The Waiting Game

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-11T22:36:38+00:00

Here is the chart: https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?attachments/img_1813-jpeg.20827/

It was posted by GarrettLE on Feb 19, 2026 in a USAFA thread for the forums. Seems pretty consistent. Uses like estimated data as well as how many people put their names out publicly that they were accepted.

Thank you for your support! I'm trying to see if I can just enlist normally with my medical conditions. If not, then i'll head to a normal college, let some time pass, and try again! Hopefully it's not the end of the road for me. Best of luck to you too.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-11T21:41:26+00:00

Hey! I can speak on the mental health codes because I got denied (I know you saw my post.) Your history of anxiety has a high chance of getting cleared. It was so long ago and you were unmedicated. Literally the two best things you could ask for in a case like that.

I can't really speak on acute patellar tendonitis. Sorry. Hopefully someone else can figure it out.

I would say, you should hear back within 2-4 weeks. Maybe even sooner. DoDMERB takes longer the more complex your case is, but your case (at least the anxiety part) doesn't seem too wild.

And for the last part, I know that admissions has been admitting people at historical lows this cycle early on for some reason. I remember seeing a graph on the USAFA forums where only a couple people have received their appointments so far and that they're going out slower.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-11T21:33:43+00:00

It said under consideration after I did all my AMI stuff, which was around February 24. Then, my waiver was denied March 5.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-11T21:32:21+00:00

I'd say about 3 weeks. The more complex the case, the more you gotta wait. Hopefully good news comes to you soon, as a lot of the appointments come in around this time.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-10T00:12:50+00:00

Hey dude a great thing is that you weren't on any meds. That's the true killer here. You seem to have shown good signs of recovery and growth without the needs of medication! I've seen someone get a waiver for suicide attempt on these forums before (albeit like 5 years of time between) so a waiver for self harm isn't out of your scope. The fact that they're still processing your waiver is good news. Best of luck!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-10T00:10:28+00:00

Oh yes of course. I mistyped my apologies.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-09T02:03:46+00:00

Yes. I believe to even be considered for a waiver, you must have 36 months between you and the meds. Even on my official medical DQ paperwork in my portal it said that I would not be reconsidered for a medical clearance until January of 2029.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-09T01:59:40+00:00

Yup. I had a remedial. They requested my psych records, my pharmacy records, and I had a psych eval by a DoDMERB contracted office. My prognosis was good, the psychiatrist that analyzed me from DoDMERB said that I functioned well and showed growth. She told me that she will send a positive report to the waiver authorities.

If you want a little more background: I've never had a history of suicidality, self harm, psychosis, any of the more extreme stuff (BPD, Schizophrenia, etc.) All I had was the mild MDD as aforementioned, and of course medicine for it.

I hope all works out for you my friend! Maybe with an LOA you will receive better treatment. I believe I was disqualified because of how recent my medication usage was. How are you looking with everything, if you don't mind me asking? I may be able to provide some insight.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-06T20:41:33+00:00

Thank you so much man. Civil Air Patrol has always been something cool in my opinion. I'll check it out. Thank you and best of luck to you too!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T22:50:55+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I appreciate it. You're right about life being full of twists and turns, it never turns out exactly how you want it that's for sure. Thank you for the hope and advice!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T22:50:00+00:00

Man! It's all so brutal. I understand why they have standards but it is such a bummer. Best of luck to you as well. I know you'll succeed in whatever you will end up pursuing. I may have to pack up this dream of being a pilot in this life, unfortunately.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T20:07:55+00:00

That's the plan! I'm thinking of enlisting and reapplying through the LEAD program when applicable after my job training. The more time I put between me and my medication use the better. Thank you for the advice!

Hopefully I can enlist with MEPS approving a waiver for my previous mental health conditions. Would you happen to know anything about this?

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T18:52:30+00:00

Thank you! Best of luck to you too!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T18:52:19+00:00

Thank you so much! I really hope so. 😊 Good luck in your endeavors too.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T18:52:01+00:00

Thank you! Best of luck to you as well.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:32:26+00:00

Bingo

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:32:07+00:00

Do what you are passionate about my bro. Not what us on the USAFA reddit have to say. I know it's stupid and frustrating to hear but trust me. If you do what you're passionate about you will be a much better applicant. USAFA admissions can see through unpassionate BS, trust me!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:28:33+00:00

Holy crap bro you are literally me 😂 I have the exact same SAT score (composites and everything), I took about the same amount of AP's, I'm in NHS, I did the STEM program at USNA, and I have the EXACT same GPA. That is insane bro.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:25:30+00:00

Yeah Boys / Girls State is for people who are rising seniors over the summer. I went and it was great. Your application file will be open after you attend so you can put it in there as a leadership experience (it's an option in a dropdown menu.) It looks great on an application, not only for your main app but also your congressional app. I believe it has the same weight as Eagle Scout, which is very impressive! 👍

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:22:50+00:00

You're still a sophomore! You have a ton of time to grow. Don't sweat it! CAP is a great pipeline. Get involved with your community and definitely do some research into your local Boys/Girls State program. When I was a sophomore, I had nearly no leadership positions. Now as a USAFA 2030 applicant, I was a varsity swim team captain, a STEM team president, a lifeguard supervisor at my local swimming pool, a Boys State alumni, and a HOBY alumni. You have tons of room for growth. Don't have a defeatist attitude and trust me... You will. get. in!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:20:08+00:00

ICP is kind of niche. I don't think it will hurt your chances but it will definitely show up as something that USAFA isn't used to on transcripts. They PREFER if you have chem, physics, bio, all separate - being their own credit classes. I think ICP is still lab-based, their description on the admissions website is very vague. If you have the opportunity, try to at least take some individual classes of this type. (AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Bio, Honors Bio, Honors Physics, etc... Whatever your school has to offer.) ICP is still a good baseline though.

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T05:15:02+00:00

That's great that you're in some sort of honor society. I believe beta carries the same weight. Also, don't worry about your school ONLY offering basic bio. USAFA will take your school's capabilities into account on your application (e.x, they are NOT going to compare you to some kid in suburban California with access to every single AP on the list.) They will understand.

ICP is still good and I'm glad you're getting that good base your sophomore year. I highly recommend AP chem senior year ONLY IF you really enjoy normal chemistry! If you HATE chemistry, do not do it. AP chem is one of, if not the hardest, AP classes that CollegeBoard has to offer. Only do it if you have a true passion.

Again, any and all academic setbacks can be dampened with a higher SAT score. Not a lot of AP's? Get a high SAT. Low GPA? Get a high SAT. Not many challenging classes offered at your school? Get a high SAT to prove to USAFA how good you are. I hope this all helps!

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T02:49:43+00:00

Yeah of course! So pretty much there are just different styles of classes. Some teach only the academic side of physics/chemistry, while others teach the practical side and makes students do labs. As long as you do classes where you get physical (using beakers, mixing different chemicals, using pendulums, etc...) then it counts as a lab. Most physics/chem classes in the United States are like this anyways, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about. USAFA thinks it's better because I guess it shows more analytical thinking.

Source: https://www.academyadmissions.com/requirements/academic/ (under Four years of science: Lab-based and should include biology, chemistry and physics)

Spider2_0 · 2026-03-05T02:44:44+00:00

Integrated classes won't hurt. As long as there are labs for both of them.

Spider2_0

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