Delay in SOE

WD1

WD1

USMA 2024
Joined
Feb 9, 2019
Messages
290
Hi all,

Just looking for some advice on my current situation.

My WP and USNA applications are completely done - with the exception of my Math SOE.

I talked with my math teacher about the SOE three weeks ago and sent the emails to him then as well. I talked with him again today because they remained incomplete. He informed me that he expects to have them completed in December - unfortunate news for me.

My question is how badly might this impact me? The nominations in my state do not go out until late December to early January. I am medically qualified, and should be academically qualified and physically qualified. I also received an LOE two weeks ago.

I understand that this is not ideal, but at this point I do not believe it is the worst possible scenario.

Any and all tips/advice/comments would be appreciated. Thank You.
 
My son also had one teacher/recommender holding him up as well. I gave him the major threat of, "do you need me to get involved?" and he quickly decided that he should take a more aggressive course with that person. I believe once he had that as an option that he approached the teacher/recommender once again and (with all due respect) explained to them that they were the one thing holding up his whole application as well as all of the many months of work and coordination. A lot of these folks don't understand the more intense nature of these applications and just need to be educated and somewhat pushed. I know it's not easy for a 17/18 year old young adult to approach a teacher in this way, but ultimately it's what separating you from your goal, so you gotta do it. If my son can do it (he's the consummate get-along kind of kid), you can too...

Or...
...do you need me to get involved?????
 
We took a slightly different approach. Our DS sent an email to teachers and asked for their support in this convoluted process, explaining the format and that his hands were tied in terms of who he could ask. He also let them know they might be asked to do it more than once, he applied to 4 SA's and NROTC as well as his 1st choice college.
He shared with them how important it was to him and thanked them in advance. With one exception, they all did all of the evals quickly. The hold out was 2 months behind the others and was the only thing holding up his USAFA application. He spoke with her about it, she expressed guilt and said she would get it done over the 2 week fall break. Didn't happen, he spoke to her again and sent a thank you email to all teachers who had finished and included her in the email (didn't call her out in the email). It was done the next day.
Slightly passive aggressive but he has her 2 classes a day and hounding her would not have ended well.
For those who apply to multiple SA's, ROTC and civilian colleges, it is a lot of work for the teachers.
Good luck to you!
 
Thank you for the input.

I think the route I am going to take on this is to inform him that the SOE is not a formal letter, rather it is just “grading” me as a student. This might have been where he was confused (even though I specifically told him originally that the SOE was just grading me as a student).

Hopefully this might expedite the process without running the risk of being too pushy or burning and bridges.
 
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This might be too late in your particular situation, but for those lurkers applying in coming years I strongly suggest you get your guidance counselor involved early in the process. Some counselors are well versed in the academy application process and some are not. Most teachers are not. Schedule a meeting with your counselor to discuss. They can be your strongest advocate when situations like this arise.
 
I second the notion of getting your college/guidance counselor involved from the start. They are extremely helpful, and will nicely encourage the teachers to complete the evaluations in a timely manner. My DS had one teacher that dragged her feet, similar to Heatherg21. DS remained persistent, yet professional with her. We didn't need to involve his counselor, but that was the next step in lighting a fire under her!

Your counselor is an invaluable resource as a senior...use them for everything!
 
I have talked with my counselor since the beginning of the process and she has been more than helpful with LORs for Congressman/Senators, WP/USNA forms, AROTC/NROTC MO forms and civilian college things.

I hope that I can resolve this with my teacher. I’m actually unsure of how much sway my counselor would hold in this situation.
 
Just spoke to my son about this. He said that he recommends a face-to-face (read: not an email) with the teacher. He said he had to approach him/her during the day and set up a meeting when the school day was over. It was a teacher from Junior year, so he didn't see them at all during the day. At the meeting, he said he spent 5-10 minutes explaining why it was so important to have this done by "x" date, and his progress on the apps, etc.

I actually had given him that advice of telling the teacher "it absolutely has to be done by Thursday..., etc" The teacher needed to have a deadline (that we made up), so there was something they would be held accountable for. Basically said you're holding this up and if it's not done by this date, I'm disqualified.

It worked is what I can tell you. BTW: this was the only issue he had in all of this process. His counselor and all other teachers/recommenders were very on top of things.
 
I second what @TexasAggie204 said, speaking to the teacher in person really works. We also gave them a deadline. Our son set up appointments during his professors’ office hours, and went to the meetings with a resume and copies of high school/college transcripts in hand. For two of those teachers, he actually walked them through the whole online form in person. By the end of the meetings, those forms were done.
 
Also, as stated, emphasizing that it’s an EVALUATION vs letter of recommendation could be key. It almost reads that the teacher may be thinking that they want a full semester in order to “recommend” you or not. Or want the winter break to craft a letter. Pointing out that it’s an online EVALUATION (ie: check boxes on a link) that should only take a couple minute may help.

And also kindly pointing out its the last piece of this very unique, competitive and time sensitive process that you have left...
 
justdoit19 said:
Also, as stated, emphasizing that it’s an EVALUATION vs letter of recommendation could be key. It almost reads that the teacher may be thinking that they want a full semester in order to “recommend” you or not. Or want the winter break to craft a letter. Pointing out that it’s an online EVALUATION (ie: check boxes on a link) that should only take a couple minute may help.

And also kindly pointing out its the last piece of this very unique, competitive and time sensitive process that you have left...
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I am actually heading to his room right now... haha.

I will definitely emphasize that it is an evaluation, not a formal letter.

Hopefully all goes well.
 
justdoit19 said:
Let us know!
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I just spoke with my teacher (he was not at school yesterday) and clarified that the evaluations were just that, evaluations, and that no official letter was needed.

He also told me that he expects to have it done before December.

Thank you all for the advice. I also heard today from 1/3 nominating sources I was selected for an interview. Progress!
 
The deadline for admissions is the deadline. You want to finish early but you have until the January. Your math teacher is doing you a favor. Be humble and thankful. Plenty of time.
 
DrMom said:
The deadline for admissions is the deadline. You want to finish early but you have until the January. Your math teacher is doing you a favor. Be humble and thankful. Plenty of time.
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I have to strongly disagree with your advice here. My son's USMA Regional Commander told him face to face back in late summer to get his application in ASAP. If your numbers are good (SAT's, Junior Year Grades, CFA, ACT's), then get your application submitted. He said very clearly to get it in and update scores/grades as they are available. Why would you wait until close to the deadline when you might miss the first big wave of appointments that go out prior to that date???

Also, I don't look at it like our teacher's are doing our students any favors by completing an SOE. Actually, quite the opposite - it's part of their JOB. The HS teachers here are paid (very well) to not only teach, but perform these types of functions for the students. It's why we live where we live and pay these high school taxes. Obviously, be humble and thankful; but don't be afraid to ask a teacher to do their JOB!
 
@TexasAggie204 What we don't want is kids feeling desperate and annoying their teachers so early in the process. IThe teacher can say, "No" when requested to provide a nomination or give a less than stellar nomination, not helpful to the applicant. Normally, the first big wave of appointments is not until mid-January. The applicants have plenty of time between now and then.
 
Update on this:

I took my final in his class today (we’re on trimesters) and less than two hours letter I had a green check next to my math SOE.

Thank you all for your help.
 
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