Hey guys

[hipfinnsy]

First post bro'


Anyway: Like a lot of you, I'm a college student attempting to obtain a pilot slot (or PERHAPS NFO) through the OCS process. I graduated from community college with a 3.49, and now I'm a senior at The University of Florida and I currently hold a 3.56 GPA. I'll be graduating with honors and I'm hoping by the end of everything I'll have around a 3.6. I've talked to the Navy LCDR in regards to taking the ASTB and I should be taking it in mid-December. I've been browsing this forum for quite a while and I've been studying the Marine Gouge as well as misc' naval/aviation material. I plan on getting the FAA Pilot's Handbook as well. I don't really have that much volunteer work (about 50 hours at my community college and 50 hours at the courthouse), but I worked 25 hours a week during my time at community college and paid for it myself. I am a victim of bad eyesight, but I have extensively researched the PRK process and have found a good surgeon who will be doing my eyes this winter break (my optometrist's son is a fighter pilot who had the same vision that I have before surgery, so he pointed me towards that doctor).

My question is: What kind of ASTB scores do you think that I need to get in order to be competitive? I'm not talking about bare minimum. What do I need to where I can get a pilot slot on the first try? What things should I continue to do in order to make myself more competitive? I know that technical majors are preferred, but I'm not your typical English major. I could have easily pulled a 4.0 at UF but I chose to test myself and take the most difficult classes possible (all middle-English British Literature and creative writings classes, which are extremely difficult to get As in). I'm also minoring in Mass Comm', but that's bullshit and doesn't really mean anything.

Anything that can point me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. I'm determined to make this work. If I fail in obtaining a pilot slot, I will fail giving it my absolute best, and it will be because of reasons out of my control.

Regards,

-Cody

 

[SynixMan]

What are competitive scores? Take a look in the boards thread for the past few months and see what people were accepted with recently. It's really not a hard test. Just manage your time and get the prep books so you have an idea of what the questions are like.

 

[hipfinnsy]

Oh let me add this: I turned 21 on May 3rd. I know that the age limit is far away (like 27?), but I'm just worried a little bit that I'll be 22 before they'll be able to really evaluate me (you know, with the PRK waiver and all that). I wish I was a few years younger starting this process, but I was on the track to go to law school up until about six months ago (took the LSAT and did quite well). Finally I broke through the manacles of other people's expectations and decided that I was going to live my life how I thought it should be lived, and not how anyone else thought.

Also: I'm 6'2" and 170lbs. I run 4 miles every other day and weight weights in between. I don't do drugs (legal or illegal) either and I don't have any health problems.

 

[SC-NY-88]

"What are my chances?" "What do I need...?" "How will I do?" These questions have been exhausted on this site and most to no avail. The selection boards are a big mystery to those have have never sat on one, what they take one month they turn down the next. I would suggest you be prepared for the responses you get on this post.
That being said, welcome to the process, the stats that you've shared seem competitive given the last few months selectees. I would take a look at the old September boards forum and the June/July ones as well. ASTB (*in my opinion*) is one of the more important aspects. Study and make sure you do your very best, treat it as if it is the most important test you will be taking. What score will get you in, no one can say, the minimums are around 4's and a 35 or something on the OAR. Given the stats posted by others, I would say to be competitive you would like 7's and at least a 50, but there is no true cut off other than the minumums. One month people will get selected with 5's and a 50, the next month guys with 8's and a 60 get a non-select. Try your best and aim for 9's all the way, this way you can't got wrong. Good luck with your PRK and with the whole process.

 

[GoVols1998]

hey hipfinnsy, even though you are a UF guy, I will copy what I just posted in another thread about ways to get a competitive score on the ASTB. I got a 65 8/7/7 using this method, and if I had put more effort into this method, I believe I could have got something like a 67 8/8/8.

I have some greats ideas (my opinion) to help you with the ASTB. #1, there is a great gouge somewhere on this website, just search for it, which judging by the books you're using I think you already have. The Barron and Arco book are GREAT for preparing you for the reading, math, and physics, even though they have a lot of things that I didn't see anywhere on my ASTB (a bunch of random definitions and some types of math problems come to mind). As for the aviation, THOROUGHLY read the FAA handbook. You can find it online for free. If you read it, and put effort into outlining each chapter, then going back and studying that later, you will blow the aviation info out of the water. I started to do that, and then just skimmed over the rest of the book. The parts I outlined I nailed, the parts of skimmed over, I recognized on the test but didn't read them enough to know what the correct answers were. I have noticed people that get 9/9/9 almost always have PPLs and/or a lot of flight experience, so they have already covered that stuff in depth. Also, make sure you read up on nautical terms, nautical operations, and all the parts of a boat. Oh yeah, and as for the spatial apperception, when I took the test I wasted the first 5 minutes freaking out because it looked totally different than the books. Don't do that. Expect Barrons to just give you a little taste and point you in the right direction. If you really want to nail it, try going up on a few flights with an instructor, or even purchasing a flight simulator for your PC/game console. I know it sounds silly, but it can only help. Doing all that, with maximal effort, I think can really boost your scores. I got a 65 8/7/7, but if I don't get accepted this first time, I will probably go back and do all the things I just said and retake the test. Hope that helps.

 

[TheBirdy]

hey hipfinnsy, even though you are a UF guy, I will copy what I just posted in another thread about ways to get a competitive score on the ASTB. I got a 65 8/7/7 using this method, and if I had put more effort into this method, I believe I could have got something like a 67 8/8/8.

I have some greats ideas (my opinion) to help you with the ASTB. #1, there is a great gouge somewhere on this website, just search for it, which judging by the books you're using I think you already have. The Barron and Arco book are GREAT for preparing you for the reading, math, and physics, even though they have a lot of things that I didn't see anywhere on my ASTB (a bunch of random definitions and some types of math problems come to mind). As for the aviation, THOROUGHLY read the FAA handbook. You can find it online for free. If you read it, and put effort into outlining each chapter, then going back and studying that later, you will blow the aviation info out of the water. I started to do that, and then just skimmed over the rest of the book. The parts I outlined I nailed, the parts of skimmed over, I recognized on the test but didn't read them enough to know what the correct answers were. I have noticed people that get 9/9/9 almost always have PPLs and/or a lot of flight experience, so they have already covered that stuff in depth. Also, make sure you read up on nautical terms, nautical operations, and all the parts of a boat. Oh yeah, and as for the spatial apperception, when I took the test I wasted the first 5 minutes freaking out because it looked totally different than the books. Don't do that. Expect Barrons to just give you a little taste and point you in the right direction. If you really want to nail it, try going up on a few flights with an instructor, or even purchasing a flight simulator for your PC/game console. I know it sounds silly, but it can only help. Doing all that, with maximal effort, I think can really boost your scores. I got a 65 8/7/7, but if I don't get accepted this first time, I will probably go back and do all the things I just said and retake the test. Hope that helps.

I see we have a Volunteer's fan here. Heh fellow Gator, check your Inbox hipfinnsy.

 

[nativeofsandieg]

I would suggest making sure you have a recruiter that is actually interested in your chances of being selected. It will cut months of the process if you can find a decent recruiting station.

 

[Wudgles]

My question is: What kind of ASTB scores do you think that I need to get in order to be competitive? I'm not talking about bare minimum. What do I need to where I can get a pilot slot on the first try? What things should I continue to do in order to make myself more competitive? I know that technical majors are preferred, but I'm not your typical English major. I could have easily pulled a 4.0 at UF but I chose to test myself and take the most difficult classes possible (all middle-English British Literature and creative writings classes, which are extremely difficult to get As in). I'm also minoring in Mass Comm', but that's bullshit and doesn't really mean anything.

Anything that can point me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. I'm determined to make this work. If I fail in obtaining a pilot slot, I will fail giving it my absolute best, and it will be because of reasons out of my control.

To echo what everyone else said, the main points are:
1) Get the ASTB prep books, study them, and take a few practice tests. Once you get comfortable, go ahead and pull the trigger. Shouldn't take much as long as you actually do it. I used to look over them while I was on the shitter (everyone needs something to read).
2) Competitive scores vary per board for a variety of reasons (applicant pool, manning requirements, etc.). Worrying about it won't help, so just be as competitive as you can.
3) Check the boards for the previous month's selection scores (they're all over the forum) to give yourself a slight idea of what "competitive" is. Shoot for those scores. 9/9/9 60+ would be criminally good, so aim for that.
4) On the major thing: You're an English major, not a tech major, so that's how they'll review you. The "I could've gotten a 4.0 in X major, but..." thing is a coulda-shoulda-woulda scenario. You didn't pull a 4.0, and you're not a technical or engineering major. It doesn't matter that you're a middle-English British Lit and creative writing focus, and it doesn't matter that they're "hard classes to get A's in." I don't doubt that, but I do highly doubt that the the board knows which classes are hard at every university. That's just a fact, and you can't change it. Your GPA is still very competitive (3.6 is good no matter what you study), so I doubt you have reason to worry in the first place.
5) PT never hurt anyone.
6) More CommServ obviously looks good, but you don't need to be Mother Teresa.
7) Be wary with asking "What are my chances" type questions. Actually, just don't ask them, since the forum dwellers aren't the ones sitting your board (for the most part). Going with "What can I do to make myself more competitive?" is a better move.

Good luck with everything, and keep at it.

 

[hipfinnsy]

Hell yeah. I appreciate the responses (even from the Tennessee folks). Pretty much what I was thinking all along but I'm one of those super-nervous-to-the-verge-of-schizophrenic types who just has to know everything. I'll make this shit happen.

 

[twobecrazy]

To echo what everyone else said, the main points are:
3) Check the boards for the previous month's selection scores (they're all over the forum) to give yourself a slight idea of what "competitive" is. Shoot for those scores. 9/9/9 60+ would be criminally good, so aim for that.

You are spot on with everything said above but Seriously 9/9/9 60+! Those scores are amazing... He asked what does he need to be competitive. I didn't have those scores and was selected. I'm sure many more people can say the same thing. Good on you for working towards those and everyone should aim for that but you don't need those scores to be competitive.

To the OP: As said above look around and see what has been competitive recently but anything 6/6/6 50+ is competitive. Remember though that the ASTB is only a part of your application and that you really need to work on the other parts to make your package as a whole be competitive! Good Luck!

 

[hipfinnsy]

Another thing I was wondering: is SNA more competitive than NFO? I don't see a problem with being an NFO, but it just seems like that would be a better position for an engineer or mathematics major (not to say that I'm even remotely incapable of mathematics).

 

[hipfinnsy]

So this guy Atrickpay's study guide is the real deal, eh? That was actually one of the first things that I printed out. The material doesn't really seem difficult at all. Obviously I plan on picking up the FAA handbook as well (I'm better with physical print versions of things). Everyone seems to be raving about their high scores after studying this very beneficent man's study guide.

 

[twobecrazy]

Another thing I was wondering: is SNA more competitive than NFO? I don't see a problem with being an NFO, but it just seems like that would be a better position for an engineer or mathematics major (not to say that I'm even remotely incapable of mathematics).

They are very close. It is truly hard to determine if one is more competitive then the other because we don't actually see the stats of everyone that has applied to both and been accepted to both.

 

[twobecrazy]

So this guy Atrickpay's study guide is the real deal, eh? That was actually one of the first things that I printed out. The material doesn't really seem difficult at all. Obviously I plan on picking up the FAA handbook as well (I'm better with physical print versions of things). Everyone seems to be raving about their high scores after studying this very beneficent man's study guide.

It is good in fact I used some of it while studying for the AFOQT.

 

[Wudgles]

You are spot on with everything said above but Seriously 9/9/9 60+! Those scores are amazing... He asked what does he need to be competitive. I didn't have those scores and was selected. I'm sure many more people can say the same thing. Good on you for working towards those and everyone should aim for that but you don't need those scores to be competitive.

You're right. Basically, I should have worded that "Aim for 9/9/9 60+, but do the best you can and you should be fine." Obviously, the scores I listed would be absurd. Thanks for the catch, which was more along the lines of what I meant to say.