TWE

Ummmm, I just caught up on this entire thread. We’ve had the slamming of females (everybody knows they always get in), recruited athletes (got in with an ACT of 18!), and URMs (everybody knows they also always get in). Gee, I guess they are fresh out of spaces for all those white males! Yep, won’t see a single white male face in the crowd when the camera pans the brigade at the Army-Navy game!

And I’m not even sure why someone brought up the increase in international mids. Their admittance is completely separate from that of any US citizen. Their home countries pay their way through and then they owe service in their homeland. Perhaps five more are allowed to attend this year? Is that really affecting the numbers greatly?

I get that people are grasping at straws as to how they ended up with a TWE. The truth is, you will never know.
 
Very interesting thread here. In reference to the OP, even if the female appointments are at 28%, that still leaves 72% of the appointments for men. The odds were more in her DS's favor. I am sure her DS is competitive, but it appears he just wasn't what the AF needs right now. I am sorry he didn't get in, but if he is like many others who did not, he will go far. He just needs to be the best he can be and let the rest go. All those who received app0intments, men and women alike, are qualified and deserving of such an honor. Congratulations! For those who did not get an appointment, never give up. If you really want it, try again and keep moving forward.
 
And any presumption that admissions is gender blind is laughable.

Let’s say the board goes through the entire process with files blinded as to gender. They are completely finished, about to send out notifications, then they unmask the files for ‘the big reveal’. Oh my, females only make up 13% of the class we admitted. SECNAV says we need at least 25% this admissions cycle for the press release on I-Day. Put on more coffee, cause it’s back to the drawing board!

Their directive (yes, directive, straight from the top) is in fact to increase the percentage of women in each incoming class. This is true at all the academies. This isn’t just, The Capital reported it so I know it’s true. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you know it’s true. It may not work the way some feel it should work, but this is how it is.

And I agree with FalconsRock – if you are a dude, the overall odds are still very much in your favor. As long as you are early in the process!
 
No one on these forums, unless they work for admissions, truly knows the 'formula' for success. Things are changing each year. Last year's admissions process affected the process this year, as it does every year. I hope everyone keeps things in perspective.

It's not just about gender or athletic prowess. Just because someone has a 4.0 or ranks in the top 5% of 'their' class or took 10 APs at 'their' high school, don't assume that makes a strong candidate. After dropping off our DD at Summer Seminar, we had lunch with another set of parents. We talked about everything but what was most interesting was the wide disparity in the quality of education each DD and DS was receiving at their respective high schools. Having a 3.5 at a stellar high school and getting a 30 on the ACT is more compelling then having a 4.0 at an average high school and getting a 30. The SAT and ACT while 'standardized', is one test. High School is 4 years. I guarantee you admissions keeps this in mind.

You simply cannot consider a candidate on the basis of stats alone.

Don't ignore the importance of the BGO interview, Don't ignore the nomination interviews, there's feedback there. Don't ignore the write-ups given by detailers during Summer Seminar. Or the feedback the Academy receives by the Mids who participate in the OpInfo program. Or if your DS or DD met or reached out to a coach, what did the coach think about the candidate as a potential MidShipman, not just as an athlete. A coach needs an athlete that will be a successful student first, or they won't be an athlete for very long. Or if they went on a CVW, what did their hosts have to say? And perhaps most important of all, the recommendation letters we never get to read, but admissions does read these letters, as well as the personal statement.

And remember geography will play a role.

The success of a candidate is influenced by feedback at every stage in the process. We are constantly being judged and evaluated through our interactions. It's often the most important factor in any decision.

And keep in mind I have no idea what I'm talking about, because I don't work for admissions.

Go Navy!
 
A while ago in this thread I touched upon the pressure at USNA to recruit top-tier athletes in order to remain competitive as a very, very small NCAA Division One school. A number of people missed the point I was trying to make which was that USNA is a school with a great number of applicants for a very small number of slots. One where Admissions has a number of "pots" they need to fill when creating an incoming class - whether they be athletic recruitment, minority recruitment, gender recruitment, etc..

While the goal of the Academy may be somewhat different than most colleges and universities, the fact is that it is a college and as such, it's selection process needs to fill many needs and standards for admission; and the standards for some individuals may be different if their admission fills a perceived Academy need.

The "Best and Brightest Future Leaders of the United States Navy" looks really great on paper and a substantial numbers of Mids meet that criteria; but in reality USNA is not much different than most other sought-after elite schools. The standards that candidate 'A' is evaluated by may be radically different than the standards candidate 'B' is evaluated by - based on the Academy's perceived needs at the time in filling the class.

My frustration - having graduated from the Academy and having two Mids at the Academy -lies with those who fail to acknowledge this.

While the Academy's mission might be different than most other colleges, it's admission's procedures are not radically different than most other colleges. Not everyone is evaluated for admission in the same way.
 
My DS received a TWE today. It was dated March 30. Somewhat of a surprise because he did not receive a nomination to USNA. From North Texas, he received two nominations (his rep + 1 senator) to West Point. I am just posting this because I have read some questions regarding receiving a TWE without a nomination.
 
hi..no. Only interested in Naval Officer stuff. He will attend an NROTC unit as a college programmer and re apply for scholarship. Hes not sure he wants to endure the work and letdown of doing this again. Cant blame him. As a parent this ws alot of work and such a small acceptance rate. 90 percent or more of officers in US Navy and USMC donot come from Annapolis. Which means there are MANY ways to reach your goals in life. Key is to NEVER let anyone stop you, find another door- there are many. Persistence and dedication ALWAYS win in the end. All young people who worked so hard and are disappointed- chins up. You are all great kids and winners. Fight on and your gonna end up where you want to be in four years. Watch. (BIG SMILE)

You know, if you graduate from USMMA, you have the option of commissioning in the Navy (and other branches depending on the # of slots). USMMA is sort of hidden gem that not many people know about. You can cross-commission into (mostly) any branch from there. I would encourage your son to read about the school, there is a lot of cool stuff there (ex. Sea Year) that is not very well known.
 
I am just posting this because I have read some questions regarding receiving a TWE without a nomination.

As a general rule, if you don't receive a nomination "on your own" (i.e., MOC, Pres, ROTC), you will receive a TWE. The largest "exception" to this rule are those offered NAPS/Foundation; many of those folks actually have one or more noms, but a nom isn't required for those programs.
 
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