USNA recommendation letters

ltcornman

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
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I am new to this site so not sure how this all works. Just got my acceptance letter to NASS, the second week, and am pumped. Can I start getting my recommendation letters in order now for the USNA application or is there a form letter in the application packet that must be used? Also are the rec letters sent by me with my application packet or are they mailed directly to the academy by the person writing them? I've read so much about trying to get rec letters from teachers during the summer so I'm trying to get a head start to avoid any problems. Also what does DQ'd mean?
 
USNA requires 3 letters: 11th grade math teacher, 11th grade English teacher, school official. I believe you provide USNA with their email addresses and USNA emails the rec form to them. They then email it back to USNA.

You can't start the process until you have a candidate number and access to the CIS system. That should occur around May 1.

You can submit additional letters of rec. Search this forum for details on number, substance, etc. There has been lots of discussion on the subject.
 
Amplification:

Check your nominating sources (i.e. Members of Congress) and see what their letters of recommendation requirements are. It is possible to start working those letters later this spring (you want someone who can give an honest/full observation).

But as mentioned above, you can't start your USNA application until designated an official candidate and the application window opens.
 
USNA requires 3 letters: 11th grade math teacher, 11th grade English teacher, school official. I believe you provide USNA with their email addresses and USNA emails the rec form to them. They then email it back to USNA.

You can't start the process until you have a candidate number and access to the CIS system. That should occur around May 1.

You can submit additional letters of rec. Search this forum for details on number, substance, etc. There has been lots of discussion on the subject.

what do you mean by school official? like any other teacher at your school? or does it have to be an administrator?
 
what do you mean by school official? like any other teacher at your school? or does it have to be an administrator?

It can be another teacher, coach, instructor, etc... I had my JROTC instructor write mine.

Also, congratulations ltcornman on your selection to NASS. To answer your original question... On the CIS you'll be able to enter your teacher's e-mail addresses. They'll get an e-mail with instructions on how to proceed and from there write your evaluations. Just about every part of the application works that way.... The person administering the CFA sends the results back to USNA; your school counselor gets an e-mail asking to verify your academic and extracurricular resumes.
I can't recall one part of the application actually passing through my hands, so be sure you stay on top of your counselor and teachers!
 
It can be another teacher, coach, instructor, etc... I had my JROTC instructor write mine.

Also, congratulations ltcornman on your selection to NASS. To answer your original question... On the CIS you'll be able to enter your teacher's e-mail addresses. They'll get an e-mail with instructions on how to proceed and from there write your evaluations. Just about every part of the application works that way.... The person administering the CFA sends the results back to USNA; your school counselor gets an e-mail asking to verify your academic and extracurricular resumes.
I can't recall one part of the application actually passing through my hands, so be sure you stay on top of your counselor and teachers!

I might be having a brain aneurism here, but I do not believe this is correct. Indeed, my DS got the same, incorrect advice last June and he had the email link sent to his Spanish teacher. His Spanish teacher called perplexed, and my DS had to call the USNA and have it switched over to his guidance counselor. It has to go to your guidance counselor or whoever performs their function, i.e. can access and confirm your whole record, including grades, extracurriculars, disciplinary record, etc. Last year they asked for your 10th or 11th grade math and English teachers. My advice is to ask them NOW, and again when you submit their names. Let them know it is coming. If you'll be asking one or both for recommendations for a nomination too, let them know about that as well.
 
I might be having a brain aneurism here, but I do not believe this is correct. Indeed, my DS got the same, incorrect advice last June and he had the email link sent to his Spanish teacher. His Spanish teacher called perplexed, and my DS had to call the USNA and have it switched over to his guidance counselor. It has to go to your guidance counselor or whoever performs their function, i.e. can access and confirm your whole record, including grades, extracurriculars, disciplinary record, etc. Last year they asked for your 10th or 11th grade math and English teachers. My advice is to ask them NOW, and again when you submit their names. Let them know it is coming. If you'll be asking one or both for recommendations for a nomination too, let them know about that as well.

Ah, I'm sorry, that's correct. I don't believe there was an additional eval outside of the math/english teacher. My JROTC instructor sent in his letter with the nomination, but that was through a different channel.
 
DQ'd means disqualified.

Not sure whether this still is a problem, but in the past there where occasions when Admissions could not contact teachers, counselors, and others designated to provide letters of recommendation. The problem tended to arise with super effective firewalls being used by some schools. The remedy was to obtain an alternate email address for the designated persons. Just be aware of this potential problem in the event one or more of your designated referrals tells you that he/she hasn't been contacted.

Best wishes in your efforts to earn an offer of appointment! Do your honest best to become the best candidate you can be... it makes the process a lot simpler in the long run.
 
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