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MOM2011

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Jan 12, 2011
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My son is currently 3Q and has a nomination. A fellow high school classmate of his is also trying to get into the academy. I am not aware of her current status, however she has a sister who is a current student at the Academy. Realistically, are her chances better of getting an appointment over my son due to her having a sibling already attending?
 
Any school likes legacy; but it's not a determining factor.
More like a "Oh look, she has an older sibling already here. Moving on.."
 
One of the factors that contributes to a candidate's "whole person score" is the extent to which they understand what life at a service academy and in active duty is like. Back when my Mid was applying, our BGO asked a number of questions about my daughter's knowledge about USNA. He also asked questions about whether our family supported her plans. She was also asked during her Congressional nomination interview about the strength of her commitment, and what she would do if she were NOT granted a place at USNA. I mention all this because the sibling of someone who is either a current/former Mid, a current/former cadet at another academy, or a current/former enlisted person is likely to have a somewhat better understanding of what they're really getting into (although no one really knows until they go through it themselves). That said, this is not likely to be a deciding factor, so long as your son shows that he has done his homework about his choices, and has a strong commitment to succeed.

Keep in mind that it is possible for more than one person from the same HS to receive an appointment, if both are highly competitive candidates.
 
Thanks so much. It's just so many things you find yourself worrying about! We are finally at that wait and see point after all this time. Just hope we hear something before April 15th! I'm getting grey hair!
 
Some good information. I'd differ in my response. Having a sibling @ USNA can be a significant factor in assessing candidates. Does it trump another candidate? That simply depends upon their respective WP scores, where they are relative to each other, and more important, where they are relative to the others in the process. And don't forget, the type of nomination can trump it all, i.e. a lower 3Qed w/ a principal and no sibling may trump a higher WP scorer w/ a sibling and an unranked, non-principal nom.

To the initial issue of siblings, while anecdotal, it is stunning how many Mid sibs there are. It is not mere good fortune. Conversely, coincidence or causal? Your call. All that is apparent is that it is neither rare nor infrequent.
 
Well, I guess all we can do is pray that it goes to the most deserving. I know acdemically my son scores higher. Like I said, I do not know what her current status is other than my son's class rank out of 1800 students is 6th. He is 3Q and has a nom. Just gotta have faith at this point.
Also, previous post mentions that it is possible for more than 1 student from from HS can get an appt. I don't see how that can work, if the MOC only has one open slot available at the academy? Is that possible? Thanks.
 
MOM2011 said:
Well, I guess all we can do is pray that it goes to the most deserving. I know acdemically my son scores higher. Like I said, I do not know what her current status is other than my son's class rank out of 1800 students is 6th. He is 3Q and has a nom. Just gotta have faith at this point.
Also, previous post mentions that it is possible for more than 1 student from from HS can get an appt. I don't see how that can work, if the MOC only has one open slot available at the academy? Is that possible? Thanks.
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Different nominating sources. Remember there is still the Senator, VP, and if eligible there are service related nominations. Also, because of the way district lines are drawn, two people could go to the same high school, but live in different Congressional Districts. Last year, 3 of my friends, all from the same high school, were appointed to USAFA.
 
VERY Possible

My school has three candidates, I am a recipient of an LOA to USAFA and both of my friends have LOA's to USNA. We have all recieved nom's. I personally didn't think that more than one person could even be looked at, and we had quite a few applying, but guess what more than one made it! So yes it is VERY possible. :eek:

Best of Luck,

Falcon
 
Believe me it may or may not help to have a sibling at any Academy. Yes they know the younger sibling and the family understand the procedures and rigors of the Academy experience. I think they may take this into account during the selection process but don't count on it. Second time around this year for younger sibling. I think it was last year we had three appointments from one High School out of thirteen appointments? One open charged slot for each Senator and MOC but ten nominations for that slot. One is charged and the others go in the "pool". Theoretically all ten from each MOC could get appointments. We have two Senators and five Representatives. Thirteen appointments to USNA last year.
 
MOM2011 said:
My son is currently 3Q and has a nomination. A fellow high school classmate of his is also trying to get into the academy. I am not aware of her current status, however she has a sister who is a current student at the Academy. Realistically, are her chances better of getting an appointment over my son due to her having a sibling already attending?
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Haha,

My best friend, roommate of three semesters, and future best man had a brother two years ahead of us (who incidently works for the same admiral I do now). When we were in swab summer we had three companies, x-ray, yankee, and zulu. In each company there were three platoons, 1,2 and 3.

My friend's brother told him to shave "X-Ray 3" into the back of his head because it would impress the cadre and show them how "hard core" he was.

Needless to say, that was a poor decision, and calculated advice from a brother who wanted to see his brother in extra pain. :thumb:
 
Having a close relative (parent, sibling) who was or is in the military gives a candidate a slight "bump" in terms of admissions. The reason is that USNA believes that this close association makes it more likely that the candidate will understand the rigors of military life and thus be more likely to stay at USNA and in the military.

You can get similar "bumps" for lots of other things, such as being a team captain, an Eagle Scout, having an A in AP calc, doing well on the CFA, attending NASS, and on and on. Each of these things add up to your Whole Person Multiple. USNA doesn't look at "legacies" in the same way that many civilian colleges do and I know quite a few classmates whose well-qualified children have not received appointments. Based on what I have been told, there is no difference in USNA's mind whether your sibling is at USNA or your mother was USAF enlisted -- it's the military background in your immediate family.

Whether having such a background helps you in terms of your preparation for USNA is another question entirely and I defer to those with siblings at SAs to answer that.
 
Wow! What school does your son go to where he has 1800 classmates in his grade? I attend the third largest school in Alabama and my class has a little over 500. Just wondering.
 
Honestly, that was a typo I didn't realize till now. It's actually a little over 800. We're in North Texas.
 
tsearcy said:
Wow! What school does your son go to where he has 1800 classmates in his grade? I attend the third largest school in Alabama and my class has a little over 500. Just wondering.
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WHAT?!?!?!
only 500!
man, that's a pretty small school if you ask me
 
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