Is my understanding correct?

DS has a USMA appointment. Visit did not go well. Has a mid brother at USNA now and status on portal still says "complete pending review". Pretty sure via our parents club that MOC vacancy went to someone else so assuming he is NWL. He reapplied after a TWE last year - went to college and took the suggested classes. USMA deadline for acceptance is April 15. DS would like to hold out until something comes from Navy. Any advice?
 
Though some will say it is not honorable to accept and then reject (if USNA appointment comes through) the USMA appointment, it is not against the rules.

My roommate was headed to USNA 30 plus years ago and received a late appointment to USAFA and chose USAFA - late as in mid June

My biggest concern is the 'visit did not go well'. If USMA is not a desirable destination for him - he will be miserable
 
Reach out to USNA, tell them the situation and the approaching deadline, and see when you may hear something.

Remember schools are competing for the applicants too. If they're going to offer something, knowing you're coming up on a hard deadline should be motivation enough to get an answer, especially if USNA would be his higher pick.
 
Certainly can't anything to the sage advice provided by these two gentleman. I am more than curious though about the quip "visit did not go well".
Doesn't bode well, but if you don't mind sharing...what exactly didn't go well?
 
Sorry to hear his visit to USMA didn't go well. If he has until April 15th to accept or decline to USMA, then take every day that is available if he needs to. If he is maybe on the NWL and doesn't know from USNA by April 15th call USMA and ask for an extension. Also, he can accept at West Point and decline later. Everyone has their opinions about. I think between now and then your DS needs to really think what is best for him. Having a Mid Sib can give a good sounding board.
 
Certainly can't anything to the sage advice provided by these two gentleman. I am more than curious though about the quip "visit did not go well".
Doesn't bode well, but if you don't mind sharing...what exactly didn't go well?
I think after being at Annapolis - green lawns, white shiny buildings, beautiful flowers, ocean and blue sky...walking out the gates to DTA and knowing you have somewhere to go and something to do to get away, even if it's for a few hours...seeing WP was a shock. He understands life at USNA, knows it isn't easy, but I think WP had a gloom factor, not just in the actual campus, but also the plebes he was paired with. They were disheartened, flunking calculus, said they do not get 4 hrs to study as presented in the briefing, but more like 1 or 2 at best. Said most sit in their rooms on the weekends because although there are walking privileges, there is very very little to do in Highland Falls. Other plebes went out of their way to "bump" into him or be rude - I have a 2nd class at USNA so I get plebe life - but even as a visitor? He went to summer seminar at USNA and loved it. Of course has only seen the high points other than that - PPW, Herndon, football games...which we tried to tell him, but he said the whole thing was just gloomy.
 
Reach out to USNA, tell them the situation and the approaching deadline, and see when you may hear something.

Remember schools are competing for the applicants too. If they're going to offer something, knowing you're coming up on a hard deadline should be motivation enough to get an answer, especially if USNA would be his higher pick.
Any chance if we reach out we force their hand to give him a no instead? Although he is a college re-applicant, I don't know how competitive he is on the NWL.
 
Any chance if we reach out we force their hand to give him a no instead? Although he is a college re-applicant, I don't know how competitive he is on the NWL.

I guess there's that chance, but if they want him I don't think it would make sense for them to stop wanting him just because they're made aware that he's coming up on a hard deadline.

To me it's like hiring someone. If I found out someone I wanted was going to have to make a decision and it was hinged on my actions, you can be sure I'd be on the phone with HR. ( I actually did this with a past job and got the final offer the next day).
 
I don't think he would be forcing their hand. I think worst case scenario is they made a decision and just haven't updated the portal and its a No. Best case, you call and its the opposite. Reality, they tell him he will know by April 15th.
 
I disagree with other posters about calling USNA....there is still PLENTY of time (over 2 weeks) for decisions to come out. I am sure there a few other candidates in very similar positions with waiting for a USNA decision -- which means you aren't the only one. If a decision has been made, it might be easier for a counselor to give you an answer, but if a decision has not been made and you play the "USMA" card, it may or may not not go over well....the problem is you don't know which status you are in and how the interaction will be perceived. Admissions Counselors are sometimes involved in slate decisions. I disagree with calling at this point...especially when there is time left. I would even agree with some, that it would be better to accept the appointment on April 15th if you haven't heard from USNA (presuming that your DS would be okay with USMA/USA).

What you can (and should) do in the meantime is talk about the various scenarios that could play out and what your DS would like to do. So when a decision comes through, you have already thought through the various options and have a decision made.

If there were a very small group of people (and you could be sure of it), then as LITS said, you might be able to play the card. When I was a BGO in MD a few years back, I was told that AC's do not like getting these calls because each candidate thinks they are the only one (in fact, they are not).
 
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I'm not sure it's playing a card if it's your actually decision. It's good for USNA to know if they snooze they lose. It also means if the answer is no then you give commit to USMA.

Essentially you're saying "I want to go there, but I need to inform this other school (your rival) soon."

If you'd rather go to USNA tell them, but if that's not going to happen you'll commit to West Point.

I've been down this road before during my application process and kept the other academies informed in where I was in the process.

(These calls should be made by the applicant.)

I think it's a reasonable move.
 
I think after being at Annapolis - green lawns, white shiny buildings, beautiful flowers, ocean and blue sky...walking out the gates to DTA and knowing you have somewhere to go and something to do to get away, even if it's for a few hours...seeing WP was a shock. He understands life at USNA, knows it isn't easy, but I think WP had a gloom factor, not just in the actual campus, but also the plebes he was paired with. They were disheartened, flunking calculus, said they do not get 4 hrs to study as presented in the briefing, but more like 1 or 2 at best. Said most sit in their rooms on the weekends because although there are walking privileges, there is very very little to do in Highland Falls. Other plebes went out of their way to "bump" into him or be rude - I have a 2nd class at USNA so I get plebe life - but even as a visitor? He went to summer seminar at USNA and loved it. Of course has only seen the high points other than that - PPW, Herndon, football games...which we tried to tell him, but he said the whole thing was just gloomy.
I hope he finds a back up if USNA falls through. It would be very difficult for any person to go to any S.A. (or civilian college) with a feeling of "gloom". On a side note, I do find it interesting how differently people perceive USNA vs USMA. I think they're both exceptionally beautiful in their own way. I am also sorry about his experience on his visit; that's really too bad. It does however sound as though his heart will never be with WP and he'd be miserable so as I mentioned first, I hope he has another option if USNA falls through. Good luck and I hope wherever he ends up going, he is thrilled to attend! :)
 
LITS, I would agree if the candidate was equally happy at either SA and they were willing to risk an appointment at one, for another.
However, given that USNA is not short (nor are other SAs) of qualified candidates (if USNA "snoozes" they may not look at it as "losing") and that the OP's DS visit to USMA "did not go well"...I don't know if it is worth risking right now, especially if OP's DS values USNA over USMA.
Again, there are still over two weeks....probably quite a few notifications going out over the next 18 days. No need to rush.
 
LITS, I would agree if the candidate was equally happy at either SA and they were willing to risk an appointment at one, for another.
However, given that USNA is not short (nor are other SAs) of qualified candidates (if USNA "snoozes" they may not look at it as "losing") and that the OP's DS visit to USMA "did not go well"...I don't know if it is worth risking right now, especially if OP's DS values USNA over USMA.
Again, there are still over two weeks....probably quite a few notifications going out over the next 18 days. No need to rush.


Feels like military thinking! ;)

"We have enough qualified applicants" is the thinking that leads to services losing the best and brightest.

"They still have to weeks" is all fine and good until the admissions officer has a case of "can't remember how to pick up the phone" in the final week while you question if you've called too much and all the hang ups before the machine make you look like a creepy stalker exgirlfriend.

If someone checking in and informing a part of the federal government loses you a spot at that institution... That institution isn't worth your time.
 
bgo08, are you familiar with the SWO-IP option at USNA?
 
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LITS, the Admissions process isn't like looking for a job or dealing with a car salesman (where you are normally in total control -- as you said -- and might be willing to walk out if the deal doesn't meet your liking). There are risks when you play a card (I think snhach understands that)...not saying a candidate would lose a spot at USNA...I wouldn't want any bad taste in someone's mouth (intentionally or unintentionally) if a decision hasn't yet been made, but the competition is extremely close and there is an indirect/unintentional attempt to push admissions into a corner. I suppose it is possible to word it very kindly to eliminate any perception...however, USNA has announced April 15th as "the date"...it isn't as if they just said "you will get a decision at some point after January." I presume numerous candidates are in the same exact situation (no decision at USNA with a USMA appointment). It is one thing to call on April 15th, if a candidate has not been notified (as this was the promise to 99%), which also is the day one could accept an appointment at USMA. It seems like there is no problem with not calling and allowing the process to go along. This is why snhach's DS should think through the different paths and decide what is right for him, so when they do get notified (hopefully in advance of April 15), they know which route they want to take.

Going back to my time as a BGO in MD, the AC told me that when candidates call and tell them they have an appointment to another SA...it doesn't expedite the notification/decision.

"We have enough qualified applicants" is the thinking that leads to services losing the best and brightest.

Don't disagree...but it isn't completely false. Furthermore, admissions isn't about retention.

ktnatalk,

Somewhat familiar...some MIDN might have more insight....I believe that some of the SWO-option billets will be going away in favor of direct accession billets to those communities.
 
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And the reality is, he can walk away from USNA. So, unless he is stuck, it is the same thing as a job interview.

I realize we don't think about it that way, but it is. The applicant has plenty of other great schools (just as the school has other applicants).

If USNA reacts negatively to an applicant calling (and they never did to my calls after my LOA), then USNA needs to get some new Admissions officers.
 
Calling on April 15 shows some pretty poor planning. It doesn't reflect well on the applicant to wait that long or the academy for not acting sooner.

As a CGA BGO equivalent, I wouldn't hesitate to suggest an applicant call if they're seeking info I don't possess (for a decision with a fixed deadline).

To the OP, don't let one experience, isolated to an overnight change your view of a school or your goals.
 
And the reality is, he can walk away from USNA. So, unless he is stuck, it is the same thing as a job interview.
I realize we don't think about it that way, but it is. The applicant has plenty of other great schools (just as the school has other applicants).

Completely agree..he could walk away...it all depends on this risk someone is comfortable with.

Calling on April 15 shows some pretty poor planning. It doesn't reflect well on the applicant to wait that long or the academy for not acting sooner.

I'm confused...it is the date USNA Admissions has published, if that is the guaranteed date...that is the guaranteed date (USNA is not obligated to release decisions earlier). Admissions is extremely busy at this time of the year...lots of decisions going down...I am sure a LOT of candidates want to know their status...doesn't mean every candidate should call.

I guess we will continue to agree to disagree in some areas. The OP has a wide range of views and recommendations to choose from...ultimately their DS is the one who will decide whether to pick the phone up or not.
 
April 15 is the date he has to commit (or not) to West Point.

But I think he likes Navy more. So he needs to hear from Navy or commit to West Point by April 15.
 
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