In the MOC applications, it asks for you to rank your choice of academies. Is it a better idea to just put your favorite choice first or is it a good idea to put down an academy that you think you have a better chance of getting a nomination for? In this case, my son would love to go to USNA but we have been told one of our Senator's may have more slots to send someone to the USMMA. He would be equally honored to attend any of the academies but if he had his choice and liked each one he visited but he liked Annapolis the overall best. Thanks for your help.
Ranking your choice
- Thread starter Cartgate
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In the MOC applications, it asks for you to rank your choice of academies. Is it a better idea to just put your favorite choice first or is it a good idea to put down an academy that you think you have a better chance of getting a nomination for? In this case, my son would love to go to USNA but we have been told one of our Senator's may have more slots to send someone to the USMMA. He would be equally honored to attend any of the academies but if he had his choice and liked each one he visited but he liked Annapolis the overall best. Thanks for your help.
usna1985
15-Year Member
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Always a tricky issue. The question your son has to ask is if he would really and truly be happy at more than one academy. If so, he can "play the game" and put one SA down first for one MOC and another first for a second MOC. Nothing wrong with that. But, if he truly has only one first choice, he should list that first for all MOCs.
Several years ago, a candidate put USMA down with two MOCs and USNA with one. He got two noms to USMA and didn't even get an interview with his USNA MOC. He asked me what he should do; I replied that he should go to West Point. And I wasn't being flip. If he didn't really want to go to USMA, he shouldn't have listed it. Given that he listed it first w/two MOCs, that told me it was his first choice. Or at least should have been.
Several years ago, a candidate put USMA down with two MOCs and USNA with one. He got two noms to USMA and didn't even get an interview with his USNA MOC. He asked me what he should do; I replied that he should go to West Point. And I wasn't being flip. If he didn't really want to go to USMA, he shouldn't have listed it. Given that he listed it first w/two MOCs, that told me it was his first choice. Or at least should have been.
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You should choose your first choice. That is what they're asking after all, which one you would like to attend the most not which one is the easiest to get into.