Hi all,
First time poster here, although I've been chasing an appointment to usna since before I can even remember. I competed my application within the first week of September with 5 possible nom sources (pres.. Vpres., 2 senators, and congressman) and from my bgo as well as other posters on this forum I understand that 1) the admissions process goes by nom source where you compete within each of your nom sources, and 2) the presidential noms are the first to go through this process. My first question then, is when might all of the appointments from the presidential noms finish going out? And also, I just now got my ACT scores from the September 12 test date. If those get to the academy after they have reviewed (and let's say denied) my application in the presidential nom pool, is there any chance my app would be reconsidered with the new scores? Or is it just a case of better luck next nom pool?
Thanks!
Ben, Congrats! I noticed your good news. What a relief it is. Thank you for your decision to serve our Country.
Can I ask, based upon your experience and the information you posted, was your appointment based upon the Presidential Nomination? Can you give us a lesson-learned as to when you completed the different facts of your application especially in light of the fact that you're from VA a very competitive venue. Also, can you give us a summary of your qualifications, activities and achievements if you don't mind. You can private message me if you feel more comfortable doing that. Appreciate it very much. Padre
Thank you! Yes my appointment was based on my presidential nom, none of my moc's have done interviews yet. I have wanted to go to the Academy since I was very little, so naturally, I started the process early. I went to Summer Seminar so my preliminary app was done way early, and I got my official candidate letter in late May. I started asking for letters of recommendation around late June, which was a good choice because my last one didn't get submitted until mid-August. I had my candidate activities record, personal info thing, and essays (nom essays included) all done around mid-July (although my activities record didn't get submitted until late August because your counselor has to check it, and she didn't come back to work until then). I got the dodmerb letter around mid August but didn't go to the exams until the second week of September since the optometrist they sent me to was booked until then. Lastly my bgo interview was also about the second week of September, it would've been earlier but he was very busy with work so we kept having to push back for several weeks.
Moral of the story is start as early as possible, because your (or your DS/DD'S) application will require you/him or her to coordinate a lot of things with a lot of people. Plus putting your app in early gives you a slight advantage since you're likely to get reviewed more times.
As for qualifications, I never thought I was that special our unique, I just had a lot of things under my belt and high grades.
4.64 weighted/3.99 unweighted GPA
10 AP Classes by graduating (physics 1, chem, both calcs included)
AP Scholar with distinction
Captain 2 Varsity Lacrosse teams (school/club)
Eagle scout (special note-my eagle project was unique and difficult enough that I thought I could use it for the optional "describe an adversity you overcame or a special challenge you conquered" prompt on the personal data record. I guess it helped, so that shows it's the little extra efforts that count)
President/vp of a couple school clubs
Student council freshman/sophomore years
National Honors Society
French National Honors Society (officer)
4
strong letters of recommendation (2 required, both teachers that loved me, 1 from my lacrosse coach of 6 years, 1 from my Ap physics teacher who loved me)
A good, strongly worded, passionate essay (I've only ever wanted to go to USNA)
I'm probably forgetting a few but those are the most important ones. A good balance between academic, leadership, and physical qualifications really can't be over stressed. Hope this helps and good luck in the app process!