Letters of Recommendation for Congressmen?

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ChissCaa745

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I’m a junior currently in the process of seeking a congressional nomination to either USMA or USNA. Two of my area’s congressmen require three letters of recommendation each. Could I get only three letters and simply send each to both congressmen, or should I get six separate letters of recommendation?
 
ChissCaa745 said:
I’m a junior currently in the process of seeking a congressional nomination to either USMA or USNA. Two of my area’s congressmen require three letters of recommendation each. Could I get only three letters and simply send each to both congressmen, or should I get six separate letters of recommendation?
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Get 3 awesome letters of recommendations and you can reuse it for congressional nominations! Best of luck. We just went thru this process 12 months ago.
 
ChissCaa745 said:
I’m a junior currently in the process of seeking a congressional nomination to either USMA or USNA. Two of my area’s congressmen require three letters of recommendation each. Could I get only three letters and simply send each to both congressmen, or should I get six separate letters of recommendation?
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You should only have one Congressman to apply to. IF you're referring to Senators, you have two of them. You should get the correct number letters for the specific Congressperson whose district you reside in and can only apply from ONE district for USNA and USMA.
 
You may reuse letters with each our your MOCs. I have my students work with teachers to 'collect' the letters prior to the end of school (as juniors) with the idea that they will coordinate with the teachers over the summer and/or when school reopens in Aug/Sep to request that they complete the online evaluations for the SAs. The letters in PDF will often be used with their nominations. I also recommend that if you need 'three' LORs, then you might collect four or five to allow you to mix and match based on the contents and the 'target' for each letter.
 
Be careful here. Yes the same person can write the letter. And typically does. But… you don’t send it, they do. And that means it has to be addressed to each MOC (properly). So while the body of the recommendation can be much the same, the letter can’t literally be reused. Make sure each recommender has crystal clear instructions about how the letters need to be addressed and where they are sent. And due dates.

If the recs are coming from teachers, typically guidance will facilitate this but not always. STAY ON IT. It’s confusing and can fall through the cracks because it doesn’t use the school’s standard systems for this (like Naviance) and it’s a lot of extra work / a process that teachers aren’t always familiar with.

Also beware the early September due dates. My son’s MOC nom was due Sept 2. That meant teachers and guidance were working OVER THE SUMMER to make sure everything was in. He created a whole tracking system and maintained excellent communication. The process itself was a test in leadership!
 
Delivery is moc specific. In our area one Senators process included sending the letter writer a email with a link to upload the letter. Same as the academies. The other Senator requested the applicant to include all letters in the pdf application the applicant would submit. He noted that if the letter writer was uncomfortable providing the letter to the applicant it could be submitted separately and the Senators staff would add it to the applicants application. The congressional rep did not accept electronic submission of any part of tne application. She requested all application materials be submitted in one package, by mail or personal delivery to her office. To further complicate the process our high school did not allow its teachers to hand letters directly to the students for delivery to the moc.

Each moc has a different process. Make sure you follow it to the letter. Start early and communicate with your guidance department to insure there are no surprises.
 
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ChissCaa745 said:
I’m a junior currently in the process of seeking a congressional nomination to either USMA or USNA. Two of my area’s congressmen require three letters of recommendation each. Could I get only three letters and simply send each to both congressmen, or should I get six separate letters of recommendation?
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You can reuse letters of recommendation all you want, but you should only be applying to one congressman. (Unless you’re applying for USMMA) You can apply to your district’s congressman, both state senators, Vice President, and any other special noms you qualify for.
 
Capt MJ said:
U.S. Senators serve in the U.S. Senate, representing their state.

State senators serve in their state’s senate.

You must have had a little snoozette that day in HS civics or whatever it’s called these days.
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Indeed
 
TNT12DaBomb said:
What is the difference between State Senators and US Senators?
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I see that you did not attend Boys/Girls State.

That said, where I live, I have 1 State Senator and 2 US Senators. The situation is flipped for Representatives where I have 1 US Rep and 2 State Reps. Curiously, 2 of my reps are Service Academy grads.
 
I agree as mentioned above make sure you follow the MOC instructions for THIS cycle when submitting information and recommendations. (What they requested last year may NOT be the process they choose this year). Each MOC runs their own process, so what is done in some other part of the country may not be what yours chooses to do. Often times, you will never see the letter of recommendation since they want honest input from someone who knows you well and can comment on your strengths as well as areas where you could impove. You typically do not get to ask for 'extra' recommendation letters and then get to choose the ones you think say the best things about you.

Many ask for those individuals to directly submit them to the MOC or some may ask for those letters to be placed in sealed envelopes and submitted with the balance of your application. Carefully read the MOC NOM application website and follow their instruction since part of the process is your ability to follow directions.
 
Our MOC requires 3 letters of recommendation using his "specific" downloadable form. We've already obtained LORs for my DD but now we have to restart the process using "the form"! Hoops........jumping thru the hoops.
 
I know this a little late to ask a question in this thread, but I am currently requesting a nomination from my congressional rep for the USMA.
I'm currently filling out his application forms(essays, transcripts, etc.), he has a slot to upload my LORs as pdfs. However, the mayor of my town(someone who i requested a LOR from) met with one of congressional rep's aides who told him that his letter should be sent a certain way. I'm not sure if all of the people I requested a LOR from need to physically send him the letter, or if I could just upload it on the application. I've already sent an email to my congressional rep's office asking what he would prefer. However, I would like to finish the application this weekend. Any advice?
(I live in PA)
 
M1ke Hammer said:
I know this a little late to ask a question in this thread, but I am currently requesting a nomination from my congressional rep for the USMA.
I'm currently filling out his application forms(essays, transcripts, etc.), he has a slot to upload my LORs as pdfs. However, the mayor of my town(someone who i requested a LOR from) met with one of congressional rep's aides who told him that his letter should be sent a certain way. I'm not sure if all of the people I requested a LOR from need to physically send him the letter, or if I could just upload it on the application. I've already sent an email to my congressional rep's office asking what he would prefer. However, I would like to finish the application this weekend. Any advice?
(I live in PA)
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It’s Friday. Pick up the phone, exercise your professional live phone skills and call the congressional staffers who manage the SA noms to confirm desired LOR delivery method. You are working off hearsay at the moment. Before you make the call, go back to the congressional website and review the SA nom pages, to ensure you aren’t asking questions answered there.

A note for you and others starting this journey, focus on quality, not quantity, of letters. The writer should know you personally and have observed you closely enough they can actually say something substantive about your work ethic, character, motivation for service, etc. Someone chosen just for their rank or position or doing parents a favor - their letters will reflect that lack of actual knowledgeable acquaintance, and Admissions and nom review/selection panels are adept at seeing those for what they are.

If your nom package deadline is not early next week, you still have time after the weekend to get your answer.
 
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