Long Irritating Waiting Stage (LIWS)

[Gcokeley]

This thread is for all my fellow candidates currently in the post-nom/pre-appointment/rejection waiting stage or DoDMERB rat's nest that may cause our hair to turn grey and possibly fall out.

Anybody here with me?

 

[Harrison Morgan]

i'm totally with you on everything except one account

please don't say that about dodmerb, i've had my fair share of conversations with the folks up there and they're great people doing their job who will go to tremendous lengths to get all candidates where they want to be, i've undergone whats now been a 6 month process with them and am still waiting to hear for my #1 academy choice and yes, the wait is very very frustrating and often very testing of how much one is willing to pursue an academy. believe me, i know what your talking about, but you'd be surprised just how great those people up there can be with helping candidates make it through the process

actually, all i need is a waiver, and with that, i'm in (i think w/ loa?) so yes, a little nervous, but hopeful none the less!

 

[larry2013]

As a mom lurking about for tidbits of info and further knowledge do understand the waiting stress - but concer - DODMERB is WONDERFUL - MR MULLEN in particular, tho not exclusively, lends his time, knowledge, and COMPASSION - they are caring people not just willing but anxious to assist, lend an ear, offer an explanation and do wht they can to keep one on target for their goal!
It is easy to lump bureaucratic system into one - but please understand that the folks at DODMERB are truly the gaurdian angels helping each of us all they can.
My son has achieved his waiver for usna, and DODMERB doing all they can within the system to straighten out the NROTC issue.
Please be patient, try to enjoy and celebrate your progress so far.

 

[Mom1315]

Absolutely, kid (son) has LOA and nom (according to rep's staffer, but letter is taking irritatingly long time getting here b/c of holidays) but is waiting on medical waiver...ugh! Here's hoping!

 

[gdesena]

Congrat's on getting the nomination! That's a big part of this, and you're already ahead of a lot of people. Don't worry about DoDMERB. There trying to help you, but they are a government bureaucracy, and things tend to move slower than we would like sometimes. Just remember, there are a lot of candidates in your exact situation right now. Try not to think about it. You're part is done, so no need to stress out.

Good luck!
Geoff

 

[Mom1315]

Congrat's on getting the nomination! That's a big part of this, and you're already ahead of a lot of people. Don't worry about DoDMERB. There trying to help you, but they are a government bureaucracy, and things tend to move slower than we would like sometimes. Just remember, there are a lot of candidates in your exact situation right now. Try not to think about it. You're part is done, so no need to stress out.

Good luck!
Geoff

Thank you! And congratulations on getting your Appointment package today!!!

 

[Katienavy?]

Oh I'm here! Waiting to hear on the nominations made Dec 20th by my MOC and my transcripts arriving at the AO and DoDMERB and and and... stupid mailman

 

[Gcokeley]

Oh I love DoDMERB. Larry Mullen is probably the most helpful person Ive ever met. The people at DoDMERB are really kind and try to get you qualified. But just the whole thing about being disqualified (Which I agree with, because you cant have debilitated kids leading other people's children) just throws a fork in the appointment machine that definately has been causing me alot of stress.

So the Rats nest comment was nothing against DoDMERB itself, just the whole thing about being DQed and waiting for that remedial exam sucks.

 

[buffalo]

I'm in the LIWS for the AFA. My application is complete with a MOC nomination, and I am DoDMERB qualified. Nevertheless it looks like I will almost certainly be waiting until March to receive word. I don't know how to get the AFA out of my mind!!!

 

[Just_A_Mom]

This may come across a tad bit harsh but honestly it is not even January yet. If any of you are irritated by having to wait so long at this point - you need to go take a walk or find a hobby.

Many, many candidates will be waiting well into the spring. Those on a waiting list may be waiting until after they have graduated from high school. The "problem" with these forums is you have a certain number of kids and parents whose kids have LOA's. They are quite vocal which leads other candidate to think they are not worthy or they are waiting excessively long.

You all need to get a grip on reality - let me tell you a brief synopsis of 4 cadets who won appointments to the class of 2012 at West Point -
One got an LOA in the fall of her senior year. She resigned after 4 days.
One got an LOA in the fall of his senior year - he resigned at Thanksgiving.
One graduated from high school in 2007. After her graduation she won an appointment to USMAPS and then her appointment in May to West Point. She just finished her first semester.
One graduated from high school in 2007, she heard nothing from West Point until April and her AOG scholarship was not finalized until after she graduated from high school. She attended MMI for a year and won her appointment to West Point last April. She just finished her first semester.

It is not when you get your appointment but IF you get one. Then it isn't about going but about staying.
Enjoy your senior year!

 

[Harrison Morgan]

indeed the people of dodmerb are great, the process and waiting eh well, not as great as the people

 

[Eagle64]

In response to J-A-M, I think all of the candidates, including myself have hobbies and don't sit around all day checking our statuses and waiting by the mailbox. However, it is a time of serious anxiety and it is easy to grow impatient as most of us don't know what our lives will look like six months from now. I agree that worrying about it more won't increase our chances of getting an appointment. However, there is a huge difference between attending the Naval Academy in June/July and possibly attending a civilian college in August or September of 2009, and the wait to find out where we will end up is undeniably an extremely difficult one. I think we all have a fine grip on reality, it's just a little bit difficult to sit back and forget about it when you have such a broad range of possible results. I agree that IF one gets an appointment they should be happy but WHEN definitely plays a part in the process. I am not one who really cares about LOAs as I have faith that I'll end up where I am supposed to be, but think about the kids that have had appointments for a few months now. Are they enjoying their senior year? Yes. Now think about the kids who won't get appointments until the last possible day. It will be a very anxious, nerve-wrecking senior year. I agree that candidates can not expect to be appointed by now and know everything about where they will be, but you have to understand that the process is at times frustrating and unpredictable.

Just my $0.02

 

[Gcokeley]

In response to J-A-M, I think all of the candidates, including myself have hobbies and don't sit around all day checking our statuses and waiting by the mailbox. However, it is a time of serious anxiety and it is easy to grow impatient as most of us don't know what our lives will look like six months from now. I agree that worrying about it more won't increase our chances of getting an appointment. However, there is a huge difference between attending the Naval Academy in June/July and possibly attending a civilian college in August or September of 2009, and the wait to find out where we will end up is undeniably an extremely difficult one. I think we all have a fine grip on reality, it's just a little bit difficult to sit back and forget about it when you have such a broad range of possible results. I agree that IF one gets an appointment they should be happy but WHEN definitely plays a part in the process. I am not one who really cares about LOAs as I have faith that I'll end up where I am supposed to be, but think about the kids that have had appointments for a few months now. Are they enjoying their senior year? Yes. Now think about the kids who won't get appointments until the last possible day. It will be a very anxious, nerve-wrecking senior year. I agree that candidates can not expect to be appointed by now and know everything about where they will be, but you have to understand that the process is at times frustrating and unpredictable.

Just my $0.02

I concur. Good Post.

 

[NativeTexan]

^^^ Good posts guys!

JAM - to ascertain that by getting a LOA you will resign but if you wait long enough you won't is really far fetched. I am sure there are equal numbers out of both groups that make it through the 4 years, just as there are probably equal numbers out of each group that don't. To imply otherwise is rather low.

It is frustrating to wait when many of your friends may already know their choices and even where thy will end up. Keep the faith. Look at it this way - if you had only applied to schools with an end of March decision date you would not be quite as frustrated as you would know that it was completely out of your hands - try looking at it like that - you will know something by April 15th, and enjoy the next month or two. Hard to do, I know, but maybe for a few it will ease the tension.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

Native Texan - I am not making any such claim. Of course each candidate is an individual. Folks on this forum draw way too many conclusions based on individual experiences. I was more or less making the point that some kids won't find out until very late in the process.
I am not making any implications that candidates with an LOA are lesser, of course they got the LOA for a reason. What I am trying to say is that it doesn't matter WHEN you get your appointment - only IF you get your appointment.

Most selective colleges do not admit students until March 1 or April 1 - when they do a mass admit (not counting ED/EA of course) - this is considered NORMAL when applying to a selective school.
For folks to be whining and complaining in December demonstrates to me that they are not in touch with the REALITY of the admisssions process.

If you get an appointment in April, May or even June you are no lesser a candidate, nor does the academy think lesser of you than if you received an appointment in November.

Get used to "hurry up and wait" - this will continue through out your academy career. Many times as a cadet you will not know something until the last minute, then plans change.

BTW - if you get on the wait list and accept it, you may not know by April 15th.

I am just saying - if you let the frustration get to you now - just wait until March or April. There are kids who will NOT know where they are going until after they graduate. It does happen. Those kids can complain about frustration. Unless you have an LOA - you could be one of those kids.
I went through this process with my daughter two years in a row - but what do I know? Not much, I guess.

 

[Eagle64]

No one is questioning your credibility ma'am, as I am sure you have seen a lot of the process while guiding your daughter. It's just that, with all due respect, it is a lot harder to be in the waiting process as a candidate than a parent of a candidate; yes, parents have to wait just as long as candidates do, but it is the students who will be flying halfway across the country this summer, waiting for the mail, checking things online, etc.. This of course only applies to those candidates who are actually taking action THEMSELVES; there are cases where parents are more invested in this process than the applicant him/herself. My parents are 100% supportive but 0% involved in my application process, and I love that, and THAT is why I hate the waiting; it is a personal goal of mine that I pray I get the opportunity to fulfill. My parents ask me how things are going, but the fact that some parents actually check their childrens' application statuses and post their childrens's stats online to get some reassurance amazes me. I don't know about you, but I don't want the future leaders of my country's military to be there because it was their parents' dream for them to attend a Service Academy. I'm sure all of us candidates have first-hand experiences with students whose sole reason for applying to an SA is because their parents have influenced them and basically applied for them. I believe that it is THESE students (LOA or no LOA) who will be the first to drop out.
So I think it is perfectly acceptable for some of us students to post what we are feeling about an application process on these forums, as we are the ones who are ultimately going to face the results of whatever decision is made. For those of us who track our own progress and who truly have the dream of attending the Naval Academy, our potential acceptance/ rejection hangs in the balance. I would absolutely agree that fretting over this admission decision is not going to make the decision come quicker; however, talking to other candidates in the same position (most of the people who post on this forum) can sometimes comfort us and reassure us that our time will come. No one is whining or complaining. Does it suck to wait? Absolutely. Are we all still going to wait? Yes. No disrespect intended ma'am, but I think us candidates need a place to chat about our experiences and vent without outside sources who are not in the same position as us telling us that it really is not that bad.

TJ

 

[Eagle64]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

With that being said, I was only referring to those parents who take the involvement to a whole new level such as applying FOR their kids, making them do certain activities, posting online what their kids stats are and asking if they will get into an Academy, etc....

This was not meant for you Parents who truly are supportive and just trying to learn more about where your son/daughter is headed. Because I have very supportive parents, I realize the value and importance of a strong support that a candidate needs from his parents and I truly appreciate all of you moms and dads who support your midshipman/cadets/etc. during a very unpredictable yet exciting time in their/your lives.

God Bless

TJ

 

[flyersboy114]

Wow, JAM and eagle both make great points. It could go either way, it does suck to wait, but that's life. You dont get what you want when you want. Patience is a virtue, but everyday I talk to kT and my friends at school how bad I want this and the waiting is killing me. It does realive some stress but march is looking better and better alll the time

 

[Eagle64]

Wow, JAM and eagle both make great points. It could go either way, it does suck to wait, but that's life. You dont get what you want when you want. Patience is a virtue, but everyday I talk to kT and my friends at school how bad I want this and the waiting is killing me. It does realive some stress but march is looking better and better alll the time

I'm in the same boat Flyersboy. Just imagine how sweet it will be when March gets here. Good luck to all reading this. Whether I get an appointment or not, I know the class of 2013 is going to be a remarkable one.

 

[Daniel Lee]

I'm in the same boat Flyersboy. Just imagine how sweet it will be when March gets here. Good luck to all reading this. Whether I get an appointment or not, I know the class of 2013 is going to be a remarkable one.

Hooah