Vacancy Winner

Jeff62064

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2013
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On Facebook, Westpoint admissions said that the people that are hearing about appointments now are, "Vacancy Winners". What exactly is a vacancy winner?
 
Each representative/ congressman can have a certain amount of people attending at any given time. Let's say 5, if two graduated then they have two vacancies. There are some that may have only one.
 
Each representative/ congressman can have a certain amount of people attending at any given time. Let's say 5, if two graduated then they have two vacancies. There are some that may have only one.

Then my assumption is that the only way you can "Win" the vacancy is to be selected as principal? I just have not heard the term "winning the vacancy" here.
 
Each Member of Congress is allowed to have a maximum of five cadets attending the Academy at one time. For each cadet vacancy that occurs, the member may nominate up to 10 candidates to be considered for appointment.Vacancies occur when cadets graduate or leave prior to graduation.
 
So, if they only have 1 vacancy and they have given a primary nom. That person is guaranteed to get in unless they are not 3 q'd. Then it goes to the alternative. For those in office that don't nominate a primary. The academy gets to choose who get the nomination.
 
It is probably those with principal nominations who are 3Qd. Basically, nobody else can take their spot until they accept or deny the appointment. If they deny, this early notification will give admissions more time to offer the spot to the next candidate.

And the chance of denial is probably fairly high for these candidates. If you're qualified enough to receive a notification this early, you are probably also interested in other academies and other top schools. Nonetheless, the academies have a really high offer acceptance rate overall

That's my educated guess.
 
Not all states do it the same way. McCain lets the academy pick. But yes in some states if your not a primary your chances are significantly lower for an appointment under that
 
It is probably those with principal nominations who are 3Qd. Basically, nobody else can take their spot until they accept or deny the appointment. If they deny, this early notification will give admissions more time to offer the spot to the next candidate.

And the chance of denial is probably fairly high for these candidates. If you're qualified enough to receive a notification this early, you are probably also interested in other academies and other top schools. Nonetheless, the academies have a really high offer acceptance rate overall

That's my educated guess.


I would agree, many of them have applied to more than one SA!
 
So in summary, it sounds like Principal nom + 3Q = Vacancy Winner/appointment and these are the BFE's that are going out this week????
 
Not all vacancy winners are principal nominees. Some win a competitive slate. Some of those who would win competitively are getting offers if they are almost a sure win. Much like forecasting who wins an election, you don't always need a hundred percent reporting (file completion deadline) to make the call. Some are clear winners and 999/1000, WP makes the right call when they offer early.
 
I have to be more direct with my question. DS is a principal nom with 3Q. Westpoint states on their Facebook page that Vacancy Winners are receiving offers this week. Will DS receive an early offer this week?
 
Crystal Ball

Your question reminds me of that plastic eight ball that supposedly predicts the future. lol

Answer: "The Future is Murky"

The only one that knows for sure is West Point.
 
Not all states do it the same way. McCain lets the academy pick. But yes in some states if your not a primary your chances are significantly lower for an appointment under that

Actually, Senator McCain submits a ranked slate- Principal and then alternates are ranked 2-10, thereafter. It is Senator Flake that submits a competitive slate and allows the academy to choose the vacancy winner. :thumb:
 
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I have to be more direct with my question. DS is a principal nom with 3Q. Westpoint states on their Facebook page that Vacancy Winners are receiving offers this week. Will DS receive an early offer this week?

If your DS has a principal nom and is 3Q, he will get an appointment -- it is the law. Whether he gets it this week, or next week or in the next month is up to USMA.
 
I got my appointment yesterday and I did not have an LOA nor was I a principle nominee. I did have two nominations though so that may have made a difference. I did receive a LOE in September, however.
 
DS also got the call last night about his appointment and did not have an LOA nor was he a principle nominee. Although he also did receive two nominations (Senatorial and Congressional) WP only had his Senatorial one as the Congressman hasn't even submitted the slate yet. He also received an LOE in mid November.
 
Same here. 10 person slate on a congressional nom. with an LOE. Accepted two days ago. (1/13/2014)
 
DS was not principal, nor was he ranked #1 in district. Received congressional nom when he had 30 on ACT (29 math) and 690/690 on SAT. He was told by RC throughout the fall that he was #2 and he should improve ACT/SAT to be "more competitive." Oct ACT up to 33 (still 29 math). RC says to get ACT math up "3-4" pts to me "more competitive." DS picked up a Senatorial nom also along the way. Took the ACT again in December - 34 on math - 5 pts!!!!. It takes FOREVER for WP to get those scores updated to the portal. So, as soon as DS had them, he emailed RC. Still #2 :frown:

We thought he'd have to win Senatorial slot or NWL. We knew we were going to be waiting. Then, out of nowhere, the RC says that our Representative had two slots this year and that DS's ACT score now put the second slot out of reach of the other candidates. I couldn't believe it because NO ONE in the congressional office seemed to know that they had two slots this year.

That conversation with the RC about the new ACT math score took place on 8 January (DS had just gotten the Dec ACT Official Report and forwarded it to WP). On 14 January, DS received a call from the Congressman. I guess he won the second slot.

I could go on and on about all the twists and turns, but I will say that the advice given on this board is very good. Tugboat, Big Nick, etc. Those people know what they are talking about. Sometimes, it seems they know more than the BGO's/FFR's/Congressional staff. It may not always be what you want to hear, but get those SAT/ACT scores up, especially the Math. It's not a guarantee that you will get in (without that second slot, my DS could have been shut out with a 34 Superscore), but it sure improves the odds.

Some of this process is pure luck, e.g. a second slot the year you apply. But, remember - The Harder You Work, The Luckier You Are.
 
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