1 Month Since BGO Interview

6

697biling

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2016
Messages
84
I completed my BGO Interview a month ago, which was the last part of my USNA packet. I've checked my portal periodically and noticed that while I've completed my interview, my portal still hasn't been updated. After sending a follow-up email to my BGO last week, I still haven't gotten a response from him. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, must my interview be included for my packet to be reviewed?

I understand that Blue and Gold Officers volunteer their time to do their jobs, and I appreciate that. I don't want this post to give off the wrong vibe to some readers.
 
697biling said:
I completed my BGO Interview a month ago, which was the last part of my USNA packet. I've checked my portal periodically and noticed that while I've completed my interview, my portal still hasn't been updated. After sending a follow-up email to my BGO last week, I still haven't gotten a response from him. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, must my interview be included for my packet to be reviewed?

I understand that Blue and Gold Officers volunteer their time to do their jobs, and I appreciate that. I don't want this post to give off the wrong vibe to some readers.
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There are multiple threads on this issue giving advice about what to do. Generally, people said to wait it out. Supposedly, the Admissions Board may consider your packet without the BGO input.

My DS is in similiar circumstances as you. Took months for the BGO to respond to have an interview. The USNA Admission Officer had to get involved. Now, it's almost three weeks since his BGO interview and no word. Just going to sit tight. Nothing you can do.

Welcome to the joys of "Hurry up and Wait."
 
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Padre101 said:
There are multiple threads on this issue giving advice about what to do. Generally, people said to wait it out. Supposedly, the Admissions Board may consider your packet without the BGO input.

My DS is in similiar circumstances as you. Took months for the BGO to respond to have an interview. The USNA Admission Officer had to get involved. Now, it's almost three weeks since his BGO interview and no word. Just going to sit tight. Nothing you can do.

Welcome to the joys of "Hurry up and Wait."
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Did you prompt the intervention of your Admissions counselor? If so, how long did you wait before contacting that individual?
 
697biling said:
Did you prompt the intervention of your Admissions counselor? If so, how long did you wait before contacting that individual?
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My DS contacted his Admissions Counselor after several months of contacting the BGO was ignored. Within a couple of days, the BGO contacted my DS. We're assuming the Admissions Counselor contacted the BGO.
 
697biling said:
I completed my BGO Interview a month ago, which was the last part of my USNA packet. I've checked my portal periodically and noticed that while I've completed my interview, my portal still hasn't been updated. After sending a follow-up email to my BGO last week, I still haven't gotten a response from him. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, must my interview be included for my packet to be reviewed?

I understand that Blue and Gold Officers volunteer their time to do their jobs, and I appreciate that. I don't want this post to give off the wrong vibe to some readers.[/QUO My son had his this summer and it was about a month before it was posted.
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697biling said:
I completed my BGO Interview a month ago, which was the last part of my USNA packet. I've checked my portal periodically and noticed that while I've completed my interview, my portal still hasn't been updated. After sending a follow-up email to my BGO last week, I still haven't gotten a response from him. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, must my interview be included for my packet to be reviewed?

I understand that Blue and Gold Officers volunteer their time to do their jobs, and I appreciate that. I don't want this post to give off the wrong vibe to some readers.
Click to expand...

Our DD keeps in touch with her BGO weekly... informing him of her activities such as track and field results, ACT/SAT retake scores, NASS results, ... He got used to her emails and she never requested an answer. He became more active with her. She completed her application by 7 July. Got her interview two weeks later. It took him another week to submit. Anyhow, maybe DD was lucky to have a responsive BGO. Hang in there and best wishes.
 
While each BGO is different...definitely do not recommend doing weekly emails (although, this seemed to work for April75's DD), unless specifically asked for. Some BGOs can have lots of candidates (15-20+) and a weekly email from every candidate would be hard to commit to memory, much less just to read. What I recommend, and is probably a good general rule-of-thumb...if a candidate is going to email admissions to update their file...CC (email) the BGO or back-fill them...so he/she is aware of the important updates. BGOs do not need to know every single track time, the number of goals kicked in each soccer game, etc. It is a good idea to update on significant achievements...improvement on SAT/ACT scores (although, BGOs will have access to this information in time), a state championship or national level performance, a significant award, etc. This would be in addition to a resume (provided at the BGO interview).

As far as the original question...the package will be reviewed by the Admissions Board whether the interview is completed or not. If the write-up doesn't get done...then the onus isn't on the candidate (at some point the package will just go to the AB). A friendly, civil reminder is appropriate...give it another week or two, if that doesn't work...try picking up the phone instead of sending another email!
 
As a BGO and Area Coordinator, if you are not hearing from your BGO for weeks, after repeated attempts with email/voicemail, contact the AC or the RD. Yes, we are volunteers, but if we don't have time to give the BGO Program the proper attention, we probably should not be doing it.

As stated, the Admissions Board will look at candidates whose applications are 100% complete. The BGO interview is desired, but not required. We do get beat up by Admissions for overdue interviews.

Patience is important however. If the BGO has not submitted an interview, the AC should (ideally) notice, based upon the Students Notes BGOs should be writing on their candidates, which the AC can see.

This year is also a bit unique, as the Admissions Board has several new members, so things have been slower than previous cycles.

Hang in there!!
 
I understand that BGOs have busy lives. My DS's BGO is a Navy Lieutenant Commander with a lots of responsibilities. I admire her willingness to take on the added burden of doing this important voluntary duty.

However, I'm sure everyone knows that this is a two-way street. While the BGO is assessing and judging the candidate, the candidate is assessing and judging the BGO who is the representative of the USNA and the Navy as a whole. The BGO is literally the face of the institution and service.

How can a candidate, who is applying to multiple SAs and ROTC programs, NOT compare and contrast the treatment he/she receives from people who represent their respective programs???
ALOs, FFOs, BGOs, AOs, ROOs, Admissions Officers, etc have to realize that these candidates are at an impressionable age and will perceive their treatment as very personal. The question a candidate will have is "If this BGO treats me with such indifference and nonresponsiveness, will the faculty and cadre at USNA treat me the same way?" The answer is definitely going to be "No," but why create the doubt.

These candidates have pushed themselves to be at the top in academics, athletics and leadership. They have sacrificed sleep, free time, and other things their peers do to be in the position they are in as competitive applicants. Some have dreamed of going to a SA since they were kids. This means a lot to them.

If you want the best and brightest to not only apply to your SA, but accept the appointment if given one, then word has to get out that representatives of the SAs are under the looking-glass too.
 
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usnabgo08 said:
While each BGO is different...definitely do not recommend doing weekly emails (although, this seemed to work for April75's DD), unless specifically asked for. Some BGOs can have lots of candidates (15-20+) and a weekly email from every candidate would be hard to commit to memory, much less just to read. What I recommend, and is probably a good general rule-of-thumb...if a candidate is going to email admissions to update their file...CC (email) the BGO or back-fill them...so he/she is aware of the important updates. BGOs do not need to know every single track time, the number of goals kicked in each soccer game, etc. It is a good idea to update on significant achievements...improvement on SAT/ACT scores (although, BGOs will have access to this information in time), a state championship or national level performance, a significant award, etc. This would be in addition to a resume (provided at the BGO interview).

As far as the original question...the package will be reviewed by the Admissions Board whether the interview is completed or not. If the write-up doesn't get done...then the onus isn't on the candidate (at some point the package will just go to the AB). A friendly, civil reminder is appropriate...give it another week or two, if that doesn't work...try picking up the phone instead of sending another email!
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I should have been more clear... It was the end of April when DD was competing in two events at State. Again, I feel fortunate to have an active BGO. Thank you for chiming in. Great input. Again, best wishes to you, 697biling.
 
For candidates out there, please do not feel you have to email your BGO weekly or monthly or even occasionally. Virtually all of my successful candidates contact me WRT the interview and then maybe, just maybe, if they receive an LOA or appointment. That is more than fine. I'm their BGO, not their mother or father or best friend. As BGO08 says, some BGOs such as myself, have 25-30 candidates/year. I would go nuts if each of them emailed me weekly.:eek: Just sayin':)

The above said, I am NOT criticizing the OP's DD for frequent contact. Some BGOs are very involved with their candidates -- b/c the BGO has a lot of free time, or has few candidates, or for some other reason. If you have such a relationship with your BGO, that's great.

The point is that, if you don't have such a relationship -- if you're not in constant contact with your BGO -- DO NOT WORRY. I've been a BGO for more than 15 years and had over 70 candidates receive appointments. Of that number, at most 5 have kept me up to date with major events in their lives on about a monthly basis. The rest have not -- and it made absolutely zero difference in the way I viewed them as a candidate -- and obviously didn't hurt their admissions chances.

Emailing your BGO weekly is no more likely to result in an appointment than simply communicating promptly and responsibly with respect to the BGO interview. Communicate frequently if it works for both of you, but don't by any means believe it is expected.
 
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