USNA Applications

USNA1982BGO

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Per an email from our Area Coordinator:

"USNA is 2,000 applicants ahead of last year (which was the biggest year in 40 years), and the competition is EXTREMELY keen for 2014."

Looks to be a very interesting cycle this year. Therefore, my humble notion is that in no way should we make comparisons to selections in past years. Large numbers of applications does not necessarily spell doom and gloom; each candidate must be academically and physically qualified and receive a nomination. Best advice is to not procrastinate in gathering and submitting all your information.

I would remain very patient throughout this entire process this year; things may not happen as rapidly as in past years.
 
My daughter got this email last week from a track coach at USNA.

"We have 13,000 high school seniors who have already applied with nearly half of them being 75% done with their application. Next year's class will be about 1,100 students. Our admission folks have determined that the incoming class could be closed as early as middle to late October!"

Is this a possibility?
 
I am a parent of a candidate so don't have any official information. But I find it hard to believe that anything would close in October. Most MOC's have a deadline of October 31st or earlier to turn in your applications to them and MOC deadlines to turn in their nomination slate is usually January 31. So I don't see how the incoming class could be closed in October. I'd be curious to hear from the BGOs on this forum. I have heard that the number of LoAs going out is less this year.
 
My daughter got this email last week from a track coach at USNA.

"We have 13,000 high school seniors who have already applied with nearly half of them being 75% done with their application. Next year's class will be about 1,100 students. Our admission folks have determined that the incoming class could be closed as early as middle to late October!"

Is this a possibility?

Based on my limited understanding of the admissions prcoess...not technically. Maybe in terms of "we've got 1100 kids we want". Maybe that will happen by late October. But the nominations don't get in until December January, and no appointments can be made without them. So, unless admissions is planning on sending out a huge number of LOAs...I don't think so. That email makes me feel a bit better about having gotten my application done over a month ago, though.
 
WBK is exactly correct, on the nom process, but, to add on that, if your child had a nom and does not submit his/her CFA or has a med dq that they are fighting, until the close out date in March nobody from that MOC's slate which your child is on can get an apptmt (LOA's are different because they just need a nom, and the SA does not necessarily charge it to the MOC). Several yrs ago, I was offered a position at the Pentagon to work on the AFA liasion with the hill. It would not surprise me if that the briefing this yr, they said to MOCs to think about "talking to each other" to reduce a candidate from getting multiple noms. I know NY, CO and VA do "talk" to each other, Texas tries to, but sometimes 1 or 2 slip in the list 2x.

I will be curious to see how many MOCS will now use their staff to make sure that they do not duplicate.

I would strongly suggest that you talk to your BGO for clarification regarding the email. As many of you know we are AF, and the AF is slow on LOAs, but I would think the % is about the same.

Finally, how could they have the class filled by Oct. since, many candidates apply to multiple SA's? Not every one will choose USNA as their number 1 pick, if they also apply to the others they are going to wait to accept the appt unless that was their number 1 choice. If it was the 2nd or 3rd, they will wait. When they rescind, then USNA will go to the next person on the list. There is no way they could make that determination.
 
My daughter got this email last week from a track coach at USNA.

"We have 13,000 high school seniors who have already applied with nearly half of them being 75% done with their application. Next year's class will be about 1,100 students. Our admission folks have determined that the incoming class could be closed as early as middle to late October!"

Is this a possibility?


I just thought I pass this along, it was kinda interesting. I have found his opinions to be a bit misleading in the past.

I can't imagine the application process could or would be closed early.
 
WBK is exactly correct, on the nom process, but, to add on that, if your child had a nom and does not submit his/her CFA or has a med dq that they are fighting, until the close out date in March nobody from that MOC's slate which your child is on can get an apptmt (LOA's are different because they just need a nom, and the SA does not necessarily charge it to the MOC). Several yrs ago, I was offered a position at the Pentagon to work on the AFA liasion with the hill. It would not surprise me if that the briefing this yr, they said to MOCs to think about "talking to each other" to reduce a candidate from getting multiple noms. I know NY, CO and VA do "talk" to each other, Texas tries to, but sometimes 1 or 2 slip in the list 2x.

I know here, in Tennessee, the senators "speak" with the congressmen to avoid duplicate nominations. My sons got appointed by their congresswoman (Marsha Blackburn) yet they got nice letters from senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker acknowledging that my sons had already received a nomination and that they specifically avoid duplicating so as to maximize the number of candidates who have an opportunity to compete for an appointment.

Finally, how could they have the class filled by Oct. since, many candidates apply to multiple SA's? Not every one will choose USNA as their number 1 pick, if they also apply to the others they are going to wait to accept the appt unless that was their number 1 choice. If it was the 2nd or 3rd, they will wait. When they rescind, then USNA will go to the next person on the list. There is no way they could make that determination.

I imagine the academy is already lining up the applicants in a certain order in preparation for the issuance of appointments - not just 1,100; because I'm sure they are anticipating that some on their list may never get a nomination ... some may never complete their application ... and some may ultimately reject an appointment. But I'm sure decisions are already being made.
 
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but I guess what I see the coach as trying to say is that out of the 13,000 applications they already have in, they have more than enough good applicants. So they're not saying it may be "closed" in the sense that they have their 1100 (or 1300 or whatever) kids picked out, but in the sense that they may just stop taking applications. Even if they do have their 1300 (let's say) in mind, they obviously have 1301-2000 or whatever in mind too and may just at some point feel they need to reduce the paperwork and work with what they have. It would be very interesting to see if they did do something like that!
 
I imagine the academy is already lining up the applicants in a certain order in preparation for the issuance of appointments - not just 1,100; because I'm sure they are anticipating that some on their list may never get a nomination ... some may never complete their application ... and some may ultimately reject an appointment. But I'm sure decisions are already being made

The way the system is designed they can't line them up, until they go to a board and get a WCS. You can't meet the board without a nom and a completed package, no CFA yet, means no board review. Plus, every MOC will be assigned a candidate, thus it is not lining up like class rank, they are not all put in together nationally, until they do not win their MOCs apptmt. Realistically a candidate with a lower WCS can win an apptmt over a candidate with a higher WCS from another state. That is why you can't line them up. The RDs can line up from their areas, but then the kink in the system occurs that they could gain an apptmt through Presidential, Supe and ROTC. It is a giant jigsaw puzzle and until they have all of the pieces which will not occur until Mar at the earliest they do not know what the pic will look like. Let's remember every yr somebody joins this board and states our child got their apptmt in April, May or June. It is a long and complicated process, there just is no way they will close the books in Oct. This forum is also filled with people who spent months fighting DODmerb to get qualified, again it shows that there are too many what ifs to line applicants.

I guess what I see the coach as trying to say is that out of the 13,000 applications they already have in, they have more than enough good applicants.

I can't see that either since any coach wants to win, and unless they are recruited by them, he will have no clue on the make up..again goes back to WCS. Just because they are great in the athletic field does not mean their WCS will win the apptmt. What I would see it as, is a coach who has been in contact with certain people and they are trying to motivate them to get their packets in, so they can start seeing who is really applying and maybe if they feel that they are from a highly competitive area they will elect to give an LOA to increase their chances of receiving an apptmt and being on their team. LOA's are rare and are used as a recruiting too, both academically and athletically.
 
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What I would see it as, is a coach who has been in contact with certain people and they are trying to motivate them to get their packets in, so they can start seeing who is really applying and maybe if they feel that they are from a highly competitive area they will elect to give an LOA to increase their chances of receiving an apptmt and being on their team.

I fully agree that this is by far the most likely case. I guess my thought was that IF what the coach said was true (ie, for whatever reason, he knew this as fact from admissions), then it just seemed that what he would be saying was that they were not taking additional applications at some point, not that they already had selected who was getting an appointment for next year.

But after reading these and other boards of people saying they knew someone who got an LOA to AF back in June/July, then well "maybe" it was an LOA, or at least their football coach TOLD them it was for sure, etc., I do agree that the coaches may not always be 100 percent accurate! And I agree that it's most likely just a motivational tool to get the athletes they want to get those apps in!
 
seemed that what he would be saying was that they were not taking additional applications at some point
He does not sit on the board for MOCs regarding noms, nobody applies to track, they are recuited and/or try out when they make it through BCT. Thus, he cannot say at this point we have slected our 4 digs for the class of 14.

Since, most people are not chiming in, with a "we got this too", that makes me believe that this is a "particular" candidate situation. I just believe with gbo stating
I have found his opinions to be a bit misleading in the past.
speaks more volumes of the coach then the process.

I am not trying to read more into it, but it does seem that the track coach is the one disseminating this info. The SA'a are competitive, it is not rare that if one SA gives an LOA, and the candidate contacts their ALO/MALO/BGO to say they have an LOA, the other SAs will give it.


Think of it in a "traditional" college, the coach says to a college coach this child has a scholarship from XYZ college, it makes them more competitive. A BGO in this case can say, candidate Jones has an LOA from the Army to the regional, it makes the RD take another closer look at the candidate. Don't fool yourself the SAs are brethren, but they are rivals.

FWIW, the AF traditionally is the last to send out LOAs. I do not know of any one on this site or CC that has yet to get an AFA LOA, but many have Army and Navy in hand right now. This also may explain the sense of urgency, since the SA's know that the AFA will be sending out their LOAs soon, and want to motivate the candidate for an LOA.
 
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Actually for USNA a candidate can go before the board without submitting the CFA or DoDMERB. Meaning that if USNA wants that candidate bad enough a LOA can be generated. Ultimately, that LOA could be a meaningless piece of paper if the candidate is rejected medically, for some reason doesn't qualify on the CFA. Also must receive a nomination.

Most candidates will not receive an LOA and still be offered an appointment; you just have to have patience and let the system go through its process.
 
Actually for USNA a candidate can go before the board without submitting the CFA or DoDMERB.

So they can get their WCS and win the nom, thus an appointment without the CFA or Dodmerb? I am not trying to be antagonistic, but how do they get a WCS without the CFA? I know each SA has their own process, for the AFA the CFA is a part of the WCS. If you don't submit it then your package is incomplete and you cannot get a WCS. I get the DoDMERB since that is not a part of the WCS, but I though the CFA is for every SA.

Or are you speaking about highly competitive candidates can go up for LOA purposes?
 
So they can get their WCS and win the nom, thus an appointment without the CFA or Dodmerb? I am not trying to be antagonistic, but how do they get a WCS without the CFA? I know each SA has their own process, for the AFA the CFA is a part of the WCS. If you don't submit it then your package is incomplete and you cannot get a WCS. I get the DoDMERB since that is not a part of the WCS, but I though the CFA is for every SA.

Or are you speaking about highly competitive candidates can go up for LOA purposes?

Our terminology varies between SA. Please help me out here, I'm new to this forum :eek: Please define:
WCS
MOC (I have come to understand that this dealing with the nomination process) Thanks for the information!

With USNA, candidate is able to open a preliminary application when they apply to Summer Seminar. Whether they attend SS or not once the application opens they have an application started for the coming cycle. Each candidate accesses the Candidate Information System (CIS) to complete the application portion of their application (detailed information, requests for recommendations, Guidance Counselor verification of extracurricular activities, administrator recommendation and CFA). This is also where they submit their essays. Like any other SA they are referred to DoDMERB once they have completed a certain % of this application process.

Now the fun begins! Once USNA has received ALL the documentation, transcripts, "official" SAT/ACT scores, essays and recommendations PLUS completed and had their BGO interview submitted, they may be brought before the board without having completed their CFA or the DoDMERB exam. This is how a candidate COULD possibly receive a LOA.

What most of these candidates should realize is that the posts/responses they see here on the forum are a very small number who are applying. I've come to realize that the frazzled worrying begins when someone posts that their S/D or candidate have received a LOA. There are VERY few of these that are actually sent out in the big scheme of things. Most candidates receive their offer of appointment through the regular process; some hearing as late as April or even May.

Danger of an LOA; feeling like it's a slam dunk and a done deal. Not so, too many variables that could effect the offer (DoDMERB denial, failing to score adequately on CFA, poor grades during senior year, failure to secure a nom....). I have never encouraged any of my candidates to get their hopes up for a LOA but let them know if they do receive one they must still complete the entire process.
 
WCS = Whole Candidate Score.

For the AFA, you need a WCS for an apptmt since the highest WCS wins the apptmt. I take it you are speaking only about an LOA not an apptmt and that is where I got confused.:redface:
 
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