VP nomination?

[mdn18]

Hi,

I'm a candidate for the class of 2018 and I have a congressional nomination already, so I'm wondering if it is worth it to apply for the VP nomination online? From what I have read, only a few of these nominations are given out? (Correct me if I am wrong). Also, does the Academy admissions board know if a candidate has applied to all possible sources? Wondering if the VP nomination is worth trying for. I mean it is super-easy to apply for but just wondering. Any input is great.

 

[CannotBeDisplayed]

Unless you have a letter of assurance (in which case your nomination + the LoA would guarantee you an appointment), then yes! Definitely apply for any and all nominations for which you are eligible. Each nomination you receive gives the admissions board another opportunity to slot you before you are moved to the national waiting list.

And from what I've read on this forum, the academies actually "control" who gets VP nominations. They come up with a list of candidates they want nominated and then send that to the VP to hand the nominations out. To answer one of your questions, the VP can only have 5 cadets/mids at each academy at one time, and up to 10 candidates can be nominated to fill each of the openings (depending on the year, there may be 1 or 2, possibly more with separations).

Things like this are always worth trying for, no matter how many slots there are and how many people apply. The only person who has absolutely no chance is the person who doesn't apply.

 

[rudyinok]

Our logic on this might be completely wrong, I don't know! but the way we looked at this was - (all the reasons listed in the above post plus...) if he applies for a VP nomination, you send the additional letters of rec to the academy. so they get to read more information on you than just what your English and math teachers write! our ds used some of the same rec sources he used for his MOC Nomination apps, people who had intimate knowledge of his leadership abilities like his CAP squadron commander, etc.

 

[mdn18]

I thought the VP nomination needs no additional letters of recommendation? I can't find anything on the whitehouse.gov website that says more letters of recommendation are needed. Perhaps you can send more if you want? I don't think the Academy would want it though, unless it's a really important letter.