"Triple Qualified"?

Big Bad Wolf

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Messages
29
Hello, I am new to this forum and from reading a few of the threads I'm curious to know more about being triple qualified. To be TQ, are there approximately values/standards you must meet and will you be notified once you are TQ?

Here is the basics of my application:
-Rank: 4 out of 313
-GPA 4.0 unweighted
-6 AP courses taken/tested (plan to take 5 my senior year :frown: )
-Honors and Accelerated courses
-SAT CR/M 670/680

Extracurrirculars include:
-NHS, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Math team, Beta club, Science bowl, Student council, Relay for Life
-math team captain

Volunteer-wise:
-Roadside cleanup and car washing for the Navy
-Race coordinator for Big Sur International Marathon
-Teacher Assistant
-Fundraising for Relay
-Organizer for food drive for needy

Athletics:
Varsity Cross country and Track team all 3 years
Captain of XC team junior and presumably senior year
Ran half-marathon, running Marine Corp Marathon in Oct.

CFA scores:
Pull-ups 12
sit-ups 84
pushups 60
BB Throw 55ft
shuttle 8.8sec
Mile 6:40

Misc:
-Son of a Navy Chief Petty Officer
-went to NASS

Besides being medically qualified, am I considered TQ?
In addition to this, how are my qualifications as to achieving acceptance? Do I have an advantage as to being a son of a military service member? Do NASS detailers conduct reviews on cadidates during the week and does attending NASS boost my own application?

I am open to criticism and will take any suggestions as to improving my application. Thank you!:smile:

Hopeful USNA Class of '19
 
Triple Q'ed refers to your physical qualification, your academic qualification and your medical qualification. You can guess your physical qualification, I'd say you're easily qualified that way. Academics you will not know, the school will not tell you and your BGO shouldn't tell you, so don't ask. Medically is the only qualification that will outright tell you whether or not you are qualified.

I'm not sure if you qualify, but I would look into the presidential nomination category for children of military members and see its requirements.

Yes they (NASS Detailers) do and they write reviews of your performance, though I've heard the weight of their letters is not very strong.

NASS is foremost a marketing strategy to get word out about USNA, so being accepted to NASS shouldn't be used as an indicator to USNA admissions.

If I were admissions I'd be looking at your XC captainship and wondering why your CFA mile was only a 6:40. Just some food for thought.

And just one last bit of advice: don't give up. As I apply for the class of 2019, I will be a 3 time applicant. Persistence is attractive. Good luck!
 
Two elements of the 3Q are known to you: CFA and medical. You'll be told if you don't pass the CFA and will be told if there are medical issues.

The third Q is scholastic qualification, which includes grades, standardized tests, leadership, etc. You are typically not informed whether or not you're scholastically qualified, although your BGO can generally give you a good idea based on his/her experience.

Please understand that, unless you have an LOA and a nom, being triple Q'ed is a good start but only a start. You must secure a nom. And, many who are triple Q'ed with one or more noms still receive a TWE (turndown).

SA admissions are only getting more competitive. Strive to put forth the best package you can, secure as many noms as you can, and then hope for the best while also proceeding with Plan B/Alternate Plan A.
 
Actually the 3rd "Q" is Board Qualified (not academic). The Board will start meeting every Thursday sometime around August. They look at the entire package (including academics and everything submitted during the process) and make a determination if the student is worthy of being considered for the Admissions Board (confusing i know) that will meet daily in the February time frame after the application window closes. This is also where/when they award LOA's (Letter of Assurance) to the top candidates. This is why a lot of BGO's want their best students to complete their applications ASAP (as LOA's get awarded so does the list of available appointments). This is the first major cut for the candidate pool. Just wagging it, I would say only about 20-25% of the applicants receive the 3rd "Q" (Board Qualified). Unfortunately BGO's are told not to tell candidates if they are 3 Q'd and the Admissions Office will not say either. I personally (as a BGO) don't like this policy, I would like to let students who are Board Rejected know, so they can get on with their lives. But I obey the policy and do not tell them. One not obvious hint i give to a 3 Q'ed candidate is I encourage them to improve certain items they may be a little weak on (CFA, SAT scores, academic courses etc). Here is a good tip, if you do not receive a LOA I can guarantee you there is something you can improve upon :) .You have until the applications close to improve things. i am sure your BGO will be honest and tell you what to work on. Other BGO's I am sure can chime in on their opinions.

Big Bad Wolf you look good. Maybe get your mile down to around 6 minutes, and get your Math SAT 700 plus. Being picky yes, but YOU do want your package to be the best right? But you should be competitive.
 
BB Throw 55ft

Unless you got confirmation that you passed the CFA, might be a good idea to practice your basketball throw. I don't know what the passing score is but my guess is you very close to passing or failing score on your BB throw.
 
i am sure your BGO will be honest and tell you what to work on. Other BGO's I am sure can chime in on their opinions.

I know I've said this a million times, but I have always been philosophically against BGOs doing any unsolicited assisting of candidates.
  • Answer their questions when asked.
  • Interview them as is required.
Nothing more!

I believe this levels the playing field as some BGOs are far more knowledgeable and proactive than others. The candidates who are fortunate enough to be assigned to those BGOs would have an unfair advantage, in my opinion.
 
Yep, BGO's come in all shapes and colors. The official description of a BGO from the Admin Office I guess can be interrupted many different ways:

"Blue and Gold Officers (BGOs) are “field” representatives of the Admissions Process who cover a specific geographic area, usual defined by assigned high schools. They encourage exceptional individuals to seek a naval career through the Naval Academy and other officer-accession programs. BGOs provide counseling and information to candidates and applicants throughout the Naval Academy application process…."

I definitely take the words "encourage, counseling, and information" to heart when I perform my duties. If a motivated, qualified student asks my advice on how to better themselves and/or their opportunity to gain an appointment, I am more than happy to provide it. BTW almost 100% of the candidates ask me when I interview them how to improve their package. I also have no problem promoting the Academy to outstanding young men and women who are trying to make career decisions and might not have a good insight into what the USNA has to offer. Further more, for my less qualified students I have no problem discussing other opportunities (plan b and c's) to reach their goals just in case the USNA doesn't happen...

In my opinion ;-)
 
Yep, BGO's come in all shapes and colors. The official description of a BGO from the Admin Office I guess can be interrupted many different ways:

"Blue and Gold Officers (BGOs) are “field” representatives of the Admissions Process who cover a specific geographic area, usual defined by assigned high schools. They encourage exceptional individuals to seek a naval career through the Naval Academy and other officer-accession programs. BGOs provide counseling and information to candidates and applicants throughout the Naval Academy application process…."

I definitely take the words "encourage, counseling, and information" to heart when I perform my duties. If a motivated, qualified student asks my advice on how to better themselves and/or their opportunity to gain an appointment, I am more than happy to provide it. BTW almost 100% of the candidates ask me when I interview them how to improve their package. I also have no problem promoting the Academy to outstanding young men and women who are trying to make career decisions and might not have a good insight into what the USNA has to offer. Further more, for my less qualified students I have no problem discussing other opportunities (plan b and c's) to reach their goals just in case the USNA doesn't happen...

In my opinion ;-)
Did u graduate from the Academy ?
 
With what you have right now I think that you seem pretty close to TQ. Your CFA is probably your weakest section as stated with the basketball and with the mile run even (if your a varsity runner that should be the easiest to improve). My basketball throw and actually my pull ups were low but my mile I believe helped pull up my score. And I got in with less AP classes than that and was varsity runner too so you are looking competitive, and that is what matters. Good luck!
 
I plan on retaking it, I feel like I am able to max pull-ups, sit-ups, and pushups. My PR for my mile is a 5:43. I took the CFA at NASS and it was right after pep so I was not feeling it for my mile haha.
 
Note that being Triple Q'ed is, for most, only part of the "battle." That, plus a nom, allows you to COMPETE for an appointment.

If you review the threads from this spring, you'll see posts from scores of people who were 3'Qed with one or more noms -- including principal noms -- and received a turndown. This can be due to where one lives (too many great candidates in one geographic area) and/or that not all 3 Q's are equal -- IOW, some are "more qualified" than others.

This is the reason that USNA (and BGOs) encourage candidates to max out on everything.

Note that 3'Qed LOA recipients with noms receive appointments but there's no knowing how many LOAs will be given in any year, so focus on being the best you can.
 
If you review the threads from this spring, you'll see posts from scores of people who were 3'Qed with one or more noms -- including principal noms -- and received a turndown.

How can a 3Q'd candidate who has been designated as a principal nominee on a slate not receive an appointment?
 
I have another question actually. It pertains to MOC and nominations. I understand that MOC are only allotted 10 nominations per year. Now is there a set amount to how many of his candidates are attending an academy at a single time? I recall seeing somewhere that a MOC can only have a max of 5 attending each academy at a time, is this true?
 
How can a 3Q'd candidate who has been designated as a principal nominee on a slate not receive an appointment?

Dunno. But, if you believe the posters on this forum (and I do), it happened more than once this year.
 
I have another question actually. It pertains to MOC and nominations. I understand that MOC are only allotted 10 nominations per year. Now is there a set amount to how many of his candidates are attending an academy at a single time? I recall seeing somewhere that a MOC can only have a max of 5 attending each academy at a time, is this true?

MOCs can have 5 vacancies at USNA at a given time. For each available vacancy, they can nominate up to 10 candidates (called a slate). If the MOC has more than one vacancy in a year and chooses to fill it, then they can submit an additional slate.
 
Dunno. But, if you believe the posters on this forum (and I do), it happened more than once this year.

My guess is those individuals probably thought they had a principal nomination but actually did not.

Or, they thought they were 3Q'd (how can you ever really know?) and were not.
 
Now if my House of Rep. member has no vacancies, would it make my chances of appointment more difficult? I am also applying to both senators, VP and presidential.
 
You mentioned your dad was or is Navy-don't know if his time served makes you eligible, but get that form for the Presidential Nom in ASAP. That could be your ticket.
I would retake the SAT's and work towards 700's in CR and Math-you're very close and remember USNA superscores.
Not to sound too nit-picky but as someone mentioned before a 6:40 mile is questionable, especially from the team captain. Being exposed to the running community you probably know that competitive high school milers are in the sub 4:20ish range. Good luck.
 
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