Academy Endeavors

This question is an invitation to tell a story.

Here's a few pointers to guide you:
1. Stick to the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

2. The tone should be vulnerable and then reflective.

3. The R (result) should include valuable lessons you learned and action you've taken since.

The question tests your self-awareness. Do you reflect on past decisions & self-correct? If so, you'll be a good leader.

Passing the CFA is a requirement to gain acceptance to the Academies.

Download the Academy Endeavors CFA Workout Plan to help you improve your score and increase your chances of achieving your dream!

https://academyendeavors.com/cfa-workout-plan-download/

Thank you, Anderson Family!

There's no better way to self-assess than making a resume. And it doesn't have to be complicated.

Put your accomplishment on paper.

Categorize them into:
1) academics
2) athletics
3) non-athletics
4) work/volunteer
5) awards/other

Write a brief sub-bullet under each that explains what you did.

Once it's on paper, you can see your strengths & weaknesses.

Download the FREE Academy Endeavors Resume Template Here: https://academyendeavors.com/resume-template/

Getting ready to meet your Liaison Officer?

Don't go into your interviews unprepared!

Download the FREE Academy Endeavors ALO Interview Guide to give you a leg up on the competition.

https://academyendeavors.com/alo-interview-guide-download/

Most military interviews start with an icebreaker question. Often, the interviewer will introduce themselves, then ask you to do the same.

Applicants struggle because its so open ended - where should I start? What should I say?

Here's what NOT to do. Don't ramble for 5 minutes.

Instead, shoot for a 90 second intro. The first 30 seconds are personal (hometown, family, etc). The next 60 seconds are professional (school, sports/clubs, hobbies).

And then, stop talking.

The key here is to sound interesting by giving an overview of yourself without too much detail. There will be other questions.

Thank you, Duncan Family!

This is a frequently asked question by liaison officers (ALO, BGO, Field Force reps), and it's a good one.

First, do you know the core values for each Academy? There are 3-4 for each.

Next, describe what the core values mean to you. State your personal definition of Integrity, or Honor, or Devotion to Duty. To inform your personal definition, review the Academy website to align your answer with theirs.

Lastly and most importantly, provide a supporting example for how you, or someone you admire, embodied those core values. Examples give your answers depth and meaning. It's a step most people forget to take, but it will make a huge difference.

Thank you, Nan!

Be vulnerable and thoughtful here.
Do NOT give yourself a pat on the back by saying "I care too much" or "I work too hard."

Instead, think of a regret or poor decision and an attribute behind it.

Next, explain the negative impact of that decision or attribute.

Third, and most importantly, don't leave it there. Tell them what you've done since to improve on this weakness.

And lastly, give them an example of how you've put it into practice.

Leadership is all about self-awareness. We make mistakes. Good leaders learn from them, and grow!

Getting ready to meet your Blue and Gold Officers?

Don't go into your interviews unprepared!

Download the FREE Academy Endeavors BGO Interview Guide to give you a leg up on the competition.

https://academyendeavors.com/bgo-interview-guide-download/

This is why we get out of bed in the morning, folks.

The Academy is a world-class education, transformational leadership experience, with second-to-none financial incentives.
There is unmatched leadership & character development and a great network for life

We exist to elevate others (our staff, clients, and families) to a higher position. As one client told us, "Thank you for everything. My life is now set up exactly as I want it to be." Wow! Our purpose, our pleasure!

Come join our program!
Click our link in bio (or below) to get started!
https://academyendeavors.com/apply-now/

In a world of hyper competition, what stands out?

It says something about a person that goes for leadership positions. For starters, it shows they have a bit of confidence. It takes confidence to put yourself out there and be visible. Second, it also says something when you have leadership positions and still can perform in the classroom - that takes time management. Lastly, it can show that you want to make an impact in your school/team/community.

Leadership positions matter.

Application readers might spend 10 minutes on you. How do you look on paper?

Of course, we do not promote lying or grabbing titles for title's sake. This is empty, and will probably show in the series of interviews. Instead, we push clients to take advantage of opportunities that align with their passions, abilities, and background. It will put you in position to make a difference in the lives of others you serve.

Thank you, Sean!

You'll want to save this 👆
There are different requirements for some Academy and ROTC fitness tests. Here’s a table for what is required for each. The CFA works for USMA, USNA, USAFA, and USMMA. However, all others vary slightly. Keep this in mind!

Most procrastinate on SAT/ACT. Don't let that be you.

You feel like you're still a freshman so you shouldn't have to worry about college, right? Wrong.

Sophomore year is the perfect time to hire a SAT/ACT tutor or enroll in a course. Get on a scheduled program where you register for the real SAT/ACT, and then begin preparing like crazy for the real test.

By contrast, self-paced is usually ineffective for your busy life. You need structure, and an end goal.

Sophomore year is the perfect year for this.

Nominations are an admissions requirement.
Did you know Congressmen can "force" Academies to choose you?

Not exactly, but almost.

"Principal" nominations, which effectively tells Admissions "I want this one to get in."
If you get a principal nomination, and then qualify, you will be accepted.

Wowzers.

Principal nominations make the process more competitive, because it obligates slots.

What does this mean for YOU?
1. Ask the Congressional staffer which method the district uses, either competitive method or principal method.
2. If principal, employ every strategy to win that principal nom.
3. Once you receive principal nom, ensure you get medically qualified, have a passing CFA, and qualifying SAT/GPA.

Many slots are taken by recruited athletes, which makes it harder for everyone else.

Imagine there are 1,250 slots available, and you are NOT a recruited athlete.
Now, take 250 slots off the board.
You're left fighting over the other 1,000.

Academies have few slots, yet host a ton of D-1 sports teams.
So, 20% of slots get taken by athletes each year.

What does that mean for YOU?
If you play sports well, reach out to the coaching staff.
Include your film, contact info, stats, etc.
Getting "blue chipped" is an almost sure way of getting in.

If you don't play sports well, it gives you extra motivation to ensure every aspect of your application is solid.
Reach out to us for advice! We have coaching packages that take applicants all the way to acceptance.

Thank you, Wells Family!

Free education shouldn't be the primary reason to attend an Academy.
But it's a significant reason people apply.

Let's be real, college is expensive.
The average cost of 4 years of college is over $140,000.
Which is why parents start thinking about college costs before their child is even born.

Now, imagine there is a school with Ivy-league prestige.
And everyone who gets accepted gets a full ride.

Do you think that school would be in high demand? DUH.

You should never choose an Academy because its "free." Because its not. You owe blood, sweat, and tears for 4 years, and at least a 5 year service commitment afterwards.

However, ZERO debt is attractive.
Parents not having to pay for college is...lets be real...unbelievably huge.

It's a financial gamechanger for the family.

An impressive resume doesn't happen overnight.

It starts with intentionality about where you want to end up.

As a freshman, get involved in as many activities as possible.

But when you hit sophomore year, begin to focus your efforts. Where do you want to lead? This introspective process is called "choosing your leadership path."

3 questions to help you choose your leadership path:
1. Where do I want to invest my time?
2. Which activities am I most passionate about?
3. Which of these activities gives me the greatest return on my time?

There's only 24 hours per day. Focus your efforts on those passionate, high-yield activities.

If you're a sophomore, now's the time.

This process of knowing which activities are high-yield and where you should be by junior year is daunting. It takes expertise.

DM us if you want to sign up for our Underclassmen program, where we mold your candidacy to maximize your chances of acceptance.

Thank you, LK!

If you are planning to apply to the Academy this Fall, this post is for you.

The Fall semester of your Senior year will be the busiest time of your life. How you approach your Summer is crucial.

Here are the 7 key action steps to set yourself up for success:

NOMINATION GAMEPLAN. The Congressional nomination is one of the biggest sources of anxiety, but it doesn't have to be. Your first step is to visit your local Representative and two Senators’ websites for their application details.

MOCK CFA. So many applicants are anxious about the CFA, yet they’ve never taken the test. Print out a score sheet, grab a friend or family member, and do the CFA under game like conditions.

BRAINSTORM ESSAY TOPICS. Write down as much about yourself as you can think of. Your awards, unique attributes, best leadership stories, and most challenging experiences. As you brainstorm, you will unearth essay topics.

TAKE SAT/ACT 2x. Superscoring allows you to take your best verbal and math scores, and combine them into one score, even if they were taken at different times. Ideally, you would take each one 2x (so, 4 times total) so you could superscore both.

ID MEDICAL ISSUES. 20% of competitive applicants are disqualified due to medical. This medical process (called DODMERB) is the most thorough and meticulous medical examination that you will ever endure. Find the DODMERB checklist online and go through it.

ASK YOUR RECOMMENDERS. Teachers are busy, and they get hit up by hundreds of students in the Fall. Get ahead of the wave by asking now, politely, and then when the time comes, give them your resume so that they have a guide to help them.

BUILD RESUME. When you get your whole life on 1 sheet of paper, you can see your candidacy clearly. When you identify the weaknesses, build an action plan to close your gaps, based on what the Academies are looking for.

Applying to the Academy is fiercely competitive. If you feel overwhelmed or defeated, we understand. As Academy grads, we’ve been through this process before, and we’ve helped numerous other applicants.

See LINK in BIO to set up your FREE consultation today!

Getting ready to meet your Field Force Rep?

Don't go into your interviews unprepared!

Download the FREE Academy Endeavors FFR Interview Guide to give you a leg up on the competition.

https://academyendeavors.com/field-force-rep-interview-guide/

Thank you, Hucko Family!

For those newly appointed, watch out.

A few months into the Academy, you might get bit by the cynicism bug.

This happens when your expectations don't meet your experience. Let's use an example.

Ex: It's supposedly the world's greatest leadership institution, yet your Commander is the world's worst leader. What now?!

That could happen. But here's the truth:

Facts: You probably learn more from bad leaders than from good ones. Because you see what NOT to do.
Facts: No better place to take what you've learned and put it into practice.
Facts: There are exceptions everywhere, but on average, your peers at the Academy are top notch.

So come in expecting that you will notice some inconsistencies. It's going to happen, and it will frustrate you.

Accept reality, and make change where you can. You're in an amazing place to do so.

Applicant Timeline

The journey to the Academy is long and tedious. Be prepared to stay on track with the Academy Endeavors Applicant Timeline!

Gain a clear view on when the deadlines are so that you can submit early and increase your chances.

Download your Academy Endeavors Applicant Timeline here: https://academyendeavors.com/applicant-timeline-download/

Thank you, Derwin Family!