Principle Nominee With Questions

JakeFromWisco

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2014
Messages
158
Hello Service Academy Forums!

I received a call on Friday, but got the voicemail today (silly phone) and was able to return his call. Blown away to learn that I am his principle nominee for the class of 2020. 3 years of hard work, and perseverance pay off!

Now, with this in mind, I have a few questions regarding what is left for me and what to expect.

At the moment, I am almost finished with my application. I currently have to complete the CFA (next week, Friday or Tuesday), FFR interview (later this week) and submit my first semester, collegiate transcripts.

Last year, when I applied, I was 3Q'ed with the following stats.
ACT: 31 (28M, 33CR, retaking in December)
SAT: 1920 (690CR, 650M)
GPA: 3.97 (few AP courses, homeschool applicant)
Extracurriculars: Varsity basketball team captain, Cross country, TKD black belt, TKD instructor, 350 community service hours
CFA: Passed. Not great, but passed.

This year I am applying with the following.
ACT: Same as last year, but retaking in December hoping to increase my math score
GPA: estimated 3.5 at highly ranked liberal arts college (taking 18 (max) credits with Calculus I, advanced Chemistry with labs, Microeconomics and a few others).
Extracurriculars: AROTC Ranger Challenge "bravo" team (4th place at Task Force competition), Color Guard team member, 2nd degree TKD black belt, 420+ community service hours, AROTC 3-yr scholarship winner
CFA: Will be good. Better than least year.

From my understanding, if I am 3Q'ed this year, I am guaranteed an appointment as a principle nominee? If this is the case, does it appear as though I will be 3Q'ed this year? If this is not the case, what do I need to do to guarantee an appointment under this nomination? And finally, assuming I finish my application by Saturday of next week (minus the semester transcripts), when would I receive an appointment?

Thank you all for your time. I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of the many amazing members of SAF.
 
Let me add one piece of advice......don't coast or let up at all on your schoolwork. Just two years ago I remember reading about a candidate who had an appointment and he lost it because he let his grades fall. West Point doesn't "play"!

Make sure you watch your driving and your associations with your friends. No speeding tickets, wrecks, or anything that West Point might have to request more information from you. Don't ever be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people----West Point can and will take back an appointment and pass it along to the next person waiting in line. Remember, you will provide WP with a copy of your police record.

Good luck!
 
The principal is your Pal. An old grammar memory trick to remember that he/she is first during your day. SA will also request a Police Report from any town you have attended school in or lived in prior to your appointment. We had to get a police report from the town where my Daughter went to high school along with one from the town we lived in.
 
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Thank you for the responses. I will definitely not be letting up on the school work or keeping the nose clean. Mostly though because that's not in my nature! I may take a credit or two less next semester, however. That would give me the chance to enjoy college life a little bit before West Point takes over my life. Thank you too for the reminder about keeping the record clear. It's not too hard to do at the small Christian school I currently go to, but being reminded of how delicate the situation can be is always appreciated.

AF6872: I do remember that rule now! Though, I was more confused with whether the principal nominee was so entitled because they were "first" (which I see now is the case) or because they were nominated on the principle of the congress person's authority. Whoops!
 
Jake, first of all congrats on that nom!! Woot! I assume you are also chasing after the ROTC nom. You are in a different pool this year, being a college student (this is a good thing). If you are the principal nominee and your file is complete (and has gone before the board), you should get your appointment in the first wave...whenever that is. It was early Feb last year, I think.
 
I was excited to read your post as I remember you from last year. I'm excited for you!
 
@Dixieland how bad were those said grades? All D's and F's or a few C's?
I can't see any C's in my future, unless something very, very drastic happens.

Jake, first of all congrats on that nom!! Woot! I assume you are also chasing after the ROTC nom. You are in a different pool this year, being a college student (this is a good thing). If you are the principal nominee and your file is complete (and has gone before the board), you should get your appointment in the first wave...whenever that is. It was early Feb last year, I think.

Yes'mam! I talked with my PMS and he is/has filled out the paper work. Not sure where I stand at the moment though. I'm planning on meeting with him again after break so I'll square that away then. Good to know about the timeline! I've waited a long while for that BFE, I can wait a couple more months.

I was excited to read your post as I remember you from last year. I'm excited for you!

Thank you, bookreader! It's been quite the journey. I hope other candidates in the future, who don't feel like they're at all competitive, see that a lot of hard work, good interviews and showing that you're willing to go all in will get you plenty far.

Congratulations, Jake!

Thank you, ACTPrepAcademy!
 
Yeah, a C second semester - no real problem.

A "D" is something more than a phone call, an "F" - well, that's not good, Mav.
 
@Dixieland how bad were those said grades? All D's and F's or a few C's?
I wasn't privy to the exact classes/grades that were an issue but the CC was in college and things just got away from him academically. Like the others said, a C in hard classes isn't usually a problem but D's and F's will not go unnoticed. If you cannot cut it academically, West Point doesn't need to waste time or money on you and they will move on to the next person in line.
 
Question for you all: Can I be accepted with a principle nomination before they receive my collegiate semester transcripts? And if so, does the admissions board meet in December at all? Thank you, in advance.
 
No - you won't receive an appointment before they receive your 1st semester transcript because your file won't be complete. The Admissions committee probably meets until they break for Christmas.
 
No - you won't receive an appointment before they receive your 1st semester transcript because your file won't be complete. The Admissions committee probably meets until they break for Christmas.

Do you happen to know an appropriate GPA to meet the minimum? I'm estimating that I'll get a 3.5 GPA with 18 credits (max for my school) including Chemistry and Calc 1.
 
There is no minimum college GPA, but as has been said many times before, specific grades, courses taken, and total credit hours come into play. Imagine making an F in an English seminar (2 CH) and A's in your other 18 CH which would still be a 3.6 GPA. Probably aren't getting qualified with that since you made an F. Dropping classes becomes a big question mark and your RC will dig into that. This goes for the spring semester as well...
 
There is no minimum college GPA, but as has been said many times before, specific grades, courses taken, and total credit hours come into play. Imagine making an F in an English seminar (2 CH) and A's in your other 18 CH which would still be a 3.6 GPA. Probably aren't getting qualified with that since you made an F. Dropping classes becomes a big question mark and your RC will dig into that. This goes for the spring semester as well...

Dully noted. Won't be failing any of my classes, and didn't drop any of my classes this semester, so hopefully they find everything acceptable. Thank you for the reply, 845something!
 
Allow me to put it another way just to give you some perspective....my own DS was a USNA appointee for the Class of '18..was medically DQ'd just a few weeks before I-Day....they put him in a special program that short cut a lot of the reapplication process while going to college for a year BUT ! the reapportionment was conditional based on the course's approved by USNA (physics, math, English, etc) and HAD TO ACHIEVE nothing less than A's and B's in those classes.

My point? While there is no "minimum" when you've got candidates who already received previous appointments and held to this kind of standard, it should tell you what you should be striving for.
 
Allow me to put it another way just to give you some perspective....my own DS was a USNA appointee for the Class of '18..was medically DQ'd just a few weeks before I-Day....they put him in a special program that short cut a lot of the reapplication process while going to college for a year BUT ! the reapportionment was conditional based on the course's approved by USNA (physics, math, English, etc) and HAD TO ACHIEVE nothing less than A's and B's in those classes.

My point? While there is no "minimum" when you've got candidates who already received previous appointments and held to this kind of standard, it should tell you what you should be striving for.

Thank makes a lot of sense. Thank you Sydney C, I appreciate the insight!


Another question for you all: My nomination just showed up on my portal. Is it possible to receive a BFE before the academy receives my semester transcripts? Trying to figure out the possible mailing situation over break.
 
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