Questions about re-application to the academies/nominations

TashaChan

New Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2015
Messages
1
I've done a lot of research on the internet, but haven't found any answers to my specific questions. I applied to the USAFA class of 2019 with my Senator nomination and was not selected for admissions but I was given the Falcon Foundation Scholarship. I will be attending Northwestern Prep in California with the goal of being appointed for the USAFA class of 2020. I have a few questions about the repeated admissions process:

1. I understand that Falcon Scholars have to wait until they actually arrive at NWP and cannot start admissions in the summer, is the process exactly the same or is it difference considering I was given the scholarship?

2. If I received my Senator's nomination from the previous year, will that effect my chances of receiving it again this year?

3. When re-applying for my congressional nominations, would it be distasteful if I used the exact letters of recommendations from the previous year? Those were geared specifically towards the Academy admissions and congressional nominations, and I no longer have contact with some of the teachers who wrote them due to retirement and/or PCS.
 
My daughter was selected for the Prep so it's a little different and I'm not sure about 1) for scholarship students.

I've been told that getting a nomination the second time around is even easier if you were selected for the Prep/scholarship.

As for the letters, I don't think most MOC keep them, at least in New York but if you are doing well, you could ask at least one teacher at the Prep.
 
1. NWP will walk you through the process of reapplying. Great school and they will have you ready to go for next year. Process if pretty much the same, but alot of the stuff from last year can be re-used. Remember prep guys are usually the last folks to get their appointments.

2. None of know the answer to that. Usually sponsored prepsters do well in the nom process.

3. I would ask the folks at NWP on this one what is best to use. They have been doing this a long time and know best how to navigate this process.
 
My ’16 son was a Falcon Scholar at NMMI in the 2011/2012 school year. Falcon Scholars complete an abbreviated on-line application process with USAFA completing most of it for you. Before my son left for NMMI, he contacted our Congressman’s office to tell them of the scholarship and that he would be asking for the nom again. They pulled his closed file and told him that they would just add his Falcon scholarship offer to it. I don’t think he added anything else.


When he went for the interview over Thanksgiving break, he said it was much more informal than the first year with the board members just giving him anecdotes of their own time at USAFA. They knew what the Falcon scholarship meant in the appointment process and talked to him as if he was already an appointee. Hopefully, you will have the same experience.
 
Last year when I interviewed either re applicants or prepsters I asked different questions than high school kids. I wanted to know how they grew over the year, what they learned about themselves, how their resolve to serve has grown or changed, why they still wanted to attend a SA, what they hope to service select and why. If they did ROTC I asked why a SA?

You will grow a lot quickly at prep school. Your maturity and growth can be seen in interviews and essays. It's one of the reasons you often hear us recommend reapplicants to start school before re-writing essays.
 
I will add to NavyHoops with something I read here on this same subject some time ago. It was great advice and I will try to paraphrase what they said (applogies to CC, Pima, Hornet, or whomever!):

If you see no reason to update your file with new letters and new recommendations, you are basically saying you are at the same place in life that you were before and were turned down. Is that what you want them to know? Have you learned nothing new? Have you not expanded your experience level at all?
Have you made no attempt at anything? New teachers, new experiences, and such might put you in a whole new, and more attractive position to the Academies.

As has been mentioned here many, many times..strive to excel. Strive to put yourself forward in the best possible way? This is not 'every one gets a trophy'!
Admissions is an extremely competitive process both locally and in the national pools. Also mentioned are the unknowns of the actual selection process: What makes the 3.2 GPA applicant receive the appointment or nomination and the 4.0 gpa applicant be denied? What did they see in the file that said this is what we are looking for or needing as we 'build out' the class?

I would not trust for one minute that nomination/admission files are closed or disposed of...there are too many repeat noms and apps to go through all that again. I would think if they say they will 'update' your file that should be a red flag to NOT submit a mirror image of the previous application. Now, if you had a long term relationship with a special teacher in a field that allowed a multi year exposure to your progress and such, by all means include it again. But most definitely SHOW where you have grown, matured, and learned some new skill or taken a previous skill to a higher level. Remember at this level everyone is exceptional...you have got to show where you are exceptionally different, or exceptionally better than applicant A, B, and C!

I know if I was on a selection committee and I saw that a previous essay or such was resubmitted with no changes or change in perspective, I would look more favorably on one that showed that growth and advancement had taken place and a previous situation (say in an important life event) was reexamined in a new light or from a more mature perspective. To not do so would cause me to assume a casual laziness that would be fatal to your application!
 
I've done a lot of research on the internet, but haven't found any answers to my specific questions. I applied to the USAFA class of 2019 with my Senator nomination and was not selected for admissions but I was given the Falcon Foundation Scholarship. I will be attending Northwestern Prep in California with the goal of being appointed for the USAFA class of 2020. I have a few questions about the repeated admissions process:

1. I understand that Falcon Scholars have to wait until they actually arrive at NWP and cannot start admissions in the summer, is the process exactly the same or is it difference considering I was given the scholarship?

2. If I received my Senator's nomination from the previous year, will that effect my chances of receiving it again this year?

3. When re-applying for my congressional nominations, would it be distasteful if I used the exact letters of recommendations from the previous year? Those were geared specifically towards the Academy admissions and congressional nominations, and I no longer have contact with some of the teachers who wrote them due to retirement and/or PCS.


My daughter earned 2 nominations when she applied to the class of 2018. She was lucky to receive a USAFA prep school appointment. When she applied to the class of 2019, she ended up with 3 nominations--one from the same congressperson as last year. My take is that you won't want to use the same letters as from last year since you will have so much more to say about why you are a serious contender for an appointment. You will change and grow so much in such a short period of time as a result of your prep school experience and so your personal essay will be different--you cannot help but to write a different essay.

As for the teacher letters, get one from a math or science professor at your prep school if at all possible. If you can't, that's no big deal. Ask for new letters from high school teachers since you need the date on the letters to read as this year, not last year. When you request the letters, fill the teachers in on what you've been doing and what you learned. Describe how you are using what they taught you to be successful in prep school. This can be done in a quick phone call or a brief, but detailed email. Your teachers will likely pull out last year's letter and revise it according to how you present your request.

Finally, one thing that I noticed about when my daughter was applying for nominations this past fall is that the people at the senator and congressional offices tend to remember the applicants. Be careful to speak with the administrative/secretarial people because their opinions, though not weighing on the final decision, really counts in the end. I say this because I hand delivered my daughter's materials since she had her teacher letters sent to her home address. At each office, the person that handles nominations and interview schedules asked me all about how my daughter was doing. They asked me to remind my daughter of how the interview process will work since she had to do a phone interview with the board. They filled me in on how the other appointees from various academies were faring. That is all the more reason that you want to show them that your earning a prep school opportunity had a positive impact on you. They get to see that their office made the right decision last year as it will impact their decision this year.
 
I think this is all good advice unless you are a Falcon Scholar with the golden ticket to next year’s dance – they are told that next year’s appointment is theirs to lose. Falcon Scholars were fully qualified for the previous year admission, to include having a nomination, but were not selected for whatever reason. The fact that they were awarded the scholarship tells the MOC nomination committee everything they need to know about where they were last year and where they are this year. That’s probably why Falcon Scholars don’t complete another Academy application. The Academy builds it for them after they get to their prep location and I think the only thing that gets updated is new CFA and SAT/ACT scores.


Anyway, that’s the process that our MOC has and since my son is a C1C this year, he certainly benefited from it by being able to focus on his studies and improving his CFA and SAT scores while at NMMI. I would recommend that any Falcon reach out to their MOC and see how they want to handle next year’s nomination process before spending a lot of effort on new essays and recommendation letters.
 
Another thought for the OP. Look at your Falcon Scholarship offer letter from the USAFA Director of Admissions regarding the requirements for next year’s appointment. With respect to a nomination, unless your offer is different than my son’s in 2011, you only have to apply to all nomination sources you are eligible for, including the VP. The offer doesn’t say you are required to secure a nomination, only apply to all eligible sources.
 
Contact the Senator who gave you the nomination and inform their office on your situation. You shouldn't have to submit a whole new packet b/c you already received their nom last year.

Good luck.
 
My advice would be to submit updated essays! If not, you are saying, in essence, that nothing has changed in your life from the last time they heard from you. While your life experiences up to this point have not changed dramatically, possibly your outlook on a previous event might now be seen from a new perspective. They want to see improvement, growth, and the ability to see something differently....it shows that you are open to learning and maturing!
The one enduring message I have seen on these forums is max everything: GPAs, APs,SATs,IBs, leadership opportunities, CFA, etc. I would hate to be on the borderline with a Nom committee and should some sharp eye see the same essay, or no effort to update..that could be the very item that turned the Nom to you....or the other person! Are you willing to take that risk?

Look at it as an opportunity, especially if a Falcon scholar, to elaborate how that fortunate turn of events affected you and your outlook of finally gaining an appointment! Did it make the fire in your belly burn brighter? What were the thought processes in choosing your prep school? Use this as a great opportunity to show them that YOU are the ONE!

If you cannot find the time or energy in updating these essays...then maybe......(I'll let you finish.....)

Remember, never, never never, miss an opportunity to show your potential and your degree of determination!!

Good luck.. Seems to always go to those that are the best prepared!
 
Redo your letters...don't submit last years work; you've changed in this time; show it. I sat on my MOC's board for 10 years...we could tell when a "recycled package" came through...it always raised questions.

I can only speak for NWPS; and that a long time ago...there are no guarantees, there are NWPS types that DO NOT get the appointment. But they're typically in the minority. The way I look at it is this: "a group is willing to spend money on you...I think that's an idication they are seriously interested in you as a candidate."

That's what I told myself when I turned down USMAPS, and my NROTC and AFROTC scholarships...and went to NWPS.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
NWPS '78-79
 
Back
Top