Thank you + advice for USNA applicants

T

tbbb

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Feb 9, 2019
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Signing off the USNA board after not receiving an appointment, and grateful to many on this forum. Thank you to everyone who posted - we didn't log in a lot, but we read the boards often. As a result, we've recommended them to many people.

At this point we are very reflective and feel like it's time to give back a little. Below are a few things we learned along the way. Everyone will have a different experience and opinion, so however you feel about these, they were our experience and we hope it helps future applicants:

BOARDS

1. The long term participants on this forum know what they are talking about. Listen to them!

2. In addition, there are several people on the boards who give strong primary information. Three that comes to mind are @MullenLE (for DoDMERB), @AFROTCAdmissions (obviously not USNA, but still worth listing), @MOC5th (although these posts are a little older)

3. Post respectfully. If you are kind, even the more abrasive and strong personalities on this board will be kind in return. That said, you should not be made to feel bad for asking certain questions, or for being honest about how you are coping/feeling/etc. through a very stressful process. If needed, learn when to log off and take a break from the boards, which we did several times.

WAIVERS

4. Waivers: We did not receive an appointment from USNA after being approved for a medical waiver (so this does happen!) We knew the waiver was no guarantee, but it still added a layer of disappointment.

5. That said, when it comes to waivers, be proactive with seeing specialists and providing information. Although not as fast as USNA, that proactive approach also expedited things for the ROTC branches.

NOMINATIONS

6. The number of nominations does not make you look stronger to admissions. We had three nominations: both senators and MOC in a very competitive state, but no Principle. One Senator designated a Principle and it was not us.

7. We know there were several recruited LOA Athletes and NAPS candidates on our other two slates and we believe this affected us a great deal. The MOC/Senate announcements for appointments in our state and district so far include only recruited athletes and 2020 NAPS graduates, and the one Principle mentioned above (who was not LOA or a recruited athlete.)

Note: There will be members on this board who will disagree with this and we respect their opinion. We are not at all suggesting it's impossible. That is, we understand that admissions can find nominations for LOA/NAPS candidates elsewhere. The question remains: why would admissions bend over backwards to try to find LOA/NAPS candidates other nominations when that puzzle piece can be so easily filled on their own slate with no designated Principle? We also understand the national pool, which is very small all things considered, and we obviously didn't hit that threshold. In the end, we believe for us it boiled down to geography and math: if there were no LOA athletes or NAPS candidates on our slates, we would have had a better shot.

GENERAL

8. Be humble. Please don't announce/list your credentials on this board unless you are asking about one specific thing. Or course you should be very proud of your accomplishments, but most of the candidates on this board are as strong as you, and often decisions come down to things you can't control.

9. We attended NASS and kept in touch after. Everyone in our squad completed applications, and everyone received at least one nomination. Only one was offered an appointment.

10. Being "too strong" for NAPS is a real thing, and something that we were told several times, and from different people. Getting waitlisted from USNA, but too strong for NAPS, was more disappointing than we had anticipated.

11. Stay Anonymous. We identified two people on this forum with quick google searches after they disclosed their Congressional district. With internet accolades for nominations, sports, and other accomplishments, it's not hard.

12. Don't get political. Most everyone adheres to this, but as soon as someone (even remotely) infers political affiliations, we immediately tuned them out and lost all interest in anything they had to say.

Final thoughts:

As many people have said, but we think it's important to emphasize: make sure you keep an open mind and give yourself the chance to love your plan B, C, D as much as you love USNA. We had 3 nominations, a medical waiver, and are considered under-represented at USNA. We had all of the academic and leadership qualities of everyone on this board, and not receiving an appointment was "shocking" to our BGO (LOL - fwiw, we were not shocked as we understood the level of competition from the start. But we still appreciated the enthusiasm of our BGO, and their disappointment for us. It's nice to have someone cheering you on.) But thankfully we are very happy with our plan B, which includes an NROTC scholarship at our top-choice civilian college, so in the end things worked out.

Thanks for letting us share a glimpse into our experience and some advice. I hope it somehow helps you in your journey. And thanks to all of the board members who actively post and helped us with our own journey. We wish everyone the very best.

Stay positive!
 
Worthwhile comments. Best wishes for success to your son or daughter - could not tell which because of the “we” construct used.

For general readers, elected officials often announce everyone from their District who was offered an appointment, regardless of whether their appointment was actually charged to that elected official, to the national pool, to another source or to the Superintendent’s nominations, as a matter of civic pride.
 
Thanks for your extremely thoughtful -- and insightful -- post. I hope it is helpful to others. It's hard for us grads fully to understand how someone feels when it doesn't work out (unless we went through it with our own child).

I won't debate the LOA/recruited athlete issue and its effect on nominations/appointments. It really is up to each MOC and it's hard to know why they do what they do -- also hard to understand why some get LOAs and others do not. I will say that NAPS candidates are somewhat separate. They do not need a nomination and they will be entering in the following year's class and thus . do not count against the MOC for the current year. So, once someone is accepted to NAPS/Foundation, that person is no longer a "competitor" of someone seeking a direct appointment.

The debate about being "too strong" for NAPS and not strong enough for USNA is a fair one -- unfortunately, even those of us who've been BGOs or o/w involved with USNA for years can't really explain it (and, to be honest, it rankles some of us).

I'm truly sorry for your disappointment but feel certain that you (or your DS/DD) will forge a great path forward!
 
Being at the beginning of our DS journey for 2025, I greatly appreciate these comments. WE think he is strong and has an edge in some areas, but I do appreciate your Final Thoughts, as he is all-in for USNA, but has started to realize that Plan B (at least) needs to be one that he truly loves. Only the folks on the inside know what goes on behind the curtain. As DS has listened to others in VNSAA, he realized that there are tons of strong candidates and many lead clubs / sports that aren't available in our area (and some that he never heard of before). I have come to rely on this forum for great bits of information for the next year to help DS understand expectations, but let him do his thing and make it be his journey, not ours!
 
Great post. Appreciated your words!

Sometimes its like playing dice...there is timing and luck involved. And the journey/outcome may be different, in different year cycles. It’s am enigma. All you can do is set yourself up for the best outcome. The rest is out of your hands.

Best wishes to you!!
 
Thank you for your insight! I am applying to the class of 2026 and USNA is my “plan A”. Right now I would be devastated if I did not get in. What were your other plans? How did these compare to USNA? Thank you!
 
Great post and glad you have a nice path forward! I think the waiver piece (quoted below) is a key piece of information our family worried a lot about it in the last cycle so I am repeating again as I couldn't find someone saying this definitively happened last year. My son was fortunate to have his waiver approved as well as appointment but some folks seemed to have the opinion that an approved waiver would mean the appointment would come through, too. Not necessarily.

Best of luck!

tbbb said:
WAIVERS
4. Waivers: We did not receive an appointment from USNA after being approved for a medical waiver (so this does happen!) We knew the waiver was no guarantee, but it still added a layer of disappointment.
Click to expand...
 
Marie221 said:
I am applying to the class of 2026 and USNA is my “plan A”. Right now I would be devastated if I did not get in. What were your other plans? How did these compare to USNA? Thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi @Marie221. For a plan B - and beyond all of the regular things about college searches - I would ask yourself what you love about USNA aside from becoming a Naval officer. I know it seems like they are too interwoven to even consider separating, but they can be if you consider the qualities of USNA.

For us it was strong academics, school spirit, and while this wasn't nearly as high on the list, we looked for schools that had competitive club sports that travel. So for our plan B schools we focused on colleges that had these qualities (many have strong academics, but it was harder to find one that also had the kind of school spirit that rivaled USNA. Luckily we found one and have been sporting that gear ever since!) Even better, the NROTC unit seems organized and enthusiastic.

For you it might be something else, but identifying the qualities that draw you to USNA will hopefully help you identify a plan B you are equally excited about.

Best of luck!
 
For many candidates, Alternate Plan A is NROTC at a civilian university they love. For some, it's a state university (with or w/o ROTC) for cost and other reasons. Many apply to at least one other SA, including USCGA and/or USMMA -- which has no or different nomination requirements.

Ask yourself -- "If USNA didn't exist, what would I do and where would I go?"
 
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Several years ago (maybe 5 or more, not sure), I read a story where a young lady, who was a champion roper, got an appointment to the Naval Academy. I think she went to NAPS first. I think this person was homeschooled. They are on the road a lot. They were an equestrian family. I know the life. My oldest brother’s wife came from an equestrian background. About all their kids did from an early age was compete in equestrian activities and competitions.

The SAs look for Diversity in ECs .... not just the typical HS sports.
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Segue moment —My niece from my oldest brother, in her late 30s now, played Boys Football in addition to her Equestrian activities. She played 6th-9th grade I believe. The boys out grew her after that. She played safety. She was exceptionally fast.

I was at one of her HS JV football games, and she “ran-down” the opposing teams running back on long run from inside their 30. She caught him at the 10 or 15 yard line or so before he could score. Her HS fans were chanting some humiliating words to the other team. Ooh well.
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Marie221 said:
Thank you for your insight! I am applying to the class of 2026 and USNA is my “plan A”. Right now I would be devastated if I did not get in. What were your other plans? How did these compare to USNA? Thank you!
Click to expand...

Take a breath and plan not to be “devastated,” but shoot instead for “excited by my alternate plans and potential for re-application if I am disappointed and do not get an offer of appointment.” That shows maturity, resilience and determination, all of which you will need during this journey. There is a significant percentage of all SA classes who are re-applicants, some for multiple times.

Presumably your goal is to serve at least 5 years as a Navy or Marine Corps officer, because USNA is an interim way station to achieve that. Many choose to explore NROTC, applying for the excellent scholarships along with a range of schools with NROTC programs either as a host or cross-town program. That puts you on a path toward commissioning and your degree, as well as provides another source of nomination to USNA. And, you might find yourself happy with the school and your NROTC unit, and decide to stay in that path.

If the idea of immersion military experience is one of the things that makes USNA your “top college choice,” research the SMCs, the senior military colleges, which offer NROTC programs. And, explore the state maritime academies.
This link is unofficial, but gives a good overview:

Military Schools — Today's Military

Explore the unique college opportunities that the Military offers at its service academies, senior military colleges and maritime academies.
www.todaysmilitary.com www.todaysmilitary.com

As a rising HS junior, this is the perfect time to focus on deep research of the primary sources. Read every page, link and menu item at USNA.edu. The site is full of recommendations.
Do the same for the other 4 Federal academies, and associated career paths, so that you make an educated decision about ruling them in or out of consideration.

Go to your Senators’ and Representative’s service academy nomination info pages. They may be offering f2f or virtual info sessions, which you can attend. Be a fly on the wall and get smart on this before your cycle starts.
Be aware every elected official can run their process any way they want, including deadlines, interviews, application details. Go to the Nominations forum here on SAF and read the Sticky note at the very top of the forum.

You have to be “triple qualified” with at least 1 nom to even get into the pool of people eligible to be offered an appointment. That means medically (you are qualified through the DoDMERB process), physically (you submit a passing CFA) and scholastically (all your academics, test scores, grades, leadership and community activities). Go to the DoDMERB site and work your way through the left-side menu items, very helpful info there. Go to the DoDMERB site here on SAF and read the Stickies at the very top. Research the CFA and build a training plan, so you can do well and get that block checked earlier rather than later in your cycle. Pro tip: If you can’t do pull-ups, start working on that now. They deliver way more points than the flexed arm hang, assuming you are a woman. This time next year, you can knock out the CFA with ease.

USNA provides excellent guidance on what to take. Do well academically, but work on being physically fit and well-rounded in terms of leadership activities, organized sports if possible and personal development. Don’t make the mistake of quantity over quality by joining a whole bunch of ECs. Choose ones you enjoy and in which you can rise to a leadership role.

Use the Search function to find “stats” and “chance me” threads. You’ll see what others have brought to the table, and might see some ideas that will work for you.

This can seem like a massive task! It is, but remember all elephants are eaten a bite at a time. As you do your research, take notes, build out a timeline of action steps and due dates. Figure out whether you want to use a whiteboard, folders, binders, spreadsheet or other organizational tool. The process of applying to a SA is often termed a marathon, not a sprint. The process is designed to test your executive planning and organization skills, attention to detail, ability to figure things out for yourself, perseverance, determination and patience.

Good luck!
 
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4H is another EC to consider. The different programs and clubs usually go through your county coop/extension office. Our daughter was active in the county sheep club. We were not a host farm, because we don’t have sheep .... she can crop tails and take care of fly strike. She liked the club mostly because of all the fun activities they did, especially leading up to and competing in the County Fair. There is work to be done on the host farms though, so it is not all fun and games.

A lot of funny pictures and memories from the county fairs.
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Also, Girls’ State, if it’s on for next summer, as well as USNA Summer Seminar.
 
Capt MJ said:
Take a breath and plan not to be “devastated,” but shoot instead for “excited by my alternate plans and potential for re-application if I am disappointed and do not get an offer of appointment.” That shows maturity, resilience and determination, all of which you will need during this journey. There is a significant percentage of all SA classes who are re-applicants, some for multiple times.

Presumably your goal is to serve at least 5 years as a Navy or Marine Corps officer, because USNA is an interim way station to achieve that. Many choose to explore NROTC, applying for the excellent scholarships along with a range of schools with NROTC programs either as a host or cross-town program. That puts you on a path toward commissioning and your degree, as well as provides another source of nomination to USNA. And, you might find yourself happy with the school and your NROTC unit, and decide to stay in that path.

If the idea of immersion military experience is one of the things that makes USNA your “top college choice,” research the SMCs, the senior military colleges, which offer NROTC programs. And, explore the state maritime academies.
This link is unofficial, but gives a good overview:

Military Schools — Today's Military

Explore the unique college opportunities that the Military offers at its service academies, senior military colleges and maritime academies.
www.todaysmilitary.com www.todaysmilitary.com

As a rising HS junior, this is the perfect time to focus on deep research of the primary sources. Read every page, link and menu item at USNA.edu. The site is full of recommendations.
Do the same for the other 4 Federal academies, and associated career paths, so that you make an educated decision about ruling them in or out of consideration.

Go to your Senators’ and Representative’s service academy nomination info pages. They may be offering f2f or virtual info sessions, which you can attend. Be a fly on the wall and get smart on this before your cycle starts.
Be aware every elected official can run their process any way they want, including deadlines, interviews, application details. Go to the Nominations forum here on SAF and read the Sticky note at the very top of the forum.

You have to be “triple qualified” with at least 1 nom to even get into the pool of people eligible to be offered an appointment. That means medically (you are qualified through the DoDMERB process), physically (you submit a passing CFA) and scholastically (all your academics, test scores, grades, leadership and community activities). Go to the DoDMERB site and work your way through the left-side menu items, very helpful info there. Go to the DoDMERB site here on SAF and read the Stickies at the very top. Research the CFA and build a training plan, so you can do well and get that block checked earlier rather than later in your cycle. Pro tip: If you can’t do pull-ups, start working on that now. They deliver way more points than the flexed arm hang, assuming you are a woman. This time next year, you can knock out the CFA with ease.

USNA provides excellent guidance on what to take. Do well academically, but work on being physically fit and well-rounded in terms of leadership activities, organized sports if possible and personal development. Don’t make the mistake of quantity over quality by joining a whole bunch of ECs. Choose ones you enjoy and in which you can rise to a leadership role.

Use the Search function to find “stats” and “chance me” threads. You’ll see what others have brought to the table, and might see some ideas that will work for you.

This can seem like a massive task! It is, but remember all elephants are eaten a bite at a time. As you do your research, take notes, build out a timeline of action steps and due dates. Figure out whether you want to use a whiteboard, folders, binders, spreadsheet or other organizational tool. The process of applying to a SA is often termed a marathon, not a sprint. The process is designed to test your executive planning and organization skills, attention to detail, ability to figure things out for yourself, perseverance, determination and patience.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you. This is extremely helpful. I will definitely implement your advice!
 
@Marie221 A little tale that is currently unfolding in my neighborhood to underline some of @Capt MJ 's excellent advice. A young man down the street that I chat with, and am impressed by, applied to AFA this year. He got his nom, passed DoDMERB, did well on the CFA, but did not get an appointment. He didn't apply for an AFROTC scholarship because he thought it would show a lack of commitment to plan A. His parents didn't press him to do so because they thought it would show a lack of belief in him. Oops!

I wish I had known he was applying to AFA as i would have chewed his a$$ off and gotten him to apply to AFROTC. When I next see him I'll point out that all good officers and leaders have backup plans, and are ready to execute them, when needed. BTW he is signing up for AFROTC at an in-state college and hoping to win a scholarship along the way. I also expect he'll re-apply to AFA, but he missed an opportunity for a scholarship. Don't let this be you!

Good luck on your new adventure!
 
Capt MJ said:
Use the Search function to find “stats” and “chance me” threads. You’ll see what others have brought to the table, and might see some ideas that will work for you.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to look at the chance me threads and see how many end up on the appointment thread.
 
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