Sending CFA Scores to "Other" Service Academies

Summer Seminars provide opportunities to complete and then share your CFA results

Often, candidates complete the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) at one of the service academies (SAs) as part of a summer seminar or a visitation weekend. If you achieve a good result, then ideally you would share it with all of the academies to which you decide to apply.

The question is: how do you send your CFA results to the 'other' SAs?

Let's explore this question by first getting back to basics. Four of the five SAs use the CFA for their fitness assessment. The exception is the US Coast Guard Academy. Thus, for example, if you take the CFA as the Naval Academy's Candidate Visitation Weekend (CVW), then you may ask the Naval Academy Admissions team to send the results to the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy and the Military Academy on your behalf. It is actually a straightforward process with a few important details to consider.

Let's outline some of the important points:

1) Sending the scores . . . I advise my students to address an email to their admissions team at the SA where the CFA was taken. Request that the team send your scores to the SA of your choice. To make it simple, copy the particular destination admissions team. For example, let's say you have CFA scores from the Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS), and you wish to send them to USAFA's Team Silver. Send an email request to your USNA admissions team and provide the 'destination' email address for Team Silver. I also recommend copying (i.e., "cc") Team Silver on the email to notify them of your intent.

2) Results . . . You should not make the request until you have results displayed in the USMA or USNA status lines. For USNA, it is noted in the "My Progress" section of the Candidate Information System (CIS). The USMA Second Step Kit (SSK) will display results in the application itself.

3) Be sure to use 'good' scores . . . One way to determine 'good scores' is to compare them to the averages stated by the AF Academy. USAFA seems to publish the strongest so use their averages to provide some insights. Also, over the last few years, USMA will send you an 'evaluation' email noting if your scores are 'below average' so that may also provide good insights for you. Or, simply retake the CFA, if you can improve them. This blog will also provide more insights.

4) USAFA and USMMA exceptions . . . Of the four SAs, the AF Academy and Merchant Marine Academy restrict your CFA submission to a single passing score. If you submit a 'failing' score, USAFA/USMMA will notify you and allow one other CFA result to be submitted by a stated deadline. I recommend not sending a failing score to any of the SAs!

5) USNA and USMA . . . will allow you to submit additional scores. Thus, submitting a score from the Summer Leaders Experience (SLE), USNA Summer Seminar, or CVW, will not prevent you from submitting 'better' ones later.

6) Success? . . . Also, after you make the request, monitor your application to ensure that your CFA scores are eventually received by the 'target' SA. It is your responsibility to deliver 'good' CFA scores for each of your applications. Every once in awhile, my students have had to make a second request so be vigilant!

Scoring well on the CFA at SLE, CVW, and NASS is a nice advantage. It allows you to qualify early for an SA, plus you may use the successful CFA results with other US service academies. Sharing your CFA results is straightforward. Keep the six points made in this blog in mind, and you will benefit from the good work you have done!

[I would welcome a chance to discuss details with you. I offer coaching services to pace and prepare you (and your parents!) for the entire Academy application process, including the CFA and sharing your scores! Contact me at chris@cbbrechin.com, 503.515.7406 or complete my contact form on the home page.]