Applying To More Than One SA

Ted

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
12
I've heard different things from different people on this topic. Some say that it is a good thing to apply to more than one SA where as others says its bad and shows a lack of commitment to that branch. Although I am on the USNA page and focusing on USNA, I'm not 100% certain that its the SA I want to go to. I'm trying to keep options open especially if when I apply, I get into one and not another (if I apply to more than one).

I'm wondering if anyone who knows more about the academies can answer this so I can do everything to make my application look better.
 
The only time that this would come up is during the nomination process.

From my experience, I applied last year and knew an American Legion Post Commander that was on a MOC interview board. I picked his brain and for him, applying to mutiple SA's is a good thing, with justification. He said it also depends on whose opinion you're asking.

One aspect is by applying to mutiple SA's you show a commitment to the military and have back-ups. To a veteran like him, this is what he wanted in a future leader. But he also stated that to some people, on the review boards play into the branch bias that you stated. He said that one cadidate was applying to both USNA and USMA, he liked that, while an educator (non military) questioned said candidate about this in a negative manner, thinking about the rivalry between the two and how drastically different they are, in terms of navy vs army.

I listed USMA and USAFA during the process and recieved nominations to both. I was passionate about making the military a career and when questioned about the lack of commitment to either WP or AFA, I used that passion to explain my reasoning. I think it worked out well in the end. In other states and areas you may get the people with the educators view point or the ladder, its all up to how you react, but it's definitely a minor detail in the whole application process. I would look into it, but focus on other details that are much more important.
 
There was a LOT of good discussion on this point last year. Try searching this forum using almost the exact words of this thread topic and you should find it.
 
I'm not even sure the academies are even aware that a candidate is applying to another academy.

Yes, it certainly may come up in a nomination interview.

I have always been of the opinion that if you would be willing to attend ANY of the academies, then you should apply to them. Of course, you have to be willing to attend one that is not your first choice.

When applying to only one, you may get asked, "Why are you applying to only one academy?"

Both my sons applied only to USNA and were never asked that question, however.

If you are applying to only one academy, you should be prepared to field that question at an interview.
 
. . . When applying to only one, you may get asked, "Why are you applying to only one academy?"

I am on my MOC's nomination board and I usually ask that question.

Two things,

In past 6 or 7 years, I only agreed with one applicant's rational wahy he was only applying to one academy.

Most cases, we didn't penalize any applicants for wanting to only attend one SA. We agreed that kids will be kids. At the same time, if an applicant went down a wrong path, it did hurt the applicant. A short story, an applicant that only wanted attend USNA to fly F-18. Nothing wrong with that, but there was no other reason- serving the country, being in the military, being a leader, and etc.
 
I am on my MOC's nomination board and I usually ask that question.

Two things,

In past 6 or 7 years, I only agreed with one applicant's rational wahy he was only applying to one academy.

Most cases, we didn't penalize any applicants for wanting to only attend one SA. We agreed that kids will be kids. At the same time, if an applicant went down a wrong path, it did hurt the applicant. A short story, an applicant that only wanted attend USNA to fly F-18. Nothing wrong with that, but there was no other reason- serving the country, being in the military, being a leader, and etc.

Personally, I do not think it is a fair question to ask a candidate - why they are only applying to one academy. The implication is that, if you really wanted to serve your country, you would/should be applying to all of the academies.

You say "kids will be kids" as if there is something immature about only being interested in attending one academy.

If a candidate is applying to only one academy, say USNA, a far better question would simply be: "Why do you want to attend the Naval Academy?" If their answer satisfies you, then that should be that. Why complicate matters by probing for why they didn't apply to West Point or USAFA? Hell, for that matter, if it's just a matter of serving, why not ask them why they have not volunteered to join the Peace Corps, serve in government, or become a police officer?

There is ample opportunity for a candidate to go down the wrong path without needlessly complicating the question. In my opinion, you are setting them up to go down the wrong path when they might have not otherwise.

Yet, I maintain that a candidate should be prepared to answer this question - and you have just proven why they should be prepared - because the question does get asked - unfairly, in my opinion.
 
Personally, I do not think it is a fair question to ask a candidate - why they are only applying to one academy. The implication is that, if you really wanted to serve your country, you would/should be applying to all of the academies.

You say "kids will be kids" as if there is something immature about only being interested in attending one academy.

If a candidate is applying to only one academy, say USNA, a far better question would simply be: "Why do you want to attend the Naval Academy?" If their answer satisfies you, then that should be that. Why complicate matters by probing for why they didn't apply to West Point or USAFA? Hell, for that matter, if it's just a matter of serving, why not ask them why they have not volunteered to join the Peace Corps, serve in government, or become a police officer?

There is ample opportunity for a candidate to go down the wrong path without needlessly complicating the question. In my opinion, you are setting them up to go down the wrong path when they might have not otherwise.

Yet, I maintain that a candidate should be prepared to answer this question - and you have just proven why they should be prepared - because the question does get asked - unfairly, in my opinion.

Concur completely.
 
I concur with Memphis, as well. I do, however, believe it is fair to ask about consideration of ROTC/OCS (noticed I didn't say the word "apply"), in the event of not receiving an appointment.
 
Agree as well with all of the above. DS wanted only USNA because of the wide variety of career opportunities, plus he's an engineer type well suited to the Navy's technical emphasis. He explained why no NROTC (his college didn't offer it and no cross town training allowed--met with local NROTC unit leaders), but was intending to apply to OCS if he didn't get into USNA and had met with the college OCS Navy folk as well. 1 MOC gave him a nom to USNA, another to USMA, even though he hadn't applied to USMA. The interview committees had vastly different questions plus our MOCs communicate and don't give out multiple noms to the same service academy. That said, different states have different policies/philosophies.....
 
Personally, I do not think it is a fair question to ask a candidate - why they are only applying to one academy. The implication is that, if you really wanted to serve your country, you would/should be applying to all of the academies.

You say "kids will be kids" as if there is something immature about only being interested in attending one academy.

If a candidate is applying to only one academy, say USNA, a far better question would simply be: "Why do you want to attend the Naval Academy?" If their answer satisfies you, then that should be that. Why complicate matters by probing for why they didn't apply to West Point or USAFA? Hell, for that matter, if it's just a matter of serving, why not ask them why they have not volunteered to join the Peace Corps, serve in government, or become a police officer?

There is ample opportunity for a candidate to go down the wrong path without needlessly complicating the question. In my opinion, you are setting them up to go down the wrong path when they might have not otherwise.

Yet, I maintain that a candidate should be prepared to answer this question - and you have just proven why they should be prepared - because the question does get asked - unfairly, in my opinion.

Another question I usually asked is "what is the hardest thing you have done so far in your life?" I always throw them a life line when they stumble on this question.

I don't ask these questions to stump the applicants. Fellow board members don't have any issue with me asking these questions either as we want to hear the answers. For us, answers are not important rather why is more important and how they handle the pressure (if any). As stated before we don't penalize applicants for just applying to one SA.
 
It's a fair question but there can be legit reasons why people only apply to one SA and/or don't apply to NROTC. The important thing is that you have thought through the issue and have a legitimate answer.

In my case, I applied only to USNA and USCGA (even though my father was USAF). I didn't apply to NRTOC but could explain my rationale.

As discussed extensively, if you'd be truly happy at more than one SA/in more than one military service, apply to many. However, if you only want to attend one and can articulate why, it may make sense to apply only to that one.
 
During my MOC interview, me applying to 2 SA's was seen as a sign of motivation and commitment. I assume that it is also looked at as a sign of maturity, as it shows that the candidate is at least somewhat more focused on serving their country in whichever capacity they can and less concerned with being that high-speed, low-drag Ranger-tabbed SEAL that also graduated top of their class in UPT :shake: .
 
Stop trying to find an angle and just be honest.


I applied to the Coast Guard Academy, Naval Academy and Merchant Marine Academy. I also had a NROTC scholarship hanging out in the wings.

Obviouslly for USNA and USMMA I had to seek a nomination. I interviewed with my congressman, Bob Clement (I think, it's been awhile) and my senator, Bill Frist.

At both interviews I was asked what my goal/options were.

I said service (this was just after 9/11/01 so people were lining up to serve). I mentioned that I was leaning towards CGA, but that I hadn't made a decision. My decision would be made after I visited each. They asked what my backup was. I said I had a NROTC scholarship. My goal.... help, and not be caught on the sidelines. I didn't want to watch fellow Americans suffer from 1,000 miles away on TV while I sat there helpless. The feelings were real and they seemed to resonate across age groups, including those interviewing (even generating a "bad word" in agreement from an interviewer).

I received nominations from Clement for USNA and USMMA. I received nominations from Frist for USNA and USMMA.

After visiting the academies I decided on CGA. I turned down my acceptances. I declined the NROTC scholarship.

Months later Bill Frist visited a board I was on (Youth Advisory Board to the Metro Health Dept.) in Nashville. I introduced myself.

"LITS... we nominated you for USNA, right?"

"Yes, Senator, thank you for that, and the Merchant Marine Academy."

"And what did you decide to do?"

"I accepted an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy."

"That's great, congratulations!"



Service is service folks. Don't tell people what they want to hear, just tell them the truth.
 
Service is service folks. Don't tell people what they want to hear, just tell them the truth.

Which is exactly why questioning the manner in which one chooses to serve is kind of an unfair question, in my opinion.

If a candidate wants to attend the Naval Academy and serve their country in the Navy or Marine Corps, I would say, "Great!" It would not occur to me to ask, "Why don't you want to serve in the Army or Air Force?"

At an interview to obtain admission to the Naval Academy, I think it is completely fair to ask, "Why do you want to attend the Naval Academy?" but I'm not so sure it is even relevant to probe into "Why do you not want to serve in the Army or Air Force?"

I think people who are willing to lay down their life in the service of their country should be allowed to choose the manner in which they do so, and not be questioned about all the other ways that they may lay down their life.
 
Hi Ted,

As everyone seems to agree, I think the answer "depends". My son, who is a Plebe as we write, applied only to one Service Academy, however, he did have an NROTC scholarship as a backup. He considered no branch other than the Navy.

He received 2 Nominations and one MOC didn't really seem to care that he applied to only one S.A., although she did ask how many. The second MOC commented that he felt it showed commitment to one branch of the service and applauded the fact. He received Nominations from both.
 
Applying to one SA wasn't an issue for my DS who applied to USNA only - no other SA and no ROTC programs. He wanted Navy and Navy only, wanted to eventually go Spec War or Marines. His back up plan was a top college that did not offer NROTC and he thought he might enlist after that. I thought he was taking a risk applying that way but it turned out fine - he was eventually offered a LOA, is now a 3/C and enjoying summer training. The question regarding SA selection did come up with a least one MOC and he answered truthfully that he wanted to serve in the Navy. It didn't seem to be an issue.
 
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