Class of 2016-Mailbox Stalkers Club

Hey Cupcake. DS also received an LOA from USNA. BUT he has no nom for USNA, his nom is for USAFA. That may be a good thing because the temptation to take the USNA slot is not a consideration right now, and USAFA is DS's first choice. Good luck with your choice, if you get a BFE from USAFA.

profsparrow said:

I spend my day checking in here. I also find myself checking DS's candidate page to see if "magically" his status has changed from when I checked it 3 hours ago. I'm his stepdad and am probably more anxious than him and his mother combined! This forum helps me to keep my sanity. I read each of your posts with understanding and empathy. I work 30 minutes from our mailbox, but I'm a stalker nonetheless. I'm sure that all of we parents here are absolutely awed by the quality of all the candidates, especially our own.

DW was told by a Naval Academy BGO, that the Service Academies are all "Ivy League" schools, and that since USAFA and USNA had accepted him as a fully qualified candidate he could likely be accepted at Harvard, Princeton, Yale or MIT, if that's what he wanted. Kinda put it all in perspective for us.

That being said, you candidates on the forum have pity on us poor parents. To have selected a military career and a life of honor, integrity, and excellence is too rare today. We are so proud of you and want you to have that opportunity at the Academy. We want it so bad for you that it hurts. Be patient with us.

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WOW profsparrow you have described my daily routine, glad to see that I am not alone. DS received his appointment to USMA on January 3rd, he calls me from school every day to see if he received a BFE or a TWE from USAFA. Whichever one he gets I am going to miss reading these forums.

I know this keeps getting lost because the thread is now at 23 pages.

The AFA only updates 2X a week, if you watch this site you will see a trend. The same is true for the mailbox.

If you look at the appointment list, you will see a clear trend regarding the dates. Understand some will post the date of the letter received, others will post the letter dated. What they have in common is a 7 day difference.

Boards meet on Monday, Tuesday the AFA processes it, Wed. afternoon it is updated, and/or mailed. The AFA does not update daily. Watch this board for the appointment thread because it will light up.

In other words, you don't need to be Snoopy 6 days a week. Let's be honest, if you live in CO you will get it quicker than the candidate in Maine or AK. I would not be Snoopy on Thursday if I live in NC. I would not be Snoopy if I live in UT on Monday. You are creating an issue where the mailbox makes your stomach will turn in knots.

As others will tell you, only about 30% when they gave out 1600 apptmts found out before March Madness. It is the minority that get an apptmt prior to the mass mailing. This yr as Flieger and CC have stated it will be longer.

ChristalLee said:

Is their an academy representative on these threads? If so, please PM me back. Thanks.

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I do not mean to pry, but why don't you just email or call your RD? I would think there are reps that are lurkers on this site to gain more insight regarding candidates, just not positive they would register and pm you.

That being said, I want to stress the internet is not anonymous.

Pima said:

I know this keeps getting lost because the thread is now at 23 pages.

The AFA only updates 2X a week, if you watch this site you will see a trend. The same is true for the mailbox.

If you look at the appointment list, you will see a clear trend regarding the dates. Understand some will post the date of the letter received, others will post the letter dated. What they have in common is a 7 day difference.

Boards meet on Monday, Tuesday the AFA processes it, Wed. afternoon it is updated, and/or mailed. The AFA does not update daily. Watch this board for the appointment thread because it will light up.

In other words, you don't need to be Snoopy 6 days a week. Let's be honest, if you live in CO you will get it quicker than the candidate in Maine or AK. I would not be Snoopy on Thursday if I live in NC. I would not be Snoopy if I live in UT on Monday. You are creating an issue where the mailbox makes your stomach will turn in knots.

As others will tell you, only about 30% when they gave out 1600 apptmts found out before March Madness. It is the minority that get an apptmt prior to the mass mailing. This yr as Flieger and CC have stated it will be longer.



I do not mean to pry, but why don't you just email or call your RD? I would think there are reps that are lurkers on this site to gain more insight regarding candidates, just not positive they would register and pm you.

That being said, I want to stress the internet is not anonymous.

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Thank you for your insights, Pima. As usual, you are the voice of Reason and an advocate for a sane approach to the issue. We greatly appreciate your input. Not sure if anyone has already articulated the process and timing recently in such a succinct manner. As my DS is in FL, I have already figured out that Saturday or Monday are the most likely days for the BFE. I was not aware there was a particular day the Portal might be updated. Thank you so much for this useful intel.

Thanks for the reminder Pima...I still "stalk the mailbox" though. From reading last years "mailbox" forum I know that any phone calls from MoCs won't come out until Wednesdays, at the very earliest, for appointments that come out from the Monday meetings. I'm sure our MoC office will call us and we won't have to find out by opening the mailbox or seeing a change of status on his candidate page. But I still check, pretty ridiculous...but I noticed many parents and candidates from last year were doing the same thing. Also, last year many appointments didn't come out until the very last week in March. I guess following the forum makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING. That said, I was in the AD Air Force, and as someone else on the forum said, one of the things learned is to "hurry up and wait."

profsparrow said:

Thanks for the reminder Pima...I still "stalk the mailbox" though. From reading last years "mailbox" forum I know that any phone calls from MoCs won't come out until Wednesdays, at the very earliest, for appointments that come out from the Monday meetings. I'm sure our MoC office will call us and we won't have to find out by opening the mailbox or seeing a change of status on his candidate page. But I still check, pretty ridiculous...but I noticed many parents and candidates from last year were doing the same thing. Also, last year many appointments didn't come out until the very last week in March. I guess following the forum makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING. That said, I was in the AD Air Force, and as someone else on the forum said, one of the things learned is to "hurry up and wait."

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My DS never did get a phone call from his MOC. It seems each MOC handles it differently. Some find out with portal change, some find out via phone call, and some find out with the BFE. Hang on, this is a marathon not a sprint. Good luck everyone.

Stalking is therapeutic

Part of the need to mailbox stalk is the act of getting out of the house and taking a walk to the mailbox. It is stress reducing and quite therapeutic for candidates and parents with mangled nerves.

Hahaha

I am the one that stated Hurry Up and Wait!

I also agree with Dad. I would bet the % of MOC's that call = the % that give principal noms.

I mean this with the utmost respect I can give.

What will happen will happen. What will be will be. The one thing you can't ever get back is time. I know you believe you are not impacting their life, and doing everything to support them. I would place Myrtle (my avatar) on this thought. However, the one thing we learned in this process 4 yrs ago, @ this time, actually a month earlier, was we lost sight of our DS's desires. We took the ball and ran believing we could assist. I was like you. It was posters like JAM, JamzMom, Mongo, and others that shook me into reality.

They posted guidance and reminded me this was his life, not ours. These AFA candidates probably applied for AFROTC, most will get a scholarship. We sat one night and asked pt blank if you could be guaranteed to get UPT (his dream career) from ROTC would you go to the AFA? He said I would go AFROTC. He also admitted he wanted the AFA because of the financial burden would not exist. That is not a reason to attend the AFA. It hurt us to our core he would sacrifice his happiness because he thought it would impact us financially.

We, as parents do not give enough credit to our children.

DS told us this after 4 p.m. Friday. That Monday he accepted his AFROTC scholarship, contacted the regional and the ALO. We are proud to say he has a UPT slot as an AFROTC candidate, attended his dream college, interned on the Hill.

If this is fate, it will be fate.

Pima said:

I do not mean to pry, but why don't you just email or call your RD? I would think there are reps that are lurkers on this site to gain more insight regarding candidates, just not positive they would register and pm you.

That being said, I want to stress the internet is not anonymous.

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I'm not 100% sure what you are trying to say here, but I don't know what a RD is. I just wanted some insight on how certain things are weighed... My son has a national award that is one of a kind and I didn't know if such a thing was even taken into consideration? Really a simple question, but I don't feel as though I want to be bothersome to representatives, ALO's, etc since I'm sure they have enough of their time taken up by impatient parents.

I've gone full circle with this acceptance thing... 100% sure he was getting in to 100% sure he's not. I'm come to terms one day and totally freaking out the next. Yes, he's amazing, no he's not perfect... every other candidate is amazing as well.

I figured if I asked someone to PM me - it would be at their own choice rather than imposing on someone, taking up their time when they really don't wish to be bothered.

Time sure seems to have been trickling like molasses lately hasn't it? Just hang in there, we'll all get through this!

Besides, it's like Zen meditation - ohhhhhmmm ohmmmm ohhhhhhh---oh poopydoo!

Your DS on his portal has an RD = Regional Director. That is the AFA contact for him. It is divided into regions and alphabetical.

I get you wanting info and not being bothersome, but as far as weighing most posters can give you the break down.

60% is PAR (academic/SAT/rank/rigor/school profile)
20% is EC
20% is Rec/etc

I didn't realize you were a parent and that was your question.

This really is a question within my own household. Hubby says USAFA doesnt care about something like that. I think they do. But I'm not sure it's something they have ever come across before. Didn't know if it had a weighing factor.

Bottom line. I can't wait for March to be over so we can move on - one way or another. It doesn't help that I have been prepping son for bad news and asked him how devastated he'd be on a scale of 1-10 if he didn't get in and he said 10.

I appreciate having somewhere to lose my mind... Lol.

I would think that any award that was recent (Sophomore year and later) and demonstrated Leadership/selfless service, and/or athletic ability/accomplishment, would add points to the WCS (Whole Candidate Score). I doubt if any one thing would add that much, but it is my understanding that every point is important, as I would not be surprised if the difference between receiving an appointment and getting a QNV could be as little as one point in the WCS.

This is why I think it is so important to have a Plan Bravo, and even Plans Charlie and Delta, in case the appointment does not come. I know my DS will be sorely disappointed if he does not get a BFE, and I will be disappointed for him, but he has back up plans in place. So while he is very hopeful, he is also somewhat philosophical about it. I have tried to emphasize to him that, no matter what happens, I am so very proud of him and all that he has accomplished so far and that I will continue to believe in him and be proud of him, no matter what his life brings him. I agree with Pima, that we parents should be careful not to foster a situation where our DS or DD reacts in response to potential outcomes based on what they think OUR reactions might be. It is their life, not ours. I want and hope that my DS lives his life for himself and not for anyone else.

2bornot2b said:

I agree with Pima, that we parents should be careful not to foster a situation where our DS or DD reacts in response to potential outcomes based on what they think OUR reactions might be. It is their life, not ours. I want and hope that my DS lives his life for himself and not for anyone else.

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I couldn't agree with you more. If this is something a parent is imposing on their child, how can your child fully excel and be happy and something he/she doesn't truly want? This is HIS dream, in fact he had always told me (from 6th-9th grade) - that he wanted to go to MIT. The summer between 9th and 10th grade, he went to the aviation challenge camp (at the USAFA campus) - that's when his decision was made, he was set on the USAFA. I was actually not really on board with the USAFA - being an AD Spouse, I didn't really want my son to be AD too. It's not a bad life, but there are many many challenges to face. I guess I had always hoped to keep him close to home.

I want this for him, because he wants it. I'd be happy to keep him around at a JC. I know what he has accomplished and what a great kid he is (probably why i'm not ready to kick him out the door just yet). I won't be disappointed IN him, i'll be disappointed FOR him.

In 31 days, hopefully we will all have answers...

2bornot2b said:

I agree with Pima, that we parents should be careful not to foster a situation where our DS or DD reacts in response to potential outcomes based on what they think OUR reactions might be. It is their life, not ours. I want and hope that my DS lives his life for himself and not for anyone else.

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This was the hardest lesson for me to learn last year. Letting my DS make the decision to attend USAFA. After all, in 4 short years he will be an officer in the US Air Force in the profession of arms, not me. He has the 5 year commitment, not me. He will put himself in harm's way if directed to do so, not me. I am proud of the research my son did in making his decision, and I am even grateful he asked for my perspective. I am even prouder that he made his choice on his own. When I asked how I can help, he said "Dad, college is on me." He is responsible for his actions now. He does his own taxes. He takes charge of his own laundry. He will make his choices for AFSC. You get the idea. When he comes "home" he is only just visiting.

We have some pretty awesome kids, don't we!

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DW and I had quite an epiphany when DS was interviewing with a USNA BGO. The BGO simply stated that the SA's are all equivalent to "Ivy League" schools and that if DS chose to go to MIT, Harvard, or Yale, she was sure he'd be accepted and do well. She seemed a little puzzled that we didn't realize that. It didn't occur to us to ask the USAFA ALO a question that would lead to that kind of statement, but I'm sure our ALO would have said the same. SO, if your DS or DD is 3Q for a service academy, they're not just good, they're fantastic!

DS wants to be an aeronautical engineer and serve our country in uniform. If he gets a TWE that certainly won't stop him from achieving this dream, he'll just take an alternate route. His plan B is to go to Texas A&M, and he's been accepted (and bugged once a week by somebody calling from there to check on him).

That being said...TOMORROW is MARCH!!! WOO HOOO! Let the mailbox stalking begin and don't scare the mail person when you run to the box as he's putting the mail in. I'm thinking of putting in a remote camera at the mailbox so that I can check on it with my cell-phone, or is that over the top?

prof,

No offense, but mailbox stalking this yr is still about 2 weeks away!

Dad,

I love your post. For me because I am a Mom and a wife, I call it cut the apron strings! Same theory. Their life. You raised a great kid, trust that; let them FLY! No pun intended.

Oh GOOD, two weeks away!!!

DW is a shopper, and is always looking for a bargain. I have time to bargain hunt! Maybe I can find a bargain camera at a garage sale! If I can't maybe I'll hire the pre-school kids across the street to watch for me and call! Or I can bribe the mail deliverer to call. I wish Google Earth had active satellite views! NASA, that's IT, I'll see if I can get some satellite time! See ya later, I've gotta find the phone number!

Thanks for making me laugh!

Romad said:

Time sure seems to have been trickling like molasses lately hasn't it? Just hang in there, we'll all get through this!

Besides, it's like Zen meditation - ohhhhhmmm ohmmmm ohhhhhhh---oh poopydoo!

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Thanks for making me laugh. This was the best post I've read yet!!

I also admit that I have been stalking my mailbox and checking the application website multiple times per day. It's very difficult to wait, and I appreciate the candid comments from other parents.

Applying to USAFA was all my son's idea in the first place. As a USMA grad, I told him it wouldn't be ANY fun, and if he wanted a better mix of fun, academics, and still have the opportunity to serve, he should choose ROTC (like his Dad did). He wanted to go to USAFA anyway.

So now that we've gotten through this entire multi-stage, complicated (but worth it) application process, we wait. We do have ROTC plan B and C, but USAFA is the first choice.

My parents always prepared me for the pessimist possibility ("You know, it might not work out the way you hope it does . . .") I don't want to be that kind of parent. Sometimes things don't work out the way you hope, but I want my son to have his dreams, and his is to be a pilot. I don't want to impose my fears on him. He's resilient and adaptable. I'm sure it will all work out for the best. I'm not sharing my anxiety level with my son.

Having said that, I am pretty much a basket-case checking my mailbox like the other parents who have posted. When my husband asked me if I checked the application website lately, I just stared at him and said: Well, yes, but I try to check just once a day. (That was earlier in Feb. Now I am checking three times a day.)

I wish everyone who has been offered an appointment the best of luck. Thanks again to those of you who shared your anxious feelings and made me feel better and not so alone.
v/r,

Always glad to help!