Nom Advice??

DS has an LOE for USMA. He was DQed for med reasons, remedial info requested as part of original review. A waiver was requested in November - no requests for additional info have been made. In our district can only apply for nom to one academy. Requested USMA as that was his first choice. He received a first alternate nomination from congressman, not principal (DS picked up that district may have two open slots, as someone didn't get chraged or left early or something last year). So as I understand it, if he gets a waiver he will likely be placed on NWL.

He also applied for USNA. No LOA, but likely competitive (has attended SS, invited for CVW, B&G very enthusiastic etc.) - he has a strong file but who knows how strong. Anyway, USNA requested waiver also - it was quickly granted less than a month after requestd, no restrictions including marine corp. But... didin't apply to congressman and ranked USNA #2 on apps to senators.

So.... yesterday there is a message from one of the senators office. They are inquiring about his app and nom status. When he calls back are there thoughts on what might be more advantageous for him to try and compete for - a nom to USNA or a second nom to USMA (if they will even give that - it seems as if they are trying to coordinate).

Does a second nomination to USMA afford any benefit ? (at this point since it is so late in the game and it is NY, I would expect that there are several candidates on that senators list that are more competitive and he will already be placed on the waiting list if cleared).
A nomination to USNA would presumably put him on the NWL and give him a chance if USMA doesn't waive.

Likes USMA better but it was a tough decision and USNA is a fine alternative

If your son is truly interested in going to USNA (understand it is his second choice) I would try to get the nomination to USNA due to already having the medical waiver. That waiver for USMA may never come and if it does he does have a nom and LOE so probably has a good chance. It is hard to predict.

That is how I would advise my son. Sometimes my son takes my advice and sometimes he doesn't.

Good luck.

If I had to make decision, I will ask for USNA nomination.

Majority of cases, Senatorial vacancy winners are more "qualified" than Congressional vacancy winners. So your DS won't likely win the Senator's vacancy. So I don't get getting a second nomination to USMA won't help. Sometime MOCs use principal nomination to get less qualified candidates in with an assumption that more qualified candidate will get an appointment from NWL (very dangerous).

That is the way I was seeing it too and that is almost exactly how I put it to him last night when we briefly talked about it. Thought I would see if there was some angle I was missing or didn't understand before he calls SEn office back this PM or tomorrow. Thanks for quick response.

As for really wanting to attend, who knows with teenagers. He was all USNA going into SS but that is where he flipped and came out thinking USMA was a better fit (went to SLS back to back). He still says he is interested. He seems to think that Navy is less people oriented in their service mission (more remote??) and the academics seem broader to him at Westpoint. Big decisions for his life so I try to keep my distance and stay content that he has provided himself such great opportunities. No matter what, he will be fine and if the "process" passes him by - they missed a good one.

@ LG .... Agreed. One of the unknowns is how much his med condition played in congressional nom. The ALO said in first meeting with him last year, at which I was present, that they would never give a principle nom to candidate that wasn't med cleared, since if he were DQed I guess they would loose the power of the "principle" nom. As he wasn't med cleared this may have been part of the "calculus" - he was certainly asked about is DODMRB status at multiple points through the extensive interview process. It might also have been that he was the second most "qualified" - no sense worrying about things you can't control.

Don't think it changes much, as from my POV - there are likely folks higher on the SEN slate or they would have contacted him earlier.

USNA

Based on other thread posts, getting a navy waiver is virtually a lock for getting an appointment, even off the NWL, because Navy - unlike the other academies typically does not send a candidate for a waiver unless they are very likely to offer. I am highly qualified (accepted to two other academies already and LOE to USMA -received waivers for a DQ from them already), but with no MOC Navy nomination yet the USNA has stated that without a nomination there is no need to seek a waiver. The fact that they sought a waiver for your son before he got a nomination is a very strong signal. Just more food for thought. Good luck!

@ Goaltoserve

Thanks for the input. Out of curiosity how long did it take for a waiver from USMA?? It is strange to me that it takes this long when there is no additional info required and no additional tests requested etc. The DQ was because he has some abnormal blood tests that might indicate increased bleeding tendency when he was 4 years old. No problems and never been treated. Multi-contact sport athlete including Hockey and lacrosse so plenty of opportunity to bleed .

acadadad said:

@ Goaltoserve

Thanks for the input. Out of curiosity how long did it take for a waiver from USMA?? It is strange to me that it takes this long when there is no additional info required and no additional tests requested etc. The DQ was because he has some abnormal blood tests that might indicate increased bleeding tendency when he was 4 years old. No problems and never been treated. Multi-contact sport athlete including Hockey and lacrosse so plenty of opportunity to bleed .

Click to expand...

Unofficial time for processing medical waiver is about 6 weeks. So depends on when in November, with Thanksgiving and Chritmas holidays, your DS is at the 6 weeks mark.

Recommend contacting the admissions office to get an update. My Regional Commander is good about being honest with candidates about their chance of appointments. It's judgement call, I don't think most RC officers will not hold it against your DS for considering Navy.

acadadad said:

Likes USMA better but it was a tough decision and USNA is a fine alternative

Click to expand...

I think you should send an email to your RC and then call. 1st, find out the status of the waiver. It is a 30-90 day process, but they should be able to update you. 2nd, see if they can give you advice about the whether a second nomination would help with USMA admission or if it wouldn't.