Top 5%
- Thread starter Chief238
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What insight are you looking for? What’s your question?
BGO’s can’t get you in. Nor can they keep you out. A top 5pct would, by its very nature, be a strong candidate as far as the BGO’ opinion, and interview goes. It’s still a decision made by admissions.
BGO’s can’t get you in. Nor can they keep you out. A top 5pct would, by its very nature, be a strong candidate as far as the BGO’ opinion, and interview goes. It’s still a decision made by admissions.
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DD’s BGO, who remains terrific to this day, would say that his opinion and a dollar would get you an above-average cup of coffee.That BGO opinion and a dollar will get you an average cup of coffee.
Before any BGOs pick up any knives, I love what you do and thank you for it.
Does the top 5% rating have any bearing on an appointment. Does it factor into the decision for an appointment? . I’m confused as to why the BGO interview is made to be a big factor however posters here make it seem like it’s a waste of time.
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The first thing to determine is the nature of a 5%. No doubt BGOs here will clarify.
The BGO plays an important role but can only evaluate what he or she assesses from an interview, interactions, and the incomplete background they have access to. Admissions sees, weights and assesses everything, one element of which is the BGO input.
Take it as a positive, be pleased about it, and continue to focus on your application, your alternate plans and finishing the school year strongly.
I know several BGOs, including a USNA sponsor family alum who is now a BGO. Many times they have said to me they had very impressive candidates they were confident about, but who were not offered an appointment.
Much depends on your competitiion. If you get a nomination from an elected official, a Senator or Representative, you compete against others on that slate for appointments. Your BGO likely does not see the candidates from other parts of the state, for example. If the only nom you have is a Presidential, only 100 appointments out of the class may be charged to that source, though there might be several hundred applicants who had the eligibility to get that nomination. The BGO cannot compare you to those; Admissions does.
The BGO has a narrow aperture of observation and evaluation. It is an important part of the process, an eyes-on perspective, but it is one of many factors evaluated. Finally, you must be a fully qualified candidate. If you tank the CFA and have a DoDMERB DQ, a BGO 5% cannot cure that.
Again, take it as a positive, but keep it in perspective.
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In many areas and actually it is supposed to be all areas, "Top 5%" ratings are rather tightly controlled. I know that if I want to rate a candidate as a top 5%er, I need to get pre-approval from my BGO chain of command and that involves them reviewing my writeup to see if the writeup matches the rating. If it does not, the BGO is tasked to find more info to back up the top 5 or rethink their rating. In my experience, an actual top 5% candidate WHO HAS A NOMINATION and IS MEDICALLY QUALIFIED will have an outstanding chance at an appointment.
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It is supposed to be top 5% of all candidates. Obviously, newer/less experienced BGOs will have less experience to base this on.
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That should make it easy for my lucky first interviewee. "Young person, you are the top 5% of all candidates based on my experience. Congratulations."
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Keep in mind, every year there are people who have LOA’s that don’t receive an appointment. There are so many different pieces/parts/variables involved in an appointment, that no one single *exceptional* part is a guarantee.Including a top 5pct rating by a BGO.
And the interview is important. It’s required. You won’t be appointed without one! I think that’s a pretty ‘big deal’.
I’m mildly curious why you are inquiring. For info only? We’re you told you were top 5pct?
And the interview is important. It’s required. You won’t be appointed without one! I think that’s a pretty ‘big deal’.
I’m mildly curious why you are inquiring. For info only? We’re you told you were top 5pct?
I was not told I was a 5% candidate, I was reading that there is an advantage to being one but didn’t know to what degree.
What about the other 4%???
Old Navy BGO
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BGO's are asked to "score" in a variety of areas, and then provide and overall "score." Obviously, a better score doesn't hurt.
(I am not going to go into the evaluation areas or "score" - it really isn't relevant to the Candidate, since he /she never sees it as a Candidate, and can only cause angst).
As noted above, the score really isn't going to get you in, or keep you out (unless NOT RECOMMENDED, which is also very rare and controlled --I've only seen one in 20 years, and that was pretty obvious). Nobody really knows what weight a BGO interview is given, and one BGO's standard for Top 5% may not be anothers.
Bottom line, don't worry about the BGO "score," Follow all the good advice on how to interview and put your best foot forward. Remember, also remember, first impressions count ..... be professional in all communications with your BGO.
Thank you
usna1985
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In the USN, it used to be that Top 1% rankings were the norm. Getting less than that was death to your career. Not sure if that is still the case. That may by why many BGOs used to give "everyone" a "Top 5%" rating. Obviously, that's not helpful.
So, as someone said above, in many areas the Area Coordinator has to approve any Top 5% ranking and it must be supported. That is the case in my area.
Does it help? Sure. But not nearly as much as a super-strong rec from a teacher who has known a candidate for an extended period of time. And many other things help candidates -- great grades, great test scores, great leadership, etc. This is but one of MANY attributes and doesn't count more than most of them, if as much.
So, as someone said above, in many areas the Area Coordinator has to approve any Top 5% ranking and it must be supported. That is the case in my area.
Does it help? Sure. But not nearly as much as a super-strong rec from a teacher who has known a candidate for an extended period of time. And many other things help candidates -- great grades, great test scores, great leadership, etc. This is but one of MANY attributes and doesn't count more than most of them, if as much.