CO 2027 TWEs....Would You Do It All Again or a Bit Differently?

I'm blown away by all of you....have been reading these forums for past couple of months and the stories I've read, kids I've seen stats on, etc are all truly amazing. This week watching all the TWEs roll in for many that I would have said would be shoo-ins and feeling the candidates/parents pain, frustrutation, grief but still seeing the resilience of knowing they will succeed is pretty impressive!

To the TWE candidates/family I truly feel for all of you. I get emotions are raw (and those truly ticked off are likely not back on forums yet) but was hoping you could give a CO 2029 parent some advice. My daughter (current sophomore) has had her heart set on Annapolis since we visited in 6th/7th grade and she has steadily been doing all of the things suggested at her stage. Was recently accepted to USNA Summer STEM and SAME camp at USAFA which we're thrilled about. Very proud of her dream and impressed by her dedication. That said this week watching all the super impressive students receive unwelcome news has gotten me feeling like maybe we should temper her expectations a bit. She's an exceptional student, servant, athlete...but so are so many who received TWEs.

If you were back in 10th grade would you do anything differently? I assume most/all would still go for the appointment (and sure my daughter would laugh me off if I even suggested differently) but would you put a bit more time into Plan B? Temper your expectations a bit?

Rough week for so many exceptional kids. Know that you all have a bright future no matter you path simply based on the people you've already shown yourselves to be by getting this far in such a difficult process.

Oh...and for all those headed to VTCC......Go Hokies!!!! You're already living the motto Ut Prosim.

Yes! Not get hopes THAT far up. Remember that the math is not on anyone's side. Getting a BFE is a low likelihood event for even the best candidates. You and your daughter may know that on paper, but let me tell you, once they get a nomination, once they clear DoDMERB, once they clear the CFA... all of a sudden you start to feel like, wait a second, maybe my kid could actually do this, maybe they will pick them after all! Except there truly are many wonderful, exceptional even candidates who will get turned down. Even recruited athletes. Even those with more than one nom. Even those with top SATs and grades and everything else. I could sit here and tell you all the amazing things about my son but the truth is everyone feels that way! So however great your DD is, trust me... there are better candidates and the competition is fierce.

Everyone on here constantly says "tend plan B". (You'll get sick of hearing that on here.) I will go a step further. You need to make sure she does more than "tend" plan B. She should spend AS MUCH TIME focusing on plan B (and C) as USNA! My son spent two CVVs, NASS, and showed up to every single thing he was ever invited to, every single reception no matter how far away, every single webinar no matter how much homework and practice he had to miss. Made friends at NASS and actively kept in touch with the plebes and post-NASS group chats. Did tons and tons of research and preparation on his own. Pushed himself academically to the greatest possible degree -- and flourished. Worked out every day. You name it. He was going to be ready to take on plebe summer and everything that followed. That was his focus. And yes he "tended" plan B, and in his case that was applying for and getting a NROTC 4-year scholarship and getting into a school he is very excited about. No small amount of work! A ton of work actually and quite an accomplishment. But... he spent a FRACTION of the time on Plan B that he did on USNA. And let me tell you, it is really really tough to compete with the experience of staying in Bancroft Hall and being there on the Yard and immersed in that experience -- three times!!!

So make sure your DD really dives in to her elbows on Plan B too! My son visited his Plan B school once for the info briefing and tour, and again for an interview for his NROTC scholarship. Really really liked the school both times. Sounds typical right? Maybe even a little more than prospective students typically do, right? But didn't really meet students. He never spent the night much less ten. He didn't go to a summer program there or develop camaraderie with other prospective NROTC midshipmen there.

He didn't get cut from USNA til April 12. And it was was like a punch to the gut, only you don't start breathing right away. He regrouped as is his style, and is now focusing on his Plan B with fervor. But my advice is sure your daughter wants to go to USNA. It's USNA! But remember this: she probably won't. The odds are not in her favor. So you need to make sure she has parallel *and equivalent* paths. She can work hard on everything she needs to do for her USNA candidacy, but make sure she works JUST AS HARD not just "tending" to plan B, but enveloping herself in it, engaging with it, and making friends and spending time there including overnight at the same exact level as USNA. Her heart may be set on Annapolis... but get her heart set on somewhere else too.

Longtime BGO here. If she has not taken the SAT yet, get it ASAP and keep taking it. Take the PSAT next fall (hopefully after taking SAT) with the rest of the Juniors and continue to work to maximize the scores.
Take action NOW to take on leadership positions as this isn't even an early start at this point.
Great grades, of course
Try a diagnostic run at the CFA as there is time to be a standout on it. Set up a continuing program for it outside of
regular type sports activities.

My DS is waitlisted, so obviously not a sure way to get in, but he is not a "rock star" candidate. So, take it for what it's worth.

My advice is to have her talk to adults, a lot. Talk to your friends, talk to her parents' friends, talk to coaches and teachers outside of their respective authority positions. My son is a good student, but not perfect. He had good SATs scores but not perfect. (He did pretty much max out the CFA.) But he is naturally comfortable speaking in pretty much any situation. This has helped him develop a great rapport with teachers which has led to excellent letters of recommendation. He has also had great interviews.

For example, there is a bit of overlap between the members of congress nominating committees in our state, and when my son went to his second interview a few weeks after the first, as soon as he sat down and someone asked him a personal question and he responded with a very comfortable and appropriate joke (something about his name, I think) and one of the interviewers laughed and said, well there is that sense of humor we've already heard about. And for his second Senator nomination interviews, it was one-on-one and my son had a very comfortable conversation and the interviewer told him when he walked out that it was the best interview he'd ever had and not just for an SA nomination.

At the end of the day, I don't know how much of an affect it has had on "why" he's still in the mix but I do think some of the soft skills can be the difference between candidates that are super close on paper.

Sometimes you can take the PSATs as a sophomore. We started early with our second. She took her first PSAT this year as a sophomore. She also sat down with her guidance counselor to map out her courses for her Junior and Senior year, at which time they discussed Girls State.
My second does not think she will apply to an academy, but would like to make the most out of high school so she can go to the school she desires.

It’s hard to compare one year to the next, as you have no idea your slate competition. One year, you may sit differently than the next, with the exact same resume. One year you may win, another you wouldn’t, with the exact same resume…all based upon your slate competition. Of which you have no control.

So a TWE doesn’t mean you are not a good candidate. It means you didn’t win your slate. Another year? You may have. Another year, your slate competition may decline their offer. Another year? Your competition may be medically DQ’ed. all outside of your control.

All you can do is your best. Every time. And know that a TWE this week doesn’t equate to the same another time.

Looking back at high school, DC somewhat regrets the focus they put into chasing their dream of an appointment. They had limited social life due to focusing on academics & athletics. Athletics included club sport that involved year round, six days a week practices, that were located more than an hour and a half away. So 5-6 hours a day of travel and practice. Every. Single. Day. (except Sundays) For more than 4 years. The exception being during the high school season, which was essentially a mixed-blessing break from the practice grind. The result was 4 years of varsity letters, team captainship, multiple high school records, multiple first team all area selections in a county more populous than a number of states, state championship qualification in a state more populous than most countries, and D1 recruiting.

If anything, academically they focused even more intently than on athletics, using the 3 hours a day of driving to and from practice to do homework and study. Or write drafts of nomination and Academy application essays. Staying up until late at night, or early in the morning, putting in the work necessary to excel. Staying home on weekend nights to study, instead of going out to socialize and party, despite being encouraged by their parents to make time for fun. Four years of mathletes team competition and captaincy, four years of student government, 3 years of math and science tutoring, and four years of community service club membership. The result was a near-perfect SAT score (without a prep class or tutor), 4.0 unweighted GPA that included the maximum number of honors, dual-enrollment college, and AP classes that were available. Top of class ranking and more than 2 years worth of university transferrable credits coming out of high school.

The combined result of the multiyear effort was multiple scholarship offers, multiple congressional and senatorial nominations, and multiple early offers of appointment, one of which was accepted. Four successful years of Adademy academic and varsity team experience, commissioning, IGEP, and now several years in active duty service. So...mission accomplished.

As I mentioned at the start, DC somewhat regrets the sacrifices made in the successful pursuit of the dream. There were a lot of sacrifices. People will talk about the normal college experience versus the SA experience. DC talks about the loss of the normal high school experience versus the chasing the SA appointment experience. The contrast between being voted most likely to succeed by their senior class, versus most likely to have a "normal" carefree high school career. But, at the end of the day, the sacrifices made were what enabled the win at the finish line. So, while DC looks back wistfully at times and wonders "what if?" for the lost fun times, they also think "thank God!" for having had the fortitude to stay the course and live what is, for them, the dream.

There is an expression in athletics that says, "All it takes is all you got." That is exactly what DC put into the multiyear effort of achieving an appointment. But they were never secure in the belief that they would succeed in that effort. They were always aware that no matter how smart they were, how athletically gifted, how dedicated, there were always going to be other candidates that were smarter, faster, and more committed. At the Academy, there were many classmates that made DC feel humble. Because for all of their accomplishments and accolades, those other classmates were smarter, were faster, were more focused. And it made DC even more grateful that the Academy opened up its doors to them.

So, if you want to have a chance to receive an offer of appointment, start early and give it all you got. And don't ever feel that you, or your DC, is entitled to an offer, because there will always be another candidate that is smarter, faster, or more dedicated.

I wish I did better on my SAT. Don’t study and only take one test, take it over and over. Know what you need to improve on it.

Pay attention in Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry! Improve your arithmetic abilities. It will help tremendously in Calculus. I can’t stress enough how important academics are, not only taking AP classes, but scoring well on the test and getting A’s. Leadership next, then athleticism.

Also, pick up a job in the summer. I was a fitness coach and nsa intern. Go for the more impactful jobs

spparkervt said:

I'm blown away by all of you....have been reading these forums for past couple of months and the stories I've read, kids I've seen stats on, etc are all truly amazing. This week watching all the TWEs roll in for many that I would have said would be shoo-ins and feeling the candidates/parents pain, frustrutation, grief but still seeing the resilience of knowing they will succeed is pretty impressive!

To the TWE candidates/family I truly feel for all of you. I get emotions are raw (and those truly ticked off are likely not back on forums yet) but was hoping you could give a CO 2029 parent some advice. My daughter (current sophomore) has had her heart set on Annapolis since we visited in 6th/7th grade and she has steadily been doing all of the things suggested at her stage. Was recently accepted to USNA Summer STEM and SAME camp at USAFA which we're thrilled about. Very proud of her dream and impressed by her dedication. That said this week watching all the super impressive students receive unwelcome news has gotten me feeling like maybe we should temper her expectations a bit. She's an exceptional student, servant, athlete...but so are so many who received TWEs.

If you were back in 10th grade would you do anything differently? I assume most/all would still go for the appointment (and sure my daughter would laugh me off if I even suggested differently) but would you put a bit more time into Plan B? Temper your expectations a bit?

Rough week for so many exceptional kids. Know that you all have a bright future no matter you path simply based on the people you've already shown yourselves to be by getting this far in such a difficult process.

Oh...and for all those headed to VTCC......Go Hokies!!!! You're already living the motto Ut Prosim.

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Yes, he'd do it again. He recieved both afrotc and nrotc scholarships. Wish I had him apply to some more colleges to have more plan B options. He spent so much time getting all his nominations he probably didn't put as much time into other applications. Get military things done in summer so come August it's full out college essays and apps. Also learned some give free room and board, make sure you know that and apply as well

justdoit19 said:

It’s hard to compare one year to the next, as you have no idea your slate competition. One year, you may sit differently than the next, with the exact same resume. One year you may win, another you wouldn’t, with the exact same resume…all based upon your slate competition. Of which you have no control.

So a TWE doesn’t mean you are not a good candidate. It means you didn’t win your slate. Another year? You may have. Another year, your slate competition may decline their offer. Another year? Your competition may be medically DQ’ed. all outside of your control.

All you can do is your best. Every time. And know that a TWE this week doesn’t equate to the same another time.

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Thar is so true. Despite what I've read our congressional slate went to a recruited athlete. So actually much better candidates lost. I know they can pull from somewhere else but that is very limited too.

WMSMOM said:

Thar is so true. Despite what I've read our congressional slate went to a recruited athlete. So actually much better candidates lost. I know they can pull from somewhere else but that is very limited too.

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How do you know where the slate went?

How do you know much better candidates lost? Are you assuming recruited d1 athletes can’t have higher WCS/WPS than non d1 athletes?

WMSMOM said:

Thar is so true. Despite what I've read our congressional slate went to a recruited athlete. So actually much better candidates lost. I know they can pull from somewhere else but that is very limited too.

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You cannot know where the athlete was charged. Nor assume they were a ‘much less better candidate’.

(crossposted with @A1Janitor )

A1Janitor said:

How do you know where the slate went?

How do you know much better candidates lost? Are you assuming recruited d1 athletes can’t have higher WCS/WPS than non d1 athletes?

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I know who the top candidates were and the athletes and people on selection committee.Both athletes I know have much lower gpas, acts, not in honor societies, not ap scholars , not involved in clubs etc like regular candidates. Great, for them, but if we had known they could take the spot, it would have lowered expectations. The athletes wouldn't have gotten into the colleges the other candidates did without their sports. I'm not assuming, I know all these people. Small town.

Since USNA does not inform candidates if they are fully qualified, there is no way of knowing which of the candidates on the slate are fully qualified.

Fully qualified is: medical/DoDMERB Q or a waiver; physical/CFA; scholastic-academic, everything else that is graded and evaluated. It’s this last category that is behind the green curtain. Fully qualified + A Nom From Somewhere = eligible for offer of appointment.

And - every year, there are more fully qualified candidates with nom(s) than there are seats in the class.

As pointed out above, candidates on a slate may have their appointments charged to other nom authorities, including several managed by the SA.

Recruited athletes are not guaranteed admission. Even if they are blue-chipped, they must be fully qualified.

I am glad USNA strives to build a class that is made up not of cookie-cutter candidates, but an immensely rich variety of backgrounds, abilities, skills, accomplishments, experiences, perspectives and leadership styles.

WMSMOM said:

I know who the top candidates were and the athletes and people on selection committee.Both athletes I know have much lower gpas, acts, not in honor societies, not ap scholars , not involved in clubs etc like regular candidates. Great, for them, but if we had known they could take the spot, it would have lowered expectations. The athletes wouldn't have gotten into the colleges the other candidates did without their sports. I'm not assuming, I know all these people. Small town.

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USNA selection committee? Or nominating committee for MOC?

I question how they know who won the slate and what the USNA WPS for each candidate is.

My son found out there was a recruited football player up for a nomination. He was apprehensive for a few minutes but we knew there was no way his WCS could be as high as my son’s.

If my son didn’t get in, we would have assumed someone else beat him out and not assume he was cheated out of it.

WMSMOM said:

I know who the top candidates were and the athletes and people on selection committee.Both athletes I know have much lower gpas, acts, not in honor societies, not ap scholars , not involved in clubs etc like regular candidates. Great, for them, but if we had known they could take the spot, it would have lowered expectations. The athletes wouldn't have gotten into the colleges the other candidates did without their sports. I'm not assuming, I know all these people. Small town.

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Respectfully, even an MOC Selection Committee doesn’t have the ’whole picture’ as far as how the candidate is reviewed/scored by Admissions Board. Nor should they. MOC’s often have different criteria than is used by USNA. A nomination is not indicative of an appointment, only one of the many requirements. Only USNA holds the class building goals for each year. Academics is not the only indicator of a strong potential leader, creating a diverse fleet that represents our nation. It is not only an academic race.

Additionally, there are intangibles you, or MOC committees, can know. IE: BGO interviews and essays. There is no way you can know who the ‘top candidates’ were as you are not privy to their entire application.

A1Janitor said:

USNA selection committee? Or nominating committee for MOC?

I question how they know who won the slate and what the USNA WPS for each candidate is.

My son found out there was a recruited football player up for a nomination. He was apprehensive for a few minutes but we knew there was no way his WCS could be as high as my son’s.

If my son didn’t get in, we would have assumed someone else beat him out and not assume he was cheated

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I don't think he was cheated I didn't say that. I just personally know everyone and even if my son didn't get it there were a couple of others I'd be proud and thrilled to have them admitted. The athletes should come from a different pool.

WMSMOM said:

Thar is so true. Despite what I've read our congressional slate went to a recruited athlete. So actually much better candidates lost. I know they can pull from somewhere else but that is very limited too.

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"... slate went to a _____ ______." Fill in the blank with another adjective and a noun and your comment about "much better candidates losing" comes off as a slight to all those that have worked hard to receive appointments. I know it's been a tough week for many folks but stellar candidates are left often on the sidelines. I wish your DS the best of luck.

WMSMOM said:

I don't think he was cheated I didn't say that. I just personally know everyone and even if my son didn't get it there were a couple of others I'd be proud and thrilled to have them admitted. The athletes should come from a different pool.

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Why should they come from a different pool?

justdoit19 said:

Why should they come from a different pool?

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Read my private message.