Received letters from my senators this week that they received my applications. There was no mention of an interview. So, after a little questioning, discovered that neither of my senators give interviews. I was told that with so many candidates that they just can't ask the review board to stay together that long. They come from all over the state and only have time to offer up the slates of nominations. I can't believe they don't want to see the faces of those they are nominating!I was hoping to make a good impression and enhance my application. I was told that is why the app has so many spaces for you to fill in answers. Well, not everything can go on an app. My representative does have interviews and those selected for that come out this week. Is it normal not to have any interviews?!
No Senator Interviews?
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d.mcknight
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From what I understand, it all depends on where you are from. For example, I'm from California. One senator has stated on her website that once they narrow the applicants down to a certain amount (starts at about 1000), they will conduct phone interviews. The other senator has no indication of ever doing interviews. There's sort of two reasons I can see for this. First is obviously number of applicants. It is unrealistic to have 1000 different interviews done by essentially one committee. Second, California is also large in terms of "real estate" if you will. It would be difficult for many of the applicants to actually get to where they are interviewing. Hope I helped some.
Christcorp
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Good, Bad, or different; you have to realize that it's fair. All applicants from your state is in the same exact boat. But what is the alternative? The senator's staff takes your application, along with 1000 others, and whittles it down to about 100. Then they interview those. At least here, you still have a chance. I know it doesn't sound fair or right, but I bet if you could give a solution/suggestion for how your senator can interview 1000 individuals in a 2 month period; s/he would really appreciate it. Even having 300-500 is a lot to try and interview in a few weeks. I applaud those who do, but you know they had to turn down some applications right off the bat. It's tough out there. Then there's the smaller populated states like Wyoming, Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, etc... Wyoming averages 20+/- applicants for each of the academies. You would think with 2 senators and 1 representative, that that is a maximum of 30 nominations, and that everyone would get one. Well our congressman/woman know that game too. They are very picky. They will give nominations to those who's applications merit it. Not all 20+/- of those applicants are going to get a nomination. Each state and MOC is different. But as long as it's different for all applicants, then it's fair.
I did not mean to say that by not doing interviews the system was unfair. You are right everyone is in the same situation. After hearing so many people talk about their MOC interviews, I was getting ready and hoping to make a good sell of myself. Maybe it also saved me the chance of making an idiot of myself also. I just really feel you can tell alot about a person in just a fifteen minute interview. In case of a tight race for a nomination, that might make the difference. I defintely don't have any good answers. Yet, USNA with 17,000 apps seems to get all candidates interviewed- thanks to all the dedicated BGOs. Oh well ,it is what it is.
d.mcknight
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Exactly. The academy has an entire network of people all over the country who can do interviews close to the person's home. Congressional staff does not have that.
Christcorp
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Exactly. Even in a small state, you can easily have 10+ ALO/BGO; compared to 2 senators. Take a large state like california, and they still only have 2 senators; yet could have 20x that many BGO/ALO/etc..
It isn't just the senators, which in most cases probably are not really involved anyway,they have their review boards. How many people are on the review boards? My point was the USNA makes sure they have enough BGOs to get the interviews done. The senators can't find enough qualified people to do interviews and or make their review boards larger? I'm just a candidate with limited knowledge, so maybe this thread was stupid to begin with. I was just disappointed not to be able to do an interview and maybe enlighten my application.
Pima
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I don't know about the 17K comment, I don't believe the USNA has 17K applicants, since their appointment % is 15%, with 1600 apptmts, that is the 10K marker like the AFA...could be wrong, just doing the math. I know for the AF, they only have about 10K applicants, and only about 6K of them will be interviewed by an ALO, because not every applicant will make it pass the pcq to become a candidate. Out of that 6K, approx 3K will get noms. Out of that 3K with noms, 1600 will win apptmts.
The fact is not every MOC will interview. For our DS only 1 of his 3 held interviews. The other 2 went straight by the paperwork. They still were reviewed by a board, but it was what was on paper that was the make or break. Just like it will be what is in your application for the USNA that will determine your WCS. You will not be interviewed by the USNA board. The BGO will submit a rec., but that is it.
I also understand wanting to enlighten your resume, but think of it from a flip side, you might enlighten it from a negative aspect by how you answered a question. You can't take the leap that by meeting them that will get you pass the finish line because you could enlighten them in person.
For the one MOC that interviewed, 20 candidates met the 1st bar of getting the chance to interview. Only 10 got the nom out of that 20.
The fact is not every MOC will interview. For our DS only 1 of his 3 held interviews. The other 2 went straight by the paperwork. They still were reviewed by a board, but it was what was on paper that was the make or break. Just like it will be what is in your application for the USNA that will determine your WCS. You will not be interviewed by the USNA board. The BGO will submit a rec., but that is it.
I also understand wanting to enlighten your resume, but think of it from a flip side, you might enlighten it from a negative aspect by how you answered a question. You can't take the leap that by meeting them that will get you pass the finish line because you could enlighten them in person.
For the one MOC that interviewed, 20 candidates met the 1st bar of getting the chance to interview. Only 10 got the nom out of that 20.
usna1985
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Yes, Senators COULD easily find enough people. But it is important to understand the entire system. USNA is in the business of selecting candidates to become midshipmen and thus makes the (quite substantial) effort to recruit BGOs to help them out. Senators have a host of other things that, quite honestly, are more important to them than finding 10 nominees for a SA. Like getting re-elected.
Seriously, they are introducing bills, fund-raising, meeting with lobbyists, meeting with constituents, etc. The SA thing, while critically important to you, is but one tiny part of their overall universe. Some Senators obviously believe (possibly based on experience) that they can pick 10 great candidates based on the paperwork alone. Thus, the amount of effort to find citizens willing to serve on committees all over the state and to interview 20 to 1000 candidates just isn't worth the effort. IOW, 10 selected with interviews won't be substantially better than the 10 selected without interviews. I'm not saying that's universally true -- only that at least some Senators believe it.
For candidates in future years . . . try to find out whether any of your MOCs do not conduct interviews and make double and triple sure that you have included everything you possibly want the MOC to know in your paperwork, as that is all they will see.
You are right and that they can probably get 10 great candidates just from paper. It is important to me yet I also look at it in a larger sense in that we are the men and women that will be protecting and running this country in the future. I think picking the right candidates is a pretty important job for the MOC. But again, there are so many qualified candidates, probably not too hard to do it from paper. Good point on finding out which MOCs give interviews. I knew my rep did and just assumed the senators did also,especially after hearing people talk about their interviews on the forum. That was not too organized on my part. I do think I covered just about everything on my applications. Thanks for everyones input.
Pima
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Not being facetious here, but the fact is anyone who jumps through all of the hoops for an SA apptmt has the larger sense already and the MOCs know it.
They have to write multiple essays, get medical exams from head to toe, train and perform a fitness test, interview with ALO/BGO's just to submit an application, compared to going on common apps for college. They get the fact that this is a commitment.
Now, as a constituent, tomorrow your parents or you depending on your age will have the right to show your displeasure, and I hope they use this opportunity to show to our elected officials it is an important job.
d.mcknight
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The admittance rate for USNA is only 10%. So divide 1600 by 10% and you get 16K.
WestTexasmom
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dpt135, I don't know where you are, but here in West Texas, none of the MOC's give interviews, so you aren't alone. DS took that into consideration when answering all the questions on each app. Do your best on the app, and look at it as one less thing to worry about! Hang in there!
FWIW to future forum readers of this thread, our DS submitted his nomination (all) applications with the intent of making the cut, whether the MoC did interviews or not. Our state/district sees many applications not all of which get interviewed (it's obvious enough from some applications that it's just not the right applicant), you have to make that first cut in any case.
Then if you are fortunate enough to get called in for an interview just be yourself, no need to over emphasize your qualities, they obviously see that from the paper. It's more about confirming the person they see in front of them is the same person they thought they saw on paper.
Then if you are fortunate enough to get called in for an interview just be yourself, no need to over emphasize your qualities, they obviously see that from the paper. It's more about confirming the person they see in front of them is the same person they thought they saw on paper.