Let's be both careful and clear here. There is no missed window. We don't know if EA applicants already received most of the appointments. Nobody knows yet what the yield of the appointments given to EA will be. I'm pretty sure it won't be 100 percent. Even if the yield is as high as 75 percent, that still represents less than 50 percent of the planned incoming class.
Overqualified canidates
- Thread starter Serve.USA
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Let's be both careful and clear here. There is no missed window. We don't know if EA applicants already received most of the appointments. Nobody knows yet what the yield of the appointments given to EA will be. I'm pretty sure it won't be 100 percent. Even if the yield is as high as 75 percent, that still represents less than 50 percent of the planned incoming class.
sarahs43
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Well, actually, according to this post: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/early-action-statistics.46339/
EA did receive a majority of appointment -- 194, in fact. The academy is expecting to accept ~300 cadets as they strive to increase the size of the corps. I believe that some of these appointees may have already denied their appointment, as they may have gotten into a school they'd want to go to more, but it can be expected a large portion did not.
Your assertion is valid only if each and every one of those 196 appointees accepts their appointment. They won't. For a good number of these appointees, CGA is plan B or C. That's why I referred to yield. The great unknown is how many acceptances those 194 appointments will YIELD. I doubt that even CGA admissions knows the answer to that yet, though they probably have a good estimate based on past years' experience.
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Want to be overqualified? Attend CGA and graduate... You'll then be overqualified.
"...one of the few... " wow you are special aren't you?
Blessedmom
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So many factors are at play in getting into any top colleges or SA. Race, geography, first to goto college, income etc. We just don't know?Say a kid from a previleged background who is super smart vs a kid from low income rural single parent background who is also super smart? Who would be more qualified? If you are overqualified and don't get in SA, I am sure you will succeed wherever you go. Just don't try to understand the admissions selection process, it will drive you crazy
Count my son in as one of the EA appointment recipients who will be declining. He is waiting on USAFA but has an appt to USMA where I believe his heart is. USCGA is a special place and I post this with mixed emotions. If I could go back to high school, 30 years ago, and do it all again, I would apply to the USCGA....
forumjunkie
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Aimed at new applicants....
I will say this carefully and I am not making accusations perhaps this is aimed more at those new applicants that have yet to do their interviews, but sometimes arrogance or overconfidence shows through. Most of the young people who are considering this avenue are High energy performers with above average intelligence.
The academies want Leaders yes, but I believe that they also want "team players" those type of leaders that put their troops ahead of themselves , sometimes that characteristic gets overshadowed in a persons character when they are "Very Bright" they can't help but feel superior to us poor simple folks, or very "performance oriented". It's a kind of "Get out of my way your slowing me down" attitude. (hey I have 5 kids, I know where of I speak). To put it in other words maybe the board cares less about what you can do, than what you can do for the other kids at the Academy. (By the way this is one reason I always hated the Army marketing campaign "An Army of one") how ridiculous!
You may think it does not show through in your interviews, but I think is sneaks in, it also shows up in your letters of recommendation sometimes, not so much in what is written, but perhaps in what is not. So examine your attitude early in the process, and perhaps work on humility and patience, they are nice accessories to Achievement.
I will say this carefully and I am not making accusations perhaps this is aimed more at those new applicants that have yet to do their interviews, but sometimes arrogance or overconfidence shows through. Most of the young people who are considering this avenue are High energy performers with above average intelligence.
The academies want Leaders yes, but I believe that they also want "team players" those type of leaders that put their troops ahead of themselves , sometimes that characteristic gets overshadowed in a persons character when they are "Very Bright" they can't help but feel superior to us poor simple folks, or very "performance oriented". It's a kind of "Get out of my way your slowing me down" attitude. (hey I have 5 kids, I know where of I speak). To put it in other words maybe the board cares less about what you can do, than what you can do for the other kids at the Academy. (By the way this is one reason I always hated the Army marketing campaign "An Army of one") how ridiculous!
You may think it does not show through in your interviews, but I think is sneaks in, it also shows up in your letters of recommendation sometimes, not so much in what is written, but perhaps in what is not. So examine your attitude early in the process, and perhaps work on humility and patience, they are nice accessories to Achievement.
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Serve.USA,
There is no such thing as an overqualified candidate. Despite your belief that you may have all the right boxes checked in terms of grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, these factors are ultimately not what causes Admissions to accept or decline someone.
Let me clue you in on something that you will learn within the first few moments of entering Swab Summer should you be lucky enough to be accepted.
The Coast Guard, like all services, has a set of Core Values. They are Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. As a cadet, an officer, and a Coast Guardsman, you have a responsibility to uphold these Core Values at all times, whether you are in uniform or not. Respect means treating someone in the right manner despite disagreements, hurt feelings, or blows to your ego. Respect means that you refrain from using foul language when addressing anyone, especially an adult who has more than an idea of what they're talking about. These 3 principles will be the first thing you memorize over the summer, something you will repeat over and over at the top of your lungs, something that will be spoken about at great length by your cadre, instructors, Company Chiefs and Officers, the Superintendent, Commandant of Cadets, and many others. If you cannot internalize these values, a candidate is in no way close to being qualified let alone overqualified.
You are in no way superior your peers. How do you know their parents have done everything for them? You don't. A parent's presence on a forum in no way indicates a lack of effort by the candidate themselves. Several parents on this forum have even mentioned that their child does not know they have an account on SAF.
Humility can be a formidable ally. It is the character trait that will see you through many difficult times in your career as a cadet and as a junior officer. Some of the most important lessons I have learned have come from checking my own ego and being willing to shut up and listen.
Your question, in the logical sense, is a valid one. If you only look at a candidate on paper, perhaps they may appear overqualified. But, at the end of the day, USCGA is looking for Leaders of Character, a factor that is in no way quantifiable. At some point in your potential Academy career, you will fail. Trust me when I say that, in my opinion, I'd rather fail at academics or athletics than ever be in a position where my character is questioned.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor to attend a service academy.
There is no such thing as an overqualified candidate. Despite your belief that you may have all the right boxes checked in terms of grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, these factors are ultimately not what causes Admissions to accept or decline someone.
Let me clue you in on something that you will learn within the first few moments of entering Swab Summer should you be lucky enough to be accepted.
The Coast Guard, like all services, has a set of Core Values. They are Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. As a cadet, an officer, and a Coast Guardsman, you have a responsibility to uphold these Core Values at all times, whether you are in uniform or not. Respect means treating someone in the right manner despite disagreements, hurt feelings, or blows to your ego. Respect means that you refrain from using foul language when addressing anyone, especially an adult who has more than an idea of what they're talking about. These 3 principles will be the first thing you memorize over the summer, something you will repeat over and over at the top of your lungs, something that will be spoken about at great length by your cadre, instructors, Company Chiefs and Officers, the Superintendent, Commandant of Cadets, and many others. If you cannot internalize these values, a candidate is in no way close to being qualified let alone overqualified.
You are in no way superior your peers. How do you know their parents have done everything for them? You don't. A parent's presence on a forum in no way indicates a lack of effort by the candidate themselves. Several parents on this forum have even mentioned that their child does not know they have an account on SAF.
Humility can be a formidable ally. It is the character trait that will see you through many difficult times in your career as a cadet and as a junior officer. Some of the most important lessons I have learned have come from checking my own ego and being willing to shut up and listen.
Your question, in the logical sense, is a valid one. If you only look at a candidate on paper, perhaps they may appear overqualified. But, at the end of the day, USCGA is looking for Leaders of Character, a factor that is in no way quantifiable. At some point in your potential Academy career, you will fail. Trust me when I say that, in my opinion, I'd rather fail at academics or athletics than ever be in a position where my character is questioned.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor to attend a service academy.
mascara_mom
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VERY well said trackandfield08!