Asking Admissions Officer About Application Progress

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Nbloom24

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Oct 8, 2019
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Good evening,
As I am sure many of you know, November 1st the early decision deadline for civilian schools. I am struggling to make a decision because while USNA is my top choice, I do not want to sacrifice my increased chances of acceptance at a civilian school by not applying early decision. My USNA application has been submitted for about four weeks. Do you think it is a good idea for me to call my admissions counselor to see the progress of my application? Is this something perspective students have done before?
Thank you
 
No, I don’t think it is a good idea. They probably cannot tell you anything, since nom slates aren’t complete yet.

Think through the risks, do your research, make your decision. It may suit you better to go for the bird closest to hand than the one you might have to wait for until April.

You may want to call Admissions and ask for clarification on if you are offered and accept ED from another school, must you then close down your USNA application. Once you know the facts on that as it relates to your case, you will know an important element of your decision.

I suggest using the term “prospective midshipman” when talking about yourself and USNA.
 
Nbloom24 said:
Good evening,
As I am sure many of you know, November 1st the early decision deadline for civilian schools. I am struggling to make a decision because while USNA is my top choice, I do not want to sacrifice my increased chances of acceptance at a civilian school by not applying early decision. My USNA application has been submitted for about four weeks. Do you think it is a good idea for me to call my admissions counselor to see the progress of my application? Is this something perspective students have done before?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Do you have a nomination yet? Has that nomination slate been submitted? I don't think you wold find out anything useful by calling admissions. Most people will not hear if they have received an appointment until the February or March time frame. Slates must be completed and all applicants have until the deadline to complete their application so there is probably no decision to be made at this time. It's the nature of the game.

If you apply early decision and are accepted, and the financial aid is acceptable, then you are obligated to attend that college and you'll have to drop your USNA application.

EDIT: cross-posted with Capt MJ whose post I heartily endorse.
 
What the CMU admissions office told me when I called them about the ED policy as it relates to the SA... they said if I am appointed by a SA, then I can go to that SA.
 
kinnem said:
Do you have a nomination yet? Has that nomination slate been submitted? I don't think you wold find out anything useful by calling admissions.
EDIT: cross-posted with Capt MJ whose post I heartily endorse.
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Question, once nomination slates have been submitted and I am aware I have a nomination. Would it be helpful to then call admissions and ask them where I stand on the slate and what kind of slate was submitted?
 
What the CMU admissions office told me when I called them about the ED policy as it relates to the SA... they said if I am appointed by a SA, then I can go to that SA.
Click to expand...

I suggest you also confirm this with USNA. Just because the civilian school will let you go to the SA, doesn't mean USNA will let you continue the application.

To answer your questions re noms, no, I would not call. Just because they have your nom slate doesn't mean they have made a decision. They need to evaluate your slate as well as the other slates in your state. They need to wait for medical issues, possible additional test scores, etc. Unless you have an LOA and/or are a principal nominee. the chances of hearing before late January are very slim. It does happen but is very rare. USNA isn't hiding the ball, they just don't know the answer.
 
20avva said:
What the CMU admissions office told me when I called them about the ED policy as it relates to the SA... they said if I am appointed by a SA, then I can go to that SA.
Click to expand...

So you can choose one of the Service Academies if you receive an acceptance for Early Decision to CMU without it being binding, as ED acceptances are typically binding? (I presume you are referencing Carnegie Mellon University?)

i think it depends on each university with regard to their policy on if they will hold a student
to an ED acceptance.

If a student submits an application to a civilian university as an ED, and chooses to not accept it once they hear from their respective Service Academy, they are essentially taking an ED slot from another student. That is somewhat unethical and does not speak to integrity.
 
#GoNavyBeatArmy said:
The name of the game is patience for everyone. I would not advise calling admissions, nomination or otherwise.
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Yea, I'm aware patience is key. I wasn't going to do that, I know it's not wise to ask about your application status. I was just wondering
 
#GoNavyBeatArmy said:
The name of the game is patience for everyone. I would not advise calling admissions, nomination or otherwise.
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Correct to the OP....don't do it.

(And this: just hypothetically speaking, let's assume you succumbed to the dark side of the force and did call them....you'd be disappointed to learn that they will give you exactly......ZIP. Certainly not the progress of your application or your nomination status.)

The worst part of this whole process for any SA candidate is just the length of time it takes from when you started until when you hear and then all of the subtle nuances like ED etc. that are happening at the same time that you need to manage. Unfornatuabley, there are no shortcuts and all you can do is play it out. The time will come soon enough and if patience isn't one of your long suits now, this will be time to hone that quality as it will serve you well down the road.
 
kinnem said:
Do you have a nomination yet? Has that nomination slate been submitted? I don't think you wold find out anything useful by calling admissions. Most people will not hear if they have received an appointment until the February or March time frame. Slates must be completed and all applicants have until the deadline to complete their application so there is probably no decision to be made at this time. It's the nature of the game.

If you apply early decision and are accepted, and the financial aid is acceptable, then you are obligated to attend that college and you'll have to drop your USNA application.

EDIT: cross-posted with Capt MJ whose post I heartily endorse.
Click to expand...

Ditto!
 
To step back a moment . . . when you apply ED to a school, you are telling that school that they are your first choice and, if accepted, you will attend. That gives you an advantage in applying and, in exchange, gives the school the certainty that, if they accept you, you'll attend.

So, if you really want to attend the civilian school, apply ED and, if accepted, pull your SA applications.

If a SA is your first choice, then you probably shouldn't apply ED. Apply EA (non-binding) or just regular decision. That way, you don't have to go through all of this drama in terms of pulling out, etc.

It's my personal opinion -- and only that -- that candidates who apply to ED schools with the expectation that, if accepted to a SA they'll back out of their ED commitment, are gaming the system. That means the ED school really isn't their first choice and they simply want to have a more secure backup plan. That's not the purpose of the ED program. I realize that SAs don't offer ED (it is partly why they adopted the LOA program), but you can complain to Congress about that. If you're a highly competitive candidate for a SA, you are likely going to have no trouble being accepted regular decision to many excellent schools.

Finally, I understand there are candidates who have financial concerns re their ED school. That is IMHO an entirely different issue than applying to both a ED school and a SA. Accepting a SA because it's "free" is rarely a good reason to attend. There are many threads on this subject, but anyone who has been there will tell you this.
 
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DD announced back in 7th grade that she wanted to attend USNA. Come senior year, as she was doing her applications, I asked if she wanted to apply ED anywhere. She said, “No way, Dad. USNA is my first choice. You can only apply ED if that school is your first choice. So if I got accepted ED, I’d have to go there.”

Boom! That was it, end of story, nothing more to discuss, as far as she was concerned. Did I, as a nervous parent, wonder if she should hedge her bets by applying ED? Absolutely. Did I, as the presumed grownup in the room, realize that applying ED as a backup was fundamentally dishonest? Sure did. Was I tempted to push her to do ED anyway? A bit, yes.

But never mind what I thought. My DD — the one whose future was at stake, who had the most to lose, who could have had her cake and eaten it too — decided that it just wasn’t right to apply ED, because any other school was NOT her first choice. I could not have been prouder of her.
 
Your children can do that to you - and when they do - it melts you into a puddle.
That's the single best part about having the <parent> job, in my book.
 
#GoNavyBeatArmy said:
So you can choose one of the Service Academies if you receive an acceptance for Early Decision to CMU without it being binding, as ED acceptances are typically binding? (I presume you are referencing Carnegie Mellon University?)
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Be careful here... First, who at CMU made this statement ? A low level Admissions Counselor or someone higher in the food chain that has authority to make policy ? Second, was it in writing ? Third, as '85 noted, you should confirm with USNA --even though CMU may allow this, it has been reported that USNA's policy is that if you are accepted ED somewhere else, then you must withdraw your USNA application.

There are many threads on this Forum about ED and what it means. I am no means an expert, and have never read the actually policy that is agreed by the association of colleges (whatever it may mean). As a lawyer, I am sure that I could pick holes and find exceptions in the wording, find exceptions etc. I can also tell you there is a difference between your legal rights and your practical rights. I suspect its rare for colleges to try to enforce the terms of the ED policy, but if they pick you to make an example there will be a lot of legal costs involved (and the true winner is the lawyers :))!

The bottom line, at its basic level, applying ED means that is your #1 choice and you are agreeing to attend if accepted. I get the game that applicants play --my daughter applied ED to her "stretch" school, and was accepted. However, ED was not intended for those trying to secure their Plan B for those whom USNA or another Service Academy is their first choice. Life includes risks and rewards ...there are no sure bets; if you really want USNA , then pass on the ED application, and apply regular decision for your Plan B schools.
 
Aldo.dector said:
Question, once nomination slates have been submitted and I am aware I have a nomination. Would it be helpful to then call admissions and ask them where I stand on the slate and what kind of slate was submitted?
Click to expand...

First, picture yourself in the Admissions office, with 10,000 applicants (MOL) calling to to ask where they stand. It's kinda like the kids sitting in the backseat of the car asking "are we there yet" on the drive to Grandmas house,.

Second, USNA will let you know when they have something to tell you. Nomination slates are beginning to be submitted, but applications are open until January. Noms and Appointments really can't begin picking the winners until all applications are in. (Sure, there are exceptions , including the much coveted (here) LOA. Once the slate is ranked, I suspect USNA sends offers of appointment pretty quickly ...that is why you will see a steady announcement of appointments here during February /March instead of one single release in April.

Finally..to echo Kinnem's wise advise ...Don't be that guy (or girl) ! You are in the game until you aren't.
 
#GoNavyBeatArmy said:
So you can choose one of the Service Academies if you receive an acceptance for Early Decision to CMU without it being binding, as ED acceptances are typically binding? (I presume you are referencing Carnegie Mellon University?)

i think it depends on each university with regard to their policy on if they will hold a student
to an ED acceptance.

If a student submits an application to a civilian university as an ED, and chooses to not accept it once they hear from their respective Service Academy, they are essentially taking an ED slot from another student. That is somewhat unethical and does not speak to integrity.
Click to expand...
Yes I am referring to Carnegie Mellon.
 
As others have mentioned, whether for Carnegie Mellon or any other university, unless you have a statement in writing that you/your family are NOT financially bound to an ED, I would not trust a verbal statement, even if from a university Director of Admissions or lower level Admissions Officer. ED’s are binding, typically 100 percent of tIme.

Additionally, it is the ethical choice to NOT submit an ED if the Naval Academy is an applicant’s top choice, as it takes the ED away from another applicant to that university.

Apply Early Action, which is non-binding to those universities second to your top choice of the Naval Academy.

Integrity is everything.
 
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