How early is early?

tschneider11

5-Year Member
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Jul 2, 2010
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A common theme stressed over and over again throughout all of the threads here is to complete the application as early as possible. Around what time of the year is considered early? I understand that the logic behind this is that appointments to West Point are made on a rolling basis. However, it seems as if most nomination applications are not due until the end of October, and I would imagine nominations are not made on a rolling basis. If a nomination is necessary to complete your application, how would having all of your materials completed so early give you any sort of advantage? Hopefully my train of thought here makes sense. Some candidates seem to be really pushing to complete everything now, and I want to assure that I'm not falling behind in the process. Thank you!
 
However, it seems as if most nomination applications are not due until the end of October, and I would imagine nominations are not made on a rolling basis. If a nomination is necessary to complete your application, how would having all of your materials completed so early give you any sort of advantage?

If you finish everything on the USMA side of the app now, all you have to wait on is the nomination. As soon as that is done, your opportunity to be "matched up" for an appointment increase. If your application looks good, you might get an LOA, which additionally improves your chances (MOCs want to nominate candidates with a good chance of getting an appointment). Applying early gives you plenty of time to clear up any DoDMERB issues.
Consider this scenario: son filled out app in Sept., received LOA. October filled out MOC paperwork. Early November interviewed w/ MOC. Appointment arrived day after Thanksgiving. It's nice to get the early appointment and avoid the March-April stress! Early=better!!! :cool:
 
If you finish everything on the USMA side of the app now, all you have to wait on is the nomination. As soon as that is done, your opportunity to be "matched up" for an appointment increase. If your application looks good, you might get an LOA, which additionally improves your chances (MOCs want to nominate candidates with a good chance of getting an appointment). Applying early gives you plenty of time to clear up any DoDMERB issues.
Consider this scenario: son filled out app in Sept., received LOA. October filled out MOC paperwork. Early November interviewed w/ MOC. Appointment arrived day after Thanksgiving. It's nice to get the early appointment and avoid the March-April stress! Early=better!!! :cool:

If that's early, then I must be doing it really, really early, haha.

I've finished most of my MOC paperwork already and am waiting for my last recommendation from my employer before I send my applications to both senators, the vice president, and my representative.

As for the USMA application, I only need to do the CFA and my counselor has to send my high school transcript.

And for DoDMERB, I am taking my physical examination today, which includes both the physical and the audiologist. I've already went through the optometrist.
 
First of all, good for you for being on top of all of this so early.

Another reason to apply early is to actually receive the request to take the DoDMERB exam. This is the part of admissions that can drag out the process for any candidate.
 
Here is an late example.

My son did not do these early because he still wanted to better on ACT, his grades, etc. Basically he wasn't fully ready.

The next 6 months from the summer saw his maturity dramatically increased. For a lot of boys that could be true that 16-17 years old every month makes a difference.

By last Christmas, his UW GPA went from 2.9 to 3.86, his ACT from 30 to 34. Only then we put together a decent application. By Feb 23, 5 days before the deadline, he got the nomination, talking about doing everything early there:eek:. CFA was done 2/26/10. His application was complete by early March, ready for review. Don't know if there is anymore late this could be.

Appointment came 5/5/10.
 
If that's early, then I must be doing it really, really early, haha.

I've finished most of my MOC paperwork already and am waiting for my last recommendation from my employer before I send my applications to both senators, the vice president, and my representative.

As for the USMA application, I only need to do the CFA and my counselor has to send my high school transcript.

And for DoDMERB, I am taking my physical examination today, which includes both the physical and the audiologist. I've already went through the optometrist.

This is about on par with many kids who already know they want an academy. I started my application beginning of June (applying to USNA, but same principles hold true), knowing that it was more of a logistics effort to coordinate teacher recs, transcripts, etc. I know some kids that were finished with the app by the time that I got my first recommendation in. By no means should it be rushed. The person who finished in June, and the person who finished beginning of August are going to be reviewed by the first board anyways.

Regarding DoDMERB. I took my physical wedensday of last week, and was qualified yesterday. Once everything gets into full swing there is no way there will be that kind of turn around time. I'm sure by end of September that turn around time goes from one week to 4-6 weeks. Assume you need a remedial, or maybe a waiver....You've got a long wait ahead of you.
 
So your DodMERB stuff was up and done in a week? My son did his eye appointment Wednesday and the physical yesterday. The people in the physical office they sent him to seemed a little confused by all the paperwork, not a good sign. But I saw his eye paperwork is already showing up as sent in. Keeping our fingers crossed that all continues to go smoothly!
 
I have a question regarding the eye exam...Are we given an option to wear either contacts or glasses during the exam?
 
I have a question regarding the eye exam...Are we given an option to wear either contacts or glasses during the exam?

If I remember correctly from my DS's exam, you have to have removed your contacts for a certain time frame before the exam. During the exam, he had to take it with and without his glasses.
 
So we have to see 20/20 corrected with glasses only, correct?

The actual exam was about five minutes long, and the doctor had me read the chart without my glasses. It was very close to my face, but she said I still read the 20/20 line which will probably qualify me. A lot of it is based on your prescription.
 
Turning your application in early is good for a number of reasons. However, if the choice is b/t a "good" packet in August and a "great" packet in October, pick the latter. As someone above mentioned, you may have new SATs, a better CFA, improved essays, additional leadership, etc. In most cases, that won't be true, but it may be.

If USMA is like USNA in terms of admissions, the reviews don't start until August. And, with so many applying sooner these days, the stack is quite high, so to speak. Finally, I've seen candidates complete their packets in December and January and received appointments. The above said, all things considered, earlier is better.

As with all things, take your time, do a great job and, when you're satisfied, send it in. Good luck!
 
Thanks for the quick responses everyone!

I have every intention of re-taking the SAT in addition to taking the ACT in September, and I'm very confident that my SAT scores will improve fairly significantly. I go away to school, so I might need to wait until I return in September to take my official CFA. The year that just passed was my first year away, and I took a really challenging schedule. My grades were a sort of scattered but I am also confident that I can really improve my grades in the fall. I'm assuming that they would want my transcript from my previous high school as well, correct? And if I complete nearly all of the rest of the application before the end of the summer and submit the rest I mentioned as soon as I can, should I still be in good standing time wise? Sorry for asking so many questions, I'm just trying to clear some things up.
 
Do everything early. There is NO advantage for waiting. If ypu need some waiver on your physical that could take several weeks. Also, some LOAs are awarded early - even before nominations. If you get a LOA your chances of getting in increase dramatically.
 
So your DodMERB stuff was up and done in a week? My son did his eye appointment Wednesday and the physical yesterday. The people in the physical office they sent him to seemed a little confused by all the paperwork, not a good sign. But I saw his eye paperwork is already showing up as sent in. Keeping our fingers crossed that all continues to go smoothly!

Yup. Had the eye exam last tuesday, and the physical the next day. And am now qualified.

DoDMETS has a pretty decent system and it's all online...so even if there is a problem between the doctor's office and DoDMETS, it's a quick phone call and an update on the site vs. sending snail mail.

I'm suprised they had trouble with your paperwork. The eye doctor I went to is the only one contracted in a 3 hour radius with concorde, so they get a ton of these (and extremely proficient because of it). The physician was strictly a medical examiner and had all of it down to a science.
 
Do everything early. There is NO advantage for waiting. If ypu need some waiver on your physical that could take several weeks. Also, some LOAs are awarded early - even before nominations. If you get a LOA your chances of getting in increase dramatically.



Some things you can save for later. Getting recommendations and transcripts should be done ASAP. However, CFA can wait until your scores are above the average. Your activites record can also wait to reflect your senior year activities if necessary. You can always send SAT scores later, because they will always take the higher scores and will not count the lower scores against you.


LOAs are always going to be awared before the nominations. The purpose of an LOA is an appointment pending a nomination. Now sometimes LOA candidates will go without nominations.
 
If I plan to take the ACT and improve on the SAT in the beginning of senior year, they would re-review my file with the new scores?
 
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