Competitiveness
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Pima
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Not really. The only way you can get a ballpark idea how competitive the area is by asking how many applicants they get, because no matter what a slate is always the same size...10 candidate.
You can also tell from the bigger picture, if the MOC's talk that usually means they have too many candidates.
Talking typically is also called spreading the wealth, this is when they have decided that their slates will not duplicate each other, thus a candidate won't get more than 1 nom out of the 3 they apply for.
Typically certain states are considered competitive. TX, NY, VA, CO, FL, GA and CA quickly come to mind since all of these states limit the noms in this fashion.
One last thing to remember is if the MOC uses the principal method, because that will impact you too.
You can also tell from the bigger picture, if the MOC's talk that usually means they have too many candidates.
Talking typically is also called spreading the wealth, this is when they have decided that their slates will not duplicate each other, thus a candidate won't get more than 1 nom out of the 3 they apply for.
Typically certain states are considered competitive. TX, NY, VA, CO, FL, GA and CA quickly come to mind since all of these states limit the noms in this fashion.
One last thing to remember is if the MOC uses the principal method, because that will impact you too.
rupewvu
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Virginia
I can't speak for other states, but as far as this year in Virginia it looks like this: Senator Webb doesn't do interviews. Senator Warner sent our DS a letter stating that he received over 700 applications. Our Congressman (District 1) plans to have his panel interview everyone (according to DS ALO and BGO).
DS's BGO told him after his BGO interview that Senator Warner's office had told him that they had updated the number to over 800 applicants and only planned to interview just over 50 kids.
My son was sent an email saying that he made the interview cut and his interview is set up for Election Day.
Just keep doing your best; that way you can look yourself in the mirror and know that you gave it your all and there was nothing else you could do. Good Luck!
I can't speak for other states, but as far as this year in Virginia it looks like this: Senator Webb doesn't do interviews. Senator Warner sent our DS a letter stating that he received over 700 applications. Our Congressman (District 1) plans to have his panel interview everyone (according to DS ALO and BGO).
DS's BGO told him after his BGO interview that Senator Warner's office had told him that they had updated the number to over 800 applicants and only planned to interview just over 50 kids.
My son was sent an email saying that he made the interview cut and his interview is set up for Election Day.
Just keep doing your best; that way you can look yourself in the mirror and know that you gave it your all and there was nothing else you could do. Good Luck!
Pima
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VA has always been in the last few yrs a one nom state. On top of that some cong. (Cantor is one) give principals, so it makes it even more competitive.
800 doesn't shock me for VA. It would have shocked me if you said they only had 500.
Some states are more competitive due to 1 of 2 reasons.
1. Military presence
~~~ VA has a lot of military bases, and Annapolis is down the road in MD. Many times a military brat will apply for an SA at a higher rate than a civilian child. They are allowed to apply for MOC noms just like the civilian.
2. Population.
~~~ Every cong. has the same amount of constituents, across the country, but every state only has 2 senators each, thus the Senate pool can be much larger in populated states.
I.E. Delaware has 1 cong., but 2 Sens. VA has 11 congressmen.
800 doesn't shock me for VA. It would have shocked me if you said they only had 500.
Some states are more competitive due to 1 of 2 reasons.
1. Military presence
~~~ VA has a lot of military bases, and Annapolis is down the road in MD. Many times a military brat will apply for an SA at a higher rate than a civilian child. They are allowed to apply for MOC noms just like the civilian.
2. Population.
~~~ Every cong. has the same amount of constituents, across the country, but every state only has 2 senators each, thus the Senate pool can be much larger in populated states.
I.E. Delaware has 1 cong., but 2 Sens. VA has 11 congressmen.
usna1985
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Sorry, but this is not accurate. Although rare, candidates in VA can receive more than one MOC nom. I've had it happen to at least one candidate in multiple recent years.
The ironic thing is that I've had candidates with multiple VA MOC noms not receive an appointment -- so go figure.
Pima
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We are NoVA. Connolly 11th district. I know from posters here Cantor gives principal, or at least he did for the past 3 yrs.
I agree with usna, there are many VA candidates that get noms, but not an apptmt.
However, my point was and is VA is a top tier regarding public education, and NOVA is out the door insane academically. TJJHS the avg SAT score is 1500+ out of 1600. In other words you are the dummy at TJ if you score only 700's on each section. Fairfax county the avg score is higher than the median for AFA. Fairfax can do this because their county budget for education is higher than the total for the lowest 8 states in the nation.
Remember, NoVA is different academically than Roanoke, Blacksburg or Emporia. No offense to their school districts.
However, for Senate noms you will compete against them since it is state wide. As it was stated before the pool could be 800 kids for 10 slots.
I agree with usna, there are many VA candidates that get noms, but not an apptmt.
However, my point was and is VA is a top tier regarding public education, and NOVA is out the door insane academically. TJJHS the avg SAT score is 1500+ out of 1600. In other words you are the dummy at TJ if you score only 700's on each section. Fairfax county the avg score is higher than the median for AFA. Fairfax can do this because their county budget for education is higher than the total for the lowest 8 states in the nation.
Remember, NoVA is different academically than Roanoke, Blacksburg or Emporia. No offense to their school districts.
However, for Senate noms you will compete against them since it is state wide. As it was stated before the pool could be 800 kids for 10 slots.
No offense taken, Pima, since I live down in Southwest VA.
I`ll second that though, being completely different.
We lived in NOVA until I was 3, and my parents had lived up there for 10 years before I was even born, and now we live in Southwest VA, and since my parents have the perspective of both areas, they can easily compare the education systems (especially since my mom was a social worker for schools up there and is now a teacher down here).
Not saying that the schools down here are bad, they`ve actually improved a lot in the past decade or so, but compared to NOVA, nowhere close (I guess I am saying they`re bad...
). It`s just a lot different. My school`s average SAT scores are about 1500...out of 2400, and I`d say about maybe only 10% of the whole school takes any AP classes, let alone more than one. We`ve got about 25% going on to 4 year colleges, and we`ve got a small budget, with 13 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school for the county. But I wonder how it`d compare as far as competitiveness (For Representative, not Senators), since you`re district 11, and I`m 5. Smaller but yet more academically competitive vs. bigger but not as good as school systems.
Interesting thought, anyhow.
Pima
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In the end 10 will be nom'd., at least 1 will be charged to district 5 congressman.
That is all you need to remember. You can't judge district 11 against 5 for VA. You can't judge a candidate from VA to a a candidate from Oregon.
The system is set in a way that it takes your question into account.
The one thing I would advise is to have Plan B, C and D in place. If ROTC is one of those plans for any branch be aware it is a whole new game regarding competition and selection.
That is all you need to remember. You can't judge district 11 against 5 for VA. You can't judge a candidate from VA to a a candidate from Oregon.
The system is set in a way that it takes your question into account.
The one thing I would advise is to have Plan B, C and D in place. If ROTC is one of those plans for any branch be aware it is a whole new game regarding competition and selection.
your SA liaison officer might be able to tell you. I usually tell my candidates what their competition is. For West Point, liaison officers have access to a website that list all the applicants from their congressional district. So with some basic analysis - how many applicants, their potential classification, and file completness (i.e a candidate that is rated high might have nothing completed on his application, which means he or she might not be interested) I can provide a candidate standing in a Congressional district.