Candidate Kit (online portal) activation

JonathanBelmont · Jun 10, 2011

Candidates-

Some of you may have access to your candidate kits already, but you are the exception, not the rule. Not a feather in your cap or a "you did something wrong" if you do. For 95% of you, the candidate kits (aka the "second step kit or 'SSK'..." a term that is held over from our days of paper applications) SHOULD be turned on around 15 June. This is based on guidance from the Director of Admissions, and barring any IT issues should be executed on schedule. Initial reports of the kit being turned on last week or this week were due to a bit of a miscommunication between internal office entities. My bad for giving my candidates a heads-up at SLS and via email that this was impending. Tread water... the 15th will be here before you know it.

Keep up the fire,
-MAJ B.

Chicago5950 · Jun 16, 2011

It is the 16th and I still am not able to access my SSK online portal.

Are they having issues? Anyone else still waiting?

Ectriso · Jun 16, 2011

Chicago5950 said:
It is the 16th and I still am not able to access my SSK online portal.

Are they having issues? Anyone else still waiting?

Yea it hasn't opened yet for me either. He said around the 15th so I guess it'll be up in a day or two.

Hooah1775 · Jun 16, 2011

It could be that USMA Admissions will be working on opening SSK based on notificiation in RED box in middle of login page:
"SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT:
AMS/CIS PORTAL will be down for Schedule Maintenance on Jun 16th, 2011 from 1630 to 1800"

I would check login after 1800 on 16 JUNE 2011. I am not an expert nor do I work at USMA, so this is just a guess at best...we shall see later today.

Chicago5950 · Jun 16, 2011

Still isnt up.

Boo.

Hooah1775 · Jun 16, 2011

What did Mom always say "Patience is virtue!"...I wish I had more of that virtue! Hopefully the portal will open up soon...so much for my best guess...

buff81 · Jun 17, 2011

If you went to SLS, your SSK should be open on your candidate portal now.
If you did not go to SLS, then it should be opened soon - probably by today (Friday).

UNLESS - you have test scores that are in the 'risk' range which is:
ACT- under 24 in any section
SAT -under 560 in Math or CR

karinacasto5 · Jun 17, 2011

Hi Everyone
I'm new to This forum
it is great to join this Forum, hope i'm welcome in

Ken2012 · Jun 17, 2011

buff81 said:
UNLESS - you have test scores that are in the 'risk' range which is:
ACT- under 24 in any section
SAT -under 560 in Math or CR

I'm going to be honest and say I got a 540 on CR - I remember there was discussion here about academics waivers. Does that mean someone (like myself) could be academically disqualified right now?

Hooah1775 · Jun 17, 2011

Ken2012 said:
I'm going to be honest and say I got a 540 on CR - I remember there was discussion here about academics waivers. Does that mean someone (like myself) could be academically disqualified right now?

Ken2012 - I think it means the SSK won't open unless you get your CR above 560. Can you take the SAT on Oct. 1? It might have impact on timing with MOCs, but I think you can still submit updated scores to SA's.

Ken2012 · Jun 17, 2011

Thanks.

I was planning on taking SATs and ACTs again.

a2roxas28 · Jun 17, 2011

It is not all bad. When I initially applied, I had a 480 on my CR for my first SAT. During my Senior year, I tried the ACT and took it four times. In the end, I earned a 22 in the Reading section- not my best section. Overall, I did not get accepted to the class of 2015. I will be attending a regular University, but still reapplying. Frankly, I feel that I did better on my last SAT in June. So do not let a 540 discourage you. You never know what will happen.

center56 · Jun 17, 2011

Ken2012 if you haven't taken the ACT before you might find you score much better on that test. My DS discovered this when he took the PSAT and scored average but significantly better on the ACT. It also lends itself to improvement by taking more practice tests also.

buff81 · Jun 17, 2011

Ken2012 -
Are your ACT scores above the risk level?
WP will evaluate you on the standardized test that you did best on.

Ken2012 · Jun 17, 2011

I have not taken ACTs unfortunately. My school prefers that the class take standardized testing kind of late in the year so I wasn't able to take them again. I am taking both tests as soon asap though.

Well anyway thanks for the help guys. I'm hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Hooah!

Ectriso · Jun 20, 2011

My portal opened up today.