Contacting your Counselor

Has anyone called their USAFA counselor and asked what their status is?

Not to sound like a jerk, but do you think these counselors have nothing better to do than to answer impatient people. If your counselor had nothing else to do with their job, and the phone call only took 5 minutes, and the counselor never took a lunch or break, they could possibly do 100 calls in a day. There is anywhere from 2500-4000 individuals wanting to know their status. You do the math.

I have too much respect for these counselors. It's really good that I'm not one of them. If I got calls every day asking for status at this point in the game, I'd simply hang up on you. Fortunately, the counselors have more class than I do.

Leave them alone. Don't call them. You'll hear soon enough either online on your application; from your MOC; from your ALO; or in the mail. As important as you might think your future is, it's no more important than the other 3000+/- candidates. And the process is the way it is. Been this way a long time. This is a good example of being in the military. "Hurry up and wait". Use this time to get use to it. If you can't, then you're going to have one hell of time in the military.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the anxiousness. I understand the excitement. I truly do. But just relax and let the system work. It's not going to benefit any more or less to start making phone calls. You either have an appointment or you don't. Either way, a few more days isn't going to hurt you. Relax.
 
Last edited:
Agree, DS is NOT going to call the academy....It doesn't help your situation out and make the outcome any different. Stalking the mailbox is all you can do. All of our kids will know soon enough! Good Luck!
 
Has anyone called their USAFA counselor and asked what their status is?

I've tried and to no avail, but @Chriscorp is right, an answer is going to come either way. If it's what we want, we move on to the next phase. If not, we (a) prepare for 1 July :smile: or (b) take the next best deal and reach our goals of becoming AF Officers! :biggrin: It's getting to the point where I just want to study for my classes to keep me from going online or stalking my mailbox. Spend some time on youtube, go swimming/running/dancing/whatever you enjoy doing. A response will come.
 
I would try and contact the office of my MOCs before I called my adviser.
Alas, I'll just end up waiting to see what comes in the mail.
 
I'm gonna Robodial his counselor! Romad wants to KNOW!!!!! Hmmmm - :rolleyes: lets see here.... 15 million phone calls in 12 seconds.... Yep - she'll answer it! She'll LOVE ME!!!!


Actually, I agree with CC, bug your poor MOC's rep....


:shake:
 
FYI folks...

My MOC's "Director of Constituent Affairs" (think Chief of Staff type) is the person you'd contact in my district to ask this question.

She said for me to say: "We are not giving out any information until we receive it from the academies. Then we are calling the candidate to congratulate them!"

That's for those receiving an appointment. They don't call those not receiving an appointment. But over the phone, they are not going to tell anything.

I'd be willing to bet a lot of MOC's offices will be similar.

I know it is hard but...patience...you will find out, one way or the other.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
haha I know that's why I asked and that's why I'm not going to call. I know they are busy, haha I'm just getting anxious
 
I am absolutely floored reading the number of PARENTS who call their kids Academy counselours and or MOC's offices. Unbelieveable. My kid would have been mortified had I done that.
 
I have to admit that I am somewhat taken aback by the parents and candidates who are calling MOCs and Admissions and bothering them. There is a notification system in place for appointments and it has worked for years. Everyone really needs to just learn to be patient.

I wonder what is going to happen during BCT when there is no contact for weeks from the cadets. Are the parents going to call Gen. Gould and tell him that they need to talk to their kid because they "just can't wait"?

Stealth_81
 
haha I know that's why I asked and that's why I'm not going to call. I know they are busy, haha I'm just getting anxious

If you want to call go ahead. It is not going to make any difference either way. Do what ever is in your heart and mind.
 
As a mailbox stalker, air force wife and former senatorial aide I have to agree with Stealth!

I am very suprised that so mnay people are recommending calling councelors or MOC offices! My DS will NOT call his MOC nor will I. What if your MOC says you are not on the list... Maybe they hVe not started making appointments from the national pool or maybe your candidate was not charged to the MOC.. Getting you candidate disappointed for an appointment that still may come? The stalking may kill us both but it is all part of the process. Agree that this concerns me about how BCT will go for the parents as well as the candidate. Buckle up because a career in the military will include a lot of hurry up and wait moments- emphasis on WAIT!
 
I called the other day and my Counselor and Diversity rep was happy to hear from me and provided some good info as to what my status was. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
 
I have to admit that I am somewhat taken aback by the parents and candidates who are calling MOCs and Admissions and bothering them. There is a notification system in place for appointments and it has worked for years. Everyone really needs to just learn to be patient.

I wonder what is going to happen during BCT when there is no contact for weeks from the cadets. Are the parents going to call Gen. Gould and tell him that they need to talk to their kid because they "just can't wait"?

Stealth_81

As tempting as it may be, We won't be calling either the counselor or the MOC. I have faith in the system and ultimately it is not MY news to track down.
 
I called the other day and my Counselor and Diversity rep was happy to hear from me and provided some good info as to what my status was. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
They were cordial and polite. That doesn't mean they were "Happy" to hear from you. Don't confuse professionalism with enthusiasm.

I get calls from parents. I am polite. I've spent 45 minutes explaining the process. I filled them with lots of hope for little johnny or janie. I share their excitement. They feel really good when the conversation is over. That doesn't mean I was excited that they called. I actually think it's pretty crappy to have a parent want to talk to me. If little Johnny or Janie can't call me and ask any questions or concerns they have, but mommy or daddy can, then I wonder if little Johnny/Janie are ready or mature enough for the academy.

No, the squeaky wheel doesn't always get the grease.
 
As tempting as it may be, We won't be calling either the counselor or the MOC. I have faith in the system and ultimately it is not MY news to track down.

FWIW: When my son found out about his appointment, the MOC didn't know about it; the ALO didn't know about it; His ONLINE application simply changed to read: "APPOINTMENT OFFERED". 4 days later he received the BFE in the mail. We told his ALO that same night at the high school state championship football game. So, don't think that your MOC or ALO will automatically know your status. That isn't always true.
 
When my son was a seniior in HS, he was captain of the football team, wrestling team, lacrosse team. He was also VP of his school, in the NHS, and had other EC that kept him pretty busy. When exactly is a kid that gets home from school around 7pm each evening supposed to call his counselor?

Do what works for you.

During the last call I made, the counselor let me know that they had not received his latest ACT scores. I went into the ACT website and had them send a copy to USAFA. My son received his LOA within a week. If I had not made the call, we may have never known that they had not received his ACT scores, and he would be at USNA instead (not that there is anything wrong with that). I found the counselors to be really helpful and friendly.
 
I actually think it's pretty crappy to have a parent want to talk to me. If little Johnny or Janie can't call me and ask any questions or concerns they have, but mommy or daddy can, then I wonder if little Johnny/Janie are ready or mature enough for the academy.
Right on!:thumb:

Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced.
 
Right on!:thumb:

Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced.

Don't get me wrong. (I should "qualify"). I've been on the phone with little johnny or janie doing Q&A, checklists, etc... and Mom/Dad had a question that johnny/janie couldn't accurately convey and Mom/Dad got on the phone and asked. No problem. I like to help and provide information and assistance. But mom/dad didn't initiate the phone call, and it was a quick 2-3 minute question.

There's nothing wrong with parent's being involved in the process. They should be. And devildog; I am not dogging you; but the majority of cadets/appointees at the academy had the exact same sort of schedule that you say your son had. When my son had a concern like: "Did the academy receive X,Y,Z"; or something on the application didn't match; he would shoot them an email at night. Usually by the time he got home from school the next day, he had an email/reply waiting for him. A couple times when he had to call, he called during lunch or at 3pm when he got off of school and prior to football practice. Point is; your son's schedule is the "NORM" for most candidates/cadets in high school. Unless there is a lot of ambiguity about something specific, I don't know of too many scenarios where a parent needs to contact the counselor. If anyone needs to, it should be the applicant.

Let me also add: This is another reason I push so hard for applicants to finish their ENTIRE application by August. I've seen applicants do it. This way you don't have school and other issues competing for your time. It's still summer break. If you get your application 100% by August, then any questions you come across later, can be handled usually by an email or a quick phone call at lunch.
 
Don't get me wrong. (I should "qualify"). I've been on the phone with little johnny or janie doing Q&A, checklists, etc... and Mom/Dad had a question that johnny/janie couldn't accurately convey and Mom/Dad got on the phone and asked. No problem. I like to help and provide information and assistance. But mom/dad didn't initiate the phone call, and it was a quick 2-3 minute question.

There's nothing wrong with parent's being involved in the process. They should be. And devildog; I am not dogging you; but the majority of cadets/appointees at the academy had the exact same sort of schedule that you say your son had. When my son had a concern like: "Did the academy receive X,Y,Z"; or something on the application didn't match; he would shoot them an email at night. Usually by the time he got home from school the next day, he had an email/reply waiting for him. A couple times when he had to call, he called during lunch or at 3pm when he got off of school and prior to football practice. Point is; your son's schedule is the "NORM" for most candidates/cadets in high school. Unless there is a lot of ambiguity about something specific, I don't know of too many scenarios where a parent needs to contact the counselor. If anyone needs to, it should be the applicant.

Let me also add: This is another reason I push so hard for applicants to finish their ENTIRE application by August. I've seen applicants do it. This way you don't have school and other issues competing for your time. It's still summer break. If you get your application 100% by August, then any questions you come across later, can be handled usually by an email or a quick phone call at lunch.

I guess my son did not want it as bad as your son. If I could make it easier on him by helping out in some way, I would.
 
Back
Top