There are going to be some on here that will say I am just angry, but I'm going to post this so incoming students at the academy won't have the same issue that another student and I had. I recently went through the academy. Things went well up until the last couple of days. Like many students, I got really nervous, and my first PV (performance verification/validation) didn't go so well. I was actually looking forward to the second day, when the ATO (Air Traffic Organization) would grade us and I would have some practice problems under my belt. So I proceeded to run my problem. It wasn't flawless, but I felt really good about the problem, and knew that I had done what the ATO guys (Scott and Ken aka- Crazy ATO Kenny) had told us that we should do. What they told us twice throughout our training (they come in one at a time during the enroute training and talk to you for about an hour) is that the instructors that would be grading us on the first day will probably be looking for almost a perfect problem. They also proceeded to tell us that when they graded us, they weren't looking for perfection, but that they were looking for a "person that has potential" and a "person that can be trained." So I when they asked for me back in the room, I was pretty confident. They proceeded to tell me that they weren't able to pass me, and then proceeded to tell me why. I then signed a document, went to student services, then to travel, and just like that (about 15 mins.) I was no longer a part of the FAA.
So here are some specifics. 1) Don't trust them when they say, "if you have the red W's on the strip, and only have one confliction, we know you saw the traffic." 2) They will be pickier than your first grader. They know this stuff inside and out, and will use anything that they may have told you "won't be a big deal," to push you out. 3) They will tell you that "even if only one of us passes you, you will get the benefit of the doubt and be passed." Check out the training manual. It specifically says that they will come to a consesus before they tell you. 4) Be prepared to run a SUPER long problem. Most of us the first day ran problems 35-40 mins. The ATO kept us in there for over 50 mins. It has been said that this might be grounds to take them to court, but who really wants to do that?
All in all, the moral of the story is...PASS IT ON THE FIRST DAY!
So here are some specifics. 1) Don't trust them when they say, "if you have the red W's on the strip, and only have one confliction, we know you saw the traffic." 2) They will be pickier than your first grader. They know this stuff inside and out, and will use anything that they may have told you "won't be a big deal," to push you out. 3) They will tell you that "even if only one of us passes you, you will get the benefit of the doubt and be passed." Check out the training manual. It specifically says that they will come to a consesus before they tell you. 4) Be prepared to run a SUPER long problem. Most of us the first day ran problems 35-40 mins. The ATO kept us in there for over 50 mins. It has been said that this might be grounds to take them to court, but who really wants to do that?
All in all, the moral of the story is...PASS IT ON THE FIRST DAY!
The day of -- work out. Work out as hard as you possibly/safely can. It helps your mind focus and burns off the anxiety/anxiousness and allows your mind to focus. If it at all possible have something in your mouth. Gum has been proven to heighten focus and increase resolve (google/yahoo it) 
