Qualifying for an interview

officer

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Am I correct in thinking that not everybody is chosen for an interview who has turned in an application? In other words, out of the applications that MOC's receive, do they choose the one's they want to interview, or do they interview everyone who sent in an app? Of course Im talking about the MOC's that actually do interviews.
 
It is true that not all candidates who apply for a nomination interview receive that opportunity.
Those who filed an application may be weeded out based upon selection criteria set by each individual MOC board.
 
Depends on the Rep/Senator. There are no rules for them to follow, they each can do it however they wish.

Some smaller states or those states that do not receive a lot of applications may interview everyone who submits an app.

Other large states, or even smaller states that get a lot of apps may "weed out" the marginal ones and only interview their "top tier" candidates.

Some may decline to interview those who already have a nomination from their Rep or other Senator.

Others still may not interview anyone at all, instead basing their nominations entirely on the submitted application and resume.
 
Okay, Thank you

My district representive received over 800 applications (Austin, TX), so I was just curious. -officer
 
I will say from our experience, that the MOC interviews were @ 20 for 10 spots, and that was whittled from hundreds. The positive who get the interview is to realize that some will request multiple SA's, thus, if you listed more than one SA you may get a nom, but not to your number 1.

In the end it depends on the MOC for interviews, only one out of our 3 interviewed. I do know because of this site with candidates from our state did not get the nom after the interview, and some did, so it is not a given that if you interview you will get it. Just because you are interviewed it is not a given.

If you see on here or CC that your MOC is doing interviews and have not been contacted it could be for a multitude of reasons...whittling or spreading the wealth is usually the top reasons.

ALL YOU NEED IS ONE NOM!
 
Okay Pima,

Yes, out of our 3 MOC's, only 1 does the interview. My son interviews the first week of December. :smile: And yes, I do know that just because he has an interview doesn't mean its a done deal (gosh, if it could be so easy :rolleyes: ) We are a little weary about the questions that are going to asked like all the current events stuff. We don't have television and what we do get is mostly from FOX News-internet and talk radio. He'll get through it though :thumb:
 
Officer,
Have your son read several online news sources in the weeks up to his interview. Not having a TV should not ve a problem (sounds like heaven to me!). We have several USMA friends who did not have TV and were home schooled. They are all currently excelling at West Point!
My son was not asked current event questions. He was asked why he wanted to be an officer in the Army, why they should choose him over someone else, ...that kind of stuff. He prepared by meeting w/ several men in our troop who are leaders in business and had experience conducting interviews. One of them had a son at USAFA, so knew the process.

Best wishes for a great interview!:thumb:
 
Your son can go to Barnes and Noble (or other book store) and grab a drink and read mulitple magazines in one afternoon - pick a variety - US News & World Report, The Economist, Newsweek, Time etc.
No one watches TV news anymore anyway. He can also read articles from these magazines online
Surely your internet is not limited to www.foxnews.com? He can check out armytimes.com. navytimes.com, airforcetimes.com; as well as a number of other news sources.
 
Every committee is going to have a different aspect/direction. Yes, be up to date in current events, but it is also important that you understand the committees get the fact that they are teenagers, they are looking for the candidate to be well rounded.

I think that too much is being placed on current events, he will most likely be asked a what if regarding current events, but if they take a deep breath, replay it in their mind they will be able to answer without reading newspapers or magazines. Example, one candidate this year was asked how the economy impacted the military. Another was asked about the surge. Some have been asked about the 22, some have been questioned about women in subs. Some about the last book they read. Some about why they took AP Chem over AP Physics. The questions that will be posed are all over the place, the importance is to understand when you walk through the door you were deemed the top of the top. REMEMBER THAT! Why Chem over Physics, because you enjoy blowing things up! Why the 22 should have been kept at 183, because only the AF would have them, whereas, the 35 is contracted by other countries to buy and we have control over upgrading it. Why we should surge, because McCrystal and the boots on the ground...why not..because Obama is our CIC.

BEFORE YOU ANSWER...STOP AND THINK, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A RESPONSE IF THEY DISAGREE

You have made it this far you already are "in tune"
 
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Wow, I had always thought that they interviewed everyone. Now that I think about it that would be a daunting task for them to interview everyone who applied (at least in very competitive states). I have interviews for all 3 of my MOC's in a pretty competitive state and district (Colorado Springs). So how many do you think that are picked to interview will receive a nomination?

Thank you all,

Brian
 
Well, I didn't ask that question quite right, I realize that only 10 get the nom. I should have asked how many people usually get interviewed?

Sorry,

Brian
 
Well, I didn't ask that question quite right, I realize that only 10 get the nom. I should have asked how many people usually get interviewed?

Sorry,

Brian

Great question! I'm not sure there's really anyway to find out unless you point blank ask your MOC coordinator.
 
Every MOC will be different, some will do just the 10 (basically perfunctory), some will do more. I know for DS they had @20 for 10 slots. Remember, that although you personally, may only be asking for the AFA others are requesting noms for multiple SAs. Thus, you may have AFA as your number 1 and USNA as number 2, with USMA as number 3, and they give you a nom only to USMA. So don't read into how many people are there. Especially, since highly competitive areas have more than 1 date and time for interviews.. They could have them spread across several weekends, or in very large states have several locations for interviews...if you think about it, it is unrealistic that the candidate from San Fran make it to LA. Plus, there is the ones you can easily forget about...the military dependents that their parents are not assigned in that state. Typically, they do phone interviews with them.

My point is don't put to much into getting there and counting the other kids in the room, if 6 are there for the AFA, maybe 6 more are going the next week, or maybe 6 more did a telephone interview.

BSA, I know from our close friend who has a DS at USNA, and lives right outside of Denver, they were informed of his appointment before Thanksgiving, thus the turn around time at least 2 yrs ago was very quick from interview to apptmt. Side note, his #1 choice was USNA, he got the nom for the AFA. The girl who got the USNA nom had the AFA as her #1 and they called the Sen to have it flipped. She is at AFA.
 
We did a switcher-oo, also: son had senator interview, listed USMA first. Got call that he had the nom (had LOA so he was in), all before congressman's interview results were made known. He listed USMA #1 for congressman, too. After the interview, and he knew he had the nom for USMA he called and asked to switch congressman's nom to USNA (also had LOA there). He wanted to have options because at this point he had not visited USNA. They were accommodating, and the appointment came shortly thereafter. After he visited in Feb, he immediately dropped the "I accept" card to USMA in the mail, as well as the "no, thanks" card to USNA. On a side note, in the interim, he received a call from the coach that went like this:
Coach: We haven't received your acceptance card yet.
My cadet: It's coming soon, but my mom is making me wait til I visit Navy.

Go Army Swim and Dive!!
 
My son's senators' staff told him at the interviews that they were interviewing a total of 110 kids over the three weekends for all academies. Figure a lot of overlap (kids listing more than one), but still I'm guessing a minimum of 40 or so per academy.
 
Depends on the Rep/Senator. There are no rules for them to follow, they each can do it however they wish.

Some smaller states or those states that do not receive a lot of applications may interview everyone who submits an app.

Other large states, or even smaller states that get a lot of apps may "weed out" the marginal ones and only interview their "top tier" candidates.

Some may decline to interview those who already have a nomination from their Rep or other Senator.

Others still may not interview anyone at all, instead basing their nominations entirely on the submitted application and resume.

Does anyone know the stuff that GA Senators and Rep. Linder do?
 
From the state of Texas District 26 - my son did not get a nomination after his interview. I do like think that he was at least at the top of the list and that is an honor in itself. We are still waiting to hear from senators now. But to be realistic - I think that may be a hail mary pass.

From one mom to all of the other moms - I am glad it is him and not me. He is so positive and not even bothered by that nomination denial. He has already been accepted to 4 schools of his choice and is still applying for the AFROTC scholarship and vows to apply for the USAFA next year.

This whole process has been stressful, challenging and such a learning curve. My best hopes and wishes to those who get appointed and my heart goes out to those that don't. We stand right in the middle of this emotional rollarcoaster.
 
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