Tips for Senator/Congressman Nomination Interviews?

abeastlybeast

USMA Class of 2015
5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2010
Messages
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Senator and Congressman Nomination interviews are approaching! I will have 3 interviews this month. Any tips for prospective cadets seeking a nomination? If you could provide any questions you were asked during your interview it would be a great help. I just want to be as prepared as possible in order to ace my interviews.

Thanks
 
Senator and Congressman Nomination interviews are approaching! I will have 3 interviews this month. Any tips for prospective cadets seeking a nomination? If you could provide any questions you were asked during your interview it would be a great help. I just want to be as prepared as possible in order to ace my interviews.

Thanks

These are not SATs. The interviewers don't want to hear rehearsed answers. Speak from the heart. These folks know bull**** when they hear it. Be honest.
 
I figured that senators nationwide would not be using the same questions, but I was just looking for basic questions so I can get the idea of what they want to know. I definitely intend to be honest.
 
Scoutpilot beat me to it! Be yourself. My cadet did not have any trick questions; the interviewers were very gracious and interested in him. He was always asked why he wanted to go to a service academy and what would he do if he didn't get in. Pay attention to your personal grooming.
 
Scoutpilot beat me to it! Be yourself. My cadet did not have any trick questions; the interviewers were very gracious and interested in him. He was always asked why he wanted to go to a service academy and what would he do if he didn't get in. Pay attention to your personal grooming.

:thumb:

If you genuinely want to attend West Point for good reasons, being yourself will be more than enough. They don't want "polished" and they won't ask you calculus questions. You'll be fine.
 
I will add that all of my cadet's interviewers had different styles: one was a panel of retired military officers----they asked a question and he responded; a longtime senator's folks did a very automated, exactly-15-minutes-rapid-fire interview (we drove an hour for that one); and a first-term congressman's assistant didn't really know what to ask so they just relaxed and visited. Just be confident in your reasons for attending West Point and you will be fine.

One more thing about grooming/clothes....(I'm the mother of boys so this is directed to the guys).....make sure your suit is freshly pressed and your shoes are shined. Clean shirt and nicely coordinated tie, no cartoon characters, weird colors. If you can manage something that's a step above khaki pants and a navy blazer, do. Everyone shows up in that.
 
Don't walk in blasted drunk. Other than that, just be yourself. The last thing they want to see is a bunch of BS answers that you prepped beforehand.
 
I'm going to have to agree with the looking professional examples.

Also I heard that some kids show up in JROTC or other cadet uniforms.
 
My number one word of advice is to take a deep breath before entering, let it out, remind yourself that whoever you are about to interview with are people, not machines. Relax and answer with passion and truth. People can tell the difference and are not impressed by polished answers like machines are. They want to know you are motivated...your qualifications are sitting on sheets of paper in front of them.
 
Our son researched the interview process and decided on the previously stated advice. He went in looking professional (shaved his head the day before! :eek:), took each interview as it came at him and he ended up enjoying the experience.

His interviews (3 of them) were scheduled for him back, to back, to back, and they were all panel interviews made up of former military personnel, staff members of the congressman/senators, and members of our community invited to participate.

In one of the interviews he was asked about which academies he was interested in and why. Our son had only considered West Point and he explained his reasons. The gentleman who asked the question shook his head and told our son he should have considered the others as well. Our son wasn't quite sure what to think of that and he may have worried about it a little.

After the process was complete, our son received and accepted his nomination to West Point. At one of the Parent Group get togethers before he left for beast, the same gentleman who told him he should have considered other academies sought out our son and shook his hand, congratulating him. He told our son that he made the comment during the interview because he is a USNA graduate and would have loved to see our son go there. He told us that it was Navy's loss! We already knew that. :wink:

Point being, take the advice of the people with the experience. Listen to their advice and go to the interviews prepared and professional. Be yourself and knock their socks off!
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. Now that I've thought about the interviews more, it would make sense to not rehearse answers. I'll be sure to answer the questions honestly.
 
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