Candidate Packets 2026

[chicagotousna '26]

Hi All! Do you know when the candidate packets for c/o 2026 will be sent out? On the admissions chat, function theyve been saying that we would get them May 4th, then they said last week? I’m not stressing about this, I am just asking because our school year is going to end soon and my teachers are not going to be filling out Evaluation forms over the summer lol (I already asked them for LOR in march for USNA). Any BGO or admissions counselor/insider have an update on this?

 

[Kierkegaard]

No need to worry. Application due date is in winter next year, so even if evaluations aren’t put in before the summer you still have many months after for your teachers to do them in. Recommend approaching the application as more of a marathon than a sprint.

 

[2025 hopeful]

I don't know about timing, but thought that I would mention when my DD was going through the process this past year, prior to school ending, she had reached out to teachers, counselors, anyone she thought she may need letters of recommendations/evaluations. She explained to them the SAs process and how she may need information completed over the summer and requested contact information for reaching them. They were all happy to provide contact information. She was able to get all the required evaluations/LORs over the summer and submit all information early in the admissions/nomination cycle.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Hi All! Do you know when the candidate packets for c/o 2026 will be sent out? On the admissions chat, function theyve been saying that we would get them May 4th, then they said last week? I’m not stressing about this, I am just asking because our school year is going to end soon and my teachers are not going to be filling out Evaluation forms over the summer lol (I already asked them for LOR in march for USNA). Any BGO or admissions counselor/insider have an update on this?

As of May 5th, word from Admissions to the BGOs was that 2026 candidates would be populated into the Admissions system in "mid-May". I would not expect that prospective candidates would receive anything before that happens. My advice to you is to watch your email including your spam folder.

 

[A6E Dad]

a letter from the Dean to Area Coordinators on 5/13 stated candidates will be getting their packets "in the next few weeks"

as soon as candidates are loaded into the new system, the outbound emails will be triggered with all the required info, and at that point the BGOs will be able to see them as well. actually, the ACs will see them all and then assign them to individual BGOs , that can take some time.

 

[pnwpandas]

No need to worry. Application due date is in winter next year, so even if evaluations aren’t put in before the summer you still have many months after for your teachers to do them in. Recommend approaching the application as more of a marathon than a sprint.

True about the due date. Although, in DS' case, one counselor dragged her feet until the USNA deadline -the principal had to nudge her along - and caused DS to miss some other college deadlines, because he asked (in my opinion) for evals in the fall. Whether that was COVID- related on her part, I do not know. But, it is nice to give the counselors and teachers lots of time. To make it easier for them, DS gave them a résumé and brag sheet to highlight accomplishments and particular learning experiences he enjoyed from each teacher.

 

[chicagotousna '26]

Hi! Are there any updates about candidate numbers since this post’s last activity? I was told end of May? My teachers are getting anxious because its already the end of our school year and they want to submit theif LOR

 

[OldRetSWO]

Hi! Are there any updates about candidate numbers since this post’s last activity? I was told end of May? My teachers are getting anxious because its already the end of our school year and they want to submit theif LOR

Message to BGOs as of May 28th said that they don't have a firm date yet.
I confirmed that the BGO's system is still populated with '25 candidates and that there '26 candidates are not loaded.

 

[ChatterMom2]

Hi! Are there any updates about candidate numbers since this post’s last activity? I was told end of May? My teachers are getting anxious because its already the end of our school year and they want to submit theif LOR

Stay in communication with your teachers. Make sure you have a way to contact them over the summer whether by email or phone. Definitely have a good email for them that they check over the summer. Keep them updated. Last year when this happened my son would just periodically send his teachers/counselor an email letting them know the portal still had not opened yet and to please keep checking their emails regularly. As soon as the portal opened up (after he did his part) he let his teachers know to expect an email from USNA. He also followed up with them to make sure they had received the emails from USNA and to let him know if they hadn't so he could resend them. Just keep them in the loop and thank them for their patience. Last year it went from late May/ early June to late June then early July. It finally opened in the middle of July. They will send you an email when the portal opens.

 

[THParent]

+10 for @ChatterMom2.
I can't stress that enough. Get your teacher's personal email addresses and phone numbers. Don't text them (unless they prefer that sort of communication). Get on the phone and call them. Keep them in the loop and updated, through the process.

and +10 for @Kierkegaard
This is indeed a marathon, and not a sprint. Settle in for a 10-month application process. Figure out what all the deadlines are and don't miss any.
If the Academy or DoDMERB asks for something from you, make sure that you get it to them as accurately as possible. Speed is always second to accuracy. Check the directions/requirements and your resultant product a few times before you send it. Make time for that.

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