Yes, I remember my Yale interview. I seem to recall that much more intense questions were asked during my nomination interviews. Schools like that want to know why they should invest in you. A service academy wants to know why the nation should invest in you.
One thing WE SHOULD ALL STRESS IS:
NOT EVERY MOC will interview. DS only interviewed with 1 of his 3 MOCS, the other 2 selected their slate on paper only. He got every MOC nom.
Additionally, MOC interviews are typically a committee, whereas, Ivies are more like an ALO interview. DS had 9 people for his Sen. interview, all of them throwing different questions...i.e:
1. I see you were National Champ in TKD, but now you are a Lifeguard...why? Answer, because my Dad got reassigned and there is no competitive team in Goldsboro for me.
2. I see you are a part of Habitat for Humanity, what have you learned from this? That no matter where the military sends you, you are a part of the community.
3. I see you have a B in AP Calc, but you score in the strong 700's for the SAT M, and 36 on the ACT why the difference? I get it but, at school it is more like busy work.
4. What was the last book you read that the school did not assign to you? Tim Russert, Wisdom of Our Fathers.
He of course had the traditional questions of why you, what are your plans, etc. His ALO was great and because he spent so much time with his candidates he actually helped him more than anyone could imagine.
His ALO met with him weekly to edit his essays ALL summer long, He took him to Daedalion Dinners at the Club. He called him weekly regarding the next steps. He did mock interviews. He explained the steps in the process. The best thing he did was hold our hands. He even interviewed us on why the AFA for our DS. He wanted to make sure that we were supporting him for him and not the GLORY as the parent of an SA cadet.
I must state this now, so everyone knows, in the end our DS took the full ride AFROTC scholarship.
HE DID THE UNTHINKABLE...he removed his name from the slate weeks (a month) before results. It came about in a weird way, but the fact is as much as our DS wants the AF for a career, as a dependent child when push came to shove he wanted to have a "normal" non-military life for college while still having his foot in the AF. We got it, he wanted to be a kid for a while, but at the same time he wanted to start building his AF career.
For some of you, your children will get an apptmt, some will do plan B (ROTC), as a spouse whose DH was DG 3 times, ACC awards, AF recognized, please understand that the most important thing is they do what they want to do. It is hard, trust me I know, when they take 180 degree turn, but you have turn with them.
My suggestion to all of you is to take this summer and fall as parents to be the hard arses. That means:
1. Wake their butts up an 6 a.m and make them run, work out..if they kvetch, ask them what do you think next summer will be like? If they still kvetch and say, but that's next summer, ask them how badly do they want it? Our DS never kvetched and honestly he ran every day without me getting on him.
2. Make them sit at the dinner table 7" out and chew 7 bites before swallowing, that includes not looking down at the table and pouring milk without looking down. After a couple of days he was fun to watch at dinner....1,2,3,4,5,6,7 swallow...
3. Make them recite 3 current event articles at dinner...Dad did you know that Chavez announced XYZ.
Is this harsh and over the top...MAYBE, but what it does is make your child and yourself realize that there is more to the SA than the glory of the apptmt. It gets them to taste 1/100 of what BCT will be. If it infuriates them, tell them suck it up, because right now this is the kiddie roller coaster. If they suck it up without question, come I-Day book you know they will be okay. Also by doing the current events you will help them for their MOC interview.
My other suggestion is look at your child's collegiate goals. Yes, they have a degree in History or Econ, but take the time and look at the actual curriculum that they will take at the AFA. Have to say it that was the factor for our DS. He is a govt major in Scholars at his college, just finished interning for a Senator. He saw that he would be forced to take engineering classes all 4 yrs, and even with his ability, he decided that 4 yrs of Calc, Physics, Engineering was not worth it.
I am NOT dissing any SA. I STRONGLY stand behind all of them. I BELIEVE they are well worth our tax dollars! I am JUST trying to state that candidates take a hard look before they arrive on I-DAY, maybe if more did take a look, and get over the allure of the SA apptmt. the rate of 75% graduating would be higher.