Competitive states - harder to get in?

My DS showed me a chart a long time ago which shows the approx % of cadets that come from each state. I would like to see it again. Does anyone know where to find one?

Also, is it really true that if you come from a competitive state that your chances of getting an appointment are harder?

My DS went to summer seminar last year. There were 7 kids in his flight. Five of them have gotten appointments so far. The only two that have not are from the same state and I'm pretty sure its a highly competitive state. Thoughts?

Thank you so much!

The more high quality candidates applying to win a congressional slate, the harder it is to win that slate. Thus, the more competitive the tougher it gets. However, not winning the slates you are eligible for doesn't mean you don't get in. The national waiting list is against everyone who didn't win a MOC or other spot, but who did receive a nomination. For that I don't think it matters where you come from. It's just the best remaining fully qualified candidates.

mlwmom said:

My DS showed me a chart a long time ago which shows the approx % of cadets that come from each state. I would like to see it again. Does anyone know where to find one?

Also, is it really true that if you come from a competitive state that your chances of getting an appointment are harder?

My DS went to summer seminar last year. There were 7 kids in his flight. Five of them have gotten appointments so far. The only two that have not are from the same state and I'm pretty sure its a highly competitive state. Thoughts?

Thank you so much!

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The first piece of advise from VA-10 several years ago during a parent/kid info session was to move out of the area. Tongue in cheek to be sure but the point is the local and state competition was off the charts. One year Virginia had around 700 candidates! I am sure not all finished their app. My son got in AFA on the NWL. BTW some districts have no applicants and if there was a single qualified person, he/she will get an appointment.

Well - the good news is that my DS DOES have a nomination and he has NOT gotten a TWE! We're just praying and hoping for good news yet this week!

This is one of the hypothetical questions that gets asked every so often. Unless your family is planning to move to another state to increase your 'chances' of getting a NOM, comparing stats of one state to another makes no difference. As it relates to being 3Q, SA's use their same formula regardless of where you live. Good to remember that where a NOM is issued may NOT be where it is charged.

brovol said:

The national waiting list is against everyone who didn't win a MOC or other spot, but who did receive a nomination. For that I don't think it matters where you come from. It's just the best remaining fully qualified candidates.

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Not exactly -- of the approximately 4000 candidates that receive a nomination, the SA typically determines around 2400 are deemed "qualified academically and in physical aptitude". The SA chooses from that 2400 to fill the 1200 slots. 500 or more go to the Principal Nom/#1 off the MOC Slate; 200 or more go to LOA/recruited athletes/Prep School leaving about 350 to 500 slots to be drawn from the 1700 or so remaining out of the 2400 on the NWL. It isn't like the SA then rank orders the 1700 remaining and draws the line at the number of remaining slots. The SA chooses the candidates that best meet the needs of the SA to round out the class. Geographic diversity along with other diversity factors come into play (gender, ethnicity, etc.) in order to have a class that best represents our society and our military make up. It happens every year that candidates with qualified, but lesser records, are chosen over candidates with better records. All 2400 are deemed "qualified" and worthy. It comes down to a subjective judgment in some cases to who gets offered that appointment.

Falcon A said:

Not exactly -- of the approximately 4000 candidates that receive a nomination, the SA typically determines around 2400 are deemed "qualified academically and in physical aptitude". The SA chooses from that 2400 to fill the 1200 slots. 500 or more go to the Principal Nom/#1 off the MOC Slate; 200 or more go to LOA/recruited athletes/Prep School leaving about 350 to 500 slots to be drawn from the 1700 or so remaining out of the 2400 on the NWL. It isn't like the SA then rank orders the 1700 remaining and draws the line at the number of remaining slots. The SA chooses the candidates that best meet the needs of the SA to round out the class. Geographic diversity along with other diversity factors come into play (gender, ethnicity, etc.) in order to have a class that best represents our society and our military make up. It happens every year that candidates with qualified, but lesser records, are chosen over candidates with better records. All 2400 are deemed "qualified" and worthy. It comes down to a subjective judgment in some cases to who gets offered that appointment.

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Thank you for your reply. This is exactly what I was concerned about. I guess you just never know what will happen. I'm so happy for those that have received appointments so far. We're praying that our "qualified" DS will be among the ranks soon.

mlwmom -- everyone offered an appt is qualified. There are a lot of great candidates in the 2400 deemed "qualified academically and in physical aptitude" by the SA. If you (or your DD/DS) get an appt, be grateful. In some ways it is a lotto ticket. The admissions office have rules they must satisfy and they work hard to compile a class that complies with the rules and goals they have been given. Always need to have a great Plan B in case Plan A does not happen.

Falcon A - Your reply brings me a fair amount of peace. I'm beginning to see this more and more as God's Will in order for an appointment to happen versus "you're just not good enough." My DS is certainly hoping and praying for good news soon, but if that's not what God has in mind for him at this point in his life, he will have to accept that and try again. Either way, my DS has a bright future ahead of him.

mlwmom -- Amen.

A lot of great candidates don't get an offer of appointment. If the SA's could, they'd take all 2400, but they can't. Due to the geographic factor, there will be candidates that are Principal Noms or #1 from a MOC's slate whose record is not at good as the candidate that is ranked #10 from a different extremely competitive congressional district. The Principle Nom/#1 from a MOC's slate will get an appointment, and the #10 with the better record from a different Congressional district will not. This is one explanation why every year there are candidates that get offered a SA appointment but are told they do not qualify for a 4yr ROTC scholarship, and why each year there are candidates that earn a 4yr ROTC scholarship that aren't offered a SA appointment. (ROTCs tend to be more strictly merit based without the geographic factor.) The SA process is a difficult process. Be proud that DS is in the 2400 deemed "qualified academically and in physical aptitude". He has made quite the cut. Making it, or not making it, into the final 1200 can certainly be seen as act of Devine providence.