Is it this quiet for everybody?

ColtDad

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
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38
My son is currently a candidate for the USNA. Based on what I read here I would evaluate his overall package as competitive.

I wonder how many here are in some way communicating with admissions personnel and in what capacity?

Essentially, my son completed his packet, interviews, CFA and everything else required. He has recieved nominations from all three MOC's to his first choice which is USNA. However, other than dealing with medical remedials and now DQ's from DODMERB, we have heard absolutely nothing at all from the Academy. Zilch.

On his candidate page there is nothing other than the information we submitted. Are we missing something? It seems that others I read here must be acting pro-actively due to the information they have to share.

We are just sitting patiently and wondering if that is a polite way of ending up at the end of the line. Is he supposed to demonstrate his interest level by maintaining communication with admissions?

Thanks.
 
My son is in the exact same position as yours. He has sent updated transcripts and ACT scores to admissions. I'll defer to the experts as to what else can be done at this point.

Waiting to see if a waiver is granted has been the hardest part of the whole process so far. Probably only to be outdone by waiting for an appointment if the waiver is indeed granted.

Good Luck
 
Never hurts to inquire, before last week my most recent update from admissions was 6 weeks beforehand.
 
DS page says the same thing. Unfortunatly he has a MOC nomination to the Air Force Academy and not the USNA. He is DODMERB qualified. He is thinking about calling his MOC and seeing if he can switch his nomination but he is waiting on the Senate ones to come in at the end of the month. He has his USAF interview next week and they said his verbal SAT score is week so who knows what will happen. They did tell him to retake the SAT test on Jan. 22nd and send those even though it is after the deadline.
 
Ah the agony before the ecstasy! My own read, which proves little beyond trying to lend a little perspective and perhaps merited comfort, is that you are all precisely where you should be. It can be very stressful reading/hearing of others getting LOAs, early appointments, etc. Generally, no news means good news. Maybe not great, but definitely not bad.

What is so difficult to fully understand, including MANY variations and nuances, is the complexity of this process for virtually all. Especially when the specifics of the nomination process must be combined with the details and timing of becoming 3Qed. Most of all, it is difficult to realize this is not merely matching up against a set profile or set of standards or baselines. Often one candidate and his/her application is interdependent upon one (or more) others in one's district, state, other nominating pool(s). And so until nominators and nominations can be ascertained ...and often applications of others in one's various pools are fully completed and evaluated, well, you begin to see this is nothing at all like being admitted even to other highly competitive secular institutions. And no matter how many times many hear or read this point, they do not grasp it.

So, the timing and what seem to be delays for long-complete and even qualified applications and candidates, most likely have little or nothing to do with their qualifications. What it often DOES have to do with is not having the pool complete in which the early birds (especially those who might even have nomnations other than a PRINCIPAL) must at least initially compete.

Hoping this is not as clear as mud, and might lend a little insight and encouragement.

So ...what can one do while one waits? Pray, keep doing the things that have gotten one to this point. And did I mention pray?:wink::thumb: Beyond that, you've done all you can do.
 
Do contact your RD to get an update on status of waiver and misc issues with DODMERB, and do continue to update the information in your file. Things should start breaking loose in Admissions in the next couple of weeks as the MOC noms all are in hand and the real players are known. Best wishes in your efforts. Keep up your fitness program, you'll be glad you did during plebe summer!
 
Upon receipt of the DODMERB DQ's this past Monday, we did reach out to our RD by email. Felt it was necessary to clarify each issue.

So far no response.

The DQ's are very disapointing and some of the wind has gone out of my sons sails I can tell. For a 17 yr old, it's difficult to take when other universities are sending him scholarship offers and making him feel wanted on a daily basis.
 
DoDMERB DQ's do not mean the end of the road, if your son can get a waiver. Three different current Mids from our HS (including my DD) all received DoDMERB DQs. Help your son submit all remedial data as rapidly as possible (this is one part of the process where parents need to help, as they usually have access to medical info). If you haven't done so already, you might find it helpful to have your son contact Mr Larry Mullen of DodMERB by email (see the DoDMERB section of this site) Good luck!
 
From what I know, and I've spoken to quite a few people about the DODMERB, many people get DQ's that are easily waived. Just follow the instructions for your follow-ups and he should be fine.
 
Essentially, my son completed his packet, interviews, CFA and everything else required. He has recieved nominations from all three MOC's to his first choice which is USNA. However, other than dealing with medical remedials and now DQ's from DODMERB, we have heard absolutely nothing at all from the Academy. Zilch.

I know how you feel! DS had everything completed very early. He did receive a CVW invite in the fall, which he had to decline, and another in December for Jan/Feb. That's all the communication he's had from admissions. He is going to the Jan. CVW. So at least part of the waiting will be done on the Yard!
 
It's that time of the cycle, folks. The Admissions Office will be "building the class" shortly. Have patience, keep the faith and let them know about any positive changes in your applicant's file.

I look every day at the BGO website to see if any of my candidates' statuses has changed. Apart from nominations being added, there is little change in the site. Things should start moving at the end of January when all the noms are done, as was said above by 1964.
 
It's that time of the cycle, folks. The Admissions Office will be "building the class" shortly. Have patience, keep the faith and let them know about any positive changes in your applicant's file.

I look every day at the BGO website to see if any of my candidates' statuses has changed. Apart from nominations being added, there is little change in the site. Things should start moving at the end of January when all the noms are done, as was said above by 1964.

Ditto.:smile:
 
Ditto also.

Also keep in mind that no matter how early one's package is complete, that this does not mean Admissions or the board will act on it immediately. First off, the 3Q cutoff level is a floating benchmark. USNA normally 3Qs the top 2000 or so candidates. Therefore, each year has its own unique cutoff.
Secondly, there are those who are definitely in the pack and to a lesser extent that no matter what they do first semester of their Senior year, those who will never be in the pack. These are the first decisions of the board. Then there are those who will be close to the perceived cutoff and/or in a position that late SATs/grades/extracurriculars, etc could possibly effect the outcome, whose records will be delayed either by the board or by Admissions until the end of the selection cycle. It is indeed a long wait.
 
waiting

Never hurts to call academy. I called twice during sons admission process. VERY helpful and reassuring. Your son has already done his part, ok for parent to with in at this time in process. Good luck to your son.
 
Agree fully. While one should not become a "pest" to busy people drowning in a monumental pool of process right now, it is worth remembering that these are public servants, paid by public funds. Now that is no license beyond using good sense and reasonability in communicating when communication is needed.

My purpose in stating the obvious is that some have the view, idea that asking fair questions somehow violates the process and/or somehow puts the questioning candidate in question.

And here's a reminder caveat: Allow the candidate to do the asking. And generally always. USNA admissions staff often value connecting w/ candidates ...far more than candidates' moms.
 
Also checking the candidate roster for Northeast Ohio daily, and ditto the other BGOs - minimum activity there except for a couple of offers to presidential noms.
 
And here's a reminder caveat: Allow the candidate to do the asking. And generally always. USNA admissions staff often value connecting w/ candidates ...far more than candidates' moms.

Ditto on this point. Sometimes there are circumstances where it is hard for a candidate to find time to call admissions office themselves due to practice and other ec's. However, the candidate is the one who should be making phone calls, sending e-mails, etc. It's great for parents to support their childs decision to attend an academy, but the child needs to take the initiative. There will be plenty of other times where the parent can lend a hand in the process.

Btw, this is the opinion of a candidate.
 
ColtDad, here's what I did....
understand that there are well over 15,000 applicants (numbers and seriousness of applicants vary). Some have gotten a LOA, others a TWE.
If your DS hasn't received either you are still in the run. Stay loose, work the DoDMERB end, and stay in shape, don't get hurt or run fowl of the law. That applies to your DS too!

Don't hold your breath. It doesn't help (unless you're a skin diver). Ambushing the mailbox doesn't help either (besides, it just doesn't look right to the neighbors!). If there's any new <better> test results or awards, that's always a good reason to contact the Admin office to keep in touch.

As others have said one way or the other, the class isn't formed until March.

Others suggest dropping some $'s on plan B or C schools to hold a spot.

If you are religious, now is a good time to pray. Best of luck and circumstance to your DS! :thumb:
 
ColtDad, here's what I did....
understand that there are well over 15,000 applicants (numbers and seriousness of applicants vary). Some have gotten a LOA, others a TWE.
If your DS hasn't received either you are still in the run. Stay loose, work the DoDMERB end, and stay in shape, don't get hurt or run fowl of the law. That applies to your DS too!

Don't hold your breath. It doesn't help (unless you're a skin diver). Ambushing the mailbox doesn't help either (besides, it just doesn't look right to the neighbors!). If there's any new <better> test results or awards, that's always a good reason to contact the Admin office to keep in touch.

As others have said one way or the other, the class isn't formed until March.

Others suggest dropping some $'s on plan B or C schools to hold a spot.

If you are religious, now is a good time to pray. Best of luck and circumstance to your DS! :thumb:

Great advice. I was one who did attract a lot of attention at our mailbox, but I digress.....that being said.....this is important advice to follow. This is a difficult period to wait, but you are not alone. We all wish you the best of luck and have been in your shoes. :smile:
 
Many thanks to those who have taken the time to offer thoughts and support.

In truth, as a family we are not exactly "chomping at the bit", as we understand the admissions process is just now getting underway. We are primarily concerned that he will be discounted without proper vetting of his DQ's. If I have not stated previously, he is dealing with four DQ's so we are fully aware of the slim chances of successfully negotiating the waters and obtaining that many waivers.

Based on what we can gleen from information on this site, none of the DQ's are deal killers in and of themselves, but we worry that the academy will judge him on them collectively and not dig any further. My son himself seems almost resigned to that fate and is primarily looking elsewhere already in truth.

We had refrained from contacting admissions personell completely until last Monday when we received the DQ's and decided to contact the RD to clarify. That was over a week ago now and nobody has responded, so its rather discomforting.

Others I read about on here sound as if they have much more information concerning current status then we do, and that was the reason for the query.

Good luck to all the hopefuls out there. Here is wishing all the best of luck.
 
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