Admissions question

W

Wooda

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Dec 10, 2023
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I’m a little bit confused. If people are getting appointed already from im guessing every state, how are they able to determine that that person is the best on the slate if some people’s applications have not been processed yet? In my case, last time I checked as of a few weeks ago, my candidate kit was still being processed. Would admissions wait until everyone on a particular slate has been processed and then compare all of them at the same time to make a decision? It seems kind of odd that they are able to make admissions decisions in large number already without prior knowledge of every candidates application. Anyone have any insight?
 
I’m wondering the same thing. USAFA told me recently that they haven’t deemed if I’m a competitive candidate or not and haven’t looked at my application yet. Even though it was turned in back in October.
 
ScreaminDemons said:
I’m wondering the same thing. USAFA told me recently that they haven’t deemed if I’m a competitive candidate or not and haven’t looked at my application yet. Even though it was turned in back in October.
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That’s what I’m saying! I don’t think USAFA really tells anyone they’re competetive u less they get a LOA/LOI/LOE, but I still find it kind of odd that they make decisions without looking at everyone’s application first. What if there was some kid on a slate that was a stellar applicant but hadn’t been reviewed yet but they ended up giving the appointment to someone much less on the slate? Just a hypothetical situation.
 
What exactly does process your application mean?

I always assumed they are punching information in as they receive it. I also assume that a score updates.

Is it possible they know the scores of people on slate - which generates LOAs, etc?
 
A1Janitor said:
What exactly does process your application mean?

I always assumed they are punching information in as they receive it. I also assume that a score updates.

Is it possible they know the scores of people on slate - which generates LOAs, etc?
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Some system/people essentially grade your application and for lack of better word “process” it in order to prepare it for the admissions board to review. They do put in information as they receive it but some people get their application looked at and decided upon before others are even ready to be reviewed, even if they are fully complete. Hence my question haha, it doesn’t make much sense to me either
 
Wooda said:
Some system/people essentially grade your application and for lack of better word “process” it in order to prepare it for the admissions board to review. They do put in information as they receive it but some people get their application looked at and decided upon before others are even ready to be reviewed, even if they are fully complete. Hence my question haha, it doesn’t make much sense to me either
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I guess what I am wondering … does a certain score after inputs, and even initial slate ranking, lead to review for LOAs or early processing?
 
A1Janitor said:
Is it possible they know the scores of people on slate - which generates LOAs, etc?
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This is also something that confuses me because assuming this is true which it most likely is, it seems contradictory to what they say about processing status vs ready to be reviewed.
 
A1Janitor said:
I guess what I am wondering … does a certain score after inputs, and even initial slate ranking, lead to review for LOAs or early processing?
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I’m not sure. Seems probably but I can’t give you a definite answer, im a candidate for 2028 but I didn’t receive any letters.
 
It is a lot more complex than what meets the eye. Each slate is technically allowed one appointee out of ten nominees; however, I have seen one slate get up to four appointees and a district get seven appointees. The "one per slate" nomination rule isn't iron tight. If they want you, they will get you. All you can do now is wait / update admissions on any new accomplishments.
 
chino said:
It is a lot more complex than what meets the eye. Each slate is technically allowed one appointee out of ten nominees; however, I have seen one slate get up to four appointees and a district get seven appointees. The "one per slate" nomination rule isn't iron tight. If they want you, they will get you. All you can do now is wait / update admissions on any new accomplishments.
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It is iron tight. Each slate does in fact get one candidate assigned to it.

There are other slates those people compete on and get assigned to, including discretionary picks by the academy.
 
A1Janitor said:
It is iron tight. Each slate does in fact get one candidate assigned to it.

There are other slates those people compete on and get assigned to, including discretionary picks by the academy.
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Last year my district had one open spot at USAFA, but it had 3 people with LOAs. What I meant by it not being iron tight is that they will find another way to get you in.
 
chino said:
Last year my district had one open spot at USAFA, but it had 3 people with LOAs. What I meant by it not being iron tight is that they will find another way to get you in.
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What isn’t iron tight is understanding what the laws mean.

Some districts have ten. The law is only one gets appointed to that MOC. Others may be assigned to presidential slates, Senator slates, discretionary picks. Those are competitions too, but geography doesn’t matter.
 
Let me put this out there: There will be about 1200 appointees (based on previous numbers).
435 members in the House get 1 nom (sometimes 2, but won't go into that)
100 senators get 1 nom (sometimes 2, but won't go into that)
~100 Presidential
~50 VP
and a few from other sources.

Add it up -- around 800ish. Remember, I am doing an estimate here.

That leaves 400 more appointments. The Congressional noms that have not been applied and are then pooled together. That's why you can see more than 1 or 2 from a district.

So, even if you were not first on your slate, it does not mean you won't get an appt.
 
SpiritCommitteeLiaison said:
Let me put this out there: There will be about 1200 appointees (based on previous numbers).
435 members in the House get 1 nom (sometimes 2, but won't go into that)
100 senators get 1 nom (sometimes 2, but won't go into that)
~100 Presidential
~50 VP
and a few from other sources.

Add it up -- around 800ish. Remember, I am doing an estimate here.

That leaves 400 more appointments. The Congressional noms that have not been applied and are then pooled together. That's why you can see more than 1 or 2 from a district.

So, even if you were not first on your slate, it does not mean you won't get an appt.
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what about Noms coming from ROTC, Prior Enlisted and Preps?
 
Avenger2027 said:
This link may help as it shows where appointments can be charged. Check out pages 5 & 6.

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I've read this multiple times! lol ;) What I meant is in your narrative it doesn't include other appointment source which makes the total a lot lesser for "discretionary" appointment.

As per my understanding which is of course can be totally wrong, the breakdown on that report are as follows:


Appointment sources:
Congress - 435
Senators - 100
President - 100
VP - 5
Service Secretary
- 85 enlisted members of regular service
- 85 enlisted members of reserve components
- 20 ROTC
- 150 Qualified Alternates with Nom in order of merit
SA Superintendent
- 50 (discretionary?)
- 65 children of deceased/disabled/missing/captured vets/civilian personnel
Puerto Rico - 1

Total = 1,096
Average Appointees = 1,400 as per USAFA 2026 class profile
Average Admitted = 1,200 as per USAFA 2027 class profile

Of course this total is not linear as some appointees have multiple nomination sources and/or can decline or DQs. Thus, the increase in "discretionary"? This probably is the driver for having over the threshold appointments in one slate (district / state, etc)

NB. For my DS case, if he doesnt win his MOC slate, then he is up to compete for the 205 slots: VP 5, Service Secretary 150 qualified alternates and 50 SA Superintendent appointment slots as he is not part of the other categories. Of course these slots can be bigger or smaller depending on some factors like total declines, total DQs of slate winners etc or slate winners being charge elsewhere and not to their MOC.

The question now is how many CC 2028 who are 3Q with nom competes for 205 slots (there maybe more as the class is being built)
For CL 2026, qualified candidates = 1,775 but only 1,375 got offers of admission.
 
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hopefulmama1218 said:
I've read this multiple times! lol ;) What I meant is in your narrative it doesn't include other appointment source which makes the total a lot lesser for "discretionary" appointment.

As per my understanding which is of course can be totally wrong, the breakdown on that report are as follows:


Appointment sources:
Congress - 435
Senators - 100
President - 100 + unlimited number of children whose parents have been awarded Medal of Honor.
VP - 5
Service Secretary
- 85 enlisted members of regular service
- 85 enlisted members of reserve components
- 20 ROTC
- 150 Qualified Alternates with Nom in order of merit
SA Superintendent
- 50 (discretionary?)
- 65 children of deceased/disabled/missing/captured vets/civilian personnel
Puerto Rico - 1

Total = 1,096 + variable on Medal of Honor dependents
Average Appointees = 1,200

Of course this total is not linear as some appointees have multiple nomination sources and/or can decline. Thus, the increase in "discretionary"? This probably is the driver for having over the threshold appointments in one slate (district / state, etc)
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Don’t forget that MOC have 5 slots in four years. So on average they have an additional 130 approximately.

I am speculating - service secretary are up to those numbers. What are the actual numbers per year?
 
A1Janitor said:
Don’t forget that MOC have 5 slots in four years. So on average they have an additional 130 approximately.

I am speculating - service secretary are up to those numbers. What are the actual numbers per year?
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Yes, but the MOC additional slots are tied geographically so it doesn't increase much on individual basis like for my DS. Others might have increase chances because of these additional slots but not all.
 
hopefulmama1218 said:
Yes, but the MOC additional slots are tied geographically so it doesn't increase much on individual basis like for my DS. Others might have increase chances because of these additional slots but not all.
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That wasn’t my point.

My point is there are less discretionary than your post indicates.
 
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