DS received competitive noms to USNA from both Senators and Congresswoman - 3 total (Yeaaaa - what a blessing!!). Plus he's eligible for Pres. nom. My understanding is that the USNA will look at each nom pool separately, and if not competitive will then go to national pool. My question is, is the process blind to the number of noms, or does the fact that he received all three noms give him a more favorable standing than someone with only one nom (other than he competes in more than one small pool)?
Does the Number of Noms Help?
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CannotBeDisplayed
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Someone with more experience can back me up on this, but from what I've read, each nom will give the academy another option to slot your DS before he gets sent to the national pool. So yes, having three or four noms will definitely help his chances. Congratulations! It's certainly a tremendous accomplishment.
leto8178
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Someone with more experience can back me up on this, but from what I've read, each nom will give the academy another option to slot your DS before he gets sent to the national pool. So yes, having three or four noms will definitely help his chances. Congratulations! It's certainly a tremendous accomplishment.
I think you may want to double check this. As I understood the last time I had applied, as well as this time -- my ALO had told me it did not matter how many you had as long as you had one. The only difference that it made was whether or not he nomination was principle, or if it was ranked. I do not believe you can be considered more than once, as your portal will only show that you have one nomination, and the other slots offered will go to other candidates. USAFA will obviously just take the most competitive nomination that your DS received. I guess someone could correct me if I was wrong, but I had asked the same question my first year applying when I recieved multiple.
CannotBeDisplayed
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I see. Thank you for the correction!
My DS has a nomination from the congressman and Senator and BOTH appear on his portal (USAFA).
Also, it has been stated many times that the more nominations you have, the better your chances. Just like buying two lotto tickets is better odds than buying one.... Obviously the first nomination is the most important as without it you have NO chance. But I will leave it to the experts to explain the how's and why's!
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Beyond the competition in each of the small pools it adds nothing to his chances. He doesn't get extra points for additional nominations. Those factors which contributed to his multiple nominations (if any) will be what he gets judged on.
usna1985
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It helps somewhat. Here's how:
(Assuming a competitive nom slate), each candidate first competes against his/her slate for an appointment. If he/she doesn't receive that MOC appointment, he/she goes to the national pool. Obviously, if you are on 3 slates, that gives you three shots to "win" your slate before going to the national pool.
Ditto for a Pres nom . . . you compete against the other Pres nominees for one of the 100 appointments before going to that national pool.
Thus, with four noms, you get four shots vs. a lesser number with fewer noms.
The above said, one is often enough, especially for candidates in super-competitive areas. The reason is that, although they may only get one nom (b/c MOCs get together to limit the number any one candidate receives) and may not win his/her slate, when that candidate goes into the national pool, he/she is extremely competitive and may well get one of the "at large" slots.
It is important to understand that, at least for USNA and I assume for the other SAs, you do NOT get "bonus points" or something similar from an admissions standpoint for obtaining more than one nom. The reason, as discussed above, is that some candidates have no hope of getting >1 b/c of the way MOCs in their area parcel out noms. That's something beyond the candidate's control and so candidates are not "rewarded" or "punished" for the number of noms they receive.
(Assuming a competitive nom slate), each candidate first competes against his/her slate for an appointment. If he/she doesn't receive that MOC appointment, he/she goes to the national pool. Obviously, if you are on 3 slates, that gives you three shots to "win" your slate before going to the national pool.
Ditto for a Pres nom . . . you compete against the other Pres nominees for one of the 100 appointments before going to that national pool.
Thus, with four noms, you get four shots vs. a lesser number with fewer noms.
The above said, one is often enough, especially for candidates in super-competitive areas. The reason is that, although they may only get one nom (b/c MOCs get together to limit the number any one candidate receives) and may not win his/her slate, when that candidate goes into the national pool, he/she is extremely competitive and may well get one of the "at large" slots.
It is important to understand that, at least for USNA and I assume for the other SAs, you do NOT get "bonus points" or something similar from an admissions standpoint for obtaining more than one nom. The reason, as discussed above, is that some candidates have no hope of getting >1 b/c of the way MOCs in their area parcel out noms. That's something beyond the candidate's control and so candidates are not "rewarded" or "punished" for the number of noms they receive.