So... What are the chances?

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caitvvw

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I got a nomination from my Senator to go to the Air Force Academy. My senator, as far as I know, didn't choose principal nominees. What are my general chances? I know there are a lot of talented people who also received nominations in my state, so I'm assuming for the moment that I won't be named principal by the academy.

Does it make a difference that I got my nomination from a senator rather than congressman? I mean, considering that senators have 50+ candidates and congressmen around here have like, 10, shouldn't senatorial nominations be given more credit?

Just wondering. I've already gotten a conditional appointment to USMMA, which is pretty sweet in itself.
 
It is impossible for any of us to tell; we do not know the qualifications of the other candidates on your senator's slate.

You do have a better chance than someone who has not received a nom, though...
 
armybratkl is right, but there is a little information we can give you. If you provide your state we may be able to tell you a little about how competitive it is. If your MOC's only have 50+ kids applying you have a pretty good chance.(and you already got a nom). My MOC's interviewed about 150+ each, over 400 candidates. Like armybratkl said, it really depends on how competetive your state is.

Later,

Brian
 
What I'm about to say was told to me by my USAFA Counselor:

Generally, the more competitive nominations will look better on an application than those that do not have much competition.

(Now Me): So yes, it is my understanding that those who receive nominations from senators look a bit more competitive. People who received nominations in Texas (citing this because I'm from here) had to compete against approximately 800 (give or take 100 for each SA) other applicants. For USAFA, only two slots were open, so 20 people can be nominated. That means that those people who received a nomination are each 0.025% of the applicants to that source (again, just a general statement based on approximate numbers given by other sources).

But like you said, if there are only 10 people asking for a nomination for a Representative, then they're 10% of the applicants to that source.

Now, I completely agree with armybratkl, that none of us can really give you a clear assessment because we don't know all of the factors (ChristCorp has some very excellent posts on the subject).

What stated above is just my understanding and open to clarification.

Hope that helps, and Good Luck!

Andrew
 
Wow; so many variables.

Assuming the MOC does not rank their slate:
1. The academy still has to fill the moc/state's slots. And for those, how competitive your state is doesn't matter, because you're all in the same state competing against each other.
2. After the state slots are filled, the others are in the pool. This is where your combined score that the academy has ranked you on comes into major play. If you have a high enough score that the academy gives you an appointment, then it doesn't matter if you're nomination came from a senator, representative, presidential, ROTC, or any other. None is more important in this case. It's like being pregnant. You are...... or you're not..... You DO have a nomination....... or you don't.........
3. This is all the other candidates. In your state if you're competing for that slot; or nationally if you're in the pool. None of us knows their scores. Hell, I don't even know your score. So there's absolutely no way of saying what your chances are.

As for your state, if you received a nomination, then how competitive the state is doesn't matter. The most the MOC can nominate is 10 people. Doesn't matter if 11 applied or 1100 applied. And the academy will see those 10 names from each moc. (Unless there aren't 10 applying; such as in low populated states like Wyoming). But even then; a moc can only have so many cadets at the academy at one time. So what matters is that you have a higher score than anyone else that you are competing with. Whether at the state level or national level.
 
If she ranks her slate, than it is my understanding that it greatly improves your chances. I am currently my MOCs Principal Nominee, but I'm still waiting for the admission's boards decision. I'm not sure if having the principle nomination means I'm in, but I understand it helps, I also understand that getting a nomination from a Senator is better than an MOC in general, but like someone in this thread, you either get an appointment, or you don't and you never really know your scores.
 
AJ

A nomination is a nomination is a nomination...

I sit on a nominations board in my state. It doesn't matter where the nom comes from -- it's a nom. If the member designates a "principal", it means that, of all the nominated names, this is the first choice of the member.

We usually use it to protect the chances of a qualified candidiate who may not appear to be as strong but is really outstanding. Often, we don't use it at all.

If the academy really wants a candidate, a nomination can be "found".
 
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