Nom Interview Mishap

K

KiwiBird

USAFA Cadet, Co 2025
Joined
Oct 8, 2020
Messages
287
I had an interview with one of my senators today, and I totally bombed one of the questions. I won't say the question specifically as not to give anyone else an unfair advantage, but I think that I messed it up pretty badly. It could have been worse, I guess, but it could have been a lot better. How much will this hurt my chances with this senator? If someone is not applying, they could message me and I could tell them the question and my response to see what they think. Thank you, and good luck to everyone else!
 
I am sure that they take into account that you are not experienced with interviews. If you were sincere and your response "makes sense" I wouldn't be too worried about one question. They look at the whole package and try to get a general impression of who you are and if you are a good fit for the academy.
 
kinnem said:
Agree with Goldfish. It isn't really about right or wrong answers.
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I guess I did not make this clear in my question, but this one definitely had a right and a wrong answer. I gave a wrong answer.
 
KiwiBird said:
I guess I did not make this clear in my question, but this one definitely had a right and a wrong answer. I gave a wrong answer.
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Look man, stressing about something that already happened won't change it. Just move forward with your application. My first ever interview was with West Point and my FFR had about 6 active duty officers come in and interview me. Nervous was an understatement. I thought I bombed it also when I said I wasn't sure to one of their questions. Next day I got an LOA.
 
Be kind to yourself. Be happy that it’s done, that you’re one step further in the process. And most importantly, move on. As others have said, there’s nothing to be gained by stewing over it. But, as with anything, you can learn from it. Do that, then carry on. Best wishes.
 
KiwiBird said:
I had an interview with one of my senators today, and I totally bombed one of the questions. I won't say the question specifically as not to give anyone else an unfair advantage, but I think that I messed it up pretty badly. It could have been worse, I guess, but it could have been a lot better. How much will this hurt my chances with this senator? If someone is not applying, they could message me and I could tell them the question and my response to see what they think. Thank you, and good luck to everyone else!
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Hey on the bright side you left an impression and probably stood out, and don't you have another nomination already? I wouldn't worry just learn the mistakes from this time.
 
When I was (much) younger - around 21, I went on an interview for a job where I was asked where I saw myself in 5 years. My reply? I want to be a mom. I went on to explain I wanted to be a working mom, and while I admire those who choose/can stay home with their children, I didn’t have any plans on doing that myself. I was certain I blew that interview and cried the whole way home because I was really excited about that opportunity. It was a genuine and truthful reply that clearly it wasn’t rehearsed 😂
I ended up not only getting the job but worked on that team for more than 14 years until I needed to relocate. I left with the full support of my teammates and we still are in touch occasionally.

It may not have been as bad as you think 🙂

Hoping the best for you!!
 
...amd you don’t know that everyone else also didn’t ‘bomb a question’.

Seriously, give yourself some grace. And I highly doubt that one question answer, from the hundreds of applications from your state, won’t be the game changer. And if it is? There isn’t anything you can do to change it.

Try to focus on other things at this point. To take your mind off this piece of your life. It’s the Holidays. Your break from school. Good food and good friends. Stuff that matters.

Good luck!
 
A bit different but five years ago, my son's very first interview was for Army ROTC. After he was told that his short answers needed some work. He was sure he bombed. He received the Army ROTC scholarship in the first round. He chose West Point though and graduated in June. All this to say, you never know :)
 
I could bore you with stories fro my life and that of my kids of thinking we bombed an interview and then got the job/slot, etc. I can also share how many times we thought we aced the interview and did not get the nod. Best thing you can do is learn from the experience and be better next time.

My DS best interview as certainly his third as he had the experience from the prior two to learn from.

No sense in being anxious about it at this point. Learn and move on to the next interview. Good luck!
 
Lots of applicants on this forum are overachievers, myself included. One thing that plagues overachievers is overthinking. I got out of two of my nomination interviews thinking I bombed it, once I realized I was overthinking things again I looked at other things and realized it wasn’t that bad. I am going to bet that you did excellent, your just focusing on the wrong thing!

I wish you the best of luck!
 
The interview I "bombed" was the one that got me a nomination.

You never know and you can't change the past. Learn and move on.
 
KiwiBird said:
I had an interview with one of my senators today, and I totally bombed one of the questions. I won't say the question specifically as not to give anyone else an unfair advantage, but I think that I messed it up pretty badly. It could have been worse, I guess, but it could have been a lot better. How much will this hurt my chances with this senator? If someone is not applying, they could message me and I could tell them the question and my response to see what they think. Thank you, and good luck to everyone else!
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I'm assuming it was with Toomey since his last set of interviews was Dec 1st and I think you already said you interviewed with Casey. If it would make you feel better to talk to someone, reach out to my DD if you haven't already, she was in the first group to interview with Toomey.
 
And if you did in fact bomb the interview, you have learned something for the next time you apply.
 
KiwiBird said:
I had an interview with one of my senators today, and I totally bombed one of the questions. I won't say the question specifically as not to give anyone else an unfair advantage, but I think that I messed it up pretty badly. It could have been worse, I guess, but it could have been a lot better. How much will this hurt my chances with this senator? If someone is not applying, they could message me and I could tell them the question and my response to see what they think. Thank you, and good luck to everyone else!
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Just sent you a PM.
 
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