Application Open?

cchung34

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
70
I've been pretty anxious for the USCGA's application to open. It said that it would open in September and I guess I'm just being really impatient. Does anybody know when it would be open to apply? I'm working on my USAFA and West Point application but would really like to ask my teachers and evaluators to write my recommendations at the same time. It would be a little bit more convenient. :smile:
 
Originally scheduled to open on Sept 1.

However, a power failure at the academy pushed it back to September 12.

It may open before then, so keep an eye out for any updates on the admissions page on Facebook or at www.cga.edu
 
I spoke with one of the Admissions officers the morning. I was informed that the scheduled date is still 12 Sept but that candidates should be checking their email from Admissions as the app may (emphasizing may) open up a day or two early.
Also, there will only be 1 Early Action this application cycle (last year there were 2 EAs).
 
Does anyone know if any LOA's were sent out from AIM 2011? If so, do you when and how many? I heard they were delayed because of power failure and the re-structure of admission officers.

Thanks.
 
Does anyone know if any LOA's were sent out from AIM 2011? If so, do you when and how many?

They were mailed on Friday, so they should be arriving this week...15 were given.
 
Also, there will only be 1 Early Action this application cycle (last year there were 2 EAs).

In addition to returning to a single Early Action (EA) deadline of November 1st, we will no longer be deferring EA applicants who are not appointed for reevaluation during Regular Admissions (RA). Some EA applicants will be placed on the waiting list for future consideration after all RA applicants have been reviewed, but the majority will receive either an appointment or non-acceptance letter. This represents a significant change to our review/selection process, so all applicants should make sure to read the Applicant Handbook and understand what it means to apply under EA versus RA.
 
Policy Change

In addition to returning to a single Early Action (EA) deadline of November 1st, we will no longer be deferring EA applicants who are not appointed for reevaluation during Regular Admissions (RA). Some EA applicants will be placed on the waiting list for future consideration after all RA applicants have been reviewed, but the majority will receive either an appointment or non-acceptance letter. This represents a significant change to our review/selection process, so all applicants should make sure to read the Applicant Handbook and understand what it means to apply under EA versus RA.

If I'm not mistaken, under the old EA policy it was a definite advantage to apply early because if not offered an appointment you were automatically put in the RA pool and would be evaluated in that group too (and could continue to update your file). However, with this change in policy, it may not be an advantage if you apply early. If you are a good candidate, but not offered an appointment you are NOT put into the RA pool, but instead sent a TWE and that is it? In that case, you are gambling that you would not have had a better chance in the RA pool. Doesn't this hurt both the candidates who apply EA and the Academy if they pass over good candidates who might have stacked up well in RA?

I'm confused and want to help my son get where he has had his heart set on going for a very long time.
 
If I'm not mistaken, under the old EA policy it was a definite advantage to apply early because if not offered an appointment you were automatically put in the RA pool and would be evaluated in that group too (and could continue to update your file). However, with this change in policy, it may not be an advantage if you apply early. If you are a good candidate, but not offered an appointment you are NOT put into the RA pool, but instead sent a TWE and that is it? In that case, you are gambling that you would not have had a better chance in the RA pool. Doesn't this hurt both the candidates who apply EA and the Academy if they pass over good candidates who might have stacked up well in RA?

I'm confused and want to help my son get where he has had his heart set on going for a very long time.

I still believe there is an advantage to applying under EA.

(My opinions, not official CGA position)

1 - You are competing for a larger number of appointment slots on December 15 than there will be on April 15. A projected class size of ~240 (less ~60 CGA Scholars) means the pool has now shrunk to ~180 nationwide slots for the Class of 2016. This number is also reduced by the 15 LOAs mailed on Friday, assuming they all accept, means we're now at ~165.

2 - The number of EA deferrals who received appointments under RA is actually very small, much lower than you think. In the past, EA deferrals would only be reviewed again after the RA applicants are decided, and then only if the EA applicant has updated the file. This new EA policy simply reduces the number of deferrals (eliminating false hope?) and gives a "no" much sooner in the process.

3 - Waiting until RA opens up the competition to include all post-high school applicants, who cannot apply under EA. Competing for that last appointment, against someone who has already successfully completed a year of college, might be a little harder.

4 - Knowing the decision in December gives you enough time to follow through with your "other" college choices should a TWE come your way.
 
I still believe there is an advantage to applying under EA.

(My opinions, not official CGA position)

Luigi, thanks for the reply. It helps...some. Going to the Coast Guard Academy has been my son's single minded objective for years. It is difficult for him to even conceive of doing anything else although he has a plan B, it is a far second to the USCGA.

In the past few weeks I've watched him go from being realistic but confident that he was a competitive candidate to this morning being soberly aware that even though he is very competitive, it is at best a long shot that he gets an offer. That is to say that he knows/knew how competitive it is and is aware that there are some candidates who can "walk on water" and they would, of course, be snatched up. What he was not aware of was that even if he may rank higher in a purely merit based system he could still get the TWE due to choosing EA over RA (or vice versa), the academy's need for diversity, or due simply due to the reduction in the class of 2016. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Not to worry, he still checked this morning to see if the application had gone live. Yesterday he talked to his Coach and to several of his teachers about the upcoming recommendations for the CGA and is really looking forward to going to his scheduled "Cadet for a Day" in November. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

Are the number of prep school appointees reduced for 2016 too?

Since there are about 165 slots...does that mean that there are 82ish slots for each EA and RA?

(I think this more stressful for the parents than the applicants!) http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/images/smilies/help.gif
 
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Thank you for the information about the LOA's this year. Only 15, quite a drop from last year's class.

Thank you also for the information regarding the EA changes it is very helpful. My daughter fell in love with the CGA after attending AIM, but she is also realistic about her chances, her instructors from AIM recommended her for admission so we wait until the app opens and go from there. Best of luck to everyone, the school is amazing.
 
Luigi, thanks for the reply. It helps...some. Going to the Coast Guard Academy has been my son's single minded objective for years. It is difficult for him to even conceive of doing anything else although he has a plan B, it is a far second to the USCGA.

In the past few weeks I've watched him go from being realistic but confident that he was a competitive candidate to this morning being soberly aware that even though he is very competitive, it is at best a long shot that he gets an offer. That is to say that he knows/knew how competitive it is and is aware that there are some candidates who can "walk on water" and they would, of course, be snatched up. What he was not aware of was that even if he may rank higher in a purely merit based system he could still get the TWE due to choosing EA over RA (or vice versa), the academy's need for diversity, or due simply due to the reduction in the class of 2016. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Not to worry, he still checked this morning to see if the application had gone live. Yesterday he talked to his Coach and to several of his teachers about the upcoming recommendations for the CGA and is really looking forward to going to his scheduled "Cadet for a Day" in November. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

Are the number of prep school appointees reduced for 2016 too?

Since there are about 165 slots...does that mean that there are 82ish slots for each EA and RA?

(I think this more stressful for the parents than the applicants!) http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/images/smilies/help.gif

Keep in mind that a larger number of appointments will be offered to yield a certain number of acceptances.

For instance, last year there were 374 appointment offers and 291 swabs were sworn in on R-Day.

A 70%-75% acceptance rate is the historical data, so to get a class of 240 they would probably send out ~320 appointment offers. (of course, this is assuming that "present trends continue" and they may not).

As for the "split" between total EA and RA appointments offers - - I have no information about that, you would need to speak directly to Admissions, perhaps Objee will elaborate.
 
If I'm not mistaken, under the old EA policy it was a definite advantage to apply early because if not offered an appointment you were automatically put in the RA pool and would be evaluated in that group too (and could continue to update your file). However, with this change in policy, it may not be an advantage if you apply early.

You're absolutely correct that it was essentially 0% risk and 100% advantage for applicants to apply under EA in the past since the worst outcome was being deferred to RA; however, as Luigi pointed out, there are still several advantages (maybe now it's 30% risk and 70% advantage) of applying under EA.

If you are a good candidate, but not offered an appointment you are NOT put into the RA pool, but instead sent a TWE and that is it? In that case, you are gambling that you would not have had a better chance in the RA pool. Doesn't this hurt both the candidates who apply EA and the Academy if they pass over good candidates who might have stacked up well in RA?

The Class of 2015 had 1,017 EA applicants...162 were offered appointments under EA, 18 were offered CGAS appointments under EA, and 837 were deferred to RA. We reevaluated some lesser number of EA deferrals under RA, since all 837 did not update their records with new information, and 34 were offered appointments under RA, 35 were offered CGAS appointments under RA, and the rest were eventually sent non-acceptance letters. Those 34 applicants who were initially deferred under EA, but then offered appointments under RA, represent the type of applicant who will now be offered a spot on the waiting list under EA.

The process will essentially be the same as before for those "good candidates" who are not appointed under EA...they will just be on the waiting list now instead of deferred to RA. What applicants will need to decide is whether or not they believe they are competitive for an appointment under EA or if they should wait to apply under RA. Admissions Officers should be able to assist applicants in making this decision, but applying under EA will probably still give most applicants the best chance to eventually be appointed.
 
As for the "split" between total EA and RA appointments offers - - I have no information about that, you would need to speak directly to Admissions, perhaps Objee will elaborate.

We try to limit EA appointments to 40% of the total number we anticipate offering to fill the class, but (like most of the process) it's more art than science. We'll always offer less appointments under EA than RA since: 1) We don't want to run out of appointments; and 2) We can always use the waiting list if we don't fill the class by the end of RA.
 
Thanks for the responses. My son was comforted by the reminder that only about 70% of the offers are accepted...something that he found difficult to comprehend! He will be applying in EA and taking his chances. Thanks for the replys.
 
Just a thought, but lets say an applicant is denied during EA. Can he or she start a new application during RA?
 
Just a thought, but lets say an applicant is denied during EA. Can he or she start a new application during RA?

No...SSN is one of many unique identifiers that we use and only one application per SSN is allowed per year.
 
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