asking me. I realize now that they ask difficult questions to see how people respond. They don’t want candidates cracking under the pressure or getting riled up, etc. It’s really all about maintaining your composure, but it doesn’t seem like that when you’re being asked what (sometimes) seem like unfair questions.</p>
<p>For example, I recall saying something innocently (I can’t remember exactly what) that prompted the most senior officer there to jump on me with a response like, “So what are you going to do when somebody you think is less intelligent than you is giving you orders? Are you just going to defy them and do what you want?” </p>
<p>I was a bit surprised by this to say the least, but I said something like, “Well sir, that’s a different situation entirely. In such a case, you yeild to your commanding officer, no questions asked. That’s your job. You don’t question, you follow.” I was also surprised when the same officer made an issue out of the solitary B on my transcript.</p>
<p>Either way, I guess they were all satisfied with the answers I had to give, but the trick is just to remain calm, and probably not getting defensive or acrid is harder than answering the actual questions themselves. My advice for the interview would just be to be relaxed and realize that your composure means as much as your answers.</p>
<p>I assume the kinds of questions they ask though are basically the same no matter where you go or how formal/informal the whole process is. What sorts of leadership qualities do you have, why do you want to go to USAFA, what makes you the best candidate, do you want to fly, what got you interested in this, will you pursue ROTC/Acad Prep if you aren’t accepted into the academy, what are your goals in life- all pretty standard questions that I imagine get asked wherever you are. If you want, I can copy/paste or PM you some of the specific questions they asked me.</p>