Congressional Nomination Preference

[desertlover12]

I'm in a similar situation as I've been caught between USNA and USMA since this summer when I attended both SLE and Summer Seminar. In the spring when all of my nomination applications opened up, I was leaning USNA and thus selected it as my #1 with USMA #2. Since then I've received LOA's from both academies and may be slightly leaning towards USMA. I'm from Arizona, so I'm hoping my state doesn't have the same rules as NJ may have as far as not being able to switch preferences. Pretty sure I'd be happy at either, though. Thoughts?

 

[FutureAcademyDad?]

Hopeful_Dad said:
...His BGO said from his experience our senators (CA) typically nominate from the large cities for USNA (we are very rural) and he said he's not seen one from our region, and would not hurt to ask for nomination to another SA that might not be as competitive in California. Our Senators only nominate to a single SA, and require you to pick only one on their application...

I don't know how accurate that information is, since it seems directly contradictory to my DD's experience. She applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA (and USCGA). We also live in a semi-rural area in CA. She received competitive nominations to USNA and USAFA from our congressman, which she had ranked as her top 2 choices. However, she also received 4 competitive nominations from Senator Harris - 1 to USNA, 1 to USAFA, and 2 to USMA.
So the statement that CA Senators will only nominate to a single SA is inaccurate. The concept of most nominations going to applicants from large cities is reasonable, just based on population distribution. However, the fact is that applicants from small towns in CA can and do receive Senatorial nom's.
Make sure the senators and congressperson know the top choice, but also make sure they know about all of the SAs to which an application has been submitted.
You might be surprised by the results.

 

[Hopeful_Dad]

I don't know how accurate that information is, since it seems directly contradictory to my DD's experience. She applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA (and USCGA). We also live in a semi-rural area in CA. She received competitive nominations to USNA and USAFA from our congressman, which she had ranked as her top 2 choices. However, she also received 4 competitive nominations from Senator Harris - 1 to USNA, 1 to USAFA, and 2 to USMA.
So the statement that CA Senators will only nominate to a single SA is inaccurate. The concept of most nominations going to applicants from large cities is reasonable, just based on population distribution. However, the fact is that applicants from small towns in CA can and do receive Senatorial nom's.
Make sure the senators and congressperson know the top choice, but also make sure they know about all of the SAs to which an application has been submitted.
You might be surprised by the results.

Thank you for the reply and the great info. We hoped that this is indeed the case.

The last several months have been very busy. My DS has completed his apps to USNA, USMMA, USCGA, and has his ALO interview with USAFA next week. His nomination applications are complete and we are waiting to hear about interviews, hopefully soon.

We did receive great news this morning, he received an ISR NROTC scholarship which he interviewed for yesterday. He is very grateful for that opportunity. Common application is complete for civilian schools, so that wait is also beginning.

As a proud father, I'm grateful for all the insights on this forum, and it has been extraordinarily helpful as we continue this journey.

 

[Desert2USNA]

I'm in a similar situation as I've been caught between USNA and USMA since this summer when I attended both SLE and Summer Seminar. In the spring when all of my nomination applications opened up, I was leaning USNA and thus selected it as my #1 with USMA #2. Since then I've received LOA's from both academies and may be slightly leaning towards USMA. I'm from Arizona, so I'm hoping my state doesn't have the same rules as NJ may have as far as not being able to switch preferences. Pretty sure I'd be happy at either, though. Thoughts?

Congrats on your LOA's. My DS, also from AZ and currently a Plebe, only listed USNA as his preferred SA. He received nominations from our congressional representative for both USNA and USMA and also a nomination from one of our senators for USNA. (He did not have an LOA.) Good luck!

 

[tryingmybest]

@Norfolk63 This resonates so much, thank you. It's interesting because the encouragement DS is getting is "apply to all service academies" and hopefully one will work out. I think that is what is causing so much confusion. There is also talk about cross-commissioning, but that seems unrealistic and probably a pretty tough thing to do. Thank you for your thoughtful response. It helps so much!

I have to agree. My DS was all in for USMA but everyone he has come in contact with through this process has encouraged him to explore all paths and to apply to all. It is all very confusing for young not quite adults as well as us parents. This thread has been very helpful.

 

[tycarpen]

I don't know how accurate that information is, since it seems directly contradictory to my DD's experience. She applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA (and USCGA). We also live in a semi-rural area in CA. She received competitive nominations to USNA and USAFA from our congressman, which she had ranked as her top 2 choices. However, she also received 4 competitive nominations from Senator Harris - 1 to USNA, 1 to USAFA, and 2 to USMA.
So the statement that CA Senators will only nominate to a single SA is inaccurate. The concept of most nominations going to applicants from large cities is reasonable, just based on population distribution. However, the fact is that applicants from small towns in CA can and do receive Senatorial nom's.
Make sure the senators and congressperson know the top choice, but also make sure they know about all of the SAs to which an application has been submitted.
You might be surprised by the results.

WOW, this is great information @FutureAdademyDad? ! Thank you for sharing your experience! This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to hear, and is sooo encouraging. We are not a small town, but not a big city either. Our district is sandwiched between two large cities, so hopefully that helps. Four competitive nominations from Senator Harris? That is incredible! THANK YOU for posting your DD's story. It definitely takes the pressure off the waiting!

 

[falconchic88]

Florida is also a "one SA per applicant" state. Back in the day, this really bothered me. But with experience, I've amended my philosophy a bit... unlike normal colleges, Service Academies are not, by their very nature, interchangeable parts. Navy is not Army is not Air Force is not Coast Guard. Unfortunately, 17-year-olds aren't always equipped to understand the difference. Which is where parents, mentors, and well-meaning others come in. USNA is not a Plan B for USMA (and vice versa). If a candidate wants to be truly successful (i.e. receive an appointment), they will place all their chips on one SA or the other and let it ride. If they are not selected, the truly motivated candidate will reapply the following year with their Plan B being ROTC scholarship where he/she will strengthen their application, gain valuable life experience, college credits, and reapply to the Academy (once, twice, three times if necessary). Anything less is a waste of time and energy for the candidate, parents, and everyone else. If, however, the candidate gets a taste of ROTC and decides that ROTC is a good fit, that's great. They are on the right path toward commissioning. But... the important part is this... at the end of those four years, they will commission as naval officers (or whatever branch they selected). So then the goal is this... the candidate should do everything in their power to decide which branch of the military appeals to them the most and then, once they're good and sure... focus exclusively on that one Academy. Because at the end of the day, one nomination is all it takes to receive an appointment... however, one nomination is no guarantee of an appointment. I would much rather be the candidate with two, or possibly three nominations.

Are you advocating choosing only one service academy and only APPLYING to that one or are you strictly talking about not splitting nominations? If the former, I couldn't disagree more. My husband and I are both USAFA grads, so our oldest's number 1 choice was USAFA, that's all he really knew. BUT, he applied to NASS and came back very impressed with USNA and was highly torn. USAFA remained his number one choice, and he ranked it as number 1 on all his nom packages (fortunately our MOCs didn't make them choose just one), but he also completed his USNA application, and fortunately had a Presidential Nom as well. He was appointed to USNA in October, thanks to that Presidential Nom. Despite 3 noms, he didn't hear from USAFA until April, and that was a Falcon foundation scholarship offer. Both great opportunities, but in the end, he accepted the USNA appointment and didn't look back. All of his sibs have followed suit, except with USNA as #1 choice, but they also applied for USAFA as they all would have been honored to attend either Academy and to serve in either branch.

To the posters asking about splitting the nomination rankings in states that make you choose just number 1 choice, my opinion is if they are truly torn and really don't have a preference, then go ahead and split them on the senator Nom apps. The applicant could even speak to being "equally motivated to attend ether Service Academy" (and why) in their essays and/or interview. Also, MAKE SURE TO APPLY FOR VP NOMS!

 

[kinnem]

@falconchic88 I think whatr people generally recommend is listing your first choice as your first choice throughout and express a willingness to go to another academy, just as your son did. There are people here every year who split their number 1 ranking for different MOCs and end upsaying "but I didn't really want to go there" when appointed to what wasn't really a choice they wanted. Of course, people should always weigh the advice they get and then do what's right for them. If folks want to split it, far be it from me to tell them otherwise.

 

[falconchic88]

@falconchic88 I think whatr people generally recommend is listing your first choice as your first choice throughout and express a willingness to go to another academy, just as your son did. There are people here every year who split their number 1 ranking for different MOCs and end upsaying "but I didn't really want to go there" when appointed to what wasn't really a choice they wanted. Of course, people should always weigh the advice they get and then do what's right for them. If folks want to split it, far be it from me to tell them otherwise.

I understand, I was responding specifically to Norfolk's comment to only apply to one SA from the get go.

As an aside, Fortunately for my son, he could rank all 4 and was considered for a nomination to all; he wasn't told by his senators to only pick one. If that had been the case, he may very well have split his choices, because he would have been equally honored to attend either one.