How depressing!

[smile]

According to Senator Boxer's website, there are around 1000 applicants every year. So I know for me, a senator nomination will be a bit of a long shot. But I'm still applying. And unfortunately I'm not in one of those districts with little military interest. My district gets quite a few applications every year as well.

Yep, I also applied for senator nominations in CA with Senators Boxer and Feinstein- but hey, everything works out for the best!

 

[d.mcknight]

Yep, I also applied for senator nominations in CA with Senators Boxer and Feinstein- but hey, everything works out for the best!

Ha I sure hope so! Which district are you from?

 

[usna1985]

There are various views on whether, in competitive states, MOCs should parcel out noms so that no candidate gets more than one.

OTOneH, if they get together and nominate as many different candidates as possible, that offers the largest number a chance for appointments.

OTOH, some would argue that each MOC should be able to nominate the 10 (or more if he/she has more than one slot at a given SA for the year) candidates he/she considers to be the best. The fact that someone else chose first, doesn't change that view and a candidate who has multiple noms MAY have a better chance at an appt.

You can have your view on the above but MOCs can do what they want. There are rumors and there are facts. I had an MOC nomination coordinator tell me that the MOC gave noms to all LOA candidates until I pointed to 2 in his district that didn't receive noms. That same person told me that no one in the state received more than one nom until I mentioned a candidate who had 2. So, not sure what to say. Maybe they try . . . but don't always succeed.

Regardless, the above is out of the candidate's control. All you can do is put your best foot forward.

 

[HiMyNameisNick]

This can be extremely dangerous. Only one appointment is guaranteed from the Senator's slate of 10. All others go into the national pool. If they are competitive in this pool, great. If not, no appointment. Period. Done. End of trip. What if one of these candidates had been the principal candidate on his local Representative's slate? He would have received an appointment. If is very common for the two Senators to coordinate lists. Nothing wrong with this. However, when local Representatives start leaving candidates off their list because they are on an unranked Senator's slate, especially without an LOA, very bad things can happen. If this is happening to someone, they should probably inform the CGO.

Conversely, if a Senator chooses to omit someone from his list who has a nomination from his local Representative, it is not good but less really bad things can happen. Should this happen across the entire state, those on the Senator's slate would be of an overall lesser quality than any of the 10 on each of the Representative's slates and the selection would probably not be the best candidate available.

how do we know if this happens to us??

 

[Mongo]

how do we know if this happens to us??

Regardless, the above is out of the candidate's control. All you can do is put your best foot forward.

Senators can do pretty much what they want without overly negatively effecting the overall outcome of a state's overall appointment list. However, the instant that a local Representative commences doing anything other than selecting the absolute best, in his opinion, ten candidates for each nominatin for which he is entitled, very bad things can possibly happen. If I felt that someone was in that situation, I would recommend that they contact their Regional representative in the CGO as soon as they become aware of it. If they feel it is important, perhaps they can intervene.

The only two exceptions to the above would be an individual with a LOA which was awarded strictly on academic merit, not athletics, and not diversity. That individual could be number ten on a Senators list, still receive an appointment, and not need his local Representative's nomination. Secondly, an individual who is absolutely certain that the Senator presented a Principal slate and that they were definitely the principal candidate. Anything else leaves a lot to fate.

 

[areed]

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone! We are in CO and there are a ton of great kids here!

My son also had his first interview and was told that Senator Udall, from CO, had more than 350 applications. They were interviewing 60 kids that day...

Guess it's a super competitive time to be applying for a nomination

 

[USAFA_Falcon_15]

When I went in to my interviews I was hearing that Colorado was having its best turn out ever! Worst feeling ever! I got three interviews and felt like I did well! A week after my Polis interview I got my LOA to USAFA! I've been dying to find out if LOA recipients receive priority! But hey... You just have to trudge on and wait by the mailbox! Anyone in CO let me know when you receive your NOM!

Best of luck to everyone!