BGO Interview

USMAHopeful97

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Joined
Mar 10, 2015
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92
Hello I have a quick question; does your BGO contact you for the interview, or do you have to email them first? Thank you.
 
They should eventually contact you, but if you haven't emailed to introduce yourself yet you could also ask about the interview in that email.
Most BGOs like to wait till the end of the summer to conduct interviews because they're people and go on vacation/have lives too!
I'd suggest asking just to get ahead of things and show initiative.
 
It probably is a good idea to complete a good portion of your application before trying to schedule an interview. Most BGOs like to see that a candidate has taken some initiative --- interviewing a candidate who has not demonstrated their seriousness is a waste of both parties' time. When you are about half way done (excluding medical/CFA, if not already completed), I would contact your BGO --- its your application, not the BGOs.
 
Agree with '08. I'm always amazed at candidates who have completed zero percent of their package and yet are fixated on getting their BGO interview scheduled. If only they paid as much attention to the other 9 items.:rolleyes:

To be a bit more serious . . . nothing wrong with contacting your BGO early on with questions about USNA or the application process. You definitely don't need to have anything complete to do that and it's one of the reasons BGOs exist. However, before you want your BGO to take an hour or more of his/her time to interview you, spend a few hours of YOUR time getting some/all of your packet complete.
 
Do you know what attire I should wear to the interview?
I wore a button down shirt and khakis. My BGO wore something similar so I think what I was was fine.

OP, after I contacted my BGO he immediately wanted to get the interview done even though I hadn't done anything yet on the application. I'm not sure if most BGOs do that too. I contacted him really early though, days after my portal opened.
 
I know you are talking about BGO here, but on USAFA site it says to contact your ALO as one of the first steps. My DD contacted him via email to introduce herself and asked a few questions regarding her resume, but did not ask for a meeting. After her portal opened and she became a candidate, her ALO contacted her and said he has been assigned as her ALO and he would like to meet with her and her parents if we wanted to come along. So, I guess it just depends on the SA, the BGO and ALO as well. Good luck to all of you and look at it as an opportunity to shine!
 
My Ds has already had his interview. He wore a pressed shirt and a tie. The BGO talked with him for almost an hour. He was very impressed with the BGO. The BGO said he wanted to get the interviews done for those who had near complete applications before the first review board meetings in Aug. This interaction seems to be the deciding factor in DS putting USNA as his first choice.
 
What if you've sent an introductory e-mail (early June) and have had all parts of your application done since June 28 but still no reply? Should I e-mail him again? I would like to be able to have my application complete before the first review board.
 
I just went back and checked the email from the BGO and he did say August. Maybe he is just trying to get a jump on things. not claiming to know it all. More like claiming to know very little lol
 
The Admissions Board tends to begin meeting late in August.

Also, it is appropriate to contact your BGO and introduce yourself, but I do not advise asking for an interview if you haven't completed any part of your application. If your BGO doesn't mind interviewing all candidates regardless of what they have/haven't submitted, they will let you know.
 
Agree with '08. I'm always amazed at candidates who have completed zero percent of their package and yet are fixated on getting their BGO interview scheduled. If only they paid as much attention to the other 9 items.:rolleyes:

To be a bit more serious . . . nothing wrong with contacting your BGO early on with questions about USNA or the application process. You definitely don't need to have anything complete to do that and it's one of the reasons BGOs exist. However, before you want your BGO to take an hour or more of his/her time to interview you, spend a few hours of YOUR time getting some/all of your packet complete.
Thank you because my BGO recently emailed me b
 
Some BGOs might contact candidates first, doesn't necessarily mean anything -- wouldn't read much into it.
 
BGOs come in all forms. Some are retired (no full-time job) and may have only 1-2 candidates the entire year. Those BGOs may have much more time to spend with each candidate. Other BGOs may work full-time and/or be full-time homemakers and may have 25-30 candidates each year. They still get the job done but may not have the time to email/call candidates on a regular basis.

Some BGOs like to "knock out" all their interviews during the summer when everyone may have a bit more time, even if packets aren't complete. This may especially be true if the BGO only has 1-2 candidates. Other BGOs may be busy over the summer and/or want to wait to see if their candidates will progress in their applications. The latter may especially be true if the BGO has 25 candidates, each with less than 22% of their applications complete. Spending up to 50 hours (up to 2 hrs per candidate) preparing for and conducting interviews when BGO knows at least half those kids will never finish their packets is a total waste of time.

The fact your BGO contacts you constantly is, in almost all cases, purely representative of his/her availability and approach and has absolutely no bearing on whether or not you are a stellar candidate. Conversely, if you only have minimal interaction with your BGO (setting up and participating in interview), you are just as likely to receive an appointment as someone who was in daily contact with the BGO.

The bottom line is worry first about completing your package as comprehensively and expeditiously as possible. When you've done all YOU can do, then contact your BGO. In most cases, once you show your motivation -- by submitting most of your packet -- your BGO will "magically appear."
 
My 2 cents ...developed as a BGO for over 10 years now. I send an email to Candidates immediately upon notice they have been assigned. My notice encourages them to call with questions, and in any event call me to set up interview when they are near completing their package. I usually hear from the motivated candidates pretty quickly, see their applications completed, and interview during the summer. Others I don't hear from until late in the season, often over Christmas. First impressions count -- call your BGO, ask questions and develop the relationship and demonstrate your motivation. I usually don't schedule interviews until the application package is substantially complete -- I am busy and see far to many candidates fail to complete their applications for me to spend my time until they have shown that commitment.
 
I'm with Old Navy on this too. In fact, I tell my candidates that I want the Candidate Personal Data Record completed as I want them to have put the work into their essay before I put work into their interview. I try to do a good job on the interview and give the Admissions Board a very thorough report on how I see the candidate so I want some literary sweat expended on the candidate's part first.
 
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