Losing faith :(

khaddyx08

5-Year Member
Joined
May 15, 2013
Messages
43
Hi Y'all,

I have been losing hope! Any words of encouragement would help greatly.

The admissions office, as well as many of the members at USNA have not been very helping. They have been getting my email wrong every time I call, this has been more than 5 times. I have received nothing directly from them since my NASS application was handed in. I didn't even receive my yay or nay email from them about NASS, I had to call them after the deadline date. My BGO has different information of my records than the information I have received first hand from my counselor at USNA. I have called to clear things up, but even then they are very vague with me. The process is long and frustrating as is, especially being a HS junior. Can anyone give some words of what I should do?

Thanks.
 
Admissions is probably currently swamped with preparing for 2017.

Things should get better next month once they have some TAD officers and 2017 gets locked in.

If you haven't heard from NASS, best to get that sorted now, since it's about to begin. Otherwise, patience.
 
I have finally, after 2 months, received my status on NASS. It's just really frustrating trying to continue an application when you don't have the information to do so.
 
A couple of thoughts . . .

Your NASS application starts the process. Based on that information, USNA makes an initial determination regarding whether you are an "official candidate." If you are, you should receive a letter so stating and giving you access to CIS, where you can track the status of your application, etc.

Some candidates are not initially made "official candidates." They still show up in the BGO's system as "contact and counsel." The BGO will typically reach out to those students and discuss what might be preventing them from becoming an official candidate. This is usually, but not always, SAT/ACT scores.

In terms of CGO (Admissions), they have not really started to focus on your class. They are finalizing the Class of 2017, finalizing NASS slots, etc. By mid-June (or even better, early July), they will be fully engaged with 2018.

So have a little patience. NO decision is going to be made about anything for your class in the next couple of months.
 
Contact via Email

You mention calling the admissions office to give them information, such as your correct email address. One thing you might want to try is giving the information in writing rather than orally. Maybe Email admissions or even message them by facebook?
That not only allows them to keep your information that you directly submitted in writing (and as a result that information is less likely to be passed on incorrectly to others as it will be forwarded via email, not by mouth), but it also allows you to keep a written record.

Our D has had very little contact with USNA, but when she did need to reach out to them (one to update her NASS application and another time to ask a question) she did so in writing, received a courteous, timely response and she assumes had the information forwarded correctly and to the right people (as she was admitted to NASS soon after sending in updated information).

Giving information orally is like the telephone game...by the time it reaches the intended source the story and information have changed!

S
 
A couple of thoughts . . .

Your NASS application starts the process. Based on that information, USNA makes an initial determination regarding whether you are an "official candidate." If you are, you should receive a letter so stating and giving you access to CIS, where you can track the status of your application, etc.

Some candidates are not initially made "official candidates." They still show up in the BGO's system as "contact and counsel." The BGO will typically reach out to those students and discuss what might be preventing them from becoming an official candidate. This is usually, but not always, SAT/ACT scores.

In terms of CGO (Admissions), they have not really started to focus on your class. They are finalizing the Class of 2017, finalizing NASS slots, etc. By mid-June (or even better, early July), they will be fully engaged with 2018.

So have a little patience. NO decision is going to be made about anything for your class in the next couple of months.



The problem with my BGO is that my father had spoken with someone in admissions as well as someone who deals with the 2018 class to be and they had told him I was an Official Candidate. I wasn't chosen for NASS, but my application was considered as being one of an "Official Candidate."

The reasons for not getting into NASS were merely those of geographical area. This is what I was told.

My father, being a Lieutenant Commander, was able to get more information from my counselor because of his rank. He was told exactly why I wasn't chosen and that I was, like I said, an Official Candidate.

I had not taken my SATs prior to handing in my application for NASS, but I was told not to worry and to just get started on taking them now by said counselor because of a severe concussion I had gone through earlier this year. I have taken two since then.

My confusion is in why my counselor at USNA is telling my father I am an Official Candidate, while my BGO is seeing that I am only a Counselor Candidate.

I will be awaiting more news as the days come and I will breathe a little bit until I figure more out.
 
You mention calling the admissions office to give them information, such as your correct email address. One thing you might want to try is giving the information in writing rather than orally. Maybe Email admissions or even message them by facebook?
That not only allows them to keep your information that you directly submitted in writing (and as a result that information is less likely to be passed on incorrectly to others as it will be forwarded via email, not by mouth), but it also allows you to keep a written record.

Our D has had very little contact with USNA, but when she did need to reach out to them (one to update her NASS application and another time to ask a question) she did so in writing, received a courteous, timely response and she assumes had the information forwarded correctly and to the right people (as she was admitted to NASS soon after sending in updated information).

Giving information orally is like the telephone game...by the time it reaches the intended source the story and information have changed!

S


I have emailed AND called numerous times. This is why I am quite confused.
 
Based on USNA 1985's post, could it be that initially, when they got your package without SAT scores you were deemed competitive enough to be an official candidate, but your relatively low SAT scores knocked you out of that category?

I would advise you to (1) continue, very politely, with anything you need to do to make sure your contact information at USNA is correct; (2) again, very politely, perhaps reach out to your BGO to see if you could get some clarification whether you are in the "counsel" category because of SAT scores; and (3) as much as is compatible with your high school academic responsibilities and any lingering effects of the concussion, prep EVERY DAY to improve your SAT scores and take the SAT as many times as you can. I would also recommend preparing for and taking the ACT -- some students do much better with that format.

Your concussion sounds like a bad break that may have made it tough for you to do your best on the SAT/ACT. If you are that set on USNA or a service academy, have you looked into possibly doing a Postgraduate (PG) year, which is a fifth year of high school at a private school after you graduate from your school? Schools are often interested in PGs with athletic prowess, and your soccer might fit that bill. Financial aid may not be readily available, however, so a PG year might not be a good solution. But it might be worth investigating the PG year options.
 
All I know is of today, I had called my counselor again and he told me I WAS an Official Candidate. They have been confusing me lately, so I have just been going with the flow waiting for answers.

I think i'll be talking to my parents about the fifth year of high school. Maybe that would be good for me.
 
Do not get all discouraged about NASS. My Son applied and was turned down for the summer sessions at USNA, USMA, and USAFA! On June 27th he will be a part of the class of 2017 at USNA. Keep Grinding. It ain't over till its over.
 
My father, being a Lieutenant Commander, was able to get more information from my counselor because of his rank. He was told exactly why I wasn't chosen and that I was, like I said, an Official Candidate.


Ohhhh..... I wouldn't roll this one out there often. It's good you got the informationy you were looking for, but I would advise against too much of the "my dad's rank" stuff. When I was a cadet, a cadet two years behind me had a father that, at the time was a rear admiral. His father didn't even know he applied initially, and stayed out of the process once he did. Eventually his father was the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, and still stayed out of his son's affairs.

Obviously your father is able to understand some of the language your counselor might throw around, but before dishing out my rank I always understood someone well senior to me was likely a phone call away from calling me out.

That said, don't worry about not being selected. I never attended a summer program (didn't even know about them) but I got into my schools. You'll have plenty of classmates in the same boat. No reason to feel bad about. Just keep working hard and looking forward to that real goal.... because if you have to chose between the two, you'd take an acceptance to USNA over NASS any day of the week.
 
^^^^

Agree 100%. Parents' military rank nothing to do with what happens to the candidate. I know of many candidates whose parents are Captains -- and even Admirals -- who have received turndowns.

Also, you need to stop NOW having your dad or mom do things on your behalf. I can tell you as a BGO that nothing signals RED FLAG more than parents contacting me rather than the kids. Ditto for USNA Admissions.

Likewise, I find it VERY annoying when military parents try to throw around their rank. Thankfully, it happens rarely and when it does, it has the exact opposite of its intended effect. I'm a civilian so a military parent poses no threat to my career. And again, it makes me wonder who really wants the kid to go to USNA -- the kid or the parent.
 
All I know is of today, I had called my counselor again and he told me I WAS an Official Candidate. They have been confusing me lately, so I have just been going with the flow waiting for answers.

I think i'll be talking to my parents about the fifth year of high school. Maybe that would be good for me.

Your tag says you come from Pennsylvania -- one school to check out would be Mercersberg Academy in Pennsylvania; I know that have a postgraduate (PG) program and I think it's reasonably extensive. I've known a couple families with kids who did a PG year there or attended it for all of high school and they had very good experiences. Again, I just don't know if financial aid is available, if that's an issue.

Good luck, and keep working on those SAT/ACT scores (including trying to do a lot of reading, which helps vocabulary and reading comprehension). Maybe find some books about the miltiary at your local library and kill two birds with one stone this summer.
 
Thanks Y'all. The only reason my father contacted admission was to clear it up after they didn't help me. This whole process of applying has been all my doing, he just stepped in when things got too confusing that even he didn't understand.

My father lets me do my thing. He's the dad to eleven children, and I would be the first of eleven to follow through with college and not start a family right away. (whatever college I may attend) For any fathers on this thread, you understand how proud he is of me for even taking this step. Don't worry! I'm doing the work.

I recently received my "official candidate" letter, so that all is also cleared up. What exactly does it mean to be an official candidate?
 
Last edited:
You are one of probably around 10,000+ Official Candidates like myself. Your test scores are likely at least good enough to put you into some consideration. That's really all it means.
 
You are one of probably around 10,000+ Official Candidates like myself. Your test scores are likely at least good enough to put you into some consideration. That's really all it means.

I mean, I knew that much. I was just wondering if it puts a good impression on you when they start to look for the class of 2018.
 
khaddyx08,

I HIGHLY (emphasis added) suggest you read the Admissions web page and steps for admissions, the USNA Catalog (entire thing is on USNA's website), and Facebook page. The answer to many of your questions, specifically to the Official Candidate can be answered there.
 
khaddyx08,

I HIGHLY (emphasis added) suggest you read the Admissions web page and steps for admissions, the USNA Catalog (entire thing is on USNA's website), and Facebook page. The answer to many of your questions, specifically to the Official Candidate can be answered there.

I've read through the Admissions page and steps for admissions many times. But some questions have yet to be answered, tis why I have posted them here. There are basic information to applying and so on, but I haven't found anything about what an "official candidate" actually means.
 
I mean, I knew that much. I was just wondering if it puts a good impression on you when they start to look for the class of 2018.

Being an official candidate means one thing and one thing only: you can apply. Period. All applicants are official candidates, so you're not in a better position than anyone else as a result of being an official candidate.
 
but I haven't found anything about what an "official candidate" actually means.

It's spelled out very clearly on the Steps for Admissions:

"If the information provided in your Preliminary Application indicates your record is strong enough, you will become an official candidate for admission and you will receive a candidate information letter as early as the July prior to your high school senior year. Upon completion of your candidate file, the Admissions Board will review your record."

If you meet the minimum academic standards, you will be notified that you are an official candidate and you will be given instructions on how to complete the remainder of your online application.
 
Back
Top