Meeting w/ Dean of Admissions

mdn18

5-Year Member
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Dec 8, 2013
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Ok so I searched the forums but couldn't find an answer. Yesterday I got an email from one of the Admissions Counselors and it said this:

Dear USNA Candidate,



My name is _____________ and I work for the Office of Admissions at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland. USNA's Dean of Admissions, Dean Latta, will be visiting ______________ on August 16th and will be holding an information session for a select group of candidates to discuss our college and the application process. The exact time and location has not been finalized yet, but please RSVP below with whether or not you are available for a meeting during the afternoon of the 16th. I will send out further information to those that are interested in attending when it is available.

We look forward to meeting you and working with you on your USNA application for the Class of 2019!




I blanked out the name and place because I wasn't sure if others were supposed to see it - maybe it doesn't matter at all - idk. Point is, has anyone ever gotten one of these invites, and do they indicate anything? I don't want to read into it too much, but I'd also like to make it if possible. I am a college reapplicant; was nominated last time.

Normally I live only 45 minutes away from the meeting place but until August 18th I am living about 4 hours away from the place and I am working full-time. I can drive there but I don't know if trying to get off work and going there just for the day is worth it. I don't want to sound lazy, but would the meeting yield anything? :confused: If someone could give input that'd be awesome. :thumb:
 
I got an invite, but I didn't go. If you don't have any major questions about the admissions process, I don't see any point in attending the information session.
 
The exact time and location has not been finalized yet, but please RSVP below with whether or not you are available for a meeting during the afternoon of the 16th.

I think you just scored a personal meeting with a AO. That being said, if you can't go, obviously don't. But if you can, and you do your best at the meeting, it's just another checkmark on your app. Just my 2 cents.
 
Rereading my last post --

When I said just another checkmark on your app I meant a very large, green, pulsating checkmark.
 
I'm getting two very different answers here. Perhaps a BGO could chime in? I really don't have any questions as I've been through the process before, and I don't think meeting with the Dean would boost my profile.
 
Let me put it this way. If you are a candidate for USNA and you just got a personal invite to a meeting with a top admissions official, why would you NOT want to go? Obviously, these invites don't go to everyone, so there was some criteria used to invite you and attending shows you are interested in whatever he/she has to discuss. Making an effort to attend should be a priority.

Attending shouldn't be a matter of whether or not you have specific questions.
 
All I can say is networking. If you want it bad enough and I was in your shoes I would go and make those important connections.
 
I received one last year but it was on a busy weekend so I did not go. From what I understand it's just information and a forum for questions. If it's close enough. I'd go, if it's quite a drive I'm pretty sure it's nothing you don't already know or can't find out easily.

To the person referring to it as a "checkmark"... A checkmark on what? I don't believe attending this will score you any extra points, and also not attending won't deduct.

As I've said, if you have time and feel like you have a few questions or just want to see what it's all about then it's a fantastic opportunity.


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I received one last year but it was on a busy weekend so I did not go. From what I understand it's just information and a forum for questions. If it's close enough. I'd go, if it's quite a drive I'm pretty sure it's nothing you don't already know or can't find out easily.

To the person referring to it as a "checkmark"... A checkmark on what? I don't believe attending this will score you any extra points, and also not attending won't deduct.

As I've said, if you have time and feel like you have a few questions or just want to see what it's all about then it's a fantastic opportunity.


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Looking back the word 'checkmark' seems out of context, but I used the word loosely more along the lines of 'wow I just met this guy/gal and he/she is a very intellectual individual lemme just put a checkmark right here to signify that he/she has what is takes'. :rolleyes:
 
Anytime someone from admissions can put a face with a name/application its a good thing. As our regional admissions counselor put it in an email to invite local candidates to a one on one meeting: it helps "fill in the gaps" with the admissions board.
 
I think you are giving this far more weight than it deserves, Matty.
I recall my (now Plebe) son receiving a similar invitation. He was unable to attend. Not to say the candidate should blow it off if given the chance, but it's not some make-or-break interview or a "special" evaluation of the candidate either. It is what they say it is-an information session.
 
I'm going to give someone I know a call and see what he says - he deals with nominations for candidates. Meeting with the Dean, while an excellent opportunity, is not going to somehow make up for something lacking in my profile. I would like to go but I have a committment here working full time and helping my grandpa, so right now I'm thinking no. If only it were held on the 19th and not the 16th :thumbdown:
 
My DS is a reapplicant and his BGO called and told him the Dean wanted to meet with him and two other candidates also reapplying. Our state is large and VERY competitive, especially our region so I am sure there are more than just my DS and the other two candidates reapplying. We (parents) were allowed to sit in the back of the room so I saw first hand that this was a lot more than just an "information meeting". He addressed each of them by name throughout the meeting and although their files won't be officially reviewed until after their fall semester in January, it was obvious the Dean had reviewed what each of them have already submitted.

My advice - if you get a personal invitation via phone call or email that the Dean of Admissions wants to meet with you...GO. In our case one of the three invited didn't show up...I doubt that went unnoticed.
 
My DS is a reapplicant and his BGO called and told him the Dean wanted to meet with him and two other candidates also reapplying. Our state is large and VERY competitive, especially our region so I am sure there are more than just my DS and the other two candidates reapplying. We (parents) were allowed to sit in the back of the room so I saw first hand that this was a lot more than just an "information meeting". He addressed each of them by name throughout the meeting and although their files won't be officially reviewed until after their fall semester in January, it was obvious the Dean had reviewed what each of them have already submitted.

My advice - if you get a personal invitation via phone call or email that the Dean of Admissions wants to meet with you...GO. In our case one of the three invited didn't show up...I doubt that went unnoticed.

^THIS is a big deal, Matty. What the OP was talking about sounds more of like a routine regional visit where many applicants are invited.
 
Every year they sit around the table and review candidates. If I recall, you submit a photo. Face and name recognition can make a difference. Knowing you drove a long distance indicates your desire to attend. Leave nothing to chance.


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this is how you apply to the academy... you follow the directions of Lieutenant general Harold Gregory Moore, Jr.

----->


Moore's dictum states that "there is always one more thing you can do to increase your odds of success"

why would you not meet with the admission rep? unless you are just too busy to increase your odds of success.
 
When my DD was in the application process the Dean came to our home and talked to us for a little while then to my DD for a long while. For someone in that position to spends two hours (plus travel time) to talk to one candidate, it is not a small thing.

Go if you can - but if not, reply and agree to meet the Dean at another time of his convenience while he's in the area.
 
Go, if at all possible.

Mdn18,

Let me just start by saying you were one of my favorites from the last application cycle. You always impressed me with your attitude, and I was disappointed for you when you got the TWE. I tell you this because having read your posts, I can see why you may have been chosen for this opportunity.

I don't know if this is a big deal or not. It certainly sounds like it is, and if the Dean's office is issuing an invitation like this, I would do my best to try to attend. Anything you can do to set yourself apart is a plus in most all of life's competitive situations.

If I were in your shoes, I'd rather know that I did everything I could do rather than look back and wonder, what if.

I admire you for your commitment to current obligations. This goes right along with the Mdn18 I came to "know" through this forum. I don't know what your situation is with your grandfather nor do I know how understanding your manager at your job would be about time off for this. Only you can evaluate those pieces of this puzzle.

But, if all systems can become a "go", then go!
 
Mdn18,

Let me just start by saying you were one of my favorites from the last application cycle. You always impressed me with your attitude, and I was disappointed for you when you got the TWE. I tell you this because having read your posts, I can see why you may have been chosen for this opportunity.

I don't know if this is a big deal or not. It certainly sounds like it is, and if the Dean's office is issuing an invitation like this, I would do my best to try to attend. Anything you can do to set yourself apart is a plus in most all of life's competitive situations.

If I were in your shoes, I'd rather know that I did everything I could do rather than look back and wonder, what if.

I admire you for your commitment to current obligations. This goes right along with the Mdn18 I came to "know" through this forum. I don't know what your situation is with your grandfather nor do I know how understanding your manager at your job would be about time off for this. Only you can evaluate those pieces of this puzzle.

But, if all systems can become a "go", then go!

+1
 
Mdn18,

Let me just start by saying you were one of my favorites from the last application cycle. You always impressed me with your attitude, and I was disappointed for you when you got the TWE. I tell you this because having read your posts, I can see why you may have been chosen for this opportunity.

I don't know if this is a big deal or not. It certainly sounds like it is, and if the Dean's office is issuing an invitation like this, I would do my best to try to attend. Anything you can do to set yourself apart is a plus in most all of life's competitive situations.

If I were in your shoes, I'd rather know that I did everything I could do rather than look back and wonder, what if.

I admire you for your commitment to current obligations. This goes right along with the Mdn18 I came to "know" through this forum. I don't know what your situation is with your grandfather nor do I know how understanding your manager at your job would be about time off for this. Only you can evaluate those pieces of this puzzle.

But, if all systems can become a "go", then go!

Aww. Thanks. Well to wrap it up I was able to get off work and my sister will help out my grandpa. I emailed the RD and I'm on the list, so it looks like I'm going! :thumb: I think if I didn't I would always wonder if it could've made a difference.
 
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