Nominations to two SA's, MA

I have been researching the great world wide web and this site too, and I am seeking information regarding the process of getting noms to two service academies. I know plenty of people do it, but I am still a bit bewildered by the process. I am currently a 10th grader so I have time, but the early bird gets the worm, so I am trying to get on the ball with specifics. How do you get noms to two academies? Would you tell each congressman/senator that your top choice is one of the two you are applying to (so giving them each a different top choice)? Someone please let me know about this. As always, I appreciate the awesome support from the SAF community.

A good place to start, if you haven't already, is your Senator and Congressional rep's website, to read the information and review the application format. Many also hold Service Academy information sessions you can attend. It's early for you, but you can gain general insights. Each office may differ in their paperwork and process.

USCGA doesn't require a nomination.

If you haven't already done this, read every page, link and drop-down on the SA websites. Many questions will be answered there.

Read the Nominations forum here, and the Stickies.

Look at the app form on this site, and you will see the applicant can place checks next to desired SAs:
https://sarbanes.house.gov/sites/sarbanes.house.gov/files/Application Class of 2021_0.pdf

Capt MJ said:

you will see the applicant can place checks next to desired SA

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Capt MJ, if I applied for a nomination from my congressman and from my senator, does that mean I would put USMA as my top choice on one application form and USNA as my top choice on my other application form?

USNAismyplace said:

Capt MJ, if I applied for a nomination from my congressman and from my senator, does that mean I would put USMA as my top choice on one application form and USNA as my top choice on my other application form?

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There was a recent thread on this, with some differing views. IMPO, your top choice is your top choice. The respective staffs talk with each other and share info. I don't need an answer here, but how do you answer if asked about the two "top" choices? It might come across as game-playing.

You need to do as much research as possible and continue on an advanced college prep program in school. You should be active in sports, scholastic activities and your community and by the time you are a senior have demonstrated your leadership abilities in these roles. There are 100s of post out there that talk about which classes or sports or activities are best but being a successful well rounded high school student is the best advice. Do the things that interest you but do them well. Don't join the sailing club if you hate boats because someone said it would look good on an application.

What you should avoid worrying about are the things you cannot control and your question about multiple appointments are one of those. You will open a file at all three academies but you will have to decide which one is your top priority. Most MOCs will ask you to rank your preference and they go from there. This is where the things outside of your control start to come into play. Each MOC can nominate 10 individuals for each opening at each academy. Most Senators will not nominate you to more than one academy because they have more than 10 people applying for each academy and they want to nominate as many individuals as possible. They also typically communicate as to not nominate the same individual with the other Senators. Depending on your Congressional district, your local MOC may be nominate you to more than one academy. They typically try to nominate as many different individuals as possible but in some Congressional districts there may not be enough qualified candidates in that given year. MS DD's top choice was West Point but received nominations to both USMA and USAFA last year but only a USMA nomination this year as there were more applicants.

The other thing you cannot control is the competition in any given year. You will see posts about competitive states or competitive districts but these things change year to year and no one knows what will happen next year. Most likely, you will be competing against 3-5 other individuals from your congressional district for an appointment.

Do your best at everything you do and always have a Plan B, C,D. This is a marathon and it takes a good deal of stamina to get through the process

If you try to 'game' the NOM system, you could end up with a NOM to the SA that really wasn't your top choice. As mentioned above, could also be awkward for those areas where MOC compare candidates (some coordinate, some don't) and ask you to explain your choice.

Read the SA official websites, MOC website(s) and older threads on here since the same questions get asked every year.

time2 said:

If you try to 'game' the NOM system, you could end up with a NOM to the SA that really wasn't your top choice. As mentioned above, could also be awkward for those areas where MOC compare candidates (some coordinate, some don't) and ask you to explain your choice.

Read the SA official websites, MOC website(s) and older threads on here since the same questions get asked every year.

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time2, I am still not sure about the application process. When the time comes and I am asked to rank the SA's in order of preference for a nomination, and if I were to put USNA as 1 and USMA as 2, would I only get a nom to USNA?

USNAismyplace said:

time2, I am still not sure about the application process. When the time comes and I am asked to rank the SA's in order of preference for a nomination, and if I were to put USNA as 1 and USMA as 2, would I only get a nom to USNA?

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It all just depends on who your MOCs are and who else has applied that year. There is no way for anyone on this forum to tell you that. I tried to explain the process and you have to decide what the best approach is. Our advice is to decide what you really want and work toward that goal. Nominations to multiple academies at the local level can be achieved while multiple nominations from a Senator would be rare.

If you are from a congressional district that does not have 10 qualified applicants for each of the academies then the MOC would most likely put you on all three. We live in Texas and I have spoken with Senator Cornyn's liaison. His office routinely get 600 applicants per year for those 30 slots. He will not give multiple nominations and will only consider you for what you identified as your #1 preference. These are the two extremes and anything between them is possible.