So you find yourself on the wait list...

Physicsguru

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Welcome to limbo for a few more months. The good news is you haven't been rejected outright, but the bad news is you haven't been accepted. There are lots of questions you're likely asking yourself, like "what are my chances?", "Are there appointments left?", "What can I do to improve my chances?".

Here's my disclaimer: I'm not a representative from the Academy, nor do I speak from any inside information. Objee is volunteering information from the admissions office, and I grateful for his insights. Also, he is not a decision maker in the admissions process (I'm assuming).

Objee said it best when he said that the AD can convene a waitlist board. That means the competition is still on. Someone waitlisted from EA1 has no advantage over the last person waitlisted in RA if and when that board convenes. IMO, that means candidates need to keep making themselves competitive!

If you haven't sent in your first semester 12th grade transcript yet, do that now. If you're on trimesters and you have a new batch of grades in, send in that transcript. Keep in touch with your AO's and make sure they're aware you're still interested. If you've added any achievements (team captain, community projects, etc.), make sure you document and update your files.

After all that is done, keep working on the plan B/C. If you have a slot to another school, fantastic! If you haven't, you should be working on that. Also look into alternate commissioning paths. Remember, once you're in the fleet, no one cares where you got your commission, just that you can do your job.

If you don't get into 2018, and you still have your heart set on attending the academy, go ahead and apply for 2019. Personally, I would recommend a service academy prep program, but that is not a requirement. Just make sure you are taking college level courses similar to a 4/c at the academy (Composition, Chemistry, Precalc or Calc, and maybe Physics or Pre-engineering) to show that you can succeed at college level work.

All this is old guy advice from someone on the outside looking in. Best of luck to everyone, and keep looking forward. As I was told a lifetime ago in flight school, you should never worry about runway behind you, altitude above you, and fuel you've already burned.
 
Great stuff Physicsguru!

One thing we learned last week speaking with Admissions folks is that no one from RA is put on the wait list. The wait list is strictly for EA folks.

While there seems to be a large wait list from last year, I was told it is largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Also keep in mind that I believe it was Objee that mentioned in another thread that the class size is slightly larger this year at 250 so that is promising (for at least 25 people anyhow)

I can only imagine the angst that many are feeling right at this point, but know that a decision is soon coming and always have a plan B in place.

These boards have been incredibly helpful to us and our DS through the process. Reading back through the Spring posts in prior years was touch and this year will be no exception. Remember, if you've done everything you can to present the best application then you've done all you can. What will be will be .

Best of luck to everyone still waiting.
 
Great stuff Physicsguru!

One thing we learned last week speaking with Admissions folks is that no one from RA is put on the wait list. The wait list is strictly for EA folks.

While there seems to be a large wait list from last year, I was told it is largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Also keep in mind that I believe it was Objee that mentioned in another thread that the class size is slightly larger this year at 250 so that is promising (for at least 25 people anyhow)

I can only imagine the angst that many are feeling right at this point, but know that a decision is soon coming and always have a plan B in place.

These boards have been incredibly helpful to us and our DS through the process. Reading back through the Spring posts in prior years was touch and this year will be no exception. Remember, if you've done everything you can to present the best application then you've done all you can. What will be will be .

Best of luck to everyone still waiting.

Thanks much, but let me make one correction. Three of my students were waitlisted last week, so there are RA candidates being waitlisted as well as selected or denied.
 
interesting....we were told differently.

Either way, hoping for the best for them.
 
Thanks much, but let me make one correction. Three of my students were waitlisted last week, so there are RA candidates being waitlisted as well as selected or denied.

Those three are "still under consideration" and not on the wait list until they receive an official notification letter offering them a spot on the wait list. If someone (other than the Director of Admissions) told them or you that they were offered spots on the wait list, you may want to recommend they confirm/double check that status on Monday.
 
Those three are "still under consideration" and not on the wait list until they receive an official notification letter offering them a spot on the wait list. If someone (other than the Director of Admissions) told them or you that they were offered spots on the wait list, you may want to recommend they confirm/double check that status on Monday.

Will do. Thanks much!
 
Thanks much, but let me make one correction. Three of my students were waitlisted last week, so there are RA candidates being waitlisted as well as selected or denied.

How did they know they were wait listed?
 
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