Service academy acceptance

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Cometmom

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How common is it to get accepted into all 3; USMA, USNA & USAFA....I mean if you get into one doesn’t it make sense you’d get into all 3?
 
It would be pretty rare.

You would first have to receive nominations to all three SA's before that could happen. It is uncommon for a member of congress to grant one person three nominations.
 
Cometmom said:
How common is it to get accepted into all 3; USMA, USNA & USAFA....I mean if you get into one doesn’t it make sense you’d get into all 3?
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There are actually five Federal Service Academies - the DOD’s 3 plus HLS’ USCGA and DOT’s USMMA. Being offered appointments at all five is rare, as noted in article above, but it does happen. Many stars and planets have to align. If the candidate is only eligible for an elected official nom, he has to be from a state where the Senators and Representatives duplicate noms and don’t limit it to a nom for 1 Academy. Of course, there might be a few other types of noms used.

Clearly the candidate in the article above had the golden unicorn application and hit the sweet spot at every SA.

And no, getting into one doesn’t necessarily predict success with the others. Different cultures, different missions, different needs for the class, different ways of scoring applications, different competition on the slates, etc.
 
It is rare, but I know an applicant who applied to USAFA, USCGA, USMA, and USNA, received double nominations to each of the 3, and received appointment offers to all 4. The candidate did not apply to USMMA due to the limited majors offered there, so is unclear whether a nomination/appointment would have been received.

From the puzzle piece anology, it would seem that candidates that are pursued by all of the SAs represent corner or side pieces, which are less common than middle pieces. Not more valuable, since every piece is required to complete the puzzle, but simply less common.

Also, one has to be very lucky to have all of the factors align to allow the scenario to occur.

(Kind of a cross post with Capt. MJ)
 
Cometmom said:
How common is it to get accepted into all 3; USMA, USNA & USAFA....I mean if you get into one doesn’t it make sense you’d get into all 3?
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That's a good question. DS applied to USNA and USAFA, received a nomination to both, but was appointed to the 1st and received a polite denial from the 2nd.
 
DD was appointed to USNA, USMA and USAFA. DS has nominations to USMA, USAFA and USNA (Senator and Congressman) So YES it does happen. DS also has 4 yr AROTC to 3 top 10 ranked schools. Waiting on Air Force and Navy ROTC. Still we are waiting like everyone else! 🤞for one Appointment!
 
It could be relatively easy or could be impossible. If you are a totally outstanding candidate from an under-represented area (think North Dakota or Wyoming or parts of certain states) and apply to all 5 SAs, it's certainly possible. The reason is there aren't a lot of truly outstanding candidates in those areas, so you're likely to get noms to all SAs to which you apply. If you're truly outstanding, you'll win your slates and be appointed. USCGA obviously seeks outstanding candidates and also wants geographic diversity.

In many areas, MOCs may limit candidates to one nom from one SA. Sometimes, they coordinate so that no candidate gets more than one nom to any SA. Thus, you could be the second coming of Chester Nimitz or Dwight Eisenhower . . . and you'll still only get one nom to one SA. Thus, the max SAs you could be appointed to would be 2 (USCGA being the second).

Finally, most candidates don't apply to all 5. Most have some thought of what they want to do (or don't want to do) post graduation and, usually, that eliminates one or more of the SAs from consideration. The "I'm happy to serve anywhere" is fine, but it's the rare person who would be equally happy being an infantry officer, a submariner or a helo pilot.

The fact a candidate is accepted to all 5 SAs, while an achievement, doesn't necessarily make that candidate more outstanding than someone who is admitted to only one.
 
...especially when you have to take into consideration that an appointment takes into account your competition. Maybe someone would receive 2 appointments one year that wouldn’t receive any in a different year. That part isn’t up to the individual. It out if their hands.

Too many moving pieces to even guess.
 
justdoit19 said:
...especially when you have to take into consideration that an appointment takes into account your competition. Maybe someone would receive 2 appointments one year that wouldn’t receive any in a different year. That part isn’t up to the individual. It out if their hands.

Too many moving pieces to even guess.
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I see the ebb and flow of the admissions cycle every year. One year there are 3 appointments with two other QNS in a district and the next will have only one appointment with an applicant that is not that strong. There are too many things outside one's control.
 
usna1985 said:
It could be relatively easy or could be impossible. If you are a totally outstanding candidate from an under-represented area (think North Dakota or Wyoming or parts of certain states) and apply to all 5 SAs, it's certainly possible. The reason is there aren't a lot of truly outstanding candidates in those areas, so you're likely to get noms to all SAs to which you apply. If you're truly outstanding, you'll win your slates and be appointed. USCGA obviously seeks outstanding candidates and also wants geographic diversity.

In many areas, MOCs may limit candidates to one nom from one SA. Sometimes, they coordinate so that no candidate gets more than one nom to any SA. Thus, you could be the second coming of Chester Nimitz or Dwight Eisenhower . . . and you'll still only get one nom to one SA. Thus, the max SAs you could be appointed to would be 2 (USCGA being the second).

Finally, most candidates don't apply to all 5. Most have some thought of what they want to do (or don't want to do) post graduation and, usually, that eliminates one or more of the SAs from consideration. The "I'm happy to serve anywhere" is fine, but it's the rare person who would be equally happy being an infantry officer, a submariner or a helo pilot.

The fact a candidate is accepted to all 5 SAs, while an achievement, doesn't necessarily make that candidate more outstanding than someone who is admitted to only one.
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I would submit that it is also rare because the applicant to all 5 academies is likely doing it for reasons of ego, and to be be able to say he did, while most applicants are a little more humble than that.
 
FutureAdademyDad? said:
It is rare, but I know an applicant who applied to USAFA, USCGA, USMA, and USNA, received double nominations to each of the 3, and received appointment offers to all 4. The candidate did not apply to USMMA due to the limited majors offered there, so is unclear whether a nomination/appointment would have been received.

From the puzzle piece anology, it would seem that candidates that are pursued by all of the SAs represent corner or side pieces, which are less common than middle pieces. Not more valuable, since every piece is required to complete the puzzle, but simply less common.

Also, one has to be very lucky to have all of the factors align to allow the scenario to occur.

(Kind of a cross post with Capt. MJ)
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PUZZLE!
 
My personal view -- and it's only that -- is that someone applying to all 5 SAs hasn't given much thought to the process and/or is looking for a "free" education. I suppose there are some who truly would be happy serving in any branch of the military, but as I noted above, most people have something they strongly do or don't want to do that eliminates one or more SAs. It's hard to imagine a lot of people who would be equally happy at USMA and USCGA -- entirely different schools and services. Similarly, if you visit several SAs (which not all can afford to do), one or two generally "speak to you" and one or two generally don't. T
 
usna1985 said:
My personal view -- and it's only that -- is that someone applying to all 5 SAs hasn't given much thought to the process and/or is looking for a "free" education.
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BINGO! (or SHACK! for any attack pilots in the group)
My thought exactly.
 
My DS applied to all three maritime service academies (USNA, USMMA, USCGA) because he wanted to be serving at sea as an engineer. He has appointments now to USCGA and USMMA, but still awaiting word from USNA.
 
usna1985 said:
It's hard to imagine a lot of people who would be equally happy at USMA and USCGA -- entirely different schools and services.
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Oh, but there are exceptions...DS#2 always dreamed of USMA (DS#1 attended) since he first stepped foot on post. I served in the USAF and come from a big-time Navy family. Thus, DS#2 has grown up hearing about and seeing the up-side and missions of the Army, Navy and AF. Fast forward to this past summer. DS#2 got accepted to USAFSS and AIM (USCGA Summer Program) to "test the waters" at a branch he know nothing about. Loved USCGA! Came back from AIM saying USCGA was now tied with USMA (understands they have completely different missions, but thinks what they do is also pretty cool). So, while he didn't apply to all 5 - no interest at all in USMMA, he has applied to 4/5 (admitted to USCGA) and will happily accept an appointment to serve in any of the branches of each academy he has applied to.

Also, definitely NOT an issue with wanting a "free" education. Obviously, coming from a military family, he knows it's definitely NOT free. And, like we did with 2 of our older kids who attended civilian colleges, knows his parents consider themselves "financially responsible and prepared" to pay for his Undergraduate Degree (no Grad School). The kid has ZERO ego, so I felt I had to respond to any mention of the "ego" comment from Korab.
 
Korab said:
I would submit that it is also rare because the applicant to all 5 academies is likely doing it for reasons of ego, and to be be able to say he did, while most applicants are a little more humble than that.
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That may be true for some candidates but for those candidates with potential medical issues it makes sense to apply to multiple programs.
 
There are obviously exceptions to any generalization, including mine. :) Just keep in mind that everyone eventually has to make a decision. For most, a focused approach up front helps in many ways.

For those who are applying to multiple SAs solely for "ego income," keep in mind that the true test is getting through the one SA that you choose and going on to do great things in your service and for your country. Other than MAYBE a few weeks this time of year, NO ONE cares how many appointments you had. Certainly no one at the SA you attend. Certainly not later in life.
 
usna1985 said:
NO ONE cares how many appointments you had. Certainly no one at the SA you attend.
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So true. DD applied to all three DOD SAs because she has a deep and genuine desire to serve, and was willing to do so for whichever branch would have her. As it turns out, she received offers of appointment to all three. But she doesn’t dare mention this to anyone. In her mind, to do so would be unseemly and just plain ego-stroking. And she knows full well that landing three offers has zero bearing on her current state. The SAs — and the military in general — are a “what have you done for me lately?” environment.
 
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