Getting Complicated

H

hmx512

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
39
So as the title indicates the admissions process is becoming extremely complicated for me and I don't know what to do next or, more importantly, what not to do. I know this is nothing unusual for the academies, but I'd like a little advice and factual information. Here is basically where I am right now.

1. My candidate files are complete at USMA and USAFA.
2. I have received congressional nominations to each school.
3. I passed the CFA with above average scores and maxed out 3 events.
4. I am medically disqualified due to "adverse reaction to insect [yellowjacket] stings. I've been getting treatment for it and am otherwise completely qualified.
5. Have heard no news of a waiver.
6. Would like to make it onto the track team one way or another. My times match or beat many of those on USMA's website for my events.

This is all as of about 3 weeks ago, and I have received no further information regarding my status or instructions whatsoever. No acknowlegement of my nominations either except on the portal.

I'm wondering what I can/ should do next to help increase my chances and resolve issues and how I should go about contacting coaches and what effect this may have on my status as a candidate with a nomination.

Please respond with any useful information or examples.
Thank you in advance. :smile:
 
I can not comment on the track team part, but for your medical status, if you have not gotten in touch with Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil then you should do so as soon as possible. He is more than willing to answer medical status questions and help out where he can!:thumb:
 
I actually did speak to him. This was back in September/October after the congressional "Academy Day" when I met him. We exchanged a few emails and he told me to send him some papers and I did what he said and haven't really heard anything since...
Thank you though. Maybe I'll contact him again soon.
 
First, contact Larry again.
Second, there are recruiting questionnaires on goarmysports.com. Click on appropriate sport and follow the link; if your times are what they are after, you will likely receive follow up info.
 
Does anyone have an idea why I haven't received any response from the academy since my nomination (received just before Thanksgiving) or even before that, since I completed my portal (early november)?

I know some people (including a good friend of mine) have received little postcards stating they are official candidates after receiving nominations. Should I expect something similar?

As I said, my file was complete before I received my nomination.
 
Thank you mom3boys.
A question for you or anyone else- should I fill this out now or wait 2 weeks until my Indoor meet? All of my best times are from last year and I'll be improving on them shortly :thumb:
 
hmx512 said:
Does anyone have an idea why I haven't received any response from the academy since my nomination (received just before Thanksgiving) or even before that, since I completed my portal (early november)?

I know some people (including a good friend of mine) have received little postcards stating they are official candidates after receiving nominations. Should I expect something similar?

As I said, my file was complete before I received my nomination.
Click to expand...

I do not remember my cadet having much in the way of contact with Admissions once he started his interviews or received his nomination. He updated his ACT scores but relied on his candidate portal for confirmation that things were moving along. He did not receive any post cards or other kinds of written communication from West Point. The next thing he knew, he received his appointment in the mail.
 
DQ?

Do you have to fix the DQ first or get a waiver before you can proceed further? It seems like the DoDMERB issues and waivers are extremely frustrating.
 
hmx512 said:
Does anyone have an idea why I haven't received any response from the academy since my nomination (received just before Thanksgiving) or even before that, since I completed my portal (early november)?

I know some people (including a good friend of mine) have received little postcards stating they are official candidates after receiving nominations. Should I expect something similar?

As I said, my file was complete before I received my nomination.
Click to expand...


Don't expect anything saying you were nominated. I didn't find out until it showed up on my portal (and I later received a call from my Senator/Representative).


As far as your situation, it sounds like you have a good file and could potentially receive an appointment. It sounds like DoDMERB is holding things up.

For USMA, if they think you're qualified the waiver process is automatic.

Follow the advice of others, contact Larry Mullen. Also, I would recommend contacting your regional commander. Between the two (Mr. Mullen and my regional commander) I was always informed of everything I needed to do to get the app done (and by done I mean get an appointment).
 
I think you should contact the coach ASAP. Coaches have a lot of input, but most candidates contact the coach much earlier. Fill out the form, and update him on your times as they improve throughout your season.
 
Your file is complete. That means that it is ready to be qualified by your RC. He will review your file and pass it on to an Admissions Committee member to review it and also to another RC for review. Once it has passed all these 3 checks, then they wait for a nom to come in and medical qualification.
Your file MAY not have been through these 3 qualifying checks yet or it may be in the midst of one. This time of year it can take about a week to go through all 3 checks. The RCs are extremely busy right now. Think of the volume of files that they have to review. Not only are they qualifying for their own Region, but they are also one of the checks for other RCs. We are talking 100s of files. It takes awhile. I have a candidate who had a completed file and nom (Presidential) in October and his file has not been reviewed yet. He is in the queue for review in a couple of weeks. Your friends who received a post card may have had their files go through the qualifying process before their noms came.

Once your file has been through this review process and qualified, you could receive a letter telling you that you are qualified for admission. I say 'could' because it seems that some RCs don't send this letter. All areas of your file can be complete and qualified, but until you have a medical waiver, your file can not go before the Admissions committee.

You are waiting for a medical waiver. Did you hear from your RC that he requested a waiver for you? If so, then it's the waiting game. If you have not received such a letter, then your RC may not have made that determination yet. Your file has to be competitive AND complete for your RC to request a waiver.

In a nutshell - you may not have heard anything b/c your file may not have been reviewed yet. You won't get an appointment unless you receive a medical waiver and you won't receive a medical waiver unless your RC has requested one and your RC won't request on unless your file is complete (which you say yours is) and competitive.
I concur with the posters re your nomination. The only acknowledgement you will receive from WP about your noms will be on your portal.

Your best bet:
- contact Mr. Mullen again and see if he has any update info to give you re your waiver
- contact the coach at West Point about your desire to be on the Track team. Being a recruited athlete can help your admission's prospects.
- contact your MALO/FFR. They know your file. I'm just making educated guesses. You say your file is complete but we know nothing about your file to form any opinions on your competitiveness. Grades? Test scores? Class rank? Athletics? Leadership roles?
- you are always welcome to contact your RC. He is truly the best source for your questions as they are specific to you.

Good luck! :thumb:
 
Your best bet:
- contact Mr. Mullen again and see if he has any update info to give you re your waiver
- contact the coach at West Point about your desire to be on the Track team. Being a recruited athlete can help your admission's prospects.
- contact your MALO/FFR. They know your file. I'm just making educated guesses. You say your file is complete but we know nothing about your file to form any opinions on your competitiveness. Grades? Test scores? Class rank? Athletics? Leadership roles?
- you are always welcome to contact your RC. He is truly the best source for your questions as they are specific to you.
Click to expand...

I agree with this!!
If you do not get any feedback from your MALO/FFR then please contact your RC in admissions directly.

You do not say if Admissions has decided to seek a waiver. If you are DQ'd then this is the next step. Normally you would receive a notice from DoDMERB informing you of this and you can ask Mr Mullen and the folks in admissions.

Once admissions has decided to seek a waiver the waiver is in the hands of the Academy - namely the Surgeon at West Point and the admissions office.
 
First of all, thank you all. I've followed directions as best I could so far. Second, I got a letter saying I was found academically and physically qualified :thumb:. It also said my medical status was "currently undetermined", whereas I was previously told I was DQed. Does this mean DODMERB is looking at a waiver and it's up to them now? Also, how far along the process does this put me (as far as review boards and things go)? (I do have my nomination as well.) Any input or clarification is welcome.
Thanks!
 
hmx512, way to go you! I'm very happy for you.
 
You are academically and physically qualified with a nom. The only piece of the puzzle left is medical qualification. You know you have a DQ. You now need a waiver. Your medical status is "currently undetermined" because your waiver decision has not been determined yet.

DoDMERB does not determine whether you will be considered for a waiver.
Your RC is the one who requests a medical waiver for you.
To be considered for a waiver your file has to be complete (which it is) and you have to be deemed competitive (since you received a qualified letter, I would think that you are competitive).

So what now?
In the past, candidates received a letter from the RC telling them that they had requested a medical waiver for you. Hopefully that letter is on its way to you. You can always shoot an email to your RC and ask him.

DoDMERB does not determine whether your waiver will be granted or denied. The waiver authorities (Docs) at West Point will make a recommendation to the Admissions Committee about whether the waiver should be denied or granted.

Your file will not go before the Admissions committee until word has come from the Docs on their recommendation for your waiver.

You are in the waiting game right now.
IMHO from experience, this is the hardest part of the application process - waiting for a waiver determination. It is out of your control. You can do nothing to hurry the process. The way I looked at it (my DS waited 6 months for a waiver decision - but it was very unusual circumstances) was as hard as the wait was, I did not want the Docs to hurry through DS's file. I wanted them to take all the time they needed to make a determination.
Of course that is what they do, but that is how I tried to deal with the long wait. Also, it helped to know that one day you WILL know. It won't be an unknown forever.

If April 1 rolls around and you have not heard of a waiver decision, contact your RC. The medical qualification deadline is April 15 and you need to be in contact with your RC.

Hope that helps. If not, please feel free to ask more questions!
 
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Hmx512

Contact your MALO/FFR right now and if you don't get a response confirming that your medical waiver has been requested, get your MALO/FFR to contact the RC or you contact the RC yourself.

I know that RCs work hard and long hours and they are almost perfect, but they do make mistakes. It comes down to attention to detail and when dealing with hundreds of applicants and trying to meet their speicif needs, RCs do make mistakes occassionally.

Good luck.
 
DODMERB seems to be your sole concern.

I do not understand your view that the process is complicated, especially for someone who seems to have a solid application.

I would understand if you are frustrated.

The medical waiver to allergic response to yellow jacket sting is no small matter and will not be automatic.

That doesnt mean I have any insight as to whether your waiver will be granted, just that it will be taken seriously and considered carefully.

Also, there is not much "to do" with DODMERB. They are a very fair and hard working dedicated group of professionals. If you have not had a clear idea as to your waiver status by now, I would be patient. The application process is now midstride and the "rolling" nature of the process does not mean you are losing your place in line or having your status diminshed.
 
I received a letter today from Admissions telling me a waiver had been requested of the USMA Surgeon on my behalf and that I would be notified of the decision within 90 days (My DQ is for bee sting allergies). It also said that I should respond immediately to any requests by DODMERB or USMA, which I have received none of. I previously sent in every single piece of information available to DODMERB. My question is- will DODMERB send all of my records to WP automatically? OR- should I contact my RC and offer him my file/ ask him if I can contact the USMA Surgeon directly?
 
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