Illinois only
Background:
My son had an LOE to USMA and an LOA to USNA. He visited both and loved both. He felt good about his opportunity to get into either.
Son now already appointed to class of 2017-
these are just our observations from IL.
(do not generalize this information to other states-and remember things possibly change year to year!)
If I am not clear, re-ask and I will try to clarify further (sometimes I know what I am typing, but that doesn't mean I am clear to the reader)
If you look closely at Kirk/Durbin rules-one of them say 'pick only one', and the other says 'order but only your first will be considered'.
Kirk and Durbin do not duplicate.
If you want to go to USXA-you should fill out the packets for 1.) Durbin, 2.) Kirk 3.) Representative of your district, 4.) VP and if eligible 5.) presidential and 6.) ROTC as well. No matter how much of a Rockstar you are, you will not get a nomination from Both Durbin and Kirk. Period!
What if you are undecided and want both USXA and USYA?
Both Kirk and Durbin tell you to pick ONE ONLY.
So should you split the pot from Kirk and Durbin or put all of your eggs in one basket? In other words should you ask Kirk for USXA and Durbin for USYA?
Prior to turning in all of the packets my son (his idea-I thought it was particularly well thought out but it would never have occurred to me) did a historical search of all those nominated by Kirk and Durbin over the past 6 or so years. Easy internet research.There was no instance of name duplication regardless of academy. For example there was no John Smith to USXA on Kirk and John Smith USYA on Durbin. to In other words one could ask Kirk for USXA and Durbin to USYA but you are only getting ONE of those requests. Not both. No splitting the pot here.
Son's Representative let him pick two but order them. We come from a highly competitive area in Illinois. Son walked away with only a nomination from his top choice from our Representative. He could have asked Kirk/Durbin for one and Representative to another. But by the interview in December they wanted him to pick one and he did. Some Illinois Representatives duplicate senator noms and some wont duplicate senator noms (In other words you may get a letter from you representative saying they wont nominate you because they know that Kirk/Durbin is). Some Illinois Representatives will give multiple noms (In other words you may get a letter from you representative saying I know Kirk/Durbin is nominating you and I will too). so if you want to double dip then you need to live in a noncompetitive area. Your district can be one way and then four blocks away in another district can be the opposite. You can research this.
My personal opinion -if you live on my block- is to pick and then go-for-it. By November you may have a very clear idea of what you want. I know the anxiety of this though. What if you put all your eggs in one basket-but the other basket is the one he would have gotten into??? My son was completely undecided-if in fact leaning towards one direction, but after summer experiences, gathering more information, interviewing with admissions officers, talking with some veterans at the american legion, etc he had a firmer handle on his leanings and why.
My son had an LOE to USMA and an LOA to USNA. He felt good about his opportunity to get into either. However, he knew going into the Nomination process that unless he got VP or SUP noms (forget about it...) there was really one egg to be put in one basket.
On the other hand a Friend's son from another state has three noms to three service academies.
feel free to PM me with Land of Lincoln Questions.
good luck!
Vista123