Contacting Admissions

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Pack Dad 1

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Feb 24, 2022
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First a little history. I have a friend that is a Retired O6 Class of 76 Grad who had taken a keen interest in my candidate. He has put my candidate in touch with some prolific grads whereby some great conversations between hopeful future astronauts and retired ones have occurred. I can't even describe the elation that created. However, he has reached out to admissions to ensure that all things application are in order. So now the question, what kind of impact does that have on the application process? Looking forward to any and all responses.
 
Are you asking if there is favoritism in the process?? "I know a guy who knows a guy," type stuff??

I would hope, and I believe, that the admissions team hold an exceptionally high ethical standard, and do not allow that to actually work.

If that is not what you are asking, please provide a little more clarity.
 
Pack Dad 1 said:
First a little history. I have a friend that is a Retired O6 Class of 76 Grad who had taken a keen interest in my candidate. He has put my candidate in touch with some prolific grads whereby some great conversations between hopeful future astronauts and retired ones have occurred. I can't even describe the elation that created. However, he has reached out to admissions to ensure that all things application are in order. So now the question, what kind of impact does that have on the application process? Looking forward to any and all responses.
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The Dean of Admissions is class of "78" and a friend. The way that the Admissions Board works would make it very difficult for a "whisper in the ear" to be of much help. A letter of recommendation in the file is a few points on the Whole Person Multiple but not very much.
Getting a nomination and where you are on a slate is far more important than high level acquaintances.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Are you asking if there is favoritism in the process?? "I know a guy who knows a guy," type stuff??

I would hope, and I believe, that the admissions team hold an exceptionally high ethical standard, and do not allow that to actually work.

If that is not what you are asking, please provide a little more clarity.
Click to expand...
Great question, I am actually so against the idea of that If merit and the rest of what ever the academy has in the recipe is not enough for any candidate to get an appointment then no amount of who anyone knows should help. My question is does it hurt the applicant. This guy is a great guy has been a great mentor, but I do not really want him to "meddle" in the process because, A) I would abhor it if the admissions team thought that candidate X thinks he can get a foot up because CPT America called. and B) I appreciate the interest in my candidate's application and potential career, and now I feel like I need to tactfully ask him to back off. So to restate my intended question, and to add to it, Is it a bad thing if and when a third party reaches out, because I would never do it myself.

Again , thanks for your response.
 
OldRetSWO said:
The Dean of Admissions is class of "78" and a friend. The way that the Admissions Board works would make it very difficult for a "whisper in the ear" to be of much help. A letter of recommendation in the file is a few points on the Whole Person Multiple but not very much.
Getting a nomination and where you are on a slate is far more important than high level acquaintances.
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Thank you. That is exactly what I thought, its great to have someone in the corner, but please just cheerlead, don't interfere.
 
I had a candidate who has a family friend that is a USNA grad and retired 06. The AC and I felt the retired O6 went out of his his lane and wasn't helping. I decided not to let it affect my view of the candidate. I have no idea if the O6 reached out to Admisisons or not. He did reach out to the AC and tried to get my contact info...the AC would not give him my info. On the BGO/AC front we did not let this 06 hurt the candidate - nor did we let it help him.
 
Appreciate the clarification.

I would think that if someone was persistent and reaching out for a candidate to try to "influence" the process, either the candidate, or more importantly, the admissions team, would gently ask them to please stop. Once in the military, they would probably get a big STFU from the senior enlisted or ranking officers. ;)

My Dad is a retired 0-6, and taught at the Academy when he was an LCDR. I wanted him to not say a damn thing when I applied (he was a CDR then), or when my kid did.

I personally did reach out to the Director of noms/appointments when my kid was going through the process in his first round because we were really looking for some guidance, but only to see if there was anything that we could do to help find a nomination to fulfill his LOA toward the end of the cycle. There wasn't anything, and he didn't get in that round (c/o '25). Busted his azz in college, applied again, got waitlisted, and then appointment (c/o '26). Now thriving.

I'm betting that "back in the day" there may have been some shenanigans and old boys club stuff at the Academy, and I'm willing to bet there is definitely stuff like that in the backrooms of the nomination process with some Congressman, but I feel in my heart, and with the transparency required at the DoD level, that outside influence is highly discouraged (not too mention, probably illegal).

Just my $.02.
 
Retired O6 Academy grads are a dime a dozen where I come from. I know people currently working in admissions, academic departments, the visitor's center, and public affairs. I can not imagine a scenario where a single one of them would do anything except advise our candidate and cheer him on. And he'd be very opposed to anything else. This is my biggest soapbox and irritation when well meaning people frequently say "oh so and so went there, he'll get in".... not how it works. There is no doubt it helps in knowing what the experience is and knowing what type of student they want, but the candidate needs to earn their spot and I'm willing to bet admissions does their best to ensure this.
 
Pack Dad 1 said:
Great question, I am actually so against the idea of that If merit and the rest of what ever the academy has in the recipe is not enough for any candidate to get an appointment then no amount of who anyone knows should help. My question is does it hurt the applicant. This guy is a great guy has been a great mentor, but I do not really want him to "meddle" in the process because, A) I would abhor it if the admissions team thought that candidate X thinks he can get a foot up because CPT America called. and B) I appreciate the interest in my candidate's application and potential career, and now I feel like I need to tactfully ask him to back off. So to restate my intended question, and to add to it, Is it a bad thing if and when a third party reaches out, because I would never do it myself.

Again , thanks for your response.
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If your son is satisfied his application is in order, with no need for well-meaning third party calls, then a tactful shift to a general sounding board role and supportive cheerleader is ideal.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
I had a candidate who has a family friend that is a USNA grad and retired 06. The AC and I felt the retired O6 went out of his his lane and wasn't helping. I decided not to let it affect my view of the candidate. I have no idea if the O6 reached out to Admisisons or not. He did reach out to the AC and tried to get my contact info...the AC would not give him my info. On the BGO/AC front we did not let this 06 hurt the candidate - nor did we let it help him.
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Thanks. I appreciate the perspective. I would assume that is the general climate in admissions. Tons of parents and other people calling to vote for their favorite candidate. Thankfully I am a 15 year ARMY vet so I know how to hurry up and wait.
 
The advice our parent club gives incoming plebe parents is to “butt out, cheerlead”. Our prior president actually mimed it. Stuck their butt out dramatically and waived imaginary Pom poms. They roared with laughter.
Then we had to remind a few over plebe summer that they needed to butt out. Calling the academy to say Johnny was too tired and couldn’t they get more sleep during plebe summer was beyond ill advised.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about it either way ...it happens all the time.....some well meaning grad reaches out to Admissions to "whisper" their support..... and I am sure the Admissions Office is well briefed to listen respectively, perhaps even annotate the file if the caller is someone with clout (with all due respect to CAPT MJ and her peers, a retired O6 isn't likely to have much clout at USNA, they are kind of a dime a dozen), then go on with business.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
I wouldn't worry too much about it either way ...it happens all the time.....some well meaning grad reaches out to Admissions to "whisper" their support..... and I am sure the Admissions Office is well briefed to listen respectively, perhaps even annotate the file if the caller is someone with clout (with all due respect to CAPT MJ and her peers, a retired O6 isn't likely to have much clout at USNA, they are kind of a dime a dozen), then go on with business.
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I am most definitely clout-free. With inflation, I think retired O-6’s are running about 5 cents a baker’s dozen.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Appreciate the clarification.

I would think that if someone was persistent and reaching out for a candidate to try to "influence" the process, either the candidate, or more importantly, the admissions team, would gently ask them to please stop. Once in the military, they would probably get a big STFU from the senior enlisted or ranking officers. ;)

My Dad is a retired 0-6, and taught at the Academy when he was an LCDR. I wanted him to not say a damn thing when I applied (he was a CDR then), or when my kid did.

I personally did reach out to the Director of noms/appointments when my kid was going through the process in his first round because we were really looking for some guidance, but only to see if there was anything that we could do to help find a nomination to fulfill his LOA toward the end of the cycle. There wasn't anything, and he didn't get in that round (c/o '25). Busted his azz in college, applied again, got waitlisted, and then appointment (c/o '26). Now thriving.

I'm betting that "back in the day" there may have been some shenanigans and old boys club stuff at the Academy, and I'm willing to bet there is definitely stuff like that in the backrooms of the nomination process with some Congressman, but I feel in my heart, and with the transparency required at the DoD level, that outside influence is highly discouraged (not too mention, probably illegal).

Just my $.02.
Click to expand...
We are on your "resume" we are of the same generation. But yeah, He has done his part, gotten a nomination kicks as in school, Eagle Scout, Boy State, Summer Seminar. checks all the boxes. Yeah I am anxious as hell to know, I suppose that's just the parental nature in me, but all I can do now is let it simmer and the answer will be what it will be. It is in GOD's hands.
 
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