nomination question

bigcox

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
199
i'm from nebraska, which i don't think is a very competitive state for nominations compared to say new york or california for example. i happened to get two nominations to the same academy, so i was wondering if this would help my chances. i only ask because a person getting a nomination out of a big state like new york or florida could hold more weight than my two nominations (and hopefully my third coming up soon). does anyone think the academies have a small "bias" to look at candidates from bigger states with nom's more than midwest kids, or are they impartial when looking at the nation as a whole? thanks! :wink:
 
Hi!

I'm a USAFA Admission Liaison Officer.

The very straight-forward answer to your question is: THEY DO NOT CARE.

When you become a candidate (you have a nomination, you're a candidate) the counselor assigned to you won't know anything about you unless they pull your file. All they do is help put it together with your help.

Your ALO will become involved. My advice to you: contact them FIRST! Show you're "proactive" and "motivated to succeed!" It will score "brownie" points. Plus, you'll get ahead in the process as the ALO needs to interview you and do a form all about you.

BUT...where you are from; whether it's NYC or Plattsmouth (yeah, I lived in NE for a while) won't matter one bit. YOU are the final decider...your package is what will go before the selection committee.

What they'll look at is YOU: not where you're from.

??s?

Steve
DLOD, AZ
 
Choice of Congressional District

Since my stepson's father lives in an adjacent congressional district, and my wife splits custody 50-50 with her ex, we thought that our son could apply to both Congressmen. Obviously we were wrong, but one of the MOC SA coordinators told us our son could apply to either MOC.

Ultimately we applied to our MOC because my wife and I were more involved with the whole college application process. We later learned that our MOC had two USMA slots available this year. From what I was told by our MOC SA coordinator, only 13 total applications were completed for all SAs combined and the majority were for the USNA. If only two qualified candidates applied for the USMA in our district, wouldn't it guarantee an appointment for both if a nomination could be secured from the MOC?

If an applicant finds himself/herself in a similar situation, it might be worth a call to the two congressional offices to ask how many slots the MOC has available to each SA.
 
Bigcox, I was nominated by both Hagel and Fortenberry. I received the one from Senator Hagel first. I believe that they are using one of Hagel's slots for me. I'd say you have a good chance at an Appointment, since that only leaves 8 other nominees for Fortenberry's slot/slots. You could always call and ask.
 
bigcox -

within the congressional slates candidates are appointed according to merit. Top candidate gets the appointment (unless the MOC pick a principal nominee).

After the congressional slates are filled - the remaining candidates go into what is generally called the "National pool". From there you are competing by MERIT against candidates from across the country.

This is how candidates from really competitive districts get appointments. One can get three nominations, come in #2 on the slates and still not be competitive enough in the National Pool.
It isn't that a nomination from New York or Flordia "holds more weight" - it doesn't but generally the competition is more fierce.

Control what you can control. Show interest to the academy and keep updating your file. It is very important for candidates who have not yet received appointments to send you your 7th semester transcripts and any other academic, athletic or leadership awards or accomplishments.
 
Zack....- you are correct. If there are two MOC slots available and only two candidates, then both would be guaranteed an appointment assuming that they are each 3Qed.
 
^
that is true and if none are qualified no one would get the appointment and the slots would stay open.

Not every Congressional district will have a qualified candidate, while others have many.
 
^
that is true and if none are qualified no one would get the appointment and the slots would stay open.

Not every Congressional district will have a qualified candidate, while others have many.

How soon do they let us know???

One Senator has a 11/15 deadline, one has a deadline of 12/31, and the congressman had a deadline of 11/15 (he does interviews, and we have one with him on the 18th of Dec)
 
The MOC's have until January 31 to submit their slate of names to the academies.
They can wait until then to make their choices.
The academies have application deadlines around the end of Feb.
Most of the MOC nomination appointments will be made in Feb/March. Some may be earlier and some later.
It all depends...............
 
I hope someone can answer this question for me. Is it safe to assume if the MOC's office gets less than 10 applicants to one of the academy, lets say 6, then all of these 6 candidates names will be on the MOC's slate? I'm asking this because my MOC's office stated that they only put names of candidates with that particular academy as their first choice on their slate even though they may have far less than 10 candidates for that academy.

My son's first choice is USMA followed by USNA and USAFA. He was unable to attend CVWs in the fall so he was planning to do so in Feb or March. My fear is that he attends them in the spring and then decides he wants go to USNA or USAFA. He has LOAs for all three academies and only waiting on nominations. He has picked USMA as his choice for 2 senators noms (only allowed to pick 1), and his first choice for MOC's nomination. I don't know if I'm being overly protective or wishing he would choose another academy or just go to regular college like 99% of the population. I'm hoping he gets to have options until next May but it looks like he maybe headed to USMA unless he changes his choices for senators noms (no interviews yet).
 
MOCs let you know when they want to. They must notify the SAs of their noms by Jan. 31 (or by when they leave office, if earlier). However, when they notify you is up to them and there can be 535 approaches to this.:eek:
Some make calls, most send letters, some may do both.
 
I hope someone can answer this question for me. Is it safe to assume if the MOC's office gets less than 10 applicants to one of the academy, lets say 6, then all of these 6 candidates names will be on the MOC's slate? I'm asking this because my MOC's office stated that they only put names of candidates with that particular academy as their first choice on their slate even though they may have far less than 10 candidates for that academy.

First rule: as long as the MOC complies with the law, he/she can do whatever he wants re noms. Thus, the fact that one MOC does things one way doesn't mean others will take the same approach or even that the MOC will take the same approach every year.

As to your first question, typically, yes, IF all six are considered qualified by the MOC's nominating committee. However, if the MOC wants to limit noms to a SA to those candidates for whom that SA was their first choice, the MOC can do so, even if the MOC ends up nominating fewer than 10 candidates. It may not make a lot of sense, but the MOC can certainly take that approach.

My son's first choice is USMA followed by USNA and USAFA. He was unable to attend CVWs in the fall so he was planning to do so in Feb or March. My fear is that he attends them in the spring and then decides he wants go to USNA or USAFA. He has LOAs for all three academies and only waiting on nominations. He has picked USMA as his choice for 2 senators noms (only allowed to pick 1), and his first choice for MOC's nomination. I'm hoping he gets to have options until next May but it looks like he maybe headed to USMA unless he changes his choices for senators noms (no interviews yet).

If he picked USMA first for all three of his MOCs, it sounds like he wants to go there. If he still wants to have choices, the best thing to do is to contact the Senators and tell them: (1) he has LOAs to all 3 SAs, (2) he has a nom for USMA, (3) he is still interested in USNA and USAFA and plans to visit both this spring, and (4) he would like to be considered for noms to one of those schools instead of USMA.

However, doing the above is no guarantee the MOCs will let him switch and, even if they do, they MAY feel he is gaming the system and not give him any noms. Hard to predict.

I know many candidates would like to have all their options open until May but, realistically, it's very hard to do. Also, there's more to making the decision that CVW (and many candidates make the decisions without a visit). Before your son calls his Senators, have him think hard about whether he wants to go to USMA -- in which case, he's finished b/c he has an LOA and a nom -- or if he is REALLY interested in one of the other SAs.

What are his career goals? What is his desired academic major? If he can eliminate even one right now, it may help him along.
 
Thanks USNA 1985 for your sound advice. No, he's mind is pretty much made up. It's his parents' wishful thinking (for selfish reasons) that he would change his mind after visits and spending time with plebes this spring. No, we talked about it over the weekend and he has no intention of switching anything.:frown:
 
he would change his mind after visits and spending time with plebes this spring.

While talking with cadets and mids about the academies - I would caution anyone not to make rash and general decisions based on the experiences of one or two. Look at the big picture. Visit, talk to admissions, talk to cadets and mids read and read some more. Go with the gut.
Like any other large organization or school neither the academies nor cadets and mids are perfect. Experiences vary a lot. Some folks have really great experiences and some have horrible experiences. Some find out after a semester or year that it isn't for them but most are in the middle and their feelings and experience vary from awesome to horrible.
While we put the academies and their cadets and mids on a pedestal and sing their praises of leadership and honestly - real life does happen. They are still young adults and still learning how to grow up and lead.
Lastly, experiences vary from year to year depending on who is in command. They can even vary within company. Listen, learn and evaluate.
 
Zack....- you are correct. If there are two MOC slots available and only two candidates, then both would be guaranteed an appointment assuming that they are each 3Qed.

A MOC is not required to give a nomination so it is very possible that the MOC in this situation would decide to save one of those slots for a future year. Realistically, an astute MOC staffer would at least consider holding one of those slots for next year. Depending on the strength of two candidates, and consideration for next year - it would probably a very real consideration. Just because the MOC has an opening does not mean the MOC must use that opening this year. So while it seems logical that this candidate will get a nom (and appointment) it is also plausible that the MOC will nominate both candidates on one slate and save the other slate for next year. If one of those candidates has an LOA then the MOC would certainly hold one of the slates back for next year and give the non-LOA recipient a principal nom and the LOA an alternate nom (thereby assuring both candidates on one slate) but placing neither of them on the second slate. I realize this can be very complicated and every situation is a little different so an answer may change based on miniscule differences in the scenario but that's the way it goes ... remember the MOC staffer is interested in getting as many appointments from their district as possible - not just this year but next year too. They also are very interested in ensuring that their candidates stick it out to graduation.
 
... Is it safe to assume if the MOC's office gets less than 10 applicants to one of the academy, lets say 6, then all of these 6 candidates names will be on the MOC's slate?

There are actually some good reasons for a MOC to not fill a slate. Some MOCs will always fill the slate while others only fill a slate if every candidate is top notch. The first MOC fills the slate because they are constituents and they want to give the nom knowing that the SA will not appoint many of them. The second MOC will only give a nom to those that the MOC (committee) truly believes can excel at the SA. I could go into extensive detail about it but, in brief, the SA's know when a MOC office is really weeding out candidates ... The SAs have told the MOC office in the 2nd scenario that they know a nom from this MOC is ALWAYS top notch and will graduate. The MOC I am thinking of in this example has always far exceeded the number of appointments charged to his district by having students appointed from the national pool. And this MOC graduation rate for kids in his district far exceeds the norm as well - further supporting his nomination process.
 
thanks for your advice everyone! i've been updating academies and MOC's, so hopefully i'll be hearing back with some good news. i think that's what makes the difference between two good candidates. shows initiative. :thumb:
 
Back
Top