Portal Not Reflecting Progress?

B

BridgeOverBach

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Joined
Dec 23, 2020
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19
My progress tab on my USNA portal doesn't seem to be updating or reflecting my current status. My medical shows incomplete despite being complete weeks ago, my BGO interview also isn't shown despite my BGO emailing me confirming his write up, and my academic information shows incomplete as well.

I've already contacted both my counselor and BGO about this issue but wanted to see if anyone else is having similar problems?
 
It's not just you. I've had a Q'd medical since October and it still hasn't been updated. Other things have taken a while to show up for me as well.

If you aren't seeing things by early January (i.e. allowing time for file review along with the Holiday break), I'd recommend reaching out to your USNA Admissions Counselor, scheduling a meeting, and confirming that they've received your information on their end. The "face-to-face" aspect of Google Meets is often more helpful than email.

Be patient with admissions this year, the new system on top of COVID has thrown a wrench in everything. Rest assured they're doing everything they can to give everyone's file a fair review. Things should (hopefully) kick into high gear come January 2021.

Best of luck to you!
 
Big_Nate830 said:
It's not just you. I've had a Q'd medical since October and it still hasn't been updated. Other things have taken a while to show up for me as well.

If you aren't seeing things by early January (i.e. allowing time for file review along with the Holiday break), I'd recommend reaching out to your USNA Admissions Counselor, scheduling a meeting, and confirming that they've received your information on their end. The "face-to-face" aspect of Google Meets is often more helpful than email.

Be patient with admissions this year, the new system on top of COVID has thrown a wrench in everything. Rest assured they're doing everything they can to give everyone's file a fair review. Things should (hopefully) kick into high gear come January 2021.

Best of luck to you!
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Thank you for the reassurance. I've tried to contact a few people but no luck so far. Hopefully that changes soon!
 
Your admissions counselor would be your best bet. I see you already contacted them. Know that they are on Holiday breaks as well.

You are correct that there are issues with the new system. They know this, and are working on it. Their IT department is also strained (putting it lightly) with the demands of online learning for USNA, as well as other Covid inspired demands. All this straight from recent BGO training. So it is a current challenge.

None of that is helpful, though to a new candidate. You are wise to follow up, if significant time has passed. Put on you patient pants and wait if is hasn’t been a while. This is also the busy time for admissions for this process.

Nothing seems to be easy this year!!
 
My son had the same experience-- everything submitted, but not all items reflected in the portal for quite a while. Yesterday all items were current. He did email his admissions counselor and B&G officer several times over the past few months, who were able to provide assurance along the way that they "could see" his information -- although it was not reflected in his portal. He was relieved to see it finally in the portal -- it just took a solid month for the B&G to be posted and more than that for the medical. Good luck!
 
My DD's portal finally shows everything checked with a green mark. Took multiple contacts to have presidential nom show up, but the BGO interview was Monday and that is already checked off now too.
 
jaglvr said:
My DD's portal finally shows everything checked with a green mark. Took multiple contacts to have presidential nom show up, but the BGO interview was Monday and that is already checked off now too.
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Good to know - we’ve kind of given up until after the first of the year. I’ll see if DS is interested in looking when he gets home from work....
 
My daughter has given up on USNA. She has completed her application but her ACT score and BGO interview has not been updated on the portal status. She has contacted her admission counselor and the counselor told her to be patient... it has been more than 6 weeks
 
M504072 said:
My daughter has given up on USNA. She has completed her application but her ACT score and BGO interview has not been updated on the portal status. She has contacted her admission counselor and the counselor told her to be patient... it has been more than 6 weeks
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This has been a frustrating cycle for both candidates and Admissions, primarily because of the live IT system switch, plus a lovely serving of COVID impact.

Your daughter can focus on the long pole in the tent. That is, can the Admissions counselor see the ACT score, the BGO interview and any other item that has been completed or submitted? If so, that means the right people, the decision-making people, have the access they need to evaluate her application. The simple fact of the candidate not being able to see these concrete items in the portal is not critical to the core process, though in the present era of instant online statuses, it is annoying and inconvenient. Portal visibility is not the long pole in the tent, the availability of the data to those who need it is. If your daughter can re-proportion her stress over this, perhaps that will help her to adapt to the situation and roll with it. USNA must build the class of 2025 within the same general timeframe as always. This year, it’s just messy. As a recovering perfectionist who likes things and processes to be tidy, I had to learn in the military that sometimes, things are “just messy,” despite good efforts

Candidates can always go online during the live chat sessions through the website widget and ask about something specific. Whoever is staffing the chat can quickly check.

Elected official slates are coming in steadily now, and appointments are starting to come out.

If she really wants USNA, she will dig even deeper to wade through the mess. If you sense she truly has given up, then perhaps her motivation and direction have shifted. That happens and is perfectly normal over the course of a long application cycle, as more knowledge is gained and certain realities come more into focus.
 
Capt MJ said:
This has been a frustrating cycle for both candidates and Admissions, primarily because of the live IT system switch, plus a lovely serving of COVID impact.

Your daughter can focus on the long pole in the tent. That is, can the Admissions counselor see the ACT score, the BGO interview and any other item that has been completed or submitted? If so, that means the right people, the decision-making people, have the access they need to evaluate her application. The simple fact of the candidate not being able to see these concrete items in the portal is not critical to the core process, though in the present era of instant online statuses, it is annoying and inconvenient. Portal visibility is not the long pole in the tent, the availability of the data to those who need it is. If your daughter can re-proportion her stress over this, perhaps that will help her to adapt to the situation and roll with it. USNA must build the class of 2025 within the same general timeframe as always. This year, it’s just messy. As a recovering perfectionist who likes things and processes to be tidy, I had to learn in the military that sometimes, things are “just messy,” despite good efforts

Candidates can always go online during the live chat sessions through the website widget and ask about something specific. Whoever is staffing the chat can quickly check.

Elected official slates are coming in steadily now, and appointments are starting to come out.

If she really wants USNA, she will dig even deeper to wade through the mess. If you sense she truly has given up, then perhaps her motivation and direction have shifted. That happens and is perfectly normal over the course of a long application cycle, as more knowledge is gained and certain realities come more into focus.
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Thank you for the advise. I understand she is focusing on another SA as she did receive a primary nomination. The best thing is that she has developed a really good relationship with her blue and gold officer.
 
To any ‘frustrated’ candidate (or parent), I promise, that if you receive an appointment, your frustration magically disappears. In fact, imo, the appointment is that much sweeter.

As CaptMJ already stated, it’s a ‘frustrating’ year all around. For everyone. BGO’s, admissions, nominating sources are all having to adapt and overcome challenges. Specifically regarding the portal, USNA’s IT department has been using super powers to introduce a whole new candidate portal, BGO information system, all while putting USNA completely virtual. Academia/classes/staff. All historical. Personally? I think it’s unbelievable and hard to even grasp what a challenge all that would be.

So, are there challenges and frustrations? YES. And for everyone. But...in the big picture, it doesn’t REALLY matter. The BIG picture is that the process is moving forward... and I can’t even express how exciting this is to me. The thought of welcoming a new class on Iday, with parents/family/friends in attendance for a NORMAL Iday. I get goosebumps thinking about ‘normal’.

Hang in there everyone. Exercise patience, extend grace. It’s a tough year for everyone. In all things.
 
As Mike Tyson may have said “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. We have absorbed the conventional wisdom of SAF as it pertains to USNA over the years: get started early, connect with BGO as a Junior, get DoDMERB done ASAP, get full, best application in as soon as possible.

The challenge for the boy this year is that the structural issues with the new system threw all of that wisdom up in the air. But the ultimate SAF advice still pertains- just put the best possible personal effort out there and trust in the system
 
M504072 said:
My daughter has given up on USNA. She has completed her application but her ACT score and BGO interview has not been updated on the portal status. She has contacted her admission counselor and the counselor told her to be patient... it has been more than 6 weeks
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This is not direct to particular poster as much as to SAF in general -- If you are giving up on a Service Academy because something isn't posting to the Portal immediately , the Military may not be the correct career choice. The military had never done instant gratification well... there will be plenty of times that you will be treated like a mushroom (kept in dark), and expected to trust in your leadership and the system.

ALF648 said:
As Mike Tyson may have said “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. We have absorbed the conventional wisdom of SAF as it pertains to USNA over the years: get started early, connect with BGO as a Junior, get DoDMERB done ASAP, get full, best application in as soon as possible.
The challenge for the boy this year is that the structural issues with the new system threw all of that wisdom up in the air. But the ultimate SAF advice still pertains- just put the best possible personal effort out there and trust in the system
Click to expand...
The "conventional wisdom " hasn't changed at all.. get your best application in on a timely manner, then wait patiently. The fact that something doesn't reflect on your portal immediately doesn't mean a thing. The new Platform is working, but is not fully integrated yet (so submissions are not immediately recognized it takes longer and requires additional steps for the different stakeholders (Admissions, Candidates, BGOS, MOC, DODMERB, etc) to get information. There are a lot of moving pieces, and frankly, I suspect that giving Candidates the instant gratification of seeing something posted in their portal is really low on the priority list.

Keep in mind, USNA has existed and been placing classes for 175 years, and I suspect the online application/portal process has been in place about 25. That leaves about 150 years of applicants completing their applications by hand, submitting by mail...and waiting without any Feedback until April 15, and somehow the classes got filled.

Rant over ...
 
Two things:

1. Agree with all comments from above.
2. BridgeoverBach = "Thank you for the reassurance. I've tried to contact a few people but no luck so far. Hopefully that changes soon!" Applicant has not contacted me yet....:bang:
 
Capt MJ said:
If she really wants USNA, she will dig even deeper to wade through the mess. If you sense she truly has given up, then perhaps her motivation and direction have shifted.
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Old Navy BGO said:
If you are giving up on a Service Academy because something isn't posting to the Portal immediately , the Military may not be the correct career choice.
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+100 to @Capt MJ and @Old Navy BGO. Great comments that all candidates and their parents should latch onto.

Our society’s obsession with social media has fueled this rather unhealthy demand for instant gratification. Many stories have been written and many studies have been done that show young people waiting with baited breath as their most recent social-media post garners — or doesn’t — its first “like.” How long did it take? Who did it come from? How long until I hit 10, 100, 1000? A whole generation demands the ethereal approval of a thumbs up or a heart turned red. And ultimately it’s not mentally healthy. (The notion of personal patience as a driver of maturity, success and mental health is nothing new, by the way. Just Google “marshmallow experiment” to read about a classic scientific and longitudinal study.)

So really, this is my “old fart” way of saying, “Candidates, take a deep breath — or three — and realize there’s a lot more to this than how quickly an SA or MOC provides you online affirmation of something you already know to be true.” There are dozens of admissions personnel at SAs and ROTC doing their damndest to keep this train running in very difficult circumstances. Nothing about this year is normal! I’m guessing that fielding calls and emails from impatient candidates asking why some status change isn’t reflected in the portal does NOT help matters.

The military is a career of “hurry up and wait,” twists and turns, fits and starts, and yes, Semper Gumby! This past year at SAs has put Semper Gumby on a pedestal. The cadets and mids who heed its lesson fare much better than those who don’t.

Parents, don’t enable this anxiety by demonstrating your own impatience and incredulity. There’s a saying during the college-application process at my kids’ high school: “Parents’ job is ‘milk and cookies.’” As in, help your kids take a deep breath and gain some sense of perspective. Provide comfort and counsel patience. Don’t be the one who fuels their need for instant gratification.

OK, “old fart” now getting off his pedestal and returning to the comfort of his big leather chair, warm quilt, hot tea, and the Wall Street Journal.
 
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