Presidential nom appointments timeline

Joined
Oct 4, 2015
Messages
36
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!
 
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!
Ps, I'm from southeast va (norfolk/va beach area) which I know is a very competitive area. That's why I am concerned with having the best consideration in all of my nom pools
 
I think you're mistaken about Presidential noms. They usually go last. If they can use a MOCs nomination to charge someone from the Presidential list, then they can pick some other desirable person on the Presidential list. They need to resolve most if not all the Moc nominations before going through that process. Of course my understanding could be all wet.

Nevertheless, I'm confident that whether it goes first or not you'll receive the proper consideration on all your nomination slates.
 
The key part is you applied to all available nom sources. USNA will move around a candidate on slates as they round out classes based upon their noms. Where you think you get charged and where you end up being charged can often be two different things. Presidential noms are very large, in years past it was ~800. Only 100 appointments can be Presidential. Yes, you have seen some folks get appointments already because they have Presidential noms. But Presidentials don't necessarily all go now or in April. They will roll out along the entire process. Right now USNA is reviewing applications and scoring them. Focus on the best package possible, that is all you can control. The way noms are done and appointments are a mix of science and art by the admissions board. They do this year end and year out and know how to move a candidate around to different nom sources as they are eligible.
 
The Admissions Board and the process of offering appointments (and being charged to the appropriate source) are two different and distinct processes. The Admissions Board only determines whether you are scholastically qualified, which is one of a few steps that COULD lead to an offer of appointment (other being nomination, medical, and physical). When your application is reviewed by the Admissions Board, you are either considered qualified, rejected, or deferred (normally wanting to see a increase SAT/ACT score, 1st semester grades, etc.). If the Admissions Board rejects you, it is pretty much the end of being considered for an offer of appointment (albeit, I am sure there are SOME cases that have been reversed), however, that normally isn't the outcome of the process (still possible for NAPS/Foundation). If you are deferred, the board wants some additional/more information before a final decision is made. So the answer is if you are deferred for increased testing scores....then those will be looked at. Either way, make sure USNA gets them because you normally do not know your scholastic qualification status.

Once you are qualified scholastically, medically, and physically and have a nomination, then the Office of Nominations and Appointments within the Admissions Office starts making those decisions based on many factors -- LOA, nomination slates (as explained in previous posts), whole person multiple, etc. This is a very complicated process that is beyond your control.
 
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
 
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!
 
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!
Thank you and best wishes on a new chapter in your life!

Oh, btw when do recommend taking the ACT or SAT and which one and how many times?
 
You're very welcome! Any other questions feel free to post again or pm me.
I strongly recommend taking both, but not taking either test for the first time until after completing algebra 2, probably either the last opportunity offered sophomore year or the first or second time offered during junior year. I would think it wouldn't be necessary to take either test more than 3 times (I took both twice, improved my scores on both tests, and was very happy with both scores so I didn't think it necessary to test again). Definitely take each, though, and take each more than once.
A kid I knew that didn't get in last year was top 10% of his class, NHS member, student council, sports captain, 5 on AP Calc BC, had like 4 different kinds of calculus classes under his belt (his school had a STEM academy), and probably a host of other things I don't know about (essay, recommendations. etc). The only thing that stood out to me that really would've hurt him was that he only took the ACT, and he only took it once (got a 31). Not to say tests are the be-all, end-all, just remember that these standardized tests are the ones they use to make sure they are comparing apples to apples, not comparing an A in a level 2 multivariable calc class with an easy teacher to a B- in a regular Calc 1 class with a hard teacher.
 
You're very welcome! Any other questions feel free to post again or pm me.
I strongly recommend taking both, but not taking either test for the first time until after completing algebra 2, probably either the last opportunity offered sophomore year or the first or second time offered during junior year. I would think it wouldn't be necessary to take either test more than 3 times (I took both twice, improved my scores on both tests, and was very happy with both scores so I didn't think it necessary to test again). Definitely take each, though, and take each more than once.
A kid I knew that didn't get in last year was top 10% of his class, NHS member, student council, sports captain, 5 on AP Calc BC, had like 4 different kinds of calculus classes under his belt (his school had a STEM academy), and probably a host of other things I don't know about (essay, recommendations. etc). The only thing that stood out to me that really would've hurt him was that he only took the ACT, and he only took it once (got a 31). Not to say tests are the be-all, end-all, just remember that these standardized tests are the ones they use to make sure they are comparing apples to apples, not comparing an A in a level 2 multivariable calc class with an easy teacher to a B- in a regular Calc 1 class with a hard teacher.
Thanks again!
 
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