Does receiving multiple nominations increase your chances at receiving an appointment?
- Thread starter Plebe123
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Grapefruit
USNA 28' Turndown 4/9/24. SA Hopeful CO' 29
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From what I’ve heard, having more than one nomination doesn’t exactly increase your chances. However, you will be competing in more application pools than just say for instance the pool of people who got MOC noms in your state. This is how I have interpreted it through my research. Getting 3 noms is good news since 3 sources have picked you out of all of the applicants. Congrats!
IronmanDaremo
What, me worry?
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Gives the Academy more flexibility within the selections for the class. If there are two good candidates on a slate that they really want, and one has multiple noms, they can look to see if they will/could use that person on a different slate.
By that logic, it "may" increase your chances.
By that logic, it "may" increase your chances.
A1Janitor
5-Year Member
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If you are the best on one slate, it doesn’t increase your chances.
If you are the tenth best on all three slates, it doesn’t increase your chances.
Nobody can answer this without knowing your competition, and the criteria USNA uses to evaluate and compare.
If you are the tenth best on all three slates, it doesn’t increase your chances.
Nobody can answer this without knowing your competition, and the criteria USNA uses to evaluate and compare.
Ihavenoidea
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Don't look at it as increasing your chances. Look at it as several paths for USNA to get you the appointment rather than just one. If they want you, then they have more than one path to get you the appointment. So having multiple nominations is good, but it doesn't mean you are higher than someone who just got one nomination.
usna1985
15-Year Member
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Congratulations on your 3 noms!
Some candidates only have the opportunity for one MOC nom per SA because MOCs in their state won't nominate someone who's already received a nom from another MOC. In some states, a candidate may have the opportunity get one nom to only one SA period (not one per SA).
In other states (especially those with few competitive candidates), there may not even be 10 qualified people in the state, let alone per SA or even per MOC. Thus, getting 3 noms isn't hard!
As others have said, it's about how you compare to other candidates on your slate. You're on 3 slates, which CAN help, but only if you're a strong candidate. FYI, if you don't get an appointment from the MOC's slate, you go into the National Pool. This is where being #6 on a super-competitive slate can help -- you still compare favorably to #2 on many slates.
In the end, it only takes 1 nom to be successful. I've seen many with 1 be successful and quite a few with multiple noms (even from competitive regions) be turned down. There's no way to read the tea leaves.
Some candidates only have the opportunity for one MOC nom per SA because MOCs in their state won't nominate someone who's already received a nom from another MOC. In some states, a candidate may have the opportunity get one nom to only one SA period (not one per SA).
In other states (especially those with few competitive candidates), there may not even be 10 qualified people in the state, let alone per SA or even per MOC. Thus, getting 3 noms isn't hard!
As others have said, it's about how you compare to other candidates on your slate. You're on 3 slates, which CAN help, but only if you're a strong candidate. FYI, if you don't get an appointment from the MOC's slate, you go into the National Pool. This is where being #6 on a super-competitive slate can help -- you still compare favorably to #2 on many slates.
In the end, it only takes 1 nom to be successful. I've seen many with 1 be successful and quite a few with multiple noms (even from competitive regions) be turned down. There's no way to read the tea leaves.
I would argue that the math technically supports a yes answer. If a generic candidate were on 2 slates but didnt win either, they are competing against 1 less possible person in the national pool. Even if that makes the odds 1 in 1000 instead of 1 in 1001, it is still increased.
But, like the others have all said... for a specific candidate, the variation in their actual competitiveness makes that essentially moot.
But, like the others have all said... for a specific candidate, the variation in their actual competitiveness makes that essentially moot.
Congrats on your nominations. If you are a strong candidate hopefully you can win one of those slates.