No nomination, any hope?

FAR Cadet

FAR Cadet

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Feb 7, 2023
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Hello, I only applied for one type of nomination for the USAFA. As of now, I have not received any notice of getting said nomination and I know that it was a very competitive nomination type. Essentially, am I out of options when it comes to a nomination? Should just focus on reapplying next year, or is there hope for a Hail Mary in the final hours? Any advice or comments are welcome.
 
Focus on Plans B, C and D. Those are likely your most viable options now. Treat Plan B as your new Plan A and act accordingly. At the same time, until you get the actual TWE, don’t give up hope on USAFA.

Several years ago, DD failed to land a nom for USAFA (though she had noms, and eventually offers of appointment, for USNA and USMA). Then in late April, just a few days before national decision day, she received an LOA from USAFA — pending a nomination. A couple days latter, a nom appeared and she was offered an appointment. At that point, she’d already committed to USNA.

Moral of the story: Be prudent, but keep the faith. If USAFA really, really wants you, the lack of nom will be overcome.
 
FAR Cadet said:
Hello, I only applied for one type of nomination for the USAFA. As of now, I have not received any notice of getting said nomination and I know that it was a very competitive nomination type. Essentially, am I out of options when it comes to a nomination? Should just focus on reapplying next year, or is there hope for a Hail Mary in the final hours? Any advice or comments are welcome.
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Did you apply with both Senators and your Congressman as well as the Vice Presidential nomination?
 
FAR Cadet said:
Hello, I only applied for one type of nomination for the USAFA. As of now, I have not received any notice of getting said nomination and I know that it was a very competitive nomination type. Essentially, am I out of options when it comes to a nomination? Should just focus on reapplying next year, or is there hope for a Hail Mary in the final hours? Any advice or comments are welcome.
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You should have had at least 4 nominating sources you should have applied to: 2 senators, a Congressman/woman, and the Vice President. Are you saying you only applied to one of those? And if so, I’m curious why?

All nominations are ‘very competitive type’. And that’s why the SA states on the admissions instructions to apply to all sources available to you (at least USNA does, for certain). Which gives you a better chance of obtaining a nomination, potentially more than one. Both of my kiddos had multiple nominations.

But to your question, the deadline has passed. You could reach out to your source and confirm you did not receive their nomination. Or check your SA portal.
 
USAFA has a small number of discretionary noms it manages, which is a tiny sliver of hope.

Your situation is an excellent teaching point for upcoming applicants. The SAs encourage applications to all nom sources the candidate qualifies for.

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As Capt MJ said, you should always apply to every nom you are eligible for. For most this includes at least, VP, Senatorial, and MOC. If you have no nomination the Superintendent has up to 50 he/she can use for each class so not all hope is lost, however, these slots are highly competitive.

901.16 Superintendent category.

Fifty eligible applicants who have not secured a nomination to the Academy from any other nominating authority may be nominated by the Superintendent. Highly qualified applicants are selected for nomination from the nationwide precandidate program by the Academy. Appointments from this category are made in order of merit from the nationwide pool of qualified alternates to fill the class.

 
The only nomination source I applied for was AFROTC. I know I messed up by not applying to more, however, due to my situation I missed the deadlines to apply to MOC and Senator nomination sources.
 
FAR Cadet said:
The only nomination source I applied for was AFROTC. I know I messed up by not applying to more, however, due to my situation I missed the deadlines to apply to MOC and Senator nomination sources.
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Yep, move to plan B and C. Odds just aren’t in your favor this year. Live and learn. Good luck in whatever direction you are taken.
 
Clearly, you need to focus on getting a nomination; however, getting a nomination does not guarantee an appointment offer. My DS had three nominations (P, S, C) and the USAFA admissions office didn't even score his application. He went to a different SA after getting an appointment offer 4 months early from a different SA.

Trying to get an appointment without getting a nomination first is like going to Vegas and betting on the highest payoff bet you can find. Apply for every nomination for which you are eligible. Start early. Applying to a SA is a lengthy process - much longer than trying to apply to a top-tier university.
 
I would still apply. If USAFA decides they want you, I think they have ways to help you get a nom.
 
Falcon74 said:
Clearly, you need to focus on getting a nomination; however, getting a nomination does not guarantee an appointment offer. My DS had three nominations (P, S, C) and the USAFA admissions office didn't even score his application. He went to a different SA after getting an appointment offer 4 months early from a different SA.

Trying to get an appointment without getting a nomination first is like going to Vegas and betting on the highest payoff bet you can find. Apply for every nomination for which you are eligible. Start early. Applying to a SA is a lengthy process - much longer than trying to apply to a top-tier university.
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How do you know the "admissions office didn't even score his application"? How would one even know this information?
 
"...the USAFA admissions office didn't even score his application."

As a long-serving ALO, I find that to be a disturbing comment. How do you know? Did he miss a deadline, or something else?

Steve
USAFA ALO
(Evaluator & Mentor)
 
FAR Cadet said:
The only nomination source I applied for was AFROTC. I know I messed up by not applying to more, however, due to my situation I missed the deadlines to apply to MOC and Senator nomination sources.
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Are you saying you applied for a AFROTC nomination and you don't know if you recieved the nomination? Your detachment commander should be able to inform you if you were selected. I just glanced at the CFR link above and saw 31 Jan as the due date for the nom package. Still AFROTC/JROTC is a very small field for appointment. If memory serves it is something around 20 appointments. The nom, any nom, clears the hurdle to be fully qualified if all other boxes are checked. Seems like you need to have the brief conversation to ask if you were provided the nom.
 
This thread was from March 2023 until it was resurrected today. I think the OP was from last cycle.
 
flying2024 said:
How do you know the "admissions office didn't even score his application"? How would one even know this information?
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Normally, a candidate wouldn't know. I happen to discover the truth through another channel.
 
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