Principal Nomination but decline an appointment

D

dreamwiz

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Oct 24, 2019
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If a candidate who got an appointment through a PN declines an appointment for another SA, can this create an issue? For example, would it affect the slate for my MOC noms, negatively, e.g., screwing up other candidates on the slate, or disappointing MOC noms committee and/or the SA provided an appointment?

I am so blessed to receive multiple appointments and I really didn't expect these results. As such, there is a possibility to decline the SA with a PN because of another SA that I thought a very low chance to receive an appointment. I hope that my decision wouldn't affect any other candidates or the committees in any ways.
 
In recruiting, for the best of the best, someone is always going to be disappointed if they aren’t the team that the top candidate picks. When you’re the recruiter, you get used to it. It stings, but it’s part of the process and doesn’t dissuade me from recruiting top talent.
 
Here is what my thought process is:

Nominating You as a PN was your nominating authority’s decision and which SA to join is your decision. No blood lost, you decide what is best for you in a situation like this.

Good luck [emoji106] on your journey ahead.
 
Just don't rush into any decision. You have till May 1st. Try to visit the SAs where you have received appointments if you haven't all ready.
My DS had to make a difficult decision last year. We toured ships, visited Army forts, and met with the commander of our local Airforce base.
Gather as much information as possible.
 
....and make the best decision for YOU. In 5 years this appointment process will be but a distant and probably forgettable memory. But your decision will affect you for the rest of your life! So focus on you. You earned it !
 
dreamwiz said:
I am so blessed to receive multiple appointments and I really didn't expect these results.
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You can obviously only attend ONE SA, so it will be necessary to decline the other offers. Your decision on which SA to attend should be based on your career interests, the specific opportunities offered and which SA you think is the best fit for you. It shouldn't be based on how to avoid disappointing someone or how this might impact other applicants. MOC's are certainly aware of the fact that some candidates may get more than one offer of appointment. SA applicants often also apply to civilian colleges, so they may eventually chose a path that doesn't even involve an SA.

That is part of the process of applying to any competitive college/SA.
 
You have gotten some excellent advice.
Make the best decision for you.

The SAs offer more appointments then they expect to be accepted, no problem declining them. That is built into their calculations.

You will never know how USNA ranked you on that slate, whether you were their #1. They were pretty much constrained to make you an offer, due to the principal nom designation. Now they are no longer constrained to charge your appointment to that nom source, since you will decline, they are free to choose, if they want, someone else from that slate they really wanted, and make that person the chargeable appointee. You will never know, and it doesn’t matter!

Make your choice and don’t look back. You are through with this part of the process. More roller coasters to come!
 
Thank you for all your sincere advice, which is invaluable.

At once I confirm and accept one, I will decline other SA appointments, college admissions, and 4-year ROTC scholarships immediately.

I saw another thread that a candidate would need to keep a backup plan until I-Day or R-Day by depositing money to Plan B and/or C college(s).
However, I won't do that....so I will keep focusing on my commitment to serve my country by keeping only one (e.g., not looking back). I am confident that I will stay on the right track until my first day of the long endeavor on June 29, 2020.

Special thanks to Capt MJ who helped me nail down this matter. Because of several members' great input, insight and clarification, I don't feel a burden on my decision any longer. Thank you all very much!
 
You may wish to re-think a college option. If you have an accident or illness close to any SA reporting-in day, you may be DQ’ed or turned back. It happens every year - the broken collarbone, the case of mono, the broken ankle, the raging strep throat and fever. The SA will usually issue an LOA type of communication for the next year. The turned-away appointee is expected to recover, be re-Q’ed by DODMERB, re-apply if desired, take Plebe-like courses at college, get noms.

There is that saying, “When man plans, God laughs.”
 
Capt MJ said:
You may wish to re-think a college option. If you have an accident or illness close to any SA reporting-in day, you may be DQ’ed or turned back. It happens every year - the broken collarbone, the case of mono, the broken ankle, the raging strep throat and fever. The SA will usually issue an LOA type of communication for the next year. The turned-away appointee is expected to recover, be re-Q’ed by DODMERB, re-apply if desired, take Plebe-like courses at college, get noms.

There is that saying, “When man plans, God laughs.”
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Thank you very much for your consideration.
 
DS’s assigned roommate plebe summer was turned away at medical on Iday. It DOES happen. I would highly recommend a firm plan B. Even if you loose a deposit.
 
Just make sure the Plan B, knows they are Plan B....just being up front keeps from burning bridges. Especially if you are a scholarship recipient (either academic or ROTC), not notifying the college could cause problems. If you don't have any financial commitments from the school, then paying the deposit and holding the spot should not be an issue, but as many have said, even being at an academy does not guarantee ones graduation/commissioning, having Plan B available IF anything were to happen is always a good idea.
 
In my day, I can't remember anyone who created a "Plan B" after an appointment. Times do change. Here's my $0.02.

IF your parent(s) can afford to put down a non-refundable deposit on a civilian school, it's probably not a terrible idea. However, many parents can't afford to do that or don't want to spend that kind of money on what if." If they can't/won't, it's not the end of the world. If you have a last-minute medical issue, you may still be able to get into some 4-year college or, alternatively, a community college before the fall semester. Assuming it's a transitory/waiverable medical issue (i.e., one that clears up in a year), that's not a huge deal b/c the academy will almost certainly re-admit you the next year. In such a case, the SA will be well aware that your options at the last minute were limited and not penalize you for that.
If it's a permanent/non-waiverable medical issue OR you decide during PS that you hate the SA and want to quit, having a permanent backup plan is helpful but not necessary. You can still do a year at some civilian college and apply to others during your freshman year.

There are "horror" stories of appointees who can't join the plebe class . . . they are true, but rare. I wouldn't stress too much over it.
 
usna1985 said:
In my day, I can't remember anyone who created a "Plan B" after an appointment. Times do change. Here's my $0.02.

IF your parent(s) can afford to put down a non-refundable deposit on a civilian school, it's probably not a terrible idea. However, many parents can't afford to do that or don't want to spend that kind of money on what if." If they can't/won't, it's not the end of the world. If you have a last-minute medical issue, you may still be able to get into some 4-year college or, alternatively, a community college before the fall semester. Assuming it's a transitory/waiverable medical issue (i.e., one that clears up in a year), that's not a huge deal b/c the academy will almost certainly re-admit you the next year. In such a case, the SA will be well aware that your options at the last minute were limited and not penalize you for that.
If it's a permanent/non-waiverable medical issue OR you decide during PS that you hate the SA and want to quit, having a permanent backup plan is helpful but not necessary. You can still do a year at some civilian college and apply to others during your freshman year.

There are "horror" stories of appointees who can't join the plebe class . . . they are true, but rare. I wouldn't stress too much over it.
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Thank you for your advice in detail.
I only applied to some prestigious colleges so I am not sure if those colleges with very low acceptance rates would allow me to hold a spot beyond June or July.

Regardless of their responses, I don't want to hold someone's spot because there should be also very desperate candidates for the colleges.

I like numbers so estimated a probability of a horrible case that can occur before or after the Big day. It would be even lower than a probability of a major car accident or something because I will be very cautious on everything until THE day.

Am I so naive? Maybe...The bottom line is that I don't want to affect other good students' paths by holding something for me. I am not saying that being conservative is a bad idea but it's just what I thought.

When I started the process after I decided to serve this great country, I was not sure anything because there are so many great candidates who will have achieved a lot more that I would have.

What I realized is that when there is a will, there is a way.

Based on my thorough and comprehensive(?) research on USNA, I thought that there would be a very very low possibility to get an appointment from USNA........based on the past statistics in my region and some other factors.

Surprisingly, USNA gave me an appointment right after a nom was uploaded and the 1st admission board meeting was held. No LOA, No PN.

I have thought a lot about my future goal especially a long-term goal throughput USNA and USN....My commitment time is approaching fast but I will follow and lead the path with confidence.

I truly appreciate several memebers' great input and cares for me. I am so blessed and humbled to take an opportunity to serve the country.

Salt.....I think it has worked. :)
 
dreamwiz said:
Thank you for your advice in detail.
I only applied to some prestigious colleges so I am not sure if those colleges with very low acceptance rates would allow me to hold a spot beyond June or July.

Regardless of their responses, I don't want to hold someone's spot because there should be also very desperate candidates for the colleges.

I like numbers so estimated a probability of a horrible case that can occur before or after the Big day. It would be even lower than a probability of a major car accident or something because I will be very cautious on everything until THE day.

Am I so naive? Maybe...The bottom line is that I don't want to affect other good students' paths by holding something for me. I am not saying that being conservative is a bad idea but it's just what I thought.

When I started the process after I decided to serve this great country, I was not sure anything because there are so many great candidates who will have achieved a lot more that I would have.

What I realized is that when there is a will, there is a way.

Based on my thorough and comprehensive(?) research on USNA, I thought that there would be a very very low possibility to get an appointment from USNA........based on the past statistics in my region and some other factors.

Surprisingly, USNA gave me an appointment right after a nom was uploaded and the 1st admission board meeting was held. No LOA, No PN.

I have thought a lot about my future goal especially a long-term goal throughput USNA and USN....My commitment time is approaching fast but I will follow and lead the path with confidence.

I truly appreciate several memebers' great input and cares for me. I am so blessed and humbled to take an opportunity to serve the country.

Salt.....I think it has worked. :)
Click to expand...

Congratulations on your offers of Appointment!
If you miscalculated your odds of getting an offer to USNA, what makes you so confident in your calculations that you won’t have a medical DQ issue prior to IDay? God forbid that would happen to you or any Candidate, but having a plan B is in your best interest because while the odds of that happening are low, they still exist.
You will learn that in the military you must always have a contingency plan. The same holds true in this case imo.
 
Of course I have no first hand knowledge but apparently they had an injury that hadn’t healed to their requirements. DS knew bc the plebe wasn’t in the room.
 
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