C/O 2019 Mailbox Stalkers

My son received the TWE in the mail yesterday, as anticipated. He had already mentally moved onto Plan B, which was his original college choice before he got bit by the USNA bug.............he is a very driven intelligent boy. Had all the right stuff in most opinion. But this was not to be his path. Hes fine with it, and will be participating in NROTC as a college programmer first year and will consider re-applying for USNA. Personally as a parent I hope he loves college life and NROTC and does NOT. This process is EXTRAORDINARILY competitive, and arbitrary. It based on more factors that you have have ZERO control over then applying to an Ivy League school. Being a great candidate from a place like Long Island NY, and a male white, just ads to difficulty of it all. Some may not like that statement but "TS", because its true. Gender/racial /ethnic/geographic considerations are just as important in that selection process as SAT scores. Do deny it is silly. I just feel bad for the kids who all worked so hard to try to get in.
There are many paths to a commission in the US Navy or Marine Corp, and those driven to succeed will get there. Some may even find along the road they do not want it and change paths again. That is even better, NO ONE should follow any path but their OWN. God Bless you all and best of luck to all the students. So long.
 
This process is EXTRAORDINARILY competitive, and arbitrary. It based on more factors that you have have ZERO control over then applying to an Ivy League school. Being a great candidate from a place like Long Island NY, and a male white, just ads to difficulty of it all. Some may not like that statement but "TS", because its true. Gender/racial /ethnic/geographic considerations are just as important in that selection process as SAT scores. Do deny it is silly. I just feel bad for the kids who all worked so hard to try to get in.

I debated wheter to respond to this post but decided to do so on behalf of those female/non-minority/non-ethnic/non-north easterners who did earn appointments. I may be wrong by I feel they are being slighted a bit by your remarks. There are plenty of factors that candidates DO have control over to make them more competitive for an appointment....GPA, Course Selection (AP/Honors/Dual Enrollment), SAT/ACT Scores, Candidate Essays, Team Sports Participation, Leadership Activities, Volunteerism, Physical Finess Levels are a few that come to mind. Competing for every available nomination is a must as well. I'd be happy to put my White, Female, Florida based DD's resume up against any other appointee, as I'm sure any other appointee/parent on this forum would as well. Please don't insinuate that anyone received an appointment over someone else because they were a female, a minority, or from an economically depressed/geographic area, etc. Every kid with an appointment earned it. Period. Every one of them. Sorry, I just don't buy that these factors are "just as important in the selection process as SAT scores." I just don't. I'm guessing that when the class portrait for the class of 2019 is published we will see upwards of 18,000 applicants for the 1300 or so appointments that are awarded. If the ratios are similar to 2018, 70%+ of the Class will be males, and 60% of the class will be white. About 4,000 of the 18,000 applicants will be females. 350 or so will receive appointments, less than a 10% selection rate. Pull from these numbers members from the fleet and prep school and the numbers are even more competitive. So yes, this is an extremely competitive process. Lot's of super kids will not receive appointments, but let's be careful not to minimize those that fall into certain gender/racial/ethnic/geographic categories as any less qualifed. Best of luck to your DS as he pursues his dream. His desire to serve this great nation is honorable. God Bless...
 
My son received the TWE in the mail yesterday, as anticipated. He had already mentally moved onto Plan B, which was his original college choice before he got bit by the USNA bug.............he is a very driven intelligent boy. Had all the right stuff in most opinion. But this was not to be his path. Hes fine with it, and will be participating in NROTC as a college programmer first year and will consider re-applying for USNA. Personally as a parent I hope he loves college life and NROTC and does NOT. This process is EXTRAORDINARILY competitive, and arbitrary. It based on more factors that you have have ZERO control over then applying to an Ivy League school. Being a great candidate from a place like Long Island NY, and a male white, just ads to difficulty of it all. Some may not like that statement but "TS", because its true. Gender/racial /ethnic/geographic considerations are just as important in that selection process as SAT scores. Do deny it is silly. I just feel bad for the kids who all worked so hard to try to get in.
There are many paths to a commission in the US Navy or Marine Corp, and those driven to succeed will get there. Some may even find along the road they do not want it and change paths again. That is even better, NO ONE should follow any path but their OWN. God Bless you all and best of luck to all the students. So long.

As someone mentioned in a previous thread, you can tell it's spring from the waft of mud slinging through the air. I guess this happens every year and the disappointment is natural. You are correct in saying there is some mystery in this whole selection process, just as there is with many good(including Ivy's)colleges. But to dismiss appointments as arbitrary is harsh and irresponsible. I am the mother of two white males from a highly competitive district, who were both selected early to Service Academies. On my many visits. I have never once noticed a void in the white male populations there. If you resent a broader representation of the population at the Service Academies then maybe they are not the right fit for you. Good luck to your son.
 
As someone mentioned in a previous thread, you can tell it's spring from the waft of mud slinging through the air. I guess this happens every year and the disappointment is natural. You are correct in saying there is some mystery in this whole selection process, just as there is with many good(including Ivy's)colleges. But to dismiss appointments as arbitrary is harsh and irresponsible. I am the mother of two white males from a highly competitive district, who were both selected early to Service Academies. On my many visits. I have never once noticed a void in the white male populations there. If you resent a broader representation of the population at the Service Academies then maybe they are not the right fit for you. Good luck to your son.


The truth is that is the unfortunate part about having quotas. The assumption then is that some people did not earn their spot, regardless of their actual qualifications.
 
No offense meant to anyone. Especially the well qualified applicants who received these appointments. Yes im a little upset, a yes there is some truths to the words I wrote. No insult intended BUT many people from other parts of this fine country would be shocked to know the population of the NY metropolitan areas high schools every year , and the high # of great kids who compete on a national level for service academys and the finer educational schools, where YES they are geographically balanced, and "other things". Our BGO officers here had HUNDREDS of qualified kids trying for a tiny amount of opening based upon Congressional openings. The NY metropolitan area , and I am sure some other area of the country as well, are highly competitive because our kids compete against each other. we were all told this hard reality from he beginning of the process.
The kids selected are ALL deserving . But Ms Juvat, just so your aware of it, Nassau County NY graduates eneough high senior to fill Delaware State, or Univ Maryland every year. We are BIG #s, and its very competitive here with many great schools. So this is not sour grapes, this is a dad forced to accept tough reality of situation. I sincerely wish all the appointees the best of luck!
 
You may be right, 2019 mom. It goes into that big, bulging folder labeled "life isn't fair", I suppose. To me, the obvious discrepancy here is that if the king of queens' son did receive an appointment, there would be no cries of injustice from him. The sweeping indictment of the admissions process and the proclamation of unfairness is really reserved for their circumstances only. I guess it's human nature.
I'm not immune to this myself. My "above average" (sarcasm font) children have been passed over for things in favor of what appeared to be less qualified candidates too. It happens.
I would be careful to make the assumption that others did not earn their spot. Obviously, they did. One must assume, without the privilege of knowing all aspects of any other candidates qualifications, that there are indeed many qualified candidates and unfortunately, not enough appointments to include them all.
 
A while ago in a different thread I touched upon the pressure at USNA to recruit top-tier athletes in order to remain competitive as a very, very small NCAA Division One school. A number of people missed the point I was trying to make which was that USNA is a school with a great number of applicants for a very small number of slots. One where Admissions has a number of "pots" they need to fill when creating an incoming class - whether they be athletic recruitment, minority recruitment, gender recruitment, etc..

While the goal of the Academy may be somewhat different than most colleges and universities, the fact is that it is a college and as such, it's selection process needs to fill many needs and standards for admission; and the standards for some individuals may be different if their admission fills a perceived Academy need.

The "Best and Brightest Future Leaders of the United States Navy" looks really great on paper and a substantial numbers of Mids meet that criteria; but in reality USNA is not much different than most other sought-after elite schools. The standards that candidate 'A' is evaluated by may be radically different than the standards candidate 'B' is evaluated by - based on the Academy's perceived needs at the time in filling the class.

My frustration - having graduated from the Academy and having two Mids at the Academy -lies with those who fail to acknowledge this.

While the Academy's mission might be different than most other colleges, it's admission's procedures are not radically different than most other colleges. Not everyone is evaluated for admission in the same way.
 
You may be right, 2019 mom. It goes into that big, bulging folder labeled "life isn't fair", I suppose. To me, the obvious discrepancy here is that if the king of queens' son did receive an appointment, there would be no cries of injustice from him. The sweeping indictment of the admissions process and the proclamation of unfairness is really reserved for their circumstances only. I guess it's human nature.
I'm not immune to this myself. My "above average" (sarcasm font) children have been passed over for things in favor of what appeared to be less qualified candidates too. It happens.
I would be careful to make the assumption that others did not earn their spot. Obviously, they did. One must assume, without the privilege of knowing all aspects of any other candidates qualifications, that there are indeed many qualified candidates and unfortunately, not enough appointments to include them all.

Absolutely,@ahs67. None of us know the magic formula. When I see some of the stats quoted here, I wonder how my white male "above average " child ever got appointed to 3 of 4 academies in a highly competitive district, because he certainly did not have 1600 on SATs or 36 on ACTs.

And I am a big believer in fair is not always equal.
 
To those of you not appointed to the Naval Academy Class of 2019 – How you respond to rejection is precisely what the military and admissions board is looking to evaluate, if you decide to re-apply. As a military office, I know what makes a good officer. Too many applicants say that attending the academies is their ultimate goal – wrong answer! Too many applicant say becoming a military officer is their ultimate goal – wrong answer! Remember, the academy is not the destination, only a gateway to realize something greater. The academy looks for real leadership, not self-appointed, but rather peer- selected leadership. My DS applied only to the Naval Academy because he wanted to study mechanical engineering and to realize a goal of becoming a servitude leader. How can you convince a panel that you really want the Naval Academy, if you apply to all the service academies? You must convince the admission panel of your goals in life and articulate how their particular academy will realize those goals. Turning perceived failure into success is the greatest lesson someone in their late teens or early twenties can learn. God bless you all on your journey in life and thank you for wanting to serve your country.
 
So I'm curious, is anyone still waiting to find out their status? Or has everyone received a TWE, BFE, or waitlist letter?
 
So I'm curious, is anyone still waiting to find out their status? Or has everyone received a TWE, BFE, or waitlist letter?
I still haven't heard anything. But I know the admissions board met today for the last time. So we all should be hearing soon.
 
Don't wont to be a downer and I could be wrong on this, however, according to the wording on the wait list letters received by some posters recently from Admissions dated 1 April they indicate that they have made 1300 offers for a class size of 1,165...that 1300 seems to be a firm number which would probably indicate at this point if they are still evaluating files they are doing so for either a spot on the wait list or the dreaded TWE...no BFEs until maybe just maybe after 15 May and into June. Sorry, again if I am wrong on this please forgive me.
 
To those of you not appointed to the Naval Academy Class of 2019 – How you respond to rejection is precisely what the military and admissions board is looking to evaluate, if you decide to re-apply. As a military office, I know what makes a good officer. Too many applicants say that attending the academies is their ultimate goal – wrong answer! Too many applicant say becoming a military officer is their ultimate goal – wrong answer! Remember, the academy is not the destination, only a gateway to realize something greater. The academy looks for real leadership, not self-appointed, but rather peer- selected leadership. My DS applied only to the Naval Academy because he wanted to study mechanical engineering and to realize a goal of becoming a servitude leader. How can you convince a panel that you really want the Naval Academy, if you apply to all the service academies? You must convince the admission panel of your goals in life and articulate how their particular academy will realize those goals. Turning perceived failure into success is the greatest lesson someone in their late teens or early twenties can learn. God bless you all on your journey in life and thank you for wanting to serve your country.
This was the greatest post I have seen on here. My son received his TWE a week ago and the first 48 hours were absolutely heart wrenching! I was so worried that no Plan B was EVER going to feel right for my DS. Although the deadlines are approaching to secure most plan B's, I did not ask him once this past week what he was going to do because I knew he had to process this himself and I knew his personality would never let a deadline go by. ;) Yesterday afternoon he informed me that he had contacted several prep schools and told me he explained to each admission person that his goal was to reapply to the Naval Academy [and get in this time!] and the reason for his call was to see what their school could offer to make his 2020 Naval application exceptional. At one school, he was placed on hold for a moment and transferred to a man in admissions who had applied to the Naval Academy many years ago. He told my DS that the first time he applied, he was rejected and they shared stories of the pain and let down of the TWE moment. Then the man continued to share his story that after the TWE disappointment, he knew he wanted to reapply so he went to a prep school near his home and on his second attempt to the Naval Academy, he got in. Sadly, two weeks before I-day, he blew out his ACL and he had to withdraw. He said that although it has haunted him for a very long time, he ended up being very happy with his plan C. He also told my son he completely understands that innate desire to attend the Naval Academy and serve our country and he would love to guide and assist him in bolstering his new application. So at that point, it was a done deal...Plan B is finally in place. My DS will attend a prep school and he is so excited about applying again for the class of 2020. I am so proud of his determination! TO OSSEOUS PROGENITOR…I forwarded your post to my son and he said to thank you. He's going to tape your words to the inside cover of his NEW Naval Academy class of 2020 binder!!

Good luck to everyone still waiting for 2019! If the TWE shows up, take a few days to grieve, then good luck moving forward and if your DS/DD decides to reapply, I hope to see you here next year!
 
This was the greatest post I have seen on here. My son received his TWE a week ago and the first 48 hours were absolutely heart wrenching! I was so worried that no Plan B was EVER going to feel right for my DS. Although the deadlines are approaching to secure most plan B's, I did not ask him once this past week what he was going to do because I knew he had to process this himself and I knew his personality would never let a deadline go by. ;) Yesterday afternoon he informed me that he had contacted several prep schools and told me he explained to each admission person that his goal was to reapply to the Naval Academy [and get in this time!] and the reason for his call was to see what their school could offer to make his 2020 Naval application exceptional. At one school, he was placed on hold for a moment and transferred to a man in admissions who had applied to the Naval Academy many years ago. He told my DS that the first time he applied, he was rejected and they shared stories of the pain and let down of the TWE moment. Then the man continued to share his story that after the TWE disappointment, he knew he wanted to reapply so he went to a prep school near his home and on his second attempt to the Naval Academy, he got in. Sadly, two weeks before I-day, he blew out his ACL and he had to withdraw. He said that although it has haunted him for a very long time, he ended up being very happy with his plan C. He also told my son he completely understands that innate desire to attend the Naval Academy and serve our country and he would love to guide and assist him in bolstering his new application. So at that point, it was a done deal...Plan B is finally in place. My DS will attend a prep school and he is so excited about applying again for the class of 2020. I am so proud of his determination! TO OSSEOUS PROGENITOR…I forwarded your post to my son and he said to thank you. He's going to tape your words to the inside cover of his NEW Naval Academy class of 2020 binder!!

Good luck to everyone still waiting for 2019! If the TWE shows up, take a few days to grieve, then good luck moving forward and if your DS/DD decides to reapply, I hope to see you here next year!
JTGib13- I am excited for your son, and with his determination- i hope that he reaches his goal. My DS was there last year-received back to back TWE from USNA and NROTC- a tough three weeks later, had reapplied for NROTC, and enrolled in the college program at his Plan B school.
This year- even with ALL the AMAZING candidates, he was blessed to have been given an appointment. I wish this for your DS and all the TWE recipents who choose to stay in the game!
 
JTGib13- I am excited for your son, and with his determination- i hope that he reaches his goal. My DS was there last year-received back to back TWE from USNA and NROTC- a tough three weeks later, had reapplied for NROTC, and enrolled in the college program at his Plan B school.
This year- even with ALL the AMAZING candidates, he was blessed to have been given an appointment. I wish this for your DS and all the TWE recipents who choose to stay in the game!
That's great to hear! I have heard that the second time can really be there charm! I also ached for all the people I've read about who received the TWE on year two and three. Here's to staying in the game regardless of the outcome! :)
 
93 Sir,
Thank you for your answers at this heart wrenching time! I bawled as I read your description. You and your son are handling this with grace that I hope I will have should the dreaded TWE show up.

I still say as much as I have not enjoyed this whole process and my stomach turns at the thought of going through it again, my DS has changed through the process and I am sure like your son is more mature and focused than any of his friends. I am honored to have ridden this roller coaster with such fine parents and kids. Whatever shows up in our mailbox, we will all survive and be great!

You should be very proud of your son for having the guts to lay it all out there and try. I am truly sorry, you are going through this, and I am sure even though I think I am prepared for either answer... I am not!

Best wishes to you!
What was the outcome of your situation? What a difference a year makes?
 
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