Please Help- principal nomination

FutureCadet58

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Dec 16, 2014
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Hello everyone. I have been visiting this forum for about a year and a half now during my application process to the SA's, but never really needed to ask any direct questions. Now, however, I feel I had to make an account because I have some concerns regarding my application.

So I received my Principal Nomination from my MOC about a week ago. (It hasn't been processed in my portal but it is official, I have the letter and spoke to my MOC on the phone). When speaking to my MOC on the phone, she sounded super confident that I would get in, she said all I need to be is qualified and I am in. I did an extensive amount of research regarding principal nominations, but I am still concerned.

So, I am not 100% confident that I am fully qualified. Medically, I am. I am also pilot qualified so I am not worried about that. My CFA scores were all slightly above average, except I ran a 6:30 mile and my shuttle run was maybe a tenth or two below average. Still, nothing to really worry about, I am sure I am physically qualified. No worries there. So I have two of the three qualifications and my principal nomination......

Scholasticly qualified. I really don't know if I am and it is freaking me out. I can't stop thinking about it. My GPA in my portal is a 3.46. I took many APs and honors, so even though my GPA isn't outstanding, but I am not too concerned about it. I played two sports, have multiple varsity letters , wrote truley passionate essays, killed my interview, went to Boys State, I am in student government, I have had a committed job for over a year at a steakhouse, and I am in a few other clubs and I did my fair share of community service. I also am not worried about the character evaluation, I never have been in trouble in any way at all. Now, my SAT math is a 650, I know that's fine. My SAT writing is a 660, I know that's fine. But my Critical reading is a 570! On the site it says to be competitive you need a 580. But is that just to be competitive? I supposedly don't need to be competitive, just qualified? Plus it is a mere 10 points below. I have read that people have gotten admitted with a score with brackets in their portal (meaning non-competitive scores) It's really eating me alive. My new scores come out next week and I am hoping I scored above a 580 on critical reading, but what if I didn't....

I don't know. My stress is eating me alive, and I have never felt this way before. And I have the principal nomination. Maybe it is because my dream is dangling right in front of my face and it would be a shame if something so minor ruined it. Maybe I just think my situation is too good to be true. I just can't help overthinking every little thing. Someone please give me a piece of mind or something. I can't help thinking they are going to find something to disqualify me, I don't know what. It's a big waiting game, I know, especially since I have been deffered until regular decision ( my nomination hasn't been uploaded so they have no reason to keep evaluating me until later on, plus I am not a super competitive candidate without my principal nomination. I knew I was going to be deffered, that doesn't concern me. To my understanding they have to accept you by law with a principal nomination as long as you are 3q'ed)

So I guess all there is left for me to do is pray that I scored higher on that SAT, keep my GPA up, and submit those 3 optional letter of recommendations. Sorry if I vented a little, but I feel I need someone to talk to me that knows what they are talking about. I am just really stressed about this because I want it so bad and I am painfully close. :confused:
 
Obviously, no one here is on the actual academy board that scores your application; so we don't know the 100% answer you are looking for.

Yes, it is true that if you received a Principal nomination from your senator or representative, and if you are 100% qualified, the YES, you WILL receive an appointment. That is factual and there is nothing that the academy or anyone else can do to change that. Even if the academy says there are OTHERS who's scores are HIGHER than yours. That is irrelevant. If you have a Principal nomination and are qualified, you will receive the appointment.

Now; what makes you qualified? You need to be academically, physically, and medically qualified. Medically, is pretty simple. If you weren't medically qualified, it would say so and your ALO would know. Also academically, if you aren't qualified, your ALO would know that because it would say so on your application. (The part your ALO can see).

So, I guess what I am suggesting is that you contact your ALO, you already know who S/He is. You've met and been interviewed by them. Let them know about your Principal nomination and ask them to look at your online application to see if there's anything that shows up as disqualified. I'm sure they would tell you. For instance, I can look at any of my candidate's online record and tell if their ACT/SAT are below minimum standards. It will also tell me if an applicant is disqualified medically. And to an extent, your ALO can even tell if you're qualified physically.

I'm not going to get into more details. Much of it I simply can't. It's a very complicated process. It has to be. How do you start with 10,000+ applicants and narrow it down to 1100-1200 appointees when you have to compare MORE than 36,000+ high schools; plus all the home schooled; with students with varying opportunities where some have access to IB/AP type classes and some don't. Some have access to numerous athletics and some don't. etc... How do you keep the application process fair? That's why it's a complicated process.

So again, I recommend asking your ALO for some insight. S/He will have a very accurate idea. While they can't be 100%, they will be able to tell you if there's anything that sticks out as "Disqualifying".

Sounds like you have an excellent shot of receiving an appointment with your MOC Principal nomination. Congratulations and good luck.
 
I talk to my ALO and admissions counselor very frequently. It appears to me they are only concerned with the single SAT score that is 10 points below the "competitive guidelines". I guess I just have to wait for the SAT scores to come out and if I scored above a 580 I can relax. Thank you for your insight, sir.
 
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Did you take the ACT? If your ACT scores are high, they will look at those rather than the SAT. My DD did much better on the ACT. Also, I think I read that they will accept scores from the January test dates, so if your new scores aren't higher in CR and it is really bothering you, you could take SATs and ACTs in January for one last shot.
 
I did alright on the ACT, all of my scores qualify for "competitive guidelines" on my ACT except science, I have a 24 they want a 25. How frustrating right?! I'm just about as close as I can cut it....I'm confident that I will get my SAT score and be happy with it next week, but if I don't there is indeed one more SAT in January. The dilemma with that test is the scores release February 13th, and the academy stops accepting scores on February 15th. I don't know what to do about that. (Hopefully I won't need to worry about that test if I did as well as I wanted to on this one). Thanks for your input it is appreciated!
 
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