USNA Class of 2028 Waiting and Speculating

[Troy42791]

Out of the about 10 cadets I know from West Virginia none of us have heard anything back yet. Still praying for An answer.

 

[gniyji]

Wow on the math! Your son is certainly gifted and he will do great things with these gifts. But I also believe that USNA did in fact review his transcript and that informed the final decision. The form letter they use does not apply to your son's situation, but admissions cannot be expected to compose a personalized message for each applicant. I doubt there is a competitive school in the nation that would do this. I know this moment hurts for you as a parent but you have a bright son and your positive support for him is what he needs now, not negativity and your implying that he didn't get a fair look.

No, no hurt at all-- we read the email with big laugh, he even shared the turned down email with his classmates.

DS does not fit USNA move on with USMA.

 

[Crusader99]

Son just committed to Harvard and confirmed the transfer of his NROTC Scholarship from Princeton (NROTC Rutgers) to Harvard (NROTC MIT).

He will not be reapplying to USNA.

Best of luck to USNA ‘28 & NAPS ‘25/USNA ‘29!

Semper Fidelis & Beat Army!

GrilledCheese94

This makes no sense to me, I know kids who have gotten in with a 1220 SAT and a 3.7 GPA. It’s crazy that Literal Harvard commits get turned down.

 

[anom]

But still would be nice to see what it looked like in previous years

It would, but don’t

This makes no sense to me, I know kids who have gotten in with a 1220 SAT and a 3.7 GPA. It’s crazy that Literal Harvard commits get turned down.

Academics aren't the only thing, not to mention your congressional district could be loaded with studs.

 

[Helen737]

Our MOC called DS tonight. Getting an appointment! His portal changed to CPR on Monday.

 

[USNAhopeful2025]

Our MOC called DS tonight. Getting an appointment! His portal changed to CPR on Monday.

congratulations!!! so nice to read this post on this thread!!! very happy for you all!!

 

[rvrratt1]

Our MOC called DS tonight. Getting an appointment! His portal changed to CPR on Monday.

Congratulations to your DS ~ Represent CA-27 with Pride !!!

 

[FutureAcademyDad?]

USNA can't handle the best of the best --- not like USMA !

That will turn a machine gun guy off --- better with army

Just stop.

The snarky posts do not belong in this thread. As others have said, we realize that you are hurt that your DC didn't receive an appointment offer to USNA. However, it is somewhat classless to continue to post anti-USNA comments in what is, after all, a USNA appointment-waiting thread.

I wish your DC the best at USMA. I hope that they will find their place and thrive.

But implicitly, or explicitly, slamming USNA because your DC did not receive an appointment offer is not a good look for you.

 

[PO2FleetApplicant]

Just stop.

The snarky posts do not belong in this thread. As others have said, we realize that you are hurt that your DC didn't receive an appointment offer to USNA. However, it is somewhat classless to continue to post anti-USNA comments in what is, after all, a USNA appointment-waiting thread.

I wish your DC the best at USMA. I hope that they will find their place and thrive.

But implicitly, or explicitly, slamming USNA because your DC did not receive an appointment offer is not a good look for you.

There’s a LTJG on my ship who’s like this, always talks down on the academy but he applied, got rejected, and was screwed because it was the only school he had applied to. People just get bitter they got rejected and act like they didn’t want to go in the first place… when they went through all the trouble to apply, and if they’d gotten accepted they would’ve gone in a heartbeat

 

[A1Janitor]

This makes no sense to me, I know kids who have gotten in with a 1220 SAT and a 3.7 GPA. It’s crazy that Literal Harvard commits get turned down.

Did the 1220 win their slates?

It seems likely to me (whatever that’s worth) that the Harvard commit would have won many slates around the country.

 

[FutureAcademyDad?]

This makes no sense to me, I know kids who have gotten in with a 1220 SAT and a 3.7 GPA. It’s crazy that Literal Harvard commits get turned down.

If anything, you can blame the MOCs that didn't give a nomination. If USNA is trying to find a place for a candidate, the fact that the MOCs turned down the candidate makes it incredibly harder for the Admissions staff to work that application into the mix. It is a positive commentary on the applicant that they stayed in the mix for so long without any nomination. It is also a possible criticism that the multiple MOCs didn't assess the candidate as worthy of a nomination.

The admissions staff can only do so much with what they are given to work with in trying to fill the class.

 

[MidCakePa]

This makes no sense to me, I know kids who have gotten in with a 1220 SAT and a 3.7 GPA. It’s crazy that Literal Harvard commits get turned down.

You're not applying to Harvard. You're applying to a service academy. The criteria are different. The academies value strong academic performance -- grades and test scores. They also value leadership potential and physical fitness and military commitment (not to mention a very clean bill of health). So we're not talking apples and apples here. Not even apples and oranges. It's fruits and vegetables -- similarly virtuous, but very different in substance.

Those were the requirements when you applied. The difference was surely part of the attraction. The fact that you were turned down doesn't somehow invalidate the criteria.

 

[Capt MJ]

You're not applying to Harvard. You're applying to a service academy. The criteria are different. The academies value strong academic performance -- grades and test scores. They also value leadership potential and physical fitness and military commitment (not to mention a very clean bill of health). So we're not talking apples and apples here. Not even apples and oranges. It's fruits and vegetables -- similarly virtuous, but very different in substance.

Those were the requirements when you applied. The difference was surely part of the attraction. The fact that you were turned down doesn't somehow invalidate the criteria.

Hear, hear. Your sailors and Marines do not care about your class rank, GPA, test scores, internships, AP courses. Or where you went to college. Or your commissioning source.

They care that you are fair, a good listener, look after their welfare, will stand up for them, will hold yourself to account as well as others, are willing to make decisions, will admit when you are wrong, are a person of integrity, you trust them to do their jobs, are open to learning, have a sense of humor and oh yes, have enough book smarts to grasp their technical specialties and respect their expertise and be a good technical manager when the job calls for it. They will trust you and respect you for a whole host of other reasons than your “stats.”

I’ve always enjoyed the late GEN Colin Powell’s approach to leadership. (GEN Mattis, too, of course, and many other senior leasers.) Enjoy the short article below. He identifies a key element of leadership, and it has nothing to do with academic achievements.

Building Higher Trust 98 Colin Powell on Trust -

Colin Powell gave a response to a student question that I find most helpful. She asked him the following question. “How would you define the key characteristics of effective leadership that allow you to go and be an advocate for good?” Colin gave an immediate one-word response, “Trust.” His...

thetrustambassador.com

 

[hopefulmama1218]

If anything, you can blame the MOCs that didn't give a nomination. If USNA is trying to find a place for a candidate, the fact that the MOCs turned down the candidate makes it incredibly harder for the Admissions staff to work that application into the mix. It is a positive commentary on the applicant that they stayed in the mix for so long without any nomination. It is also a possible criticism that the multiple MOCs didn't assess the candidate as worthy of a nomination.

The admissions staff can only do so much with what they are given to work with in trying to fill the class.

Definitely agree. MOC plays a big part in the admission as well especially if one did not receive nomination or worst did not receive Principal nomination.

 

[MidCakePa]

If anything, you can blame the MOCs that didn't give a nomination. If USNA is trying to find a place for a candidate, the fact that the MOCs turned down the candidate makes it incredibly harder for the Admissions staff to work that application into the mix. It is a positive commentary on the applicant that they stayed in the mix for so long without any nomination. It is also a possible criticism that the multiple MOCs didn't assess the candidate as worthy of a nomination.

Seems like a good time to clarify how MOC noms come to be. There are 535 MOCs, each of whom is free to apply their own process and criteria (as long as they comply with congressional mandates). Typically, they cede the actual evaluation and selection to a committee that includes current and past members of the military. Those members may or may not be academy grads. Nonetheless, they know very well what’s required and expected of commissioned officers. Therefore, their decisions are well considered and well informed. Typically, it’s they who create the nom slate, perhaps with input from others, such as MOC staffers and civic officials. The MOC has final say, of course, but typically acts as a rubber stamp.

(Again, 535 MOCs, so technically up to 535 different approaches. There will be exceptions to the above statement. I believe they would be the exceptions that prove the rule.)

Said another way: The nominating committees are not exactly removed or disconnected from SA requirements and expectations. They are not out of touch with the military’s needs and demands. They may perceive the candidates a bit differently — often a 20-minute interview and a short review of the dossier. It’s certainly not the deep and detailed scrub done by admissions. But that’s a matter of perspective, not a discrepancy in criteria.

MOC plays a big part in the admission as well especially if one did not receive nomination or worst did not receive Principal nomination.

Most MOCs submit unranked slates, granting the SAs wide latitude in choosing the best candidate. And the lack of a principal nom doesn’t seem to affect the many who receive offer of appointment despite not being designated #1.

 

[hopefulmama1218]

Most MOCs submit unranked slates, granting the SAs wide latitude in choosing the best candidate. And the lack of a principal nom doesn’t seem to affect the many who receive offer of appointment despite not being designated #1.

Agree most MOCs submit unraked slates. However, our MOC did submit Principal + ranked slate nom for all 3 SAs my DS applied for. My DS did get nomination for all 3 SAs as ranked alternate. DS is still pending for all 3 SAs which we are staying positive he'll end up somewhere. But plan B is fully in place with Type 1 AFROTC HSSP and SMC.

 

[Heatherg21]

Seems like a good time to clarify how MOC noms come to be. There are 535 MOCs, each of whom is free to apply their own process and criteria (as long as they comply with congressional mandates). Typically, they cede the actual evaluation and selection to a committee that includes current and past members of the military. Those members may or may not be academy grads. Nonetheless, they know very well what’s required and expected of commissioned officers. Therefore, their decisions are well considered and well informed. Typically, it’s they who create the nom slate, perhaps with input from others, such as MOC staffers and civic officials. The MOC has final say, of course, but typically acts as a rubber stamp.

(Again, 535 MOCs, so technically up to 535 different approaches. There will be exceptions to the above statement. I believe they would be the exceptions that prove the rule.)

Said another way: The nominating committees are not exactly removed or disconnected from SA requirements and expectations. They are not out of touch with the military’s needs and demands. They may perceive the candidates a bit differently — often a 20-minute interview and a short review of the dossier. It’s certainly not the deep and detailed scrub done by admissions. But that’s a matter of perspective, not a discrepancy in criteria.


Most MOCs submit unranked slates, granting the SAs wide latitude in choosing the best candidate. And the lack of a principal nom doesn’t seem to affect the many who receive offer of appointment despite not being designated #1.

And during DS cycle, he was named principal by a Senator, as was another candidate (two slates). He was appointed. She was not. Loves her life at USMA. She definitely bloomed where she was planted.

No clue as to how it went that way, but it did.

 

[usna1985]

Most candidates for USNA have been super-high achievers all of their lives. They have excelled at virtually everything they've tried. For those who aren't appointed, this may be their first taste of real disappointment. For parents, it is hard to see their child's dreams crushed and often even harder to understand how USNA could turn down their exceptional child.

Those of us who've been on this site for 15+ years have ridden the rollercoaster with applicants each and every year. While most of us were successful in applying (and graduating) from USNA or another SA, all of us have tasted disappointment -- sometimes bitter disappointment -- in our lives.

For candidates and parents, I can only offer the following perspective. These young people will find success in another path. I have met very few adults who remain upset or bitter about not being appointed to a certain (or any) SA. They go on to wonderful lives -- some in the military, most not. They become doctors, scientists, lawyers, CPAs, engineers, corporate CEOs, homemakers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, etc. This moment, while it seems like Mt. Everest, becomes a blip on the vast road of life.

Parents and candidates can be bitter. It's understandable, but in life you have to pick yourself up and move on. I prefer to think of it as: another school really wanted me (or your child)! They chose me among a huge group of applicants. They're super excited to have me among them. That's where I'm meant to be, where I will thrive.

On reapplying . . . first, read the sticky. Second, wait, just wait. Give your new future a chance. Embrace it. Then, if the SA desire still burns, consider whether you want to embark on the journey yet again.

 

[gniyji]

This makes no sense to me, I know kids who have gotten in with a 1220 SAT and a 3.7 GPA. It’s crazy that Literal Harvard commits get turned down.

To me, college admission is a myth. DS's classmate/friend was admitted by MIT but rejected by Georgia Tech and wait-listed by CMU. SA admission adds more dimensions such as nomination, slate competition, WCS calculations. I do believe USMA values more on academics based on some private communications.

 

[ARMARINE03]

Hi all! I want to give a shout-out to every single person on this thread! I have been watching and experiencing all the emotions with you. I just want all the USNA people (hopefuls and otherwise) to know that you ROCK! There is a thread just like this for the other SAs, and those threads don't even compare with the heart and personality of this thread. This is how I know USNA is amazing! The USAFA thread has 790 comments, USMA has 552 (as of a few minutes ago), and this thread has a whopping 3,840!!! That's passion . . . or obsession . . . or both! My DD accepted her appointment to USMA, but I can't wait to see all the amazing Navy people at the Army/Navy game.

We are a passionate fun bunch. A lot of great people all over the SAF. Congrats to your DD!