Good post DMeix
Our experience was not unlike any of the other experiences my son had with the other schools he applied to and those to which he was accepted. Correspondence was received when the school had something that needed to be stated. We expected nothing more.
He in is where I believe the problem lies - the expectations of needing to feel welcome and swooned all over. Sounds harsh, yes, but that is what I am hearing hear. Questions like, as DMeix pointed out on credit etcetera are not handled by admissions.
You say following through on a phone call - if admissions is dealing with 15000 applicants, and there is nothing to report then maybe a phone call was not warranted. Also, you too are only hearing one side of the conversation. I am not saying that she was not truthful with you, but my experience has always been that 50% of what your child tells you will be the whole story and 50% filtered.
For whatever reason, it seems that the applicants, and their parents, applying to the service academies have a different expectation of the process than applying to State U or LA College. What was your expectation of the Nomination process and then relationship with said nominator after appointment and Induction? My son received a letter of congratulations and that is the last we heard from that office. Never expected otherwise.
Have heard of others who wanted an ongoing relationship while at the Academy.
BGO - son had interview, let BGO know of acceptance of appointment. No different than the many of the other Alumni interviews he had for other colleges. Never expected more. As parents, at the time I thought maybe there should have been more contact but I can tell you my son never thought so. He saw no difference nor expected any difference in the admissions offices or Alumni interviews of all colleges to which he applied.
I think if you're basing your decision on whether or not to attend a school based on your experience with the admissions process that you're acting in a very short-sighted manner.
As my Mid is going through the process of determining his ultimate service selection, we have told him many times to be leery of the of the emotion that one can feel when being recruited. Make sure you really want them too. To change ones mind at the last minute because you have the perception that an organization wants you more than where your heart lies can lead to an unhappy future.
I am glad for your daughter is has turned out well. It could have gone the other way too.