Triple Q'd But Worried

M

midwannabe

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
14
Not to borrow trouble, but, as a candidate who is Triple Q'd, what options do I have if I don't get a nomination from my senators or representative?

Does anyone ever get a nomination from a senator or congressman outside their state? Is it worth to look for one if I don't get one from my senators or rep?

As I understand it, my representative gets to submit a list of 10 names to the Academy. It's hard to imagine that with my academic and extracurricular record, I wouldn't get one of those spots, but I am a bit worried about the role politics might play in the process.
 
Legally, you can't get a nom from a Rep outside of your district or Senator outside of your state. People always claim it happens but it's illegal and USNA says it doesn't happen.

If USNA really wants someone who doesn't have a nom from another source, they can give a Supe's nom. There are very few of them, but are an option.

I'm not sure what you mean by "politics." I think those who have been involved with the nom process with various MOCs across the country would tell you that politics (as in Republican/Democrat) isn't part of the process at all. Years ago, my parents were working to unseat the MOC from whom I received a nom. Their politics didn't make any difference then and I have no reason to believe that has changed.
 
Did you apply for the Vice Presidential nom? You still have a little while to do so. I have seen at least two candidates get in via that route. Best wishes.
 
1964BGO said:
Did you apply for the Vice Presidential nom? You still have a little while to do so. I have seen at least two candidates get in via that route. Best wishes.
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How does the Vice Presidential nom work? How many are given out and how common is it to receive one?
 
Pretty sure just like the MOCs. Although, you have to keep in mind if someone at the academy dropped out with the VP nom, then they have 2 spots open. Always something to consider.
 
It's 5 VP noms per year. And, you're really competing against those who are triple Q'ed and don't have another nom. So, it's more like 5/1200-1500 or so -- very roughly speaking. Yes, the odds are long but that's often the case in life.
 
Wow

Are there really 1,200 Triple Q's who don't get nominations of any kind? I thought each representative or Senator can submit a list of 10 and that if you are on a list and the Academy wants you, you get in.

Re: Political influence. It's good to hear that it doesn't happen, although with Washington being what is is, it's hard to believe that it doesn't sometimes.
 
usna1985 said:
It's 5 VP noms per year. And, you're really competing against those who are triple Q'ed and don't have another nom. So, it's more like 5/1200-1500 or so -- very roughly speaking. Yes, the odds are long but that's often the case in life.
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I have to agree with Goldfarb. From the VP website:

"The Vice President is the only authorized nominating authority who can nominate U.S. citizens without geographical restrictions. He may have a maximum number of five nominees in attendance at each authorized academy at any one time. Normally, he has one or two vacancies each year."

So even longer odds! :wink:
 
midwannabe said:
Are there really 1,200 Triple Q's who don't get nominations of any kind? I thought each representative or Senator can submit a list of 10 and that if you are on a list and the Academy wants you, you get in.

Re: Political influence. It's good to hear that it doesn't happen, although with Washington being what is is, it's hard to believe that it doesn't sometimes.
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I'm doing the number of triple Q'ed w/o noms from memory of a couple of years ago b/c I'm not sure they still publish this info. But, yes, it's higher than you might think. Consider states like CA, TX, FL, VA, MD, PA -- where tons of candidates want to attend. Although the number of reps is proportional to population, each still only gets 2 Senators AND in many of the districts, the number of qualified applicants for noms far outweighs the 10 slots.

The nom process is more complex than you describe. If you have a nom and are triple Q'ed, you are eligible to compete for an appointment -- that's not the same as getting one. [The exception is if you are a principal nominee,in which case, if you're fully qualified, USNA must give the appointment to you]. Each MOC nominates 10 candidates for one slot. The other 9 may or may not end up getting an appointment.

Thus, there are people who are triple Q'ed without noms and people who are triple Q'ed with noms who still don't get appointments.
 
They are long. And, to be honest, one of the ways the VP nom is used is for those who, for some reason, have no legal district of residence in the US. That said, a few years ago, someone told me that her son got a VP nom. She was flabbergasted. So, it happens.

It used to be that all you had to do was fill out a short form. The process is now more involved. Some figure it's not worth it. I can only say that, if USNA is your dream, you should pursue every source of a nom, no matter how hard or how long the odds. But that's just me speaking.
 
Discouraging

Well, this is all pretty discouraging. I am in a district where tons of students want to go to the Naval Academy. Because our school system is excellent, there are many candidates with great academic records and high SATs. I have solid academics, good SATs, and outstanding extracurriculars. I have prepared my entire life for the Academy -- I've known I wanted to go there since I was a small boy -- but I have this quesy feeling that I might not be on my representatives's list. My great-grandfather was in the class of 1915 and I was hoping to graduate 100 years after him.

If I don't get in this year, I'll keep trying until I'm not allowed to try anymore.
 
usna1985 said:
It used to be that all you had to do was fill out a short form. The process is now more involved. Some figure it's not worth it. I can only say that, if USNA is your dream, you should pursue every source of a nom, no matter how hard or how long the odds. But that's just me speaking.
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I agree with this. I think a lot of times people will look at the application and say "ehhhh it ain't worth my time, what are the chances?"

But more so, are people who are unaware of the VP nom or people who don't even bother to look at the application. I think the combination of the above thins out the number from 1500 who are 3Q'd w/ no nom to probably 1000 or less. 2/1000 is better than 2/1500!
 
We've been told that it's especially critical if you have an LOA (not certain if this is true for all academies, but know for USMA and my son was told the same by his BGO and ALO). The main reason that you apply for the VP nom is so that just in case you don't get a nom (with an LOA), you can say that you did everything you could to get the nom. This would make it far more likely that the academy would then try to come up with a nom for you, whereas if you didn't apply to the VP, it shows them that you weren't even interested in doing all you could. This could potentially apply to any strong candidate, but I know we have it in the MALO handouts specifically pertaining to the importance of it with LOA's.
 
I sometimes think the application process is designed to sort out those not quite as interested as first thought. As it should be.

Also, marciemi, it's been said many times to me by my M/C, "as long as you've done everything you can first, they will help find a resolution to your issue".

Exhaust every avenue and be gracefully persistent.
 
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