Re the multiple SA question . . .
It's not uncommon for folks to apply to more than one SA. I don't think anyone sees it as a negative (I never have). Some people want to keep their options open and others have yet to decide which SA is best for them. As to how to handle it --
(1) Be truthful. If asked if applying to more than one SA and you are, acknowledge it. Whoever is asking may already know or be able to find out.
(2) Have an idea of what your first choice is. Some MOCs may require you to choose only one SA (often happens in competitive geographic areas).
(3) Stick with your decision. See point (1) above. Don't tell one person/entity your first choice is USNA and tell someone else your first choice is USMA. Don't even try that with your BGO/ALO. For me, it's okay if someone's first choice is USAFA but is also seriously considering USNA.
(4) Caveat to point (3) above -- it's okay to change what you say if your choice actually changes. This happened to me. I was all set to go to USCGA until I visited. It was too small for my taste and, coming from a very small high school, I realized I wanted a "college" where I didn't know everyone inside of a week.
Thus, I originally told USCGA that, if accepted, I'd go there. But I changed my mind. Going forward, I explained my change of heart to those who asked and it was fine.
(5) If you're uncertain re your first choice, say so. Explain what you like about each SA and have a plan for making your decision.
(6) Do NOT denigrate another SA. First, you never know whether the person to whom you're speaking has ties to that SA or service. Second, it's really not impressive. There is a comaraderie among SAs and, while a bit of good-natured ribbing is fun, denigrating a fellow SA doesn't earn you bonus points.
(7) Bottom line: Explain why your first choice is your first choice and then explain why you also are very high on your second choice. You might also want to have an explanation as to why you didn't apply to one or more SAs (i.e., I'm not interested in USMA because my father was a career Army officer and I really want to do something different).
Hope this helps.
I’m sure your dd will do well with her interviews & will be a pro by the time the third one rolls around. All in one week is probably going to be stressful though. Yikes! Anyhow, as I have never sat in on one of these things, I can’t offer much but will give you a tidbit of what shook my son’s tree during one of his interviews. Maybe you can pass this hint along to give your dd food for thought. You probably know the basics. Have her dress business like and be prepared, ect. But when it comes to the questions they might ask her, tell her to have in mind an answer for this one: “What has been your biggest failure & what did you learn from it?” My son came out of his interview saying that was a toughie & he had to sit & think about it in an uncomfortable silence for about 10 seconds. He said every eye on the panel looked up at him & he got a little rattled. I think they go in prepared to say why they want to go to an academy & what will make them a good leader but don’t consider the more humbling questions that might pop up. At 17, how much failure have they experienced in their young lives? Hope this will be of some help should she get this type of question thrown her way. Please tell her good luck & that there are complete total strangers out here rooting for her!
The panel he interviewed for consisted of academy grads from each of the academies. Not much you can do to calm nerves before going in but I got the impression that they’d settled him down & helped make him comfortable before they began. Well, that’s about all I can recall from that day. Hope it helps in some aspect.