Yes I actually had a question about this as well if you are willing to take the time to answer it. It says on the USAFA website under “Congressional Nominations” that the representatives most likely want you to contact them the spring or summer before the year you wish to enter the academy. Would it be wise to reach out and contact some of them now and get a head start in the process or would it be better to wait until the nomination cycle begins again? Thanks!
Advice for Application
- Thread starter Ghayd44
- Start date
BuckeyeDad20
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Ghayd44, if you are applying for class of 2026, I would not bother the congressional staffers right now. This is their busy season for nominations AND have elections. They should have nominations completed by end of year so I would not contact until next year. Additionally, go to their websites, they should have s section on nominations and likely have a schedule of events where they visit areas and discuss the process. Attend one or more of those and ask your questions there.
HowBoutThemApples
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Go to boys state. Go to boys state. Go to boys state. Go to boys state. If you're a girl, go to girls state
Ok great that’s what I needed to know! Yah I looked on each website and that’s kind of where my questions stemmed from but now I agree that it would be better to wait. Thanks so much for the continued advice!
I had actually never heard of Boys State before you just mentioned it and I just researched it a little. I imagine that it does look very good on a resumé especially for a service academy.
Academics: VERY solid! Nice that your GPA and class rigor confirm. Agree you should attempt earlier ACT/SAT if possible PLUS taking the writing/essay, even if you think you'll never need it (USMA - verify). Depending on world events, you cannot assume things will get "better" for seats at exams, and the new landscape is this: when you get a seat, that may be the only time you get to take it - so you MUST deliver and score well! Gone are the days you can take willy-nilly up to the deadline! Try to take AP exams, and hit validating scores (in core curriculum).
Sports: Tennis. NICE you are doing this 4 years, state qualifier, and on track to be captain.
ECs: NICE you are already doing, and each line you cite future goals. Just a tad laundry-list-ish, but again, I understand you are just listing them here. Make sure you have good answers to what on your resume is the most meaningful and why (type of question).
Don't overthink acceptance to Summer Seminar. Apply to all SA summer programs - SLE, USCGA AIM, NASS, and Boys State - you have no idea where you will get in, which will be in person, virtual, or cancelled.
And since you seem to be working ahead:
If possible, get anchoring/final scores for SAT/ACT as soon as possible, and CFA, and DoDMERB done during the summer before senior year starts. This means working backwards for your CFA training and testing window, and also strategically hitting enough elements through one SA application to get DoDMERB triggered.
Agree no reason to contact congressional staff at this time, and keep in mind this is right in the current cycle's nomination season.
Sports: Tennis. NICE you are doing this 4 years, state qualifier, and on track to be captain.
ECs: NICE you are already doing, and each line you cite future goals. Just a tad laundry-list-ish, but again, I understand you are just listing them here. Make sure you have good answers to what on your resume is the most meaningful and why (type of question).
Don't overthink acceptance to Summer Seminar. Apply to all SA summer programs - SLE, USCGA AIM, NASS, and Boys State - you have no idea where you will get in, which will be in person, virtual, or cancelled.
And since you seem to be working ahead:
If possible, get anchoring/final scores for SAT/ACT as soon as possible, and CFA, and DoDMERB done during the summer before senior year starts. This means working backwards for your CFA training and testing window, and also strategically hitting enough elements through one SA application to get DoDMERB triggered.
Agree no reason to contact congressional staff at this time, and keep in mind this is right in the current cycle's nomination season.
Thank you so much for the reply and the help. Going through it like that really helped me break it up in my mind to help focus on things I should work on. Really appreciate the response.
Heatherg21
USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
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Boy and Girls state is not just about resume building. To earn a spot you are chosen from local applicants. The Legion is looking for leadership. Then, you attend your state event and compete. You step out of your comfort zone, you interact with strangers. You team build and strategize and give speeches. From a group of over achievers you try to be elected from a group of your new found peers. There is a reason academies view Boy and Girls state so highly. If you succeed at Boy or Girl State you may be eligible for the Nation program. Our son benefited greatly from our state program and then attending Boys Nation. Made connections and built relationships that continue today. He is a plebe, and consistently can tell me where other Boys state and nation attendees are. Many at academies. A tight group that supports one another after camp is over.
Yes I am definitely going to have to look into it further. It sounds like such a great experience.