It’s my understanding that appointments this year are lagging by 20% YTD. Things will speed up soon. Our BGO said the latest offer that she’s seen is the day before I-day! All I can say is be patient. That’s one thing you must learn when you’re part of this environment.

@MAC_Daddy Are you talking about USAFA or USNA? I saw "BGO" in your post and wanted to clarify.
 
Our state is pretty small and we have surmised the following (based on first & secondhand intel) within the past week for our 4 MOCs for the 3 DoD SAs (USAFA, USMA, USNA):
1) the first round of appointments have been issued for the MOC slates for our state
2) quite a few candidates have been given multiple appointments for SAs and have not turned any down yet and
3) some haven't been given an appointment for their #1, so they are holding on to their #2 unless they get their #1 and until May 1.
Unfortunately, they can't get together and trade them like trading cards! (tongue in cheek!!)

We haven't heard anything from USAFA nor USMA. Both nominations for my son came in at the 11th hour, on January 30. I can't help but wonder if that might be slowing things for him. We haven't heard any anecedotal evidence that anyone from his senators' slates have heard one way or the other. The waiting just keeps going....
 
If you say that you're an 'extremely' competitive applicant, then you should've gotten an LOA.

Not true at all. There are many “extremely competitive” candidates who do not receive an LOA. Precious few LOAs are ever granted, and they’re granted for different reasons. Getting an LOA does indicate that one is extremely competitive. But the logic doesn’t go the other way, i.e. not getting an LOA does not mean one is not extremely competitive.
 
If you say that you're an 'extremely' competitive applicant, then you should've gotten an LOA.

This is misleading. Readers should not surmise that an LOA holder is more competitive that another applicant. Admissions issues them for various reasons and circumstances. Do not worry if you do not hold one. Most will not. An LOA does not determine or indicate your competitiveness. An LOA is not the ultimate goal, an appointment is. And when you take your oath, it will not matter at all if you had an LOA. And furthermore, an LOA doesn’t show what kind of plebe/cadet you will be. Your work ethic, academic and physical performance, peer rankings, officer evaluations, etc will determine you competitiveness among you classmates once you are at your SA. LOA’s are nice to have but they do not determine your overall competitiveness. In fact, DS had a roommate that looked ‘very competitive’ on paper (as do most of the fine people attending SA’s), but he wasn’t a team player, and not well liked by his squad. Something that cannot be measured by an LOA.

EVERY year ‘EXTREMLY competitive’ applicants have to be turned away....
 
Then OP is not an 'extremely' competitive applicant. period.

So much for words.
I’ve seen your posts about your USNA appointment and such. Congratulations. But please stop putting down other candidates. People come here for support and positive interaction and conversations between candidates, parents, cadets, mids, BGOs and whatever else. To have you say that OP is not an extremely competitive applicant when you have not even seen his file is not only misinformed, but also extremely rude.
 
You will most likely known one way or another by April 15th. In my family, my daughter (USAFA 2020) was notified of her Appt on April 8th. My son was an applicant to both USAFA and USNA last year. He received USNA TWE on March 22. He received USAFA TWE on April 12th. He was a very competitive applicant. His plan B was to accept a 4 yr AFROTC scholarship and reapply. This year he received his AFA Appt on March 7th and his USNA Appt on March 25. My educated guess is you will know by April 15.
Huskypilot, I love hearing about kids who reapplied and got in a year later. It's a great metaphor for life. Thank you for telling us about that.
 
I think people believe that only SAT/ACT scores and GPA are the key factors for what defines a "extremely or highly" competitive applicant. If you really invest time researching this forum you will see that so much more is involved. IMHO, I believe demographics play a much bigger role than many people realize. In the end, an applicant can only put together the best application he/she can possibly do and that's what ultimately matters most.
 
I'll share one other often spoken about issue that sometimes occurs with college ROTC re-applicants. Don't be surprised when that kid who was devastated after receiving the dreaded TWE and who works his/her butt off to reapply and finally gets that coveted appointment tells you that they are now considering just staying in ROTC. My son struggled and in fact his immediate decision was to turn down both academy appointments and say in AFROTC. Now he has determined that he will not return to ROTC and will be accepting one of the academy appointments. Has never been to USNA so we are planning a trip in a few days so he can see the facilities there. Has been to USAFA many times visiting sister (2020). His goal has remained the same for years, to be a military pilot. His decision process now is to consider careers he would be interested in if the worst case happened and he wasn't able to fly. Starting to feel that the AF has the fewest non flying opportunities that he specifically would be interested in. Says he will decide by April 15th.
 
I agree there are a bunch of EXTREMELY competitive candidates that did not receive an LOA and at this time are still waiting. DS was flown to USAFA for the Falcon Visitation Experience where he was "wined and dined"; cadets thought they were recruited athletes based on the activities that the 25 FVE kids did (flight simulator, hike up the mountain, football game, etc). He was sat at a table with admissions and 3 other candidates and told they were EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE and that is why they were brought out for a 5 day visit. Yet here we are. Waiting. Assuming he will not receive an appointment and moving full throttle and getting excited about plan B. PLEASE NOTE - DS is not 3Q as he has a medical DQ but via perusing this forum I've seen many candidates receive waivers for his DQ.

Regarding SAT and GPA - DS is 1500 SAT and 3.9 salutatorian. BGO told him he could go to any ivy league university in the country and it was an honor he was choosing to apply to USNA. Yet here we are, no appointment to USNA and a declination from Rice.

At this point its all in God's hands. DS will land where he is supposed to. He's done what it takes to be competitive. He has no control over the DQ or whatever happens regarding an appointment for this year. He will go be super successful at plan B and reapply. The most reassuring posts I'm reading on this forum lately are regarding all the re-applicants who receive appointments.
 
My son focused on three areas this year to improve his application. 1st, strive to make the best grades possible in all of his freshman university mechanical engineering curriculum classes, 2nd, be the best cadet possible in his AFROTC detachment (academically, physically and participation), 3rd, improve his SAT score. Hope this info helps.
 
Then OP is not an 'extremely' competitive applicant. period.

So much for words.
I’ve seen your posts about your USNA appointment and such. Congratulations. But please stop putting down other candidates. People come here for support and positive interaction and conversations between candidates, parents, cadets, mids, BGOs and whatever else. To have you say that OP is not an extremely competitive applicant when you have not even seen his file is not only misinformed, but also extremely rude.

I'm just saying the truth. Don't give an applicant false hopes. I'm trying to tell OP that life is cruel and hard. You will be rejected from time to time, but does that mean you'll give up something that you truly love? Of course not. Never said I was bringing down people.
 
I think people believe that only SAT/ACT scores and GPA are the key factors for what defines a "extremely or highly" competitive applicant. If you really invest time researching this forum you will see that so much more is involved. IMHO, I believe demographics play a much bigger role than many people realize. In the end, an applicant can only put together the best application he/she can possibly do and that's what ultimately matters most.

When they say 'extremely' competitive applicants, I think about having an almost perfect standardized test score (1550+ SAT, 35+ ACT), perfect CFA score, stellar leaderships (NHS President, Student Body President, Class President, Eagle Scout etc.), plays multiple varsity sports and lettered athlete who gets all-state awards etc.

You're basically a perfect match for any college that you apply to.
 
An “extremely competitive” candidate could be viewed as someone who received any or all of the following: 3 SA offers of appointment and or LOE, LOA, early LOA ( kid in DS class at NASS received one at NASS), offer of appointment was made extremely early in the cycle, or some other perceived “extremely competitive” benchmark. It still remains that they are a candidate same as anyone else accepting their offer of appointment.
At the end of the admissions cycle, that “EC” candidate will be joining the rest of their class on RDay. From that point forward, all are the same, and it’s anyone’s guess how all of the candidates will turn out or even finish BEAST let alone graduate, and NO ONE cares how you got there!
Oh, and those who received the TWE back a cycle or two and now have joined your class, they may end up being on top of the OML and top of the class by graduation!
My advice to ALL of the candidates receiving and accepting offers of appointments to an SA: enjoy, celebrate, continue to study and train, spend time with family, stay out of trouble, stay healthy, and stay humble....
 
I'm just saying the truth. Don't give an applicant false hopes. I'm trying to tell OP that life is cruel and hard. You will be rejected from time to time, but does that mean you'll give up something that you truly love? Of course not. Never said I was bringing down people.

The problem is that it is not the truth (at least IMO)......... Not all extremely competitive candidates receive LOAs....... Agree with your comment regarding life is cruel and hard. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
 
My 2021 son did indeed have the perfect file according to your rubric minus the perfect CFA score. His CFA was excellent but not perfect. No LOA in sight. Just because he didn't receive a LOA didn't mean he wasn't extremely competitive. It means he didn't receive a LOA.
 
I'm just saying the truth. Don't give an applicant false hopes. I'm trying to tell OP that life is cruel and hard. You will be rejected from time to time, but does that mean you'll give up something that you truly love? Of course not. Never said I was bringing down people.

The problem is that it is not the truth (at least IMO)......... Not all extremely competitive candidates receive LOAs....... Agree with your comment regarding life is cruel and hard. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

I just don't think it's fine by 'only' being positive on the forums. The forums is for helping and falsifying someone's application and not being truthful to them can later hurt them in the process. I'm not trying to bring down anyone on this forum. I'm just saying that he's not that 'guy' you know. He's not the guy who will get 3,4,5 academies before January in the game. And I agree that not all extremely competitive applicants get an LOA or LOE.

Is it true that you can only get those if you apply really early?
 
I'm just saying the truth. Don't give an applicant false hopes. I'm trying to tell OP that life is cruel and hard. You will be rejected from time to time, but does that mean you'll give up something that you truly love? Of course not. Never said I was bringing down people.

But you are a HS student, who applied to academies, who has not seen OP’s file. Nor attended a academy. Who has been through ONE application cycle.

Versus his seasoned BGO, who TOLD the OP that he is ‘extremely competitive.’ Who IS in the know. Who HAS seen his file. Who KNOWS what it takes to be competitive.

It’s not for you to judge or opine on a persons competitiveness. And you said that if OP was indeed ‘extremely competitive’, they would hold an LOA. You are simply wrong. And it’s arrogant to infer that someone is better (more competitive) than someone else BC they did hold an LOA. Or multiple offers. Or whatever motivates you to speak on this matter.

This isnt the place to call someone out to ‘face the truth’. And that isn’t even something that you have done BC you are simply WRONG concerning LOA’s.

Believe your BGO.
 
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