Is no news bad news?

H2Opolodude

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2012
Messages
85
Quick question: For those of us who haven't heard back yet--are our chances necessarily getting slimmer the longer we wait? Or could it be that our applications are undergoing further consideration, since we technically haven't been denied yet...? *knock on wood* (fingers crossed)
 
I think it is good news...you are still be considered for either admission, prep school, or wait list.
 
Quick question: For those of us who haven't heard back yet--are our chances necessarily getting slimmer the longer we wait? Or could it be that our applications are undergoing further consideration, since we technically haven't been denied yet...? *knock on wood* (fingers crossed)

No news is just that - no news. I know it must be incredibly frustrating, but if you have been following the stalkers thread, you will know that there really are not many slots to be had in the April/May cycle, so the pace of things really slow down. At this point you really need to be pursuing Plan B and have comfort in the fact that USAFA is still considering your appointment. Good Luck!
 
Just to update everyone still waiting... USAFA Admissions sent "non-select" letters on Friday. Over 1200 were sent. Some candidates got them Saturday (those that where close by)... the rest will know over the next 1 to 3 days.

Also, the "QNV" is a thing of the past. The letters sent Friday are simply "non-select".

This will be a hard time for those receiving the letters. Please know that this was difficult for USAFA too. The mandated size of the incoming class is forcing USAFA to pass on some truly fine candidates this year, probably more so than any year in USAFA's history.

God speed, everyone.

Check the mail for a "non-select" letter in the next few days. You may still be in the running if you don't get one.
 
Non select.... What does that mean....why didn't they just send out NO months ago and not leave the 1200 kids still thinking they had a chance... Just not right... Sad for the kids who are getting them...DS still thought he had a chance.
 
Non select.... What does that mean....why didn't they just send out NO months ago and not leave the 1200 kids still thinking they had a chance... Just not right... Sad for the kids who are getting them...DS still thought he had a chance.

I would venture to guess that "non-select" literally means "not selected." I'm sorry for your DS. I'm expecting to get one today myself.
 
Non select.... What does that mean....why didn't they just send out NO months ago and not leave the 1200 kids still thinking they had a chance... Just not right... Sad for the kids who are getting them...DS still thought he had a chance.

Most of the decisions were made over the past few weeks, and almost everyone was still in the running during that process. The only candidates who got earlier "no" letters were those that were disqualified (primarily for medical reasons but some also because of previous issues with drug use or civil involvements).

It would have been unfair and wrong to send letters earlier.
 
Insider is correct...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Thank you for the update insider.

I do however disagree with your statement that it would have been wrong and unfair for some reason to send them out sooner. Why they couldn't have just posted the issue date of this 1200 mailing is beyond me.

I can't believe that most of the 1200 souls who are about to receive a TWE couldn't have been told a month ago. The only problem I have with the process is the duration of it. They could have sent out at least 800, to pick a number, of these a month ago and let folks move on instead of keeping these kids hanging with a false hope and thats all it ever was, was a false hope.
 
Non select.... What does that mean....why didn't they just send out NO months ago and not leave the 1200 kids still thinking they had a chance... Just not right... Sad for the kids who are getting them...DS still thought he had a chance.

They didn't send them out months ago because we we're all very competitive and all of the slots need to be filled with the right candidates. There simply isn't enough slots for all of us, so USAFA admissions needed to take their time to choose the right future-officers.
 
Class size = 1050
Approximate acceptance rate = 80%
Approximate number of offers that may need to be made = 1300
Appropriate applicant pool size perhaps the top 1500 WCS applicants.

I can see fritz's point.
 
Thank you for the update insider.

I do however disagree with your statement that it would have been wrong and unfair for some reason to send them out sooner. Why they couldn't have just posted the issue date of this 1200 mailing is beyond me.

I can't believe that most of the 1200 souls who are about to receive a TWE couldn't have been told a month ago. The only problem I have with the process is the duration of it. They could have sent out at least 800, to pick a number, of these a month ago and let folks move on instead of keeping these kids hanging with a false hope and thats all it ever was, was a false hope.

You need to keep in mind that part of this process of notification is dependent on people accepting or declining their appointment offers. The admissions folks are looking at about 13,000 applicants, many of whom have impeccable credentials. It is a tough undertaking and I all I can say is that my interactions with counselors and admissions staffs have been excellent.
 
The admissions folks are looking at about 13,000 applicants, many of whom have impeccable credentials.

I believe only around 4000 of those have a nomination so that shrinks the pool a bunch. Still a big task though.
 
Bear in mind that we all want an appt. for our sons/daughters, me included, but lets not let the tail wag the dog here.

Yes they have to keep a small pool alive so they can fill the class with the correct number and the proper mix of cadets but that likely can be done with a group of 50-100 or so of the best qualified hold overs. there is no reason to hold 1200. Thats the point, they could have released this mailing a month ago and not missed a beat. Again false hope and thats not fair nor right.
 
I do however disagree with your statement that it would have been wrong and unfair for some reason to send them out sooner. Why they couldn't have just posted the issue date of this 1200 mailing is beyond me.
As we all know, USAFA is hyper-competitive and therefore the admissions process is lengthy. But so what. The admissions process at many top tier universities is lengthy as well. Here is the recent update from Admissions at Stanford University. I think that most folks here would agree that Stanford is on par with USAFA. The Admissions release was dated March 30 and in part stated:

Stanford University Admissions said:
Of the 36,631 applications received, a total of 2,427 students will be admitted. An additional 789 students will be offered a space on our waitlist. Regrettably, we cannot consider any letters or calls of appeal whatsoever. All admission decisions are final and we never alter any admission decision once it has been rendered.

Granted that Stanford's mode of communication was more effective than what we have seen from USAFA, but the numbers and timing of Stanford's admissions are similar to what we are experiencing here.
 
Not sure where the 80% acceptance rate comes from. No matter how you do the math. With only 1057 appointments: 12000 applicants - 8.8%; 6000 qualified applicants - 17.6%; 4000 nominees - 26.43%; 2500 3Q Qualified Candidates - 42.28%. To get 80%, that means 1057 appointments out of a pool of 1321 candidates.

Now; if you mean acceptance rate as in: Individuals accepting appointments given to them, that is another story. But colleges/universities (including the academies) use the words "Acceptance Rate" to mean how many the SCHOOL accepts from those applying. Just making sure everyone is speaking the same language.

Back on target: "Is no news bad news?" I suggest that those who haven't received an appointment, continually monitor your online application. There are 4 scenarios for those who haven't received an appointment.

1. An individual on the same nomination slate as you, declined the appointment, and you might receive an appointment as an alternate.
2. You are in the national pool and will receive an appointment because the academy needs to get to 1057.
3. The 1057 has been given out, but not all have accepted yet, and you are on the "wait list". Many on the wait list will receive an appointment, but it's not guaranteed.
4. You aren't going to get an appointment.

Either way; you should be looking at your other options that you made for college. There are some of you that probably know deep down inside that you aren't going to get an appointment. Many have mentioned how competitive the academy is. This year more so. The two main areas are academics and leadership. You can have the 4.0gpa, but if you know you have a composite ACT of 26-27 or 1800 total SAT, chances are slim that you're going to get an appointment. Forget what the "Minimum Standards" are. The incoming class hasn't averaged the minimum standards ever; as far as I know. The "Average" ACT is around 30. The average SAT is around 1950. Same with leadership. Doesn't matter what the minimum standards are to make you a "Qualified" candidate. The average cadet has strong leadership accomplishments. Class leaders, sports leaders, varsity letters, boy/girl state, city/state/national accolades, club leaders, etc...

I am not trying to depress or bum anyone out. But I would not doing anyone justice if I didn't tell them to firm up any potential plan "B" schools out there. Nothing wrong with State "U" or a community college and reapplying again next year. But, if you have the opportunity in front of you to a prestigious or dream school, and you're still waiting, I think it's time you start looking at accepting one of those schools if you haven't heard from the academy yet.

Anything given out is going to reflect in your online application. In the past, it could take many weeks to catch up. They aren't doing that this year. They are updating quickly and allowing for online acceptance/declination quickly. Keep looking at your online application AND MAKE SURE YOU REFRESH YOUR BROWSER SO YOU DON'T SEE WHAT'S IN THE CACHE. best of luck. Mike....
 
The wait has to be awful--I know last year my son got his BFE at the beginning of April and it was hard to think of much else until it came through. But correct me if I'm wrong, Insider, but doesn't the whole MOC nomination process complicate offers and rejections, making it harder to just draw a line at a number and say below this line won't even get considered from the national wait list and above could get considered? For example, say Senator A's nominee was offered an appointment, but turned it down April
14. Doesn't the AFA have to go back to Sen. A's slate of nominees (who were put in the national pool after the first nominee was offered an appt) and take the candidate with the highest WCS if they want to make another offer of appointment? And that candidate may not be in the top 25 or or 100 or whatever on the NWL, but is still the next highest on the MOC's list? So to say just hold back 100 or so and tell everyone else "no" isn't really realistic with the way the system works. Not with 500+ congressment and 100 senators and their slates. I thought this was how it worked, but maybe I'm wrong.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top