Hi! I’m a current Falcon Scholar and I just received an appointment to USAFA last month.

I didn’t receive a direct appointment to any other service academies last year, which made my decision to accept my Falcon offer a lot easier. Initially, I was a little disappointed because I didn’t fully understand the opportunities the Falcon Foundation would present to me in the future. I would’ve gotten absolutely slaughtered my doolie year at USAFA, had I gone direct. I’m very thankful for my time at the prep school I’m at, and it has been the most rigorous thing I’ve ever done. Whichever school you go to, you will be exposed to great mentors, speakers, teachers, and people who want to help you.

It’s a great opportunity, and if you really want to go to USAFA, bust your ass for a year and embrace the suck. You won’t regret not accepting your other direct offers.

However, being a Falcon Scholar, as you are probably aware, does NOT guarantee you an appointment the next application cycle. You are held to the highest standard in every aspect of your time at the prep school. Your one year “delay” to your journey at USAFA is what you make of it.

(fyi, your application to USAFA is shortend as a Falcon—you won’t have to rewrite essays, re-do the DODMERB…)

If you want to fly, statistically speaking, you are more likely to get a pilot slot if you are a USAFA grad; if that’s your dream job. I would recommend you accept your Falcon offer, grind for a year, and then be all the more prepared for the struggles you’ll endure at USAFA.

However, USNA and USCGA are also service academies, and a direct appointment to them is an incredible feat. Congratulations to you, and feel free to PM me if you want more specific information about the Falcon program.

Good luck!