Just to clarify. Minimum qualification is all that's needed should an individual have a principle nomination. I bring this up, because the discretion being mentioned, such as captain of the football team or other leadership type attributes, are the things that separate the "BEST" vs the other qualified candidates. Of the 2500-5000 qualified candidates, of which 1200+/- will receive an appointment, an applicant can be the #5000 qualified individual; if you have a principle nomination, the academy must give you the appointment. They have absolutely "NO CHOICE" in the matter. If a principle nominee doesn't get the appointment, it's because they are NOT qualified. Either academically, medically, or physically. All the other attributes that make an individual "COMPETITIVE" against all other qualified candidates, don't come into play. Not for a "Principal" nominee. This is not to say that you don't have to have any leadership qualities; simply stating again, if you don't receive an appointment with a Principal, then you won't receive an appointment at all. Because the academy deems you disqualified.
For those interested, out of the 1200 +/- appointees, approximately 500-550 are directly selected from the MOC's nomination slates. There are 435 representatives and 100 senators. MOST have on average 1 slate of 10 names each year. Sometimes a MOC as 2 available slates. Sometimes they have no available slates. "There's laws on how many appointees, based off of their slates, can be at the academy at one time". It's complicated and I won't get into it right now, but for the sake of argument, let's just say all 535 MOC have one slate of 10 names this year. BY LAW, the academy MUST, select and give one appointment from each of those 535 slates; assuming at least one person on each slate is qualified. Right there, is approximately 535 appointments. These are appointments that the academy has very little say so in appointing. I say little, because most MOC's simply provide the academy with a list of ten, and the academy gets to choose which one of the 10 to give an appointment to. Some, give a list listing a Principle nominee. In this case, assuming the individual is qualified, EVEN AT THE BARE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS; the academy MUST give that individual the appointment. This is federal law. Not the academy's rules or choice.
Personally, I prefer the "Principle" (Ranked) method of MOC's providing their slate to the academy. It means the MOC is taking a more active roll in the process. The balance to this of course, is that after those 535 appointments, the academy still has close to 700 appointments left to give out, and they, (The academy), have complete control over who those 700 appointments go to. The majority will be those on the MOC's lists who didn't get one of the 535 mandatory appointments. Some will be from Presidential and other military related nomination slates.
But to reiterate; a principle nominee, receiving an appointment from the academy (Assuming they are qualified); only need to meet the minimum qualifications. Things such as leadership points, captain of this, volunteer of that, etc. are used to make an applicant more competitive. Most people don't realize that the 3.86 gpa average; the 30 ACT score average; etc. of appointees, are WAY ABOVE the minimum standards. If the Principle nominee has a 25 ACT, they meet the minimum test score. As long as they are qualified academically, pass their medical exam, and pass their CFA; they will receive an appointment if given a Principle nomination. So; if an individual with a Principle nomination, DOESN'T RECEIVE and appointment, then it's because they are disqualified, and they aren't going to receive an appointment under any circumstance.
