Interviews

Hi,

So I have my congressional nomination interview sometime this weekend, and my first priority school is USAFA. I know this interview will be my USAFA interview as well since the ALO is the same. My question is that since I am applying to USNA also, will I have to do a separate interview for USNA as well (BGO interview)?

One interview should cover all the academies. What state are you in? My DS (Michigan) is aware of one interview but it is not until December.

I am a little confused on the context of your question....

However, the bottom line is there are potentially two separate interview processes when applying to USNA:
(1) Your BGO interview which is specifically for your USNA application -- this MUST be conducted (exceptions are delinquent interviews on the fault of a BGO)
(2) MOC Nomination Interview which is only for your nomination. This may or may not happen depending on the nomination requirements of your MOC. If they require an interview and you are applying to multiple SAs, they might only interview you once for all SAs you are seeking a nomination to OR they might make you interview multiple times -- it all depends on what that MOC wants to do and how their boards are set up. However, consult your official MOC documentation to determine their requirements or contact their SA coordinator to get clarification.

If BGOs sit on a MOC nomination board, they ARE NOT authorized to interview (or vote on) their own candidates. Bottom line, is if the MOC requires an interview (at least one) for a nomination, then you will have at least two interviews in the process for applying to USNA. Hopefully this answers your question?

Also, my understanding was that ALOs could not sit on MOC boards -- maybe someone can answer that. Even if allowed, it doesn't seem ethical for an ALO to interview their own candidates --- conflict of interest.

My BGO is on my Senator's Nomination Panel. He held the BGO separately a couple weeks before the nomination interview, and then stepped out during my interview with the Senator's panel. This is basically reaffirming what was said before but I hope it helps.

Just to keep interview information in one thread...Does anyone have specific advice for Nomination Interviews? I know plenty about interview etiquette and have done multiple interviews, but if anyone has some specific tips that might not be obvious it would be helpful.

(1) Answer the question. Yes, it sounds basic...but many candidates tend to answer around the question. So, when the question is being asked...think what is exactly being asked for you to answer...not necessarily the answer you want to provide.
(2) Answer the question honestly and be able to defend your answers.

It is really that simple beyond the common etiquette that you seem to know (look people in the eye, no fidgeting, etc.).

Hi,
So I went to my Congressman's website and re-read the information. It says be interviewed by the ALO of the academy of your first choice. For me this was USAFA. Im under the assumption this interview will be for both USAFA and my congressional nomination - it would be pretty weird to have an interview with the same person again. So ive gotten from this thread that i must have my BGO interview as well since it is specifically for USNA. I will confirm with the ALO ill meet this weekend that this is the case.
Thanks,
Lahey

For USNA applicants, meeting with your BGO is a separate part of the application process, distinct from the MOC NOM interview. Those applying do both.

For the other person asking (post #5), you can search back on older threads about what to expect for NOM interviews.

DH2015 said:

Just to keep interview information in one thread...Does anyone have specific advice for Nomination Interviews? I know plenty about interview etiquette and have done multiple interviews, but if anyone has some specific tips that might not be obvious it would be helpful.

Click to expand...

Take some time to do some research about the branches of the military that you are applying for. Know a little bit about what those services do. Have an answer to questions about why you want to join that service and what you are interested in doing after graduation.