Presidential Nomination

Lewis95

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
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Hello! How many people apply, and how many of those receive the presidential nomination from USAFA? Is it just based off Candidate Score? Thanks so much!
 
Presidential and Military Affiliated

The Presidential category may have up to 100 appointments. This category is reserved for children of career military personnel. In addition, there are other military-affiliated categories including:

Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
Children of Military or Civilian Personnel in Missing Status
Children of Medal of Honor Recipients
Air Force Regular and Reserve Components
Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC)
Honor Military and Naval Schools
International Students
To learn how to request a nomination in these categories and view a sample military-affiliated letter, visit the Academy web site.

This being said, if they are eligible in all other aspects these people will receive a Presidential Nomination. However only 100 can receive appointments in any given class.
I don't think in any given year the number of applications for a Presidential Nominations is published. Like I said, all eligible will receive the nomination, but only 100 can be appointed.
 
Last edited:
kdc,

They have published the numbers yrs ago, I don't know if they still do, but typically the number ranges from 450-500 noms. I know for 08 it was 453 Presidential noms.

Statistically you would think that candidates have a better shot since it is approx a 20% rate compared to a 10% for an MOC slate that can be charged.

However, it is important to realize that the Presidential slate is not geo-centric, but national.

For example, people are always amazed there are so many VA cadets. The fact is VA, esp. No. VA has nationally ranked HS schools, and there are many military parents working in this area (Pentagon, Belvoir, Andrews, Quantico). The AFA does not look at their region, just the WCS.

This helps a candidate since VA is very competitive regarding noms. 700+ for an MOC is not unheard of for MOC applications.

Conversely, look at Wyoming, they are not deemed as competitive as other states, and it is possible to get all 3 noms. + presidential. The candidate could get an apptmt from them, be #88 on the WCS for presidential. They would be removed from that list, and now the #101, is 100.

Our DS's friend received no MOC noms from a state that I would not say is competitive (NC); you can get 3 from that state. He got an apptmt. via the Presidential.

It is all about the WCS and charging sources.

This is why mass mailing March occurs. Every yr they are making a giant jigsaw puzzle without ever looking at the picture. The LOAs, principals are their corners and borders. After that they start moving around the ones with multiple noms, and keep moving until every piece fits.

As it has always been stated you only need 1 nom., but try to get every nom possible that is available to you. CC will tell you, along with Flieger, myself and many other posters that we have seen candidates with 5 noms get a TWE, and candidates with 1 get a BFE.

The only thing in a candidates control is to submit the best packet they can submit. This is a very fluid situation, and will be for at least 5 more months.
 
Thanks for the correction Pima. I did not realize that the numbers were published. We are from Northern California, also a hard location to get a nomination in due to high number of Military families. Both my kiddos received a Presidential nomination and appointment. Little did I know with my DD, it was a crap shoot as that is all she applied for. DS applied for congressional as well, but received appointment before the interview process.
 
Something that also needs to be considered is with all the cut-backs in appointments, things have changed. A couple years ago, it was not uncommon for there to be quite a few "Early Appointments" in October-November. (Presidential nominations are given immediately, meaning June/July/August if you apply; and thus an LOA isn't required and an early appointment could be given). I know quite a few who received early appointments using a presidential nomination. Of course, these were individuals who would have had no problem getting a MOC nomination either. They were the 3.95-4.0gpa; 30+ACT; 2000+SAT; All IB/AP class; etc... type students.

But things have changed. The academy is cutting back to get back down to the 4000 cadet wing size. They hoped to have that accomplished this past september, and go back up to around 1150 new appointees for next year. Well, they didn't get down as low as they wanted to, so next year will probably be in the same range of appointments as this past year. And that means most likely the overwhelming majority of appointments will be given out in March-April.

But presidentials, as Pima correctly pointed out, range in the 450-500 area. But that number could be 1000 and it wouldn't matter. The academy can still only give 100 appointments using the presidential nomination. That's why it's imperative that each candidate applies to every nomination they are entitled to apply for.
 
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