When do appointments go out?

HiMyNameisNick

5-Year Member
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Jan 27, 2010
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I would like to know when the Academy starts to send out appointment letters. Do people who turn in their applications earlier get a decision made earlier?
 
Some appointments have already gone out. As a general rule, those are going to candidates who are 3Q'ed with Presidential noms that USNA had decided it wants. As MOCs start submitting their slates, "principal" nominees who are 3Q'ed will start receiving appointments.

For the majority of folks, appointments go out in Feb and March. Why? B/c MOCs aren't required to turn in their nom slates until Jan 31 and many, like most of us, procrastinate. USNA needs to evaluate those slates against its 3Q'ed (including LOA) candidates and start matching people up. 3Qed LOAs with noms are guaranteed appointments but USNA must decide against whom to "charge" them. Same with the vast majority of folks who don't have LOAs.

This process runs through April 15, at which time USNA tries to ensure that all candidates are either appointed, sent a declination letter or waitlisted.

Again, as a general rule, those who turn in completed packets earlier have a better chance of hearing earlier -- as USNA can't offer you an appointment until your packet is 100% complete. However, many who turned their packets in during the summer may not hear until March. A lot depends on the nom process.
 
What does "principal" nominations mean? Is it just the people that the MOCs like the best? Is there any way that we can find out if we're one of these lucky people?
 
Basically you are correct re: Principal Nominees. The hope is that there is more substance behind that designation than just being better liked by the MOC, but there is no guarantee. By and large the practice of a fully laddered slate of nominees is becoming a dinosaur as MOC's are converting to the competitive slate of nominees on which all nominees compete with one another for an offer of appointment. The SA's prefer the competitive slate as it gives them more latitude in culling the slate for the best qualified. Best wishes.
 
my application was 100% complete about three weeks ago, and i got an offer of appointment today ! so it could happen any time. i also did receive a presidential nomination about a week and a half ago.
 
my application was 100% complete about three weeks ago, and i got an offer of appointment today ! so it could happen any time. i also did receive a presidential nomination about a week and a half ago.

wow thats very fast! how are your SAT scores? I feel like mine are low.

I would also like to know about being 3q'd.

Should I assume that I am not qualified in any of the three areas untill they send me a letter saying I am?

would I receive a 3q'd letter before any other letters?
 
Nick, you may get a letter stating you are scholastically qualified. You should know if you are physically qualifed (ie. CFA) The DoDMERB site is the source as to whether you are medically qualifed. You can call your RD to find out if you are 3Q'd.

If you think your SAT's are low, I am hoping you are planning to take them again in December?
 
wow thats very fast! how are your SAT scores? I feel like mine are low.

I would also like to know about being 3q'd.

Should I assume that I am not qualified in any of the three areas untill they send me a letter saying I am?

would I receive a 3q'd letter before any other letters?
i know, i wasn't expecting to hear so soon!
i got a 2110 on the SATs, 710 on both math and reading. i got a letter from DoDMERB letting me know i was medically qualified, but i never asked about being qualified physically and academically. i never received anything stating officially that i was 3q'd. but i would definitely ask the RD or your BGO about it.
 
I called my RD yesterday to find out if I was academically qualified, and she didn't have any new information for me.

Is that usual? My packet was 100% complete in the beginning of September. If I haven't heard by now, is that a bad sign?
 
Received my appointment September 24th, 2010. There are 4 others on this forum who have received an appointment also.
 
Received my appointment September 24th, 2010. There are 4 others on this forum who have received an appointment also.

No doubt that those with Presidential/ROTC noms with an LOA potential resume would receive their appointments already. Good job!
Others who received LOAs like me would receive appointments as their nominations fill in, or any other stipulation is met, Im assuming.
 
I got my appointment today! Got an e-mail from my MOC saying I would receive an appointment in the mail this week! I didn't have a presidential nomination, just a representative.
 
No doubt that those with Presidential/ROTC noms with an LOA potential resume would receive their appointments already. Good job!
Others who received LOAs like me would receive appointments as their nominations fill in, or any other stipulation is met, Im assuming.

Not necessarily re: Presidential/ROTC noms
It just means their package may have been completed earlier. Only 100 Presidential noms may attend per class; therefore, it is important that they too seek other nom sources.
 
Pres Nom

Hello Forum,

On my USNA Application page, it shows that I have a Presidential Nomination. Does this mean that I have one of the 100 spots or that I am competing for one?

It's just stressful because I feel as if when I go to these Senator Interviews they don't select those who already have Presidential Nominations. I'm sure candidates have received both before but it seems rare.

Still waiting for an LOA. Already received a Scholastically Qualified letter and have been cleared by DoDMERB...
 
It means that you qualified for a Presidential nomination based upon a qualifying parent's current or past service.
No, it does not mean you are one of the 100. There are MANY Presidential nominations that go out; as stated above, these nominations are based upon a parent qualifying you for the nomination.
Depending upon the state a candidate is from and their MOCs many of those with a Presidential will also secure a Senator or Congressional nom.
Sorry to say, but you are still competing for an appointment, but feel good, you know you have a nom, many are still wondering if they will receive one!

PS: Connecticut is a VERY competitive state. Your best bet for a secondary nom is going to be from your Congressperson. Being in the "quiet" corners of CT can be to your advantage.
 
Thanks for clearing that up. And you're right, at least I have a nomination. This process sure is stressful!
 
I'm in Connecticut and I spoke with the dean last week and he told me I would be receiving an offer of appointment in the mail shortly, should I still go for a congressional nom? I already have a presidential and he sounded unsure as to whether or not I should go for a second nomination although I already will be receiving an offer.
 
Normally, in CT, the if you receive a nomination from one of the Senators you will be contacted and congratulated by phone by a staff member. This takes place before the packet arrives to your home. Your BGO can confirm this.
If indeed you have receive an offer of appointment there is no need to seek another nomination. By going for that 2nd nomination you would be taking an opportunity away from another qualified candidate.
Depending on when your Congressional interviews are, I would make sure I had that appointment in hand before I made any rash decisions.
 
Normally, in CT, the if you receive a nomination from one of the Senators you will be contacted and congratulated by phone by a staff member. This takes place before the packet arrives to your home. Your BGO can confirm this.

Possibly. Some BGOs are very familiar with the ways the local MOCs operate -- sometimes b/c they serve on a nom committee. But not all are. For example, I don't know how candidates in my are are notified by the various MOCs. Maybe I should find out . . .

If indeed you have receive an offer of appointment there is no need to seek another nomination. By going for that 2nd nomination you would be taking an opportunity away from another qualified candidate.
Depending on when your Congressional interviews are, I would make sure I had that appointment in hand before I made any rash decisions.

With all due respect, I must disagree. It is true that in many competitive areas, the MOCs themselves will "limit" you to a single nom. However, if they allow you to obtain more than one, try for every one you can. Why?

(1) The more noms you have, the more flexibility USNA (or other SAs) have in granting you an appointment b/c there are more slots for you.

(2) More than one nom shows you did well competitively against your peers with more than one MOC.

(3) Your MOC may make a principal nom or may rank his/her nominees. If you're not the principal or high in the rankings, you may well need another nom.

The one exception to the above is if you are told unequivocally that you are the principal nominee. In that case, if you're tripled Q'ed, USNA MUST give you the appointment. Thus, you only need the one nom.

I wouldn't worry about "taking" someone else's nom. The MOC decides whom he/she believes is most qualified, not you. The MOCs are well able to check with each other on nominees and, if they don't want to "double nominate" someone, make sure they don't do it. That's not your call to make. If you're the most qualified, you should get the nom.
 
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