End of the road for me?

23candidate

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Sep 6, 2018
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I’m an applicant to USMMA for the class of 2023. My application has been complete since late October. However, I have not secured a nomination yet. With nominations due January 31, that leaves me 11 days to find one. I’m seeking advice on how to proceed.

So back in September I applied to my district MOC and both my senators. I also applied to one MOC outside of my district since for USMMA you don’t have to reside in their district. My district MOC and one of my state senators granted me nominations to other Service Academies. The MOC I applied out of district to flat out denied me of an interview. So this left me without a nomination to USMMA.

Back in the middle of October I received an email from the assistant admissions director, Lieutenant Commander Keith L. Watson, stating that he has viewed my preliminary application and ACT scores and is encouraging me to complete my file ASAP as I’m a competitive candidate. If anyone is wondering, I have a 34E and 34M. Do many candidates receive this email or is it unheard of?

So with 11 days to find a nomination, could I call Commander Watson and ask for help from USMMA with regards to finding a nomination? Is it something I could count on? I was also thinking about calling the rest of the MOC’s in my state and send them my resume, transcript, test score, and recommendation letters and asking for a nomination. I figured if the district didn’t nominate any applicants to USMMA yet, they might consider me this late in the game. Are either of these actions inappropriate?
 
They are not inappropriate. Both actions demonstrate diligence and persistence.

However, you'd be smart to have a Plan B. You're in long shot territory at this point, with tomorrow being a holiday, the following day being a DoD family day, and Congress being out of session this coming week (although that could work in your favor).

Press forward, but stay realistic and work on Plans B and C
 
I might consider calling admissions and talking to them about your options. You might have some success calling other MOC offices and depending on the size of your state you might have quite a few calls to make. I also don't know if USMMA uses prep school for situations such as this or not.
 
Those actions are totally appropriate. I would suggest reaching out to every possible nomination authority that you have not already spoken too. I would also call your admissions contact, explain what you are doing, and ask for their advice on any other steps you could take. I might also call the nominating authorities you did apply to and inquire about available slots for USMMA. If you seriously want to attend, keep doing everything in your power to move forward.
 
My son has two noms for MMA that you can have.

That really isn't helpful, here.

I wasn’t trying to be funny. My son got two MMA that he didn’t apply for. On his slate he is the only candidate.

I am sure there are common stories of MMA noms that aren’t used all over the country. And I assume it works like USNA where they go to a pool.
 
I sent you a PM, A1 Janitor.
 
I sent you a PM, A1 Janitor.

And I responded with this:

My son applied to the Naval Academy. He got an LOA but we need a waiver.

My son refused to apply to USAFA and USMA. He was only intertested in the Naval Academy.

At the interview for MOC he requested a nom for MMA as an alternative because he wants to be a naval officer. They gave him the nom for Naval and MMA. He was the only one on the slate for MMA.

He started the process to go to MMA as a backup. But then found out MMA will not grant color blind waivers. His plan b is over.

Before he found that out, Senator Gillibrand gave him a nom for MMA and not Naval. To pass it around.

He has two. He can’t get in because he is color blind.

So we wait for choice A. The naval academy waiver.

I wish my son wasn’t color blind. His firstchoice is Naval and he has that LOA. His second choice was MMA. He would haveproudly served MMA.
 
I’m an applicant to USMMA for the class of 2023. My application has been complete since late October. However, I have not secured a nomination yet. With nominations due January 31, that leaves me 11 days to find one. I’m seeking advice on how to proceed.

So back in September I applied to my district MOC and both my senators. I also applied to one MOC outside of my district since for USMMA you don’t have to reside in their district. My district MOC and one of my state senators granted me nominations to other Service Academies. The MOC I applied out of district to flat out denied me of an interview. So this left me without a nomination to USMMA.

Back in the middle of October I received an email from the assistant admissions director, Lieutenant Commander Keith L. Watson, stating that he has viewed my preliminary application and ACT scores and is encouraging me to complete my file ASAP as I’m a competitive candidate. If anyone is wondering, I have a 34E and 34M. Do many candidates receive this email or is it unheard of?

So with 11 days to find a nomination, could I call Commander Watson and ask for help from USMMA with regards to finding a nomination? Is it something I could count on? I was also thinking about calling the rest of the MOC’s in my state and send them my resume, transcript, test score, and recommendation letters and asking for a nomination. I figured if the district didn’t nominate any applicants to USMMA yet, they might consider me this late in the game. Are either of these actions inappropriate?

I would encourage you to go back to the MOC and senators who gave you nominations for other academies and see if they will also grant you a nomination to USMMA. That is what my son did and one of the MOC gave him a nomination to KP in the 11th hour. It just depends on your state and the number of appointments your representatives/senators give. Since they are not constrained by the same rules for USMA/USNA/USAFA, they might be more ready to help you out. Go in with your facts in hand since some offices, especially new representatives/senators, are not fully versed in the rules for USMMA. Good luck!
 
My DD received an MOC nom to USNA and USMMA in late December. In early January the staff of the MOC called and asked if she would give up the USMMA nom so it could be given to a candidate that missed an interview and it was his goal / dream to attend USMMA.

As my DD really wanted USNA and USCGA (no nom required) she immediately relinquished the USMMA nom and it was transferred to the other candidate.

I share this only as information of what can actually happen.

You won’t get what you don’t ask for.

Go ahead and ask everyone. The worst they can say is no.

Good luck to you.
 
My DD received an MOC nom to USNA and USMMA in late December. In early January the staff of the MOC called and asked if she would give up the USMMA nom so it could be given to a candidate that missed an interview and it was his goal / dream to attend USMMA.

As my DD really wanted USNA and USCGA (no nom required) she immediately relinquished the USMMA nom and it was transferred to the other candidate.

I share this only as information of what can actually happen.

You won’t get what you don’t ask for.

Go ahead and ask everyone. The worst they can say is no.

Good luck to you.

If a MOC can transfer a nom to a resident in a different state ... I’m happy to ask if it can be achieved. Especially in my case where my son was the only candidate.
 
No, it has to be within the applicant's state of residence. It can be outside the home congressional district, but must be within the state.
 
23--You are only at the end of the road when the class is filled with accepted appointments. Yes, there is a deadline of Jan. 31, and you should consider that date as the deadline. However, if a MOC wants to give a late nomination, all they have to do is is pick up the phone. This is probably not the norm, but, it can and does occur.

With regards your MOC, call him/her and/or his/her chief of staff. There will be a chief of staff in Washington, and then a Chief of Staff locally. Make a verbal plea. Tell them that you have positive indications from USMMA. Send them the email that says you are in the running. Sometimes, the MOC does not want to just "give out" extra or late nominations unless there is a very good chance of getting an appointment.

USMMA can help, but not in the way you think. They cannot contact the MOC for you. However, if you give them a heads up that you are working on a MOC, and if the MOC calls, they can be ready to tell them your status.

All of this helps with a showing of desire to attend.

You may think of taking a day off school, and going "door to door" for all the MOC you can reasonably get to. Try until you find someone who understands or is willing to learn the USMMA process, and you may find a MOC who calls in a nomination for you. But, the first call you should make is to the MOC who provided you with the Noms in the first place.

best of luck.
 
Am I correct in understanding that there isn't a limit to the number of candidates a MOC can place on a slate for USMMA?
 
Many congressional offices do not nominate their maximum to USMMA... call around and explain your situation. You may get lucky. Calling admissions is a good idea as well. They know all of the ropes. Best of luck.
 
My son has two noms for MMA that you can have.

That really isn't helpful, here.
I don't think it works like that, as far as I know, you need to have a nom by a congressman or senator. The nom source will notify USMMA directly. I was in a similar situation as you [23candidate], I was refused an interview by a congressman from a neighboring district, so I applied to my senator and congressman. I have heard that if you are competitive and can't get a nomination that you can reach out to USMMA and they will get you a nomination from another source that didn't use all of theirs. For example, I live in PA, and if I wasn't able to get a nom, but a congressman in, say, Montana didn't use all 10 of their nominations, I could get one from him. I suggest reaching out to LTCDR Watson to see if this is an option for you. Best of luck, hopefully, we will end up being classmates next year!
 
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