Letters to Senators

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Pers3us

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Ok, so as a rising sophomore, my parents are trying to get me to write letters to my congressmen and the VP, as a way of showing that I am interested in going to the Naval Academy. I have written a letter, that sort of introduces me and gives like basic remarks about my school work and desire to end up at the Naval Academy. But I don't know if sending the letters would help or hurt me. I feel like it couldn't hurt, but there's this nagging thought in the back of my mind that says it could hurt me. Has anyone done this before? If so, what were your results?
 
So long as the letter is respectful, and just states that you intend to apply to USNA here in a couple years, it can only help. Can allow you to introduce yourself to the academy coordinators (who, in my experience, have been fantastic people), and showing such initiative will probably look quite nice.

I wouldn't send anything to the Vice President, though. For one thing, there may very well be a different person holding that title in a couple years, and it seems that the folks that make up the board that actually decide who gets the nominations can change often as well.

Why do you think it could hurt you?
 
I don't know, just a sort of nagging thought that appeared one day.
 
JettAirliner said:
So long as the letter is respectful, and just states that you intend to apply to USNA here in a couple years, it can only help. Can allow you to introduce yourself to the academy coordinators (who, in my experience, have been fantastic people), and showing such initiative will probably look quite nice.

I wouldn't send anything to the Vice President, though. For one thing, there may very well be a different person holding that title in a couple years, and it seems that the folks that make up the board that actually decide who gets the nominations can change often as well.

Why do you think it could hurt you?
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I think if you are sending letters to your MOC every month, or worse, every week, it will def hurt you.

Personally,I think it might be more productive to find and get in contact with a BGO or some other admission rep.
 
Both my son and daughter did that going into their Junior year. I was just a nice introductory letter showing their genuine interest in the Academy and their intent to follow up with the Nomination application the following Spring. I definitely did not hurt.
 
Sending a letter certainly won't hurt but it probably won't help much either. Most if not all MOC's have committees that vet the applications and select the nominees with the MOC simply signing off on the recommendations. I'm sure there are some MOC's that are more involved but remember they receive a ton of correspondence from constituents and a letter sent before a file is open probably will never be seen by the committee members. If you're the type that likes writing and it is a well written introduction letter, why not send it? On the other hand I wouldn't worry that you are hurting yourself by not sending a letter.
 
Pers3us said:
Ok, so as a rising sophomore, my parents are trying to get me to write letters to my congressmen and the VP, as a way of showing that I am interested in going to the Naval Academy. I have written a letter, that sort of introduces me and gives like basic remarks about my school work and desire to end up at the Naval Academy. But I don't know if sending the letters would help or hurt me. I feel like it couldn't hurt, but there's this nagging thought in the back of my mind that says it could hurt me. Has anyone done this before? If so, what were your results?
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I don't think it helps or hurts you. Mostly, I think you're just wasting your time.

The Service Academy Coordinators have their hands full with just the candidates they are dealing with for the upcoming class. They might even find a letter like this a bit annoying since there is no file on you and you are not competing for a nomination at this time. They'll read it and probably think to themselves? "A sophomore? A sophomore!!? Well, there's 30 seconds of my life I'll never get back", as they toss it into the trash.

My advice is to wait until the window opens for your application to the academy and for competing for a nomination and jump in with BOTH FEET at the earliest possible moment.
 
Why not personally meet with your MOCs in a couple of years?
 
I seriously doubt it will do any harm so long as letter-writing doesn't become a frequent event. Every year I have done service academy events for the local MOC's there have been freshmen and sophomores present. If nothing else, it will put your name on the MOC's service academy mailing list so you will be notified of upcoming service academy events. Best wishes in your efforts, and take maximum advantage of the lead time you have as a result of identifying your interest in the service academies and serving your country.
 
BTW, there is no need to send a letter to the VP as his nom is controlled by the individual academy - it is a contingent nom.
 
I worked at a congressional office that was in charge of nominating candidates and it definitely did not have an impact whether or not a candidate mailed a letter or not. At times, students who hand wrote letters in poor handwriting were often frowned upon. I suggest going in a personally talking to the office about your interest.
Insider secret that everyone knows: The elected official takes no part in the nomination process. The staff is the key. :wink:
 
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