Nomination Interview process....

DS had a terrific interview with his Blue and Gold officer Thursday night. He told him that based upon his documentation, he'd be very surprised if he didn't get a nomination.

Received second MOC notification for scheduling an interview in Friday's mail. :smile:

Great ending to the week.
 
Am I the only one that thinks that an applicant writing a thank you note for being interviewed is contrived? I have a lot of experience in such situations, and I can smell BS a long way off.

Very few 18 year olds (IMHO) would ever think of writing such a note, especially after feeling abused in the interview. I know my sons did not write them. I am sure there are some candidates that do, but I have a feeling most of these notes are parent initiated.

As for the BGO being shocked if the young man doesn't get a nomination... BGOs are shocked on a regular basis. Predicting these kind of things is very difficult if not impossible.

Good luck throughout the process, your son is no doubt an exceptional kid. Please keep us informed as to his progress.
 
Very valid point about the thank you note. Actually, it is one that is "grandma" initiated. :smile: From a very young age she was very persistent about reminding her four grandkids just how important she thought they were.

I know that when I graduated from college, and began searching for a teaching job, I wrote several of them to schools where I interviewed. Only one of them "worked." :wink:
 
Maplerock said:
Am I the only one that thinks that an applicant writing a thank you note for being interviewed is contrived? I have a lot of experience in such situations, and I can smell BS a long way off.

Very few 18 year olds (IMHO) would ever think of writing such a note, especially after feeling abused in the interview.
Click to expand...

Maplerock, I don't think that a thank you note is contrived. It is common courtesy and in my view, an important part of the interview process. It closes the process with another opportunity to set oneself apart, clear up any "rough patches" and assure the interviewer of one's interest. It is another vehicle to show them who you are.

As far as how many 18 year olds would ever think of writing such a note, I would suggest that that is exactly the point. Most probably won't. But that shouldn't be the yardstick that candidates measure themselves by.

Just wanted to offer another view on this subject.
 
I am not saying that it should or should not be done, but I think that it is unrealistic to believe that it will clear up the rough patches.

1. It is an interview committee, not just an interviewer.
2. The letter is probably going to be sent to his staff and if the committee has already met chances are they will never see it since they don't work in the staff office.
3. Our DS went to his interview on a Saturday and by Weds. he had the congrats letter in hand. The committee made their decision that day, hence there would be no time to clear up the patches.

If you want to write one because it is how you feel you should behave, than write it. If you are doing it to plead your case again than realize you better write one to every single member of the interview team because they vote as a committee.

Just me, but I don't think it is going to matter anyway. It is not going to give you an edge.
 
The true value of this site is the strength gained by presenting diversity of thought. In the end, the applicant/ candidate can take whatever direction feels best.

Got to love it!

“If man is to survive, he will have learned to take a delight in the essential differences between men and between cultures. He will learn that differences in ideas and attitudes are a delight, part of life's exciting variety, not something to fear.”
― Gene Roddenberry
 
If you send a thank-you to the MOC POC (point of contact), I would be reasonably sure that the committee will know it was sent. Whether every (or any) member actually reads it is another question.

If you decide to send a note, it should be short and sweet -- along the lines of "appreciate opportunity to meet with you, very committed to USNA, look forward to the MOC's decision." I agree the letter is not the time to correct any issues from the interview, re-plead your case, etc. If you made an unintentional mis-statement in the interview, etc. and feel you need to correct it, a letter of correction MIGHT be appropriate (depending on the circumstances).

I personally don't think a thank-you will make much difference in the final outcome but one along the lines of the above is not likely to hurt either.
 
I am ready for the flaming, but I have to say it anyway!

I am not sure why anyone believes a thank you note is something that is needed.

Here is why:

It is part of their job as an MoC to provide to their constituents. Thus, in essence, you are thanking them for doing their job! As a parent, did you write a thank you note to your boss for promoting you at work? Or did you thank them you exited the room? Afterall isn't it the companies job to promote people, and were you no the most qualified? If the answer is yes, than you agree it is not as if they went out on a ledge or did any extra work to get you the promotion. You earned it.

It is not like they wrote a recommendation letter on your behalf for the appointment, or as a HS student like your teachers. Teachers do no have that in their employment contract, they do it out of kindness. I wonder how many of these same kids wrote a thank you to their Guidance Counselors, teachers, the coach that administered the CFA, the ALO, BGO and FFR. Plus, if they applied for ROTC scholarships, did they right the notes to the PMSs.
~ Assume they apply to at least two SAs and two ROTC scholarships, by my count if they had 2 interviews, they have @12 notes to be writing.

Now add in applying to 5 or more colleges, studying for SAT/ACT, homework(most are in 4-5 AP/IB classes) ECs(leadership/jobs) and playing sports that is a heck of a lot of things to accomplish and still sleep 8 hours.

JMPO, but if you are only sending to the MOC, than I think you are sending it to the wrong person, as I said that is their job/duty to a voter. Your teacher did it out of kindness. Your ALO/BGO/FFR do not get paid. Without them can you say you would have received an interview? It wasn't in their job requirements and could have said no!
~ Remember the nomination is only one step...the WCS is where it comes down if they do not use principal. The ALO/BGO/FFR also write recs.and it is part of the WCS. Just like the PMS for ROTC scholarships.
 
Last edited:
No flames, just polite difference of opinion! :smile:

While a TY note is certainly not required, it is still very much in keeping with professional decorum.

Remember that a key part of what you are "selling" at an interview (ANY interview) is how you will be viewed in the role. For SA candidates that includes the notion of how this young person will function as an officer in a few years time.

The very fact that most young people today do not send TY notes is all the more reason they should! Setting yourself apart in a competitive environment means taking every opportunity to make an impression. For these young people who have already created a half-dozen essays or more plus the rest of the application process, how much incremental work is it to create a 2-line TY note?


Anecdote #1... DS's interview time with one MOC got messed up and there was some confusion. DD handled it by thanking the panel for their flexibility and afterwards made it a point of asking the coordinator (still in earshot) whom he should send a TY note to for the committee's time and graciousness in rescheduling. That request surprised the panel and was mentioned by the coordinator when he contacted us to inform DS of his principal nomination.

Anecdote #2 & 3.... Similar outcomes for DD for her SA nomination and myself personally with post interview TY being noticed and commented on.

In short... why not raise the bar and set yourself apart? It may not help, but it can't hurt...
 
I get your point MedB.

It is kind and respectful, and an era gone by....kind of like men wearing hats or opening car doors for women!

I hope to God that it doesn't help! Sorry, that may be viewed as impolitic, but it is my opinion.

I see it as gaming the system as a candidate.

Push it further.. We stress plan B and applying ROTC. Many are high caliber collegiate applicants that require interviews at the college for Merit. Are they writing TYs to them too~ IOWS where do they draw the line? Our DS got full ride merits, should he have sent a TY to Notre Dame/NYU/Cornell? How about to UNCCH that he didn't happy to, but offered a free ride because he has an AFROTC scholarship? Where do you draw the line?

I just have an issue with the idea that posters/lurkers THINK a note will help.

Do it because that is your nature. Don't do it because you think that if is between you and someone else that will place you on the slate!

Honestly, I am with Màplerock on this. If I got a thank you note, I would read it and either hand it to the MOC staff member or throw it in a circular filing cabinet. In the end 24 hours later it wouldn't even be in my memory! Sure as sheaaat would I change my vote.
~ My vote would be all about their PAR/EC.

I might be wrong Med B, but if my memory serves me correctly your DD had an amazing essay that I to this day think is the best I ever read.
~ If I am correct...the committee owed you a thank you note for raising your DD!

You want to send it...send it, but do it because you have no other motive than to say thank you for the opportunity.
 
Last edited:
Pima said:
I just have an issue with the idea that posters/lurkers THINK a note will help.

Do it because that is your nature. Don't do it because you think that if is between you and someone else that will place you on the slate!
Click to expand...

Let me share my experience

Anecdote #1: Served on about 10 nomination panelx, we made all of our decisions the same day. So any TY notes would have arrived after the fact. There might have been some kids that sent TY notes to the Congressionman's office, if so it didn't get to me.

Anecdote #2: Probably done 50 to 100 candidate interviews. Once a while I get a thank you note (email). No impact on my interview recommendation.
 
Pima said:
It is kind and respectful, and an era gone by....kind of like men wearing hats or opening car doors for women!
Click to expand...

Lol... Guilty! :redface:
The car door that is, not the hats. The only hats I'm allowed to wear nowadays have USAFA on them somewhere.
 
I can only speak to USMA on this one, but given that you are applying to an institution where you will be taking etiquette classes and there is also an optional ballroom dance class, perhaps you should be old school about it and send a thank you note.

Someone said that most 18 year olds would not do this on their own (and I agree) but if they make it into the academy they will be taught a whole mess of protocol that none of their peers will be exercising. Certain standards still remain from the old hat and glove army, and I for one appreciate that! Be classy and send a thank you note.
 
I have to ask---you are saying that USMA requires every cadet to take etiquette classes? It is MANDATED?
 
Okay, let me rephrase are you saying that this a credit course?

Crap....ROTC does it too! They are taught toasts- They are taught you do not sit before the dais. Etc.

TY notes?

Even if we go down this path what does it have to do with nominees?

Do it because you believe!
 
Yes, there is an etiquette brief during CBT, to start. And then simple things are enforced like writing a thank you note to the family that took you into their home for the Ice Cream Social (equivalent to Doolie Day Out). And you are also immediately taught certain standards of being an officer. Such as, while escorting a lady the officer walks nearest the street while the lady is kept on the inside. Officers do not carry or use umbrellas. Not etiquette for the rest of the world, but etiquette for being an officer. There was a rule about mobile phones when they first came out, but you can guess where that one ended up!

The Cadet Hostess offers all sorts of optional etiquette classes throughout the cadet’s years. Companies will host a dining-in and are taught the rules of formal dining. And then during firstie year AOG invites each company to a reception (designed to get them to join as lifetime members) that teaches them about wine tasting. I’m pretty sure the other academies teach things along similar lines, no?

Officers and gentlemen. (And ladies.) That is supposed to be the end product. Like I said, I for one appreciate that this still goes on somewhere. It may be about the only place left in America, but that’s why the academies are so special.
 
No, of course not an academic class for credit.

What does it have to do with nominees? Even though the academy would never see your nomination interview thank you note, you are attempting a nomination to an institution that will expect you to render certain courtesies. Start now. Be classy and send a thank you note.
 
I think it is a good idea for these young people to learn to eat and talk and dance and interact in public! Sorta like a finishing school.:biggrin:
 
Dancing is/was for credit; it was a required class for DS when he was an exchange cadet at the Austrian Military Academy....gotta learn to waltz when you are in Austria! Oh, and Equestrian Classes were also mandated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top