- Joined
- Aug 25, 2011
- Messages
- 2,594
Dear Zeke; You apply concurrently for the service academy and for the nominations. Your senators and congressman may have dates as early as 30 September (if you live in Northern Virginia, for example.) Like Fencing Mama said, "You might get called for an interview or you may not"-- there is definitely competition for nominations in larger areas or near military towns--or in the DC area/MD/VA and Southern California. For the Presidential nomination, you follow the instructions on the 'Nominations' page of your desired service academy/academies. You submit what is required--and even if you qualify for a presidential, it does not mean that you will be given the opportunity to use it by being selected. Every year there is a large pool of candidates/applicants who are academically, physical fitness-wise, and medically qualified and who have a nomination (of any sort of nomination)--and do not get selected. Actually, if you look at a breakdown of the numbers, it is about 50/50 (which is certainly better than not completing the application and not being qualified in one of the many areas.)
So, apply to the academy or school AND apply to all possible sorts of nomination at the same time. For example, let's say you want to be a squid and sail the Seven Seas (I have an aspiring squid at my house--I don't know how he swam out of my Go Army body--but our children are not ourselves, I cannot blame myself for these bizarre goat-loving lifestyle choices)...so you want to apply to the Naval Academy. YOUR APPLICATION TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY TRIGGERS 10 APPLICATIONS. TEN APPLICATIONS...are you ready? One application to the Naval Academy, one application to your congressman, two applications to your senators, one application to Navy ROTC (because they want to check that you really, really are motivated to be a Naval Officer) and then 5 colleges that have Naval ROTC. It is like a nightmare, really. Each of these applications requires different essays, a transcript, your SAT Scores, Letters of Recommndation from Teachers and/or coaches and Scout Masters, the NROTC and USNA applications require different physical fitness tests. Oh, and don't forget to complete the paperwork for the Presidential nomination.
Actually, you are a junior, right? Why don't you just apply to the summer seminar at USAFA or USNA or USMA or all three. Your Dad was a Coastie? Why not apply for AIM? They will teach you the steps in the service academy application process and about ROTC. It might simplify it for you.
So, apply to the academy or school AND apply to all possible sorts of nomination at the same time. For example, let's say you want to be a squid and sail the Seven Seas (I have an aspiring squid at my house--I don't know how he swam out of my Go Army body--but our children are not ourselves, I cannot blame myself for these bizarre goat-loving lifestyle choices)...so you want to apply to the Naval Academy. YOUR APPLICATION TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY TRIGGERS 10 APPLICATIONS. TEN APPLICATIONS...are you ready? One application to the Naval Academy, one application to your congressman, two applications to your senators, one application to Navy ROTC (because they want to check that you really, really are motivated to be a Naval Officer) and then 5 colleges that have Naval ROTC. It is like a nightmare, really. Each of these applications requires different essays, a transcript, your SAT Scores, Letters of Recommndation from Teachers and/or coaches and Scout Masters, the NROTC and USNA applications require different physical fitness tests. Oh, and don't forget to complete the paperwork for the Presidential nomination.
Actually, you are a junior, right? Why don't you just apply to the summer seminar at USAFA or USNA or USMA or all three. Your Dad was a Coastie? Why not apply for AIM? They will teach you the steps in the service academy application process and about ROTC. It might simplify it for you.
