The Academy only takes so many applicants a year, a set number from each colony, and the applications basically involve begging and pleading various governmental officials for sponsorship along with all the rest of it. All of Kara's letters and e-mails from her colonial reps have gone unanswered so far and she's beginning to despair, until she lucks out -- stops to help a well-dressed woman up when she trips over a discarded soda can in a maglev station. She helps her up, sees the government badge sticking out of her pocket, and after a bit of polite prodding they fall into an easy conversation on the train: a week later, she has a sponsor and an acceptance letter.