Sending stuff to Congressmen?

Jabbawocky007

AFROTC Cadet
5-Year Member
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Jul 22, 2010
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So I've downloaded and printed my Congressmen and Senator's instruction packet things...and I've found a problem.

They tell me to send a copy of my high school transcript to them with the rest of the "packet" that needs to be sent (letter of recommendation, questionarre, etc.) I can get the copy of the transcript eaisily enough but my school has two options of giving out the transcript. "Unofficial" which is personal use, and "Official" which is "For College admissions, ID verification, etc." The Official one must be mailed by my school's Registrar.

If its being mailed by the Registrar, I assume that it would arrive at a different time than when the rest of my "packet". Wouldn't this cause a problem in the process for a nomination? From what I can tell, all of your info must be sent to the Congressmen/Senator before the deadline, and all in one "package".
 
Every MOC is different. I suggest you contact the person in the MOC's office responsible for SA applications and ask your question. They may accept an unofficial transcript. If they require an official transcript and the school only provides those by mailing directly to the requestor (as opposed to giving you a sealed envelope of some sort), I would assume they would accept it at a different time (prior to the deadline, of course). However, only that office can answer this question for certain.
 
My son ran up against the same issue. After providing the guidance office with a copy of the senator/congressman's instructions and getting nowhere, a friendly visit to the principle with the instructions allowed the guidance office to put an official transcript in a sealed envelope with the guidance officer's signature over the seal. The guidance officer was just going by the guidelines given to her. No one from my son's high school had gone to a service academy before, so it was a learning experience all around.
Your child getting into a service academy may help the school's "profile" which in turn helps all the students applying to college. So as long as you are diplomatic about it, you will probably find administration eager to help.
I don't know about your school, but at our school, the guidance officer has no help, and has literally hundreds of students and parents needing all kinds of things yesterday. A discreet boquet of flowers delivered to her at work with a kind note acknowledging all her hard work made all the difference in the world. It was not something I really had the money to do at the time, but with requesting 2 senatorial nominations, 2 congressional nominations (requested two different service academies) plus ROTC paperwork and college applications...it was some of the best money I spent all year.
 
Literally exact same situation as OBXmom. Went to the principal. Principal sent me to the "head counselor." Explained that I needed to include the transcript in the application, and it couldn't be seperate. Sat there while she printed off transcripts and signed the seal. Also had her write my recommendation (which was quite good, she let me read it) because my assigned counselor was unresponsive. This was all for the nominations. I ended up having her do the USNA recommendation as well because, again, my assigned counselor was unresponsive. Sent her purple flowers at the end of the ordeal. Turned out her favorite color was purple. Score!
 
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Way to go goldfarb1! I wish you the best with your nominations!

To get a person to do their job takes a boss. To get a person to want to do their job to the best of their ability takes a true leader! By being nice to that counselor and taking the time to acknowledge the importance of what she does, and explain the importance of what you were asking her to do...made her want to help you. Your behavior in that instance is a great example of leadership. Not only that, but when you get your nominations, that counselor will take a measure of pride in her contribution, and will continue to help other future candidates.

Good job! :thumb:
 
So I've downloaded and printed my Congressmen and Senator's instruction packet things...and I've found a problem.

They tell me to send a copy of my high school transcript to them with the rest of the "packet" that needs to be sent (letter of recommendation, questionarre, etc.) I can get the copy of the transcript eaisily enough but my school has two options of giving out the transcript. "Unofficial" which is personal use, and "Official" which is "For College admissions, ID verification, etc." The Official one must be mailed by my school's Registrar.

If its being mailed by the Registrar, I assume that it would arrive at a different time than when the rest of my "packet". Wouldn't this cause a problem in the process for a nomination? From what I can tell, all of your info must be sent to the Congressmen/Senator before the deadline, and all in one "package".


My school will only send official transcripts as well, but it wasn't a problem for my congressional nominations. I called all the offices asking if they would put it with the rest of my packet when I sent the remaining items in, and they said it would be fine. The same thing happened my standardized test scores. My district/state is very competitive and strict but this worked out fine. They all even sent me a letter or email confirming the receipt of my transcript and test scores.
 
Yeah, I think I'll go there next week (they won't open again until Monday) and see if I can get them to just give me the sealed "official" letters without mailing them. The Registrar (no idea what that is, by the way-I just know that's who I talk to :yllol:) is pretty cool so I can see it going well.
 
Yeah, I think I'll go there next week (they won't open again until Monday) and see if I can get them to just give me the sealed "official" letters without mailing them. The Registrar (no idea what that is, by the way-I just know that's who I talk to :yllol:) is pretty cool so I can see it going well.

Good plan :smile:
 
FAIL

Ok sooo...they won't give me an official transcript. They did say, however, that they would send the transcript along with all the other forms required for the MOC's. (I'm assuming that's "Member Of Congress").

I'm assuming that's ok because the packets are still being sent, right?
 
I am a candidate for the USNA. Got a question! We have a friend that knows our congressman very well and the friend wants to personally hand my packet to him. Not sure this is a good idea. Please give some feed back on this. I am thinking I need to just send it in the mail.
 
I am a candidate for the USNA. Got a question! We have a friend that knows our congressman very well and the friend wants to personally hand my packet to him. Not sure this is a good idea. Please give some feed back on this. I am thinking I need to just send it in the mail.

It's really not going to do anything. The argument could be made, in theory, that the congressman may give special attention to someone a large constituent vouches for. Really doubtful though. Something that will for sure be beneficial is personally handing the packets into the nomination coordinator. They're more than just paper pushers. Who do you think enters the nomination information online? :yllol:
 
Our high school is the same, they require it be sent directly from them. I put copy of transcript in each MOC's packet with a note attached - "official transcript mailed directly to your office from high school." Received confirmation from MOC's that application was received and complete.
 
Hi!

I'll add a couple of cents worth here.

I work closely with my MoC as his AF rep for nominations/selections. I suppose I could "hand carry" a package in to him however I know two things.

1. He would probably look at me funny and ask "WHY?"
2. It'd be handed directly to his Director for Constituent Affairs who will receive all the ones sent in by mail anyway.

I really don't see a value to "hand delivery" to a MoC of the package.

NOW...if this person knows the MoC personally and wants to write a recommendation, that is a GOOD thing. I know that's happened with my MoC and he's often included a note with that letter to the board saying things like "...I know this family/person/student personally and I like XXX or YYY, trust this recommender's judgement, etc." However at the end of such a note he ALWAYS ALWAYS writes words to this effect:

"Please don't let my note sway your decision, please select for me and our district/state/nation the VERY BEST students for me to nominate!!!"

He's a very "stand up" guy!!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Excellent advice Steve. let me also add my $0.024484985. There are some MOC's that retain their authority to "Rank" their slates. I.e. They don't let the academy choose for their district or state, but rather say's who their #1 (Auto) nominee is.

But like you said Steve; almost all MOC's don't really have time to review every package and correspondence personally. They have a staff member who takes care of the nominees and provides recommendations. The only time it might make a difference, is if an applicant happen to be "Friends of the family". Meaning, not that you happened to have met face to face at some function, but that you've had personal and regular dealings with the MOC most/all of your life. But this combination of a "Personal Relationship" combined with a MOC who retained their authority to rank their slate would make for a very rare combination. Any other scenario probably wouldn't make any/much difference. Mike....
 
Based on briefings we've attended, the MoC's in our area are fairly consistent:

- Follow the process, your package may get lost otherwise
- Don't send incomplete applications, they will not be considered
- having someone important participate (hand off the package, etc) is far less important than getting your package complete, and done to the best of your abilities. And earlier rather than later.
- Having important people send letters who don't really know you probably hurts more than it helps. At best, you missed a shot at genuine input from someone who knows you well. At worst, you made them read letters that did not contribute to your file, and are irritants. (They have to read thousands)

While it was not explicitly stated, the impression we get is that they are going to great lengths to use an objective process.

While there is always room for overrides, when they describe what occurs, the flow, etc, it sounds like the MOC does not even see any names on applications until the committee has worked down to a very short list. And they use a scoring system to compile that list, including interviews.

From one of the briefing sessions they indicated the biggest thing in your control was to get your Math + Reading SAT over 1350!

That's the first cut. All applications below 1350 that are set aside until all the ones above are reviewed. Only after that do they go through the lower stack to see if they missed anyone who should otherwise be considered.

Yes, it sounds harsh, but if you look at the averages you'll see that's actually very conservative for a non-recruited applicant.
 
...Bottom line - I would recommend that if your MOC has certain guidelines, follow them. There may be a simple reason why they are there.

PERFECT answer! :thumb:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
This kind of goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Make sure your package to your MOC is extremely organized!! My son put a folder together w/ tab dividers, labeling each section. Our school did hand him the "official" sealed transcripts, but we paid for an extra one, unsealed it, and put it in the grades section. It just made it easier for them to view it (there was a note that said "official transcript located in back pocket of folder." Each packet was checked over and over for completeness, then sent registered mail (except for the congressman, as his deadline was so close, it was hand delivered to his office which is close to us).

My son decided in late Sept. his senior year to apply...getting the packets together was an absolute spring for the whole family(MOC deadlines in early Oct.)! It can be done.

Good luck 2015 candidates.
Go Army!
 
Bottom line - I would recommend that if your MOC has certain guidelines, follow them. There may be a simple reason why they are there.
:shake:

I remember last yr, someone posted something just like this, and a poster came on and asked what the simple reason was. It went completely over their head, that this is the military, they are looking to see if you can follow orders!
 
Ok sooo...they won't give me an official transcript. They did say, however, that they would send the transcript along with all the other forms required for the MOC's. (I'm assuming that's "Member Of Congress").

I'm assuming that's ok because the packets are still being sent, right?

Jabbawocky007,

As the first responder stated - you need to contact the staff person responsible for the nomination in your congressperson's office.

I serve on our congressman's service academy selection committee. The staff person who runs the committee collects all of the info, including transcripts, that we need to review all candidates.

I do not know which congressperson you are seeking a nomination from - but - will guess that their staff person has "been there, done that" in terms of dealing with school counselors/trancripts - and will give you the best advice on how to get your transcripts to them.

I wish you well through this process.

Fuji
 
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