VP Nomination Question

areed

5-Year Member
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Jun 12, 2010
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Getting ready to submit reference letters to Vice President Biden.

I applying to both the Air Force Academy and to the Naval Academy and will check the boxes for both at Vice President's website.

Should the letters of recommend that I receive a nomination for:
1) the Service Academies?
2) the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy?
3) the Air Force Academy (which is my first choice -- I already have 2 letters that say the Air Force Academy only and hate to ask them to redo it if it's not necessary, but I'm sure they would)?
 
For USNA, I would suggest that you follow the instructions which are to only send the application, not any supporting documentation.
 
For USNA, I would suggest that you follow the instructions which are to only send the application, not any supporting documentation.

I am a little confused about that part. Vice President Biden's website has 5 slots for uploading PDF files for reference letters. I have 5 people who have letters ready and would be willing to edit them before they sign then, but I need to let them know whether to specifiy both the AFA and USNA in their letters. Right now the letters I have in hand say " recommended for the Air Force Academy".

His website also says " It is important that all correspondence subsequent to actual application (e.g. letters of recommendation, transcripts, ACT/SAT results). DO not send the information directly to the Vice President." I was assuming this means don't send your application materials for the SA to the VO, but do upload the 5 reference letters.
 
2) the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy?
I'd go with this choice....if possible. Although I think a character reference specifically about your special qualities and why the recommender thinks you can walk on water makes more sense.

Question about the VP Nom: Do you think anyone actually reads the letters of recommendation or is it just a couple of noms that the VP gives to the SAs to use as they wish? Does the VP even have a nomination committee/ review board?
 
I'd go with this choice....if possible. Although I think a character reference specifically about your special qualities and why the recommender thinks you can walk on water makes more sense.

Yes, the letters are character references, but everyone wanted to be specific as far as the "I recommend part".

ANyway, thanks!
 
USNA's position:

Due to a large volume of applicants (usually several thousand per academy), the Vice President has authorized the academies to evaluate all applications and rank them according to qualifications. In screening candidates, the academies evaluate an individual's high school or college academic record, results of the ACT and SAT tests, recommendations from individuals who are in a position to judge the applicant's character and academic potential, and physical and medical qualifications. In view of this screening by the academies, it is important that all correspondence subsequent to actual application (e.g., letters of recommendation, high school and college transcripts and ACT/SAT examination results) be forwarded directly to the academy when requested. Do not send this information directly to the Vice President.

The initial nomination process is simply a formality. My understanding is that each SA only receives a spreadsheet from the VP's office with a list of all who submitted the application in a timely manner. USNA then uses the standard application package to determine those who will be awarded appointments.
 
The initial nomination process is simply a formality. My understanding is that each SA only receives a spreadsheet from the VP's office with a list of all who submitted the application in a timely manner. USNA then uses the standard application package to determine those who will be awarded appointments.
Pretty much what I thought. I don't think the VP has anyone reviewing the apps or reading the recs.
 
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