I have been alerted that I have 2 interviews, one with each of our state senators, but no word from our local congressman. A few classmates have interviews with the congressman and one senator. I probably should not read into this, but does it matter? Are they just spreading everyone around? I was also told that one of our senator (in the email that informed me of the interview) has 200 applications! Also, I don't intend to do this, but wondering if it is in bad form to reach out to congressman's office and politely ask why I have not been contacted? I appreciate everyone's time and response.
Senator versus Congressman nominations
- Thread starter LOTR2000
- Start date
- Joined
- May 22, 2018
- Messages
- 5,475
It matters in that the probability is likely greater through your representative, because he/she covers fewer people than your senators (unless you come from a 1-2 rep state). If your MOCs coordinate their slates, that can up your chances.
Do not worry whether there are 20 or 200 or 2000 applicants. That’s out of your control. In the end, it only takes one candidate with better credentials to beat you out for a nomination or appointment. So focus on what you can control, e.g. making a great impression in your interviews.
It is not impolite to call a MOC staffer and ask why you haven’t heard yet. They may simply be behind. If you’re indeed not on their interview list, go kick a** with the ones you are on.
Do not worry whether there are 20 or 200 or 2000 applicants. That’s out of your control. In the end, it only takes one candidate with better credentials to beat you out for a nomination or appointment. So focus on what you can control, e.g. making a great impression in your interviews.
It is not impolite to call a MOC staffer and ask why you haven’t heard yet. They may simply be behind. If you’re indeed not on their interview list, go kick a** with the ones you are on.
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
I agree with MidCakePa, it is not impolite.
~ Call and ask for the staffer, instead of a direct question, you might want to initiate the conversation, by simply stating I am just giving a follow up phone call to make sure that they have received your request for a nomination. At that point, they will acknowledge if they have. From that point you delve into it deeper by asking what is the timeframe to expect to hear from them.
~~ They may say, At this time we are unable to..., they may say you will be receiving something in the mail, or we have yet to finish up our initial review of all of the applicants.
Point being contacting them via a phone call instead of an email, allows you to get more info quicker than just an email.
~ There are some MoCs that do not do interviews in one day, but over a couple of dates. Thus, it might be that they are sending the notifications out tied to the interview date. In essence, in batches. Do not assume it is 1st come 1st serve. They will interview everyone on their list prior to submitting the slate.
200 applications, unless again it is for just 1 particular SA is not a lot for a Sen. VA has been known to be 750+ applications where many applicants will ask for a nom to 1 of 3 SAs. Remember not every applicant applies to multiple SAs. Our DS only applied for USAFA. Thus, for your Sen., maybe one SA has 200 applications, but another has only 125.
Many MoCs that do talk will state somewhere in their notification paperwork, or at the interview, if you have a nom from 1 source to notify them. Some will even go as far as saying if you do, they will not offer a nom. Bringing this back full circle to your post. It may be that since everyone you know has only 2 interviews with different sources, they may have x-checked their interview list before requesting interviews, however, without asking the cong staffer where you stand regarding your application you will not know.
Don't stress over this, it is going to happen or it isn't.
~ Call and ask for the staffer, instead of a direct question, you might want to initiate the conversation, by simply stating I am just giving a follow up phone call to make sure that they have received your request for a nomination. At that point, they will acknowledge if they have. From that point you delve into it deeper by asking what is the timeframe to expect to hear from them.
~~ They may say, At this time we are unable to..., they may say you will be receiving something in the mail, or we have yet to finish up our initial review of all of the applicants.
Point being contacting them via a phone call instead of an email, allows you to get more info quicker than just an email.
~ There are some MoCs that do not do interviews in one day, but over a couple of dates. Thus, it might be that they are sending the notifications out tied to the interview date. In essence, in batches. Do not assume it is 1st come 1st serve. They will interview everyone on their list prior to submitting the slate.
Applications or interviews? 200 interviews is a lot if it is just for 1 SA, but not a lot if they are saying for the entire group (USAFA, USMA, USNA, USMMA)...that is basically 50 interviews per SA. Interviews can last 10-20 mins. Do the math. 3 interviews an hr, means it would be 2 full days of interviewing for 50 interviews, or 4 interviewing groups simultaneously to get through 200 within 2 days of interviews.
200 applications, unless again it is for just 1 particular SA is not a lot for a Sen. VA has been known to be 750+ applications where many applicants will ask for a nom to 1 of 3 SAs. Remember not every applicant applies to multiple SAs. Our DS only applied for USAFA. Thus, for your Sen., maybe one SA has 200 applications, but another has only 125.
Many MoCs that do talk will state somewhere in their notification paperwork, or at the interview, if you have a nom from 1 source to notify them. Some will even go as far as saying if you do, they will not offer a nom. Bringing this back full circle to your post. It may be that since everyone you know has only 2 interviews with different sources, they may have x-checked their interview list before requesting interviews, however, without asking the cong staffer where you stand regarding your application you will not know.
Don't stress over this, it is going to happen or it isn't.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,791
I've served on Senatorial panels for all of the academies in NJ for many years. We just about always have two weekends of interviews so its 4 days of 9 or 10 hours of interviews, I think that we generally have 30 to 40 interviewers working in teams of two. Each candidate gets interviewed twice (different teams) . Very rough estimate here but the general split of candidates seems to be 60% or so USNA, 30% USMA, 15% USAFA and 5% USMMA. While the individual percentages do tend to vary, I have never seen it be other than USNA outnumbering USMA which outnumbers USAFA which outnumbers USMMA. This is true across the geographic areas including the Northern region that is less than an hour from West Point.
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
Can you give a general number you interview? Is it 100, 200 candidates?
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,791
I probably see 10 to 15 per day and multiply that by 20 teams, so call it 200 to 300 interviews or 100 to 150 candidates PER DAY so the total for the year is likely 400 to 600.
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
OMG WOW
thunderheadc6
Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 192
For Florida both senators use a panel of interviewers and usually have 4-5 panels interviewing across the state. interviews lasted 15-20 minutes.
Soldiergriz
Husband, Dad, Soldier
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2017
- Messages
- 514
Texas Senators do not conduct interviews...far too many applicants.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,791
Update with current info.
For this current cycle, the Senators in NJ have over 330 applicants that we will be interviewing. We've been told that over 50% are for USNA and we are currently scheduled to do it in three days of interviews. Candidates will be told when they are to be present for their (two) interviews.