DS submitted his application with all information filled in including the personal essay. The application lists several teachers and school officials for recommendations. The application status shows “incomplete” at this time. Is this due to pending recommendations? Also, is it possible to withdraw the application at this point to make some minor changes and resubmit?
Incomplete status
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Has the candidate followed up with teachers and school officials for whom he provided email contacts to USNA, to confirm they received an email with links to complete evaluations and provide requested information? Sometimes email sent to school emails goes to the spam folder.
I don’t think it is possible to withdraw the application for this reason. Depending on what needs to be changed, I think he can contact someone to add something. Someone here will likely comment about what they experienced.
I don’t think it is possible to withdraw the application for this reason. Depending on what needs to be changed, I think he can contact someone to add something. Someone here will likely comment about what they experienced.
He did check with them. Unfortunately some received it and some didn’t (checked the spam). There’s no way to resend them at this point since the application was submitted, although it says incomplete.
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Has he discussed the possibility of re-sending with Admissions, especially for specifically required ones? He can call, email or come up in the daily live chat, usually midday Eastern time, via the chat widget on the Admissions pages 
(not the portal). He should have his candidate number handy.
(not the portal). He should have his candidate number handy.I’ll have DS try that route. My question still stands, however. Do you think pending recommendations is the reason why his application status says incomplete?Has he discussed the possibility of re-sending with Admissions, especially for specifically required ones? He can call, email or come up in the daily live chat, usually midday Eastern time, via the chat widget on the Admissions pages
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If his required evaluations (math and English) are not sent/received, then his application is not complete. It’s a required component. So my guess (without looking at his package, from USNA’s perspective) would be yess, this is the reason. Since it’s not actually compete without his required components.
He can contact his USNA admissions officer, and they can resend a link. Imo, if your recommender is open to it, I would suggest using their private, non-school email. School systems nowadays have firewalls that seem to sometimes be problematic to find work around, in order to even receive the link from USNA. It doesn’t have to be an official school email.
Good recommendations above. Would reach out directly to admissions to check the actual status given the portal's unresolved glitches. This was also advised by our BGO. Same as above that DS received confirmation that English was submitted but the portal shows it not being submitted, SAT scores sent to USNA from College Board and scores from two tests are listed on the portal but the check mark above for having submitted SAT scores still remains as unsubmitted -- just two lines away. At this point, the definitive source for correct information must be the admissions team and not the portal. Pity them as the inquiries are probably fast and heavy at this stage. Best wishes to all.
I would say that for the folks who have the applications completed the two main areas of focus on the portal are ACT/SAT scores and DoDMeRB. Both aren’t updating after USNA received everything
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Are you talking about OPTIONAL recommendations? Or the REQUIRED math/English *evaluations*? They are two different things. If the required evaluations are missing, his application is not complete.
Could be semantics. But your post says ‘recommendations’. As in LOR’s. Which are optional.
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Used to be, that a physical disc (or some sort of physical device) would be sent to USNA from College Board, as recent as my boys’ application cycles (so in 2019), when the test taker requests Collage Board to send them to xxx. So xxx receiver has to physically look for the scores in the batch sent from College Board. It’s not instantaneous.
Same with DODMERB. A whole separate process. And also not one required to complete before any applicant deadline. The application can be reviewed without a complete DODMERB. In fact, it’s a common condition of an LOA at this point in the cycle.
In my DS case the entire application is done. The admissions confirmed that there is nothing for my DS to do. However the status is still showing as incomplete.
Heatherg21
USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
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Prior to BGO training in July, in my mind's eye the Admission's team at USNA was like 160 people. Furiously working 24/7. Turns out, they are furiously working, there are just far fewer of them than I imagined. They want to mark your file complete, they want to help you, they care about their applicants and the process. They work incredibly hard. That, more than anything was my takeaway from the training.
SAT/ACT scores have to be individually 'retrieved / opened' and input manually by examiners.
It is very early in the application cycle. I know it is frustrating that an institution like USNA has IT issues, but it's real. They do. It is an ongoing thing. Could it be better? Yes. Can anyone applying change/control that? No.
This application is the beginning of learning to deal with what is within your control and what is not. It is also an opportunity to problem solve what you can, communicate politely and appropriately, and sit back and wait for the end game. If an applicant is successful, the application and all of its headaches will be the easiest thing they will have done/navigated for the next 10 years of their lives.
Every email/phone call to admissions takes time away from the team processing applications. I would only reach out if you truly cannot resolve something. Hitting enter on your end doesn't translate to 'complete' on the other end. And things like teacher recommendations are things that may take time to update in the portal, just like test scores and DODMERB status.
SAT/ACT scores have to be individually 'retrieved / opened' and input manually by examiners.
It is very early in the application cycle. I know it is frustrating that an institution like USNA has IT issues, but it's real. They do. It is an ongoing thing. Could it be better? Yes. Can anyone applying change/control that? No.
This application is the beginning of learning to deal with what is within your control and what is not. It is also an opportunity to problem solve what you can, communicate politely and appropriately, and sit back and wait for the end game. If an applicant is successful, the application and all of its headaches will be the easiest thing they will have done/navigated for the next 10 years of their lives.
Every email/phone call to admissions takes time away from the team processing applications. I would only reach out if you truly cannot resolve something. Hitting enter on your end doesn't translate to 'complete' on the other end. And things like teacher recommendations are things that may take time to update in the portal, just like test scores and DODMERB status.
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Now he waits. Potentially until Mid May. When my youngest was pulled from the waitlist. Doesn’t matter when everything is completed. Class building is different than receipt of application.
Tend to alternate plans.
IronmanDaremo
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And for those college re-applicants, they more than likely won't even look at your application until after Fall semester grades are in. It is a long game, not a short one.
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An unofficial, yet widely accepted, motto of the U.S. military: “Hurry up and wait.” And we’re all familiar with the meaning of SNAFU, another unofficial motto: “Situation Normal, All F***ed Up.”
It doesn’t end with the application process It’s not always about IT. When DD, now a 2LT, finished TBS and moved from Quantico to her MOS school, the check-in process should’ve been a simple step. Instead, it turned into a multi-day ordeal involving multiple personnel — it didn’t follow the book much. It forced her to change weekend plans, lest she be deemed AWOL. It worked out in the end, but not without frustration.
I was impressed by how DD rolled with it. She didn’t cast blame or wring her hands in despair. Simply said, “Oh, well.” But I believe she filed it away in her mental book of “things to improve at some point.”
Heatherg21
USNA '24 Mom BGO Bacon Lover Dog Lover
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Per my BGO training notes, they will be evaluated post 12/31. And chemistry WITH lab is important, and STEM courses with A's and B's are more important than clubs, job, sports for post high school applicants.
There is “big elephant” in the room that needed to be addressed. That is the admission committee would start meeting in earlier September to review the applications. If my DS application is incomplete when everything else is done then the committee won’t be looking at it.
It may seem like a big elephant to your DS and you, but I think many of us who have watched the admissions cycle for a while tend to look at it as a long game - indeed, some MOCs won't even submit their slate(s) until the end of January and your DS's game/situation won't really be determined until his MOCs' slate(s) are submitted (unless he has service connected nominations). Bottom line from my perspective is that it is always nice to get an early appointment, but in most instances getting the application completed before the end of August isn't going to have much or any impact on when a candidate receives his/her appointment. In any event, congrats @mike1979 to your DS for getting his application completed early. It should be a good feeling for him as the process is pretty grueling and usually accompanied by some degree of delay and disruption. As others have suggested, be patient. It can be a miserable several months of waiting especially when your DS is watching his friends/classmates get into good universities months earlier than your DS is likely to hear any news, let alone the good news we all hope your DS gets!