Principal Nom DOESN'T work

fearthegoat17

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Joined
Jan 27, 2017
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I just got my second TWE. I am frustrated because I've worked harder for this than anything I have ever done in my life. I lived and breathed the Academy and my application every single day. I followed their instructions and then some. I am a Robotics Engineer and a UC, and play lacrosse here, were we are nationally ranked in the MCLA. I maxed out all but the basketball throw and mile (6:09) on the CFA. Principal nomination for my district, BGO interview went outstanding.
Slight rant I apologize, but at least at this moment, I do not see how I could get rejected.
Thank you everyone on forums.
 
FearTheGoat. I am so sorry. I do not know what to say that would explain it or make it hurt less right now. I won't say anything trite.
When you are cooler and collected--and not angry/freshly hurt and maybe have a list of questions written down--call your admissions counselor--and ask him what you could have done, what you could do again, is there a waitlist? Are you on it? Why as the principal nom were you rejected? It might not be today or tomorrow--maybe next week--you could send an email too--but I would call--and I would let him know that you still really want this and they can call you any time leading up to I-Day.
Again, I am so sorry.
 
So, at the risk of asking a stupid question, it seems that there have been a couple of posters on here that were principals for USNA and received a TWE. In these cases, is no one from that district getting an appointment? I am confused on the logistics of a principal nom and how USNA is handling them.
 
It has always been my understanding that to be appointed requires a nomination. However, having a nomination doesn't guarantee an appointment (principal or not). On the other hand, being ranked at the top of a nomination slate (MOC, ROTC, NJROTC, Presidential) with the highest WCS as a qualified candidate may.
 
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I realize it does not guarantee an appointment, but in these cases, is USNA just ignoring the MOCs principal nom and selecting someone else or is no one getting selected from that slate? I thought that if someone was triple qualified with a principal nomination, they would receive the nod over anyone else on the MOC slate.
 
It's been stated on this forum before by people with inside knowledge that there is federal legislation that allows the USNA Admissions Board to bypass a principal nominee if they choose to. The assumption is the board selected another nominee from that congressional slate. The law apparently requires USMA and USAFA to select the principal nominee, IF found to be fully qualified.
 
I have been told a few times by a few different people (not admissions so just because there were a few doesn't make it 100% accurate) that if there was a recruited athlete or diversity candidate who also got a nomination from your district, they may have been given the slate IF they were also 3Q and have equal or better WCS's. My DD is a diversity candidate so at times I hope this is true because she was not her principal nom and is still CPR. So for us the answer is easy, if she isn't appointed then we can simply tell ourselves that it is because she wasn't the #1 on her Moc's list.... his #2-10 are considered "competitive".

FeartheGoat, there are unknowns for you as a candidate like I mentioned above that could be your answer. Also, some students who may be first generation American, or first to go to college in their family, or other hardship situations, may have added WCS points. The hard facts are that your final answer may never be known.

Please just keep trying and I hope you reapply.... your avatar is my favorite on the Forum and I think you'd make an excellent midshipman.

{{{{{Hugs}}}}}
 
The principal nominee may seek that answer by contacting the specific admissions office. I would suspect there would be an explanation specific to that individual's packet.
 
It is true that USNA is not required to give the fully qualified principal nominee the appointment. The overwhelming majority of the time, it happens but occasionally it does not. In addition to contacting admissions, you might contact your MOC SA coordinator -- that individual might be able to find out some additional info.
 
It was my understanding that USNA is bound by the principal NOM if they find the candidate qualified in all other respects (i.e. 3Q). Perhaps OP (and other principal NOM with TWE) weren't 3Q. I also believe that even when a MOC submits a principal NOM, they can also include alternates in case the prinicipal is not qualified.
 
My DS is principle nom for our MOC, but he is still CPR. We were told that it still up to the USNA to select. They are the only SA that can reject a principle nom, and they have done it. Im so sorry fearthegoat, but my DS may be in your shoes real soon too.
 
Thank you everyone for the encouragement and advice. I also have the principal for USAFA, so we'll see if that law is true.
Very disappointed. Ironic that I have a fear the goat USNA sticker on the ceiling above my bed, and went to sleep in my USNA t-shirt, then wake up to the TWE
 
What percentage of MOCs still use principle noms?
Ours simply nominated 10 and lot USNA pick. That seems better to me. Let USNA be the bad guy to the 9 who didn't get in
 
What percentage of MOCs still use principle noms?
Ours simply nominated 10 and lot USNA pick. That seems better to me. Let USNA be the bad guy to the 9 who didn't get in

I think that is the Norm , at least in my State. MOC gets to bet the good guy(or gal), and USNA makes the hard decisions
 
We are from rural District. MOC only had 12 interested in presueing USNA. He only nominates one per academy. They then had broads and one is selected. They reason they don't nom ten is because MOC dosen't want to flood SA with just anyone that comes looking for a nom. They only want to present top candidates.
 
We are from rural District. MOC only had 12 interested in presueing USNA. He only nominates one per academy. They then had broads and one is selected. They reason they don't nom ten is because MOC dosen't want to flood SA with just anyone that comes looking for a nom. They only want to present top candidates.
Wow, it seems like your MOC does not understand the process and is not doing best for the constitutes of his district. I can understand not filling the list of ten if the candidates just to fill it, , but to only pick one candidate months before everything is completed is a mistake. The biggest issue that comes to mind is DoDMERB review. Candidate can look great on paper but can have some unknown health issue. If the MOC only nominated one person, and that person is not qualified, the will not get a candidate this year. I guess it is the MOC's prerogative to do as he wishes.
 
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