Rolling Admissions??

U

USNAclassof2020

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Dec 9, 2015
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I am curious as to what Rolling Admissions really means in regards to USNA.

My DD has had her application complete, including medical and BGO interviews, since August. Received 3 nominations and still hasn't heard a thing. She is a very competitive applicant,4 year varsity letterman in multiple sports, valedictorian, great ACT score, lots of ECs, attended NASS..... Any insight?
 
I know this is not what you want to hear but lots of kids have hers stats and rolling admissions is just what you think. They offer on a rolling basis until all slots are filled. Have patience, she has done all that she can! All you can do is wait. GOOD LUCK!!!
 
It's barely February. There will be spurts of appointments going on for the next few months if it follows the usual pattern. Ditto above. Focus on enjoying senior year, maintaining grades, achievements and fitness, ensure Plan B and C are prepared.
 
I totally understand what you mean. DD has same stats as well as 2yr Varsity Captain for 2 sports. We were encouraged to get everything done by early September because of rolling admissions and did. I love this forum for the information but it's very dishearting to see appts for kids that only just finished applications and makes you wonder what's going on with all the ones done since September. DD was pressured by two outstanding DIII coaches (little ivys) to do ED but didn't as Navy is her first choice I think rolling admissions should mean if you get it in early you get a decision,even if it's no so you're just not passing up something else? She has a great plan B at a great school so we wait and see. Good luck to all!
 
USNA was my son's first choice. However, with the app done after Summer Seminar and three nominations sitting in the portal, I overheard conversations with his friends and it sounds like he has emotionally moved on. He just got offered full room, board, and tuition at our local university, and he's talking like that is his plan A now. I don't know what he will choose, but I know that he would have 100% taken USNA if it was offered last month (or earlier). He still hasn't heard from USAFA either. Everyone in his class has their decisions made, and it is a little frustrating to wait this long for an answer after applying so early.
 
For cycle class of 2019 our DS had his application completed first week of September (nominations updated as they came in December). He finally heard on April 10th the decision so that was 7 months waiting. For some that ended up on the wait list, it went longer than that.
Yes that's a long wait, but in that time Plan B, C and D were firmed up.
 
Just as an aside, my husband was offered an appointment to USAFA back in the day. However, they didn't call until April, and by then, he'd already made plans at another school, and it threw him for a loop to switch at that point. So he just said, "No thanks." I bet that happens a lot.

I think things work out the way that they are supposed to. Everyone's kid on this board has colleges throwing money at him/her -- full rides without five years of service -- so really, sometimes the waiting turns in our favor (our kids get to see all the options instead of jumping on board the first one). One college offered so much money that my kid can buy a (small) house with the proceeds, so we're going house hunting next week near the college. USNA was his first choice all along, but who knows what will happen to change his mind as plan B looks a bit more sparkly up close.
 
farmgirl1776 said:
Everyone in his class has their decisions made, and it is a little frustrating to wait this long for an answer after applying so early.
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Anything worth having is worth waiting for. Perhaps USNA really wasn't what he wanted 100% in the first place. I don't know what the rush is. Fall semester at most colleges does not start until August or September. Waiting until March or April for a college decision is the norm, not the exception, while all the early notifications are. If your DS is being swayed by his peers hooting and hollering about getting into college, well....you fill in the blank. Your DS will have to make the final decision, but it would be in his best interest to make that decision AFTER he has all offers on the table. With that said, it does no harm to accept admission at his plan B (or now his plan A) to secure his place and then later if he is offered an appointment, he still can take it. In fact, it might be best to keep his college plan just in case he does not make it (for whatever reason) through Plebe summer. Yes, the wait is hard, but it builds fortitude and demonstrates perseverance. I wish him well and wisdom in making his decision. Go Navy!
 
This is straight off the Academy website:

The USNA uses a selection process known as "rolling admissions." As soon as all of your candidate packet forms are received, the Admissions Boards will determine your scholastic "whole person" qualification. If your record of achievement is truly outstanding, you could receive an early offer called a Letter of Assurance. This indicates our intent to extend an Offer of Appointment, provided all your remaining requirements (nomination, CFA, Blue and Gold Officer interview and medical) are successfully completed. A Letter of Assurance could be received as early as September of your senior year. Of course, final admission will depend on continued success and good standing in your high school as well as continuing to maintain your qualifications for the Naval Academy.


If you are found scholastically qualified but do not receive a Letter of Assurance, you will be competing for an Offer of Appointment from within your nominating sources. Approximately 3,000 candidates are found fully qualified (scholastic, medical, CFA, and have obtained a nomination) each year. Of that number, about 1,400 will receive appointments and approximately 1,200 become midshipmen. Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15.

All appointees should notify the Admissions Office of their intention to accept or decline by May 1. Except in very unusual circumstances, candidate files not completed by January 31 will not receive further consideration.

Notice that it does NOT say "get your application in early and get appointed early". Believe exactly what it says: Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15. Notice the word "by" and it's definition. Notice that it is in bold letters. Don't make things up in your mind. An appointment cannot be offered until a nomination is received and the deadline for Members of Congress is Jan 31 right along with the candidate's deadline. So the majority of action happens after that date. All the term "rolling admissions" means that admission appointments do not go out all on one day. If they did it would probably be on 15 April anyway.

The only thing that the Admissions Board can do is offer an LOA and, again, reading the above those only go to a "truly outstanding" candidate and not just every candidate that looks good. And those candidates still have to get all the other boxes checked on their application including a nomination. Sure, there are some candidates who seem to beat the crowd and are appointed "early" but their nomination may have come from a Congressperson who has early interviews, the Sec of the Navy, the President, the Supe, the VP and all the rest of the stray cats and dogs other than the usual member of congress who does the interviews right before Xmas.

Where getting your application in early, let's say August, is advantageous is that the Admissions Board in September has a bit more time to mull over a candidate before giving a thumbs up or down. The workload is lighter and they don't have a deadline staring them down. And if you think about it, that is exactly what a candidate wants----time for the Board to really look at their application and discuss it before making a decision. Take that same application and put it in right at the Jan 31 deadline and the Board that sees it is dealing with a literal tidal wave of applications and their now their deadlines are as real as a heart attack.

The modern concept of instant gratification is not a foundation of any military I know of.
 
"I don't know what the rush is."

My kid got accepted into a medicine summer internship for incoming freshman where classes and rotations start June 3, and he has to sign this week. (Free full tuition, room, board, + stipend)

You're right about final college decisions, but all full-ride scholarships are coming out now (or already have).

I think I'm bummed with the original poster that finishing the app very early didn't help (in our cases).
 
Spud said:
This is straight off the Academy website:

The USNA uses a selection process known as "rolling admissions." As soon as all of your candidate packet forms are received, the Admissions Boards will determine your scholastic "whole person" qualification. If your record of achievement is truly outstanding, you could receive an early offer called a Letter of Assurance. This indicates our intent to extend an Offer of Appointment, provided all your remaining requirements (nomination, CFA, Blue and Gold Officer interview and medical) are successfully completed. A Letter of Assurance could be received as early as September of your senior year. Of course, final admission will depend on continued success and good standing in your high school as well as continuing to maintain your qualifications for the Naval Academy.


If you are found scholastically qualified but do not receive a Letter of Assurance, you will be competing for an Offer of Appointment from within your nominating sources. Approximately 3,000 candidates are found fully qualified (scholastic, medical, CFA, and have obtained a nomination) each year. Of that number, about 1,400 will receive appointments and approximately 1,200 become midshipmen. Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15.

All appointees should notify the Admissions Office of their intention to accept or decline by May 1. Except in very unusual circumstances, candidate files not completed by January 31 will not receive further consideration.

Notice that it does NOT say "get your application in early and get appointed early". Believe exactly what it says: Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15. Notice the word "by" and it's definition. Notice that it is in bold letters. Don't make things up in your mind. An appointment cannot be offered until a nomination is received and the deadline for Members of Congress is Jan 31 right along with the candidate's deadline. So the majority of action happens after that date. All the term "rolling admissions" means that admission appointments do not go out all on one day. If they did it would probably be on 15 April anyway.

The only thing that the Admissions Board can do is offer an LOA and, again, reading the above those only go to a "truly outstanding" candidate and not just every candidate that looks good. And those candidates still have to get all the other boxes checked on their application including a nomination. Sure, there are some candidates who seem to beat the crowd and are appointed "early" but their nomination may have come from a Congressperson who has early interviews, the Sec of the Navy, the President, the Supe, the VP and all the rest of the stray cats and dogs other than the usual member of congress who does the interviews right before Xmas.

Where getting your application in early, let's say August, is advantageous is that the Admissions Board in September has a bit more time to mull over a candidate before giving a thumbs up or down. The workload is lighter and they don't have a deadline staring them down. And if you think about it, that is exactly what a candidate wants----time for the Board to really look at their application and discuss it before making a decision. Take that same application and put it in right at the Jan 31 deadline and the Board that sees it is dealing with a literal tidal wave of applications and their now their deadlines are as real as a heart attack.

The modern concept of instant gratification is not a foundation of any military I know of.
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Keep in mind that some MOCs didn't release their noms until the deadline. No offer of appointment can be made until that piece of the puzzle was in place. LOAs yes but appointments no. Some candidates had their apps completed early others pushed theirs to the deadline. Some candidates are waiting on medical wavers. Lots of factors the board needs to review before they offer that appointment. Being deemed fully qualified by the board in September does not mean that candidate is the most qualified or guarantee they'll win their slate. Other than having their app reviewed early there were no extra points awarded for getting it down in August vs January 31st.
 
Spud said:
This is straight off the Academy website:

The USNA uses a selection process known as "rolling admissions." As soon as all of your candidate packet forms are received, the Admissions Boards will determine your scholastic "whole person" qualification. If your record of achievement is truly outstanding, you could receive an early offer called a Letter of Assurance. This indicates our intent to extend an Offer of Appointment, provided all your remaining requirements (nomination, CFA, Blue and Gold Officer interview and medical) are successfully completed. A Letter of Assurance could be received as early as September of your senior year. Of course, final admission will depend on continued success and good standing in your high school as well as continuing to maintain your qualifications for the Naval Academy.


If you are found scholastically qualified but do not receive a Letter of Assurance, you will be competing for an Offer of Appointment from within your nominating sources. Approximately 3,000 candidates are found fully qualified (scholastic, medical, CFA, and have obtained a nomination) each year. Of that number, about 1,400 will receive appointments and approximately 1,200 become midshipmen. Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15.

All appointees should notify the Admissions Office of their intention to accept or decline by May 1. Except in very unusual circumstances, candidate files not completed by January 31 will not receive further consideration.

Notice that it does NOT say "get your application in early and get appointed early". Believe exactly what it says: Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15. Notice the word "by" and it's definition. Notice that it is in bold letters. Don't make things up in your mind. An appointment cannot be offered until a nomination is received and the deadline for Members of Congress is Jan 31 right along with the candidate's deadline. So the majority of action happens after that date. All the term "rolling admissions" means that admission appointments do not go out all on one day. If they did it would probably be on 15 April anyway.

The only thing that the Admissions Board can do is offer an LOA and, again, reading the above those only go to a "truly outstanding" candidate and not just every candidate that looks good. And those candidates still have to get all the other boxes checked on their application including a nomination. Sure, there are some candidates who seem to beat the crowd and are appointed "early" but their nomination may have come from a Congressperson who has early interviews, the Sec of the Navy, the President, the Supe, the VP and all the rest of the stray cats and dogs other than the usual member of congress who does the interviews right before Xmas.

Where getting your application in early, let's say August, is advantageous is that the Admissions Board in September has a bit more time to mull over a candidate before giving a thumbs up or down. The workload is lighter and they don't have a deadline staring them down. And if you think about it, that is exactly what a candidate wants----time for the Board to really look at their application and discuss it before making a decision. Take that same application and put it in right at the Jan 31 deadline and the Board that sees it is dealing with a literal tidal wave of applications and their now their deadlines are as real as a heart attack.

The modern concept of instant gratification is not a foundation of any military I know of.
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I don't think anyone is talking about instant gratification. In fact,it seems quite the opposite the posters all said they did this early in a timely manner as instructed that it was "to your advantage" by the Academy. I think what you are missing is the orginal poster, I and several others wonder what advantage? It seems on the appointment thread many of the appts without LOA's were only recently submitted. Aren't they getting the instant gratification?
 
I am hearing lots of talk about free schooling but not much about attending USNA because of the leadership opportunities to learn and grow as a Mid and develop into an officer. If this isn't their goal and it's about what school offers what, it's best to really think about why USNA. As a grad I am not naive enough to think folks go to a SA for a variety of reasons, but if serving is not a priority, it will be a miserable experience.

No one ever promised they would know immediately. Spud pointed out exactly what it says. With nominations playing a large factor into things just because someone is done earlier doesn't meant everyone on a slate is. I believe getting done early is good as it allows focus on other things and not rushing. It allows a BGO to work with a candidate to strengthen a resume and spend time in the interview process. Also allows CFA retakes. It also more time to flush out essays and focus on nomination applications and Plan Bs. And remember seeing that a kid 'just finished' an application could mean they just finished a medical remedial or CFA or final essay. The rest of it could be done. The military is a long line of waits. Each one nearly has more riding on it. Each of these waits can have large impacts as members get married and have kids. The wait isn't much fun, but I always tell kids to take it as training for the future 'hurry up and waits' the military offers.
 
The advantage is that they can relax now that their applications are complete. They can push hard in their studies and enjoy their senior year and time with their family. They can gather up all offers and make a thoughtful and conscientious decision based on what they feel is the best opportunity for their future.

It is not over until the TWE arrives. If a better offer comes along that you just can't pass up, then take it and don't look back. If the Academy is what you really want, then you'll have to weigh whether or not it will be worth the wait. The ball is really in the candidate's court...dribble or pass; both are acceptable, but sometimes you just gotta take the shot and hope it goes in. If not, you gotta jump for the rebound. Try to stay positive.
 
Capt MJ said:
It's barely February. There will be spurts of appointments going on for the next few months if it follows the usual pattern. Ditto above. Focus on enjoying senior year, maintaining grades, achievements and fitness, ensure Plan B and C are prepared.
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As for ED with other schools, you can send in your deposit($250-500 whatever it is) and still wait for Navy. You can always turn down the ED school and accept Navy when it happens. The only thing you will lose is your deposit. Not a bad trade for $300,000 worth of education. You are actually under no obligation to show up to the ED school after your deposit is in. And if Navy doesn't happen you are set at your plan B.
 
I understand the frustration but even if a candidate completes his/her application early you might have a slow MOC who submits nom Jan 31? So you might end up hearing Feb-Mar?? Maybe your district has lots of talented kids so USNA needs to pull noms from elsewhere & rearrange? Many of my DS friends did not hear from private colleges yet, most heard from State schools early?
 
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Mom517 said:
As for ED with other schools, you can send in your deposit($250-500 whatever it is) and still wait for Navy. You can always turn down the ED school and accept Navy when it happens. The only thing you will lose is your deposit. Not a bad trade for $300,000 worth of education. You are actually under no obligation to show up to the ED school after your deposit is in. And if Navy doesn't happen you are set at your plan B.
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Really! You can apply ED and not go? Isn't that kind of wrong, then isn't it better to apply EA? Hope the student who applied ED & not attend doesn't apply to the same school for graduate studies:) I heard if you applied ex: ED to Cornell but not attend cuz you got into
Stanford, Stanford would not allow you to come ...college has a system of checking?? Wouldn't that apply to USNA, a school that stands on moral principle??
 
There are lots of discussions about ED vs EA on here. To be honest I don't think USNA cares what you do for your back up schools and isn't going to check anything. It is always best to check the fine print. The ED vs EA part can come back to haunt people if they decide to pass on USNA, they don't get an appointment or they leave USNA . So it's always best to understand those impacts.
 
"Rolling admissions" does NOT mean that the first one to get their application completed will be the first one to receive an appointment. It is not a FIFO (first in-first out) inventory system !!!!!

If you read post #9's quote from USNA website,
Spud said:
.....If your record of achievement is truly outstanding, you could receive an early offer called a Letter of Assurance.........
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is exactly how the process works. Your competition are those who the USNA views as the best/brightest. If you didn't get an LOA and have not gotten the TWE and are 3Q with a NOM, then you are still in the mix of those would COULD get an appointment. It is still only early February, so many more appointments will be issued.
 
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