admissions question

[fruitytooties]

I know that each congressmen has 10 nominations for each spot, but the academy only picks 1 out of the 10? Or does the 10 nominations get thrown into a large pool with all the other nominations and the academy picks who they want?

thanks, fruity

 

[America's Finest]

I know that each congressmen has 10 nominations for each spot, but the academy only picks 1 out of the 10? Or does the 10 nominations get thrown into a large pool with all the other nominations and the academy picks who they want?

thanks, fruity

They pick one out of the 10, the other 9 get put into a national pool.

 

[fruitytooties]

so what happens after they go into the national pool, if all the spots have been taken, how do they get picked?

 

[America's Finest]

so what happens after they go into the national pool, if all the spots have been taken, how do they get picked?

I'm not quite sure what slots are used (I'll let someone else answer that). I just know that you are placed in a national pool and it becomes even harder to receive an appointment because you are competing with the nation (as oppose to just your state).

 

[parkhurst89]

I think you are referring to principal and alternate nomination method. This method provides for designation of a principal nominee by the member of Congress. The other nine unranked nominees are submitted to the academy for evaluation and compete as alternates. If the principal is fully qualified (academics, medical and physical aptitude), he or she will be appointed and will fill the vacancy.

Note that this method does not take into account the quality of the other nominees if the principal nominee is fully qualified. On the other hand, if the principal does not qualify, the alternates then compete for the vacancy. Selection at this point is based on merit as determined by the evaluation and ranking of the alternates by the Academy.

 

[fruitytooties]

so in competitive nomination, the academy picks one of the 10 nominations? basically you have to be the best in your congressional district?

 

[America's Finest]

so in competitive nomination, the academy picks one of the 10 nominations? basically you have to be the best in your congressional district?

You have to be the best out of the ten (or less if all 10 nominations weren't given). If you don't get the slot you still keep competing with others but from a larger pool (national) because you still have the nomination. Remember all a nomination is, the service academy given legal permission to accept you.

You can still get in if you are not the best in your district (my district has 3 with appointments to USMA and 2 of us are from the same school). The nomination proccess if really complex so it's best to just know this: get as many nomination as possible and let admissions take care of the rest.