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Frank.Jack.Fletcher said:
4 LoRs is a lot
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Both TX Senators have tough applications due to the number of applicants they have. My ds's nominations letters the last 2 years from Cruz stated they had over 1000 applicants (He was a reapplicant and recevied a nomination from Sen. Cruz both times). They also don't interview so they need as much data as they can get. The LORs are easy compared to the essays!

Now boy #3 is starting so we'll have another summer of endless essay writing.
 
I am sure this has been talked about somewhere, but here are what are considered the toughest and least competitive district and states to earn a nom. Source - Internet 😅, so take it for what it is worth. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong anywhere on this. I won't get offended - 24 years in and my wife corrects me everyday ;).

Before reading the list, I have seen people ask questions like, "We live in VA, but have a home in OR, and also we are Florida residents - so can my DS/DD apply for a nom from OR even though we live in VA because OR would be less competitive?" This is answered in the FAQs, but people still ask.

Before we get to the United States Code, and as far as Air Force goes, the Department of the Air Force Manual 36-2032, Military Recruiting and Accessions, 16 January 2025, states:

"A23.3. Domicile. Must be domiciled within the boundaries of the constituency if nominated by an authority designated in the Congressional and United States Possessions categories. (T-0)"

Next question is, but can that be waived? Eh, not really. The T-0 identifier at the end of the statement in the regulation means the Department of the Air Force cannot approve a waiver because it is driven by a higher authority such as U.S. Law or E.O. Because it is U.S. law, it is not waiverable. A T-0 waiver would apply more so to items that were in control of a different department, but U.S law is U.S. law.

What law? Are you sure? Well, I'm not a legal beagle or a JAG, but here is what 10 USC, Section 7442 states in plain langauge:
(f) Each candidate for admission nominated under paragraphs (3) through (9) of subsection (a) must be domiciled in the State, or in the congressional district, from which he is nominated, or in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, if nominated from one of those places.

Most Competitive House Districts
  • VA-11 (Northern Virginia) – Heavy concentration of military families, defense contractors, and top-tier schools.
  • CA-48 / CA-49 (San Diego area) – Close to multiple naval bases, with a strong military community.
  • TX-3 (Plano, Frisco, McKinney) – High-performing schools and a strong ROTC/JROTC presence.
  • MD-8 (Bethesda, Rockville) – Dense with federal employees and a culture of service; very competitive academically.
  • CO-2 (Boulder, Fort Collins) – Strong academic base and active ROTC/JROTC programs.
  • NJ-7 / NJ-11 – High academic expectations and strong interest in service academies.
  • NY-3 / NY-4 (Long Island) – Competitive high schools, many applicants from military families.
  • MA-4 / MA-5 – Less military presence, but high academic standards make these districts tough.
  • FL-13 / FL-14 / FL-16 (Tampa Bay, Sarasota) – Military connections and a strong JROTC pipeline.
Most Competitive Senate Nominations (Statewide)
  • California – Massive population, very high competition.
  • Texas – Strong military tradition and large number of applicants.
  • New York – High applicant volume with many top-tier candidates.
  • Florida – Military-heavy population with intense interest in academies.
  • Virginia – Deep military roots and high academic standards.
  • Massachusetts / New Jersey – Academically elite, fewer slots, high demand.
Least Competitive House Districts (Low Nomination Pressure)
Midwest & Mountain West (Rural/Remote):
  • ND-At Large (North Dakota)
  • SD-At Large (South Dakota)
  • WY-At Large (Wyoming)
  • NE-3 (Western Nebraska)
  • MT-2 (Eastern Montana)
Rural South:
  • AL-4 (North-Central Alabama)
  • MS-2 (Mississippi Delta)
  • AR-4 (Southern and Western Arkansas)
Low-Application Deep South Areas:
  • LA-5 (Northeast Louisiana)
  • KY-5 (Appalachian Kentucky)
  • GA-8 (Central Georgia)
Southwest & High Plains:
  • NM-2 (Southern New Mexico)
  • OK-3 (Western Oklahoma)
  • KS-1 (Western Kansas)
These lower-competition districts often receive fewer than 10 applicants a year. Some congressional offices don’t even fill all available nomination slots. For a qualified candidate, the chances of receiving a nomination. and appointment, can be significantly higher.
 
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Most Competitive House Districts
  • VA-11 (Northern Virginia) – Heavy concentration of military families, defense contractors, and top-tier schools.
  • CA-48 / CA-49 (San Diego area) – Close to multiple naval bases, with a strong military community.
  • TX-3 (Plano, Frisco, McKinney) – High-performing schools and a strong ROTC/JROTC presence.
  • MD-8 (Bethesda, Rockville) – Dense with federal employees and a culture of service; very competitive academically.
  • CO-2 (Boulder, Fort Collins) – Strong academic base and active ROTC/JROTC programs.
  • NJ-7 / NJ-11 – High academic expectations and strong interest in service academies.
  • NY-3 / NY-4 (Long Island) – Competitive high schools, many applicants from military families.
  • MA-4 / MA-5 – Less military presence, but high academic standards make these districts tough.
  • FL-13 / FL-14 / FL-16 (Tampa Bay, Sarasota) – Military connections and a strong JROTC pipeline.
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Welp. . . I do interviews for one of the very competitive districts listed above and meet/advise many candidates from the OTHER district that is noted as the district border is very close to me.

These lower-competition districts often receive fewer than 10 applicants a year. Some congressional offices don’t even fill all available nomination slots. For a qualified candidate, the chances of receiving a nomination. and appointment, can be significantly higher.
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Never mind the less than 10 applicants per year, there are districts that have nominated ZERO candidates and sometimes that goes on for multiple cycles. I do not have the research showing this but it has been posted here before.
 
Frank.Jack.Fletcher said:
4 LoRs is a lot
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They’ll need them regardless for the university process. It’s my understanding the people writing them use essentially the same LOR for all maybe tailoring a little for the specific organization. Between the congressional nomination processes, ROTC, academies, and universities, it’s a ton of work!
 
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