USCGA 2020 appointments

I happen to agree with CAPT Henriques. IMHO, the USCGA process is better off without Nominations. Having been through the nomination process (USNA) in a large city, we much preferred the USCGA application process. Doesn't the nomination process also exclude worthy candidates? Although the USCGA desires geographic diversity, it is not hand-cuffed to each congressional district. DS agrees with your comment regarding the interview process. It would help provide insight into the motivation of each candidate.
Ditto - me too. I don't think they need it.
 
DD was waitlisted. How confusing. The letter said the wait list is not ranked. Please what does that mean???
 
Thanks so much for your kind words.
Daughter checked the portal as soon as she got in today: over 2,200 students applied for the 290 positions.
She did not get in, but they directed her to other paths, including CSPI. She said" So I can still go to Adams State? Cool."
She is now happily hiking to the library. Husband and I are so proud she gave it everything she had and she is taking it in stride.
It looks like the summer archeology dig is next on her list of fun stuff to do.
Good luck, y'all!
My DD has people tell her all the time, if you don't get in, who can? She tells them, "you don't realize the kids who are applying for these academy's are all of the same caliber, they are all high achievers, most all have sacrificed the normal high school experience to get to their goals."
What they say is true and can be said of about 99% of these kids. They are all shooting for the moon. They will go far in life and this has been one of the steps that will help them get there... It would be nice to hear next year how things are going for her.
 
DD was waitlisted. How confusing. The letter said the wait list is not ranked. Please what does that mean???

I really don't know other than to take it literally, in that there is not a list of applicants ranked 1 to X with the top ranked applicant getting the next appointment and so forth. If I were to speculate, the cadets are placed into diverse categories reflecting the overall diverse needs of the academy and who gets the next appointment will be determined by the type of prior appointee who turns down their appointment. Just guessing, but perhaps they may be looking for a specific applicant to fill a specific slot that has already been awarded. For example, female swimmer intending a technical major turns down their appointment. They then may look for a similar individual off of the wait list to fill that slot. If this is correct, then which specific applicant gets an appointment will be determined by the specific appointee that turns down their appointment. Just a guess.
 
I really don't know other than to take it literally, in that there is not a list of applicants ranked 1 to X with the top ranked applicant getting the next appointment and so forth. If I were to speculate, the cadets are placed into diverse categories reflecting the overall diverse needs of the academy and who gets the next appointment will be determined by the type of prior appointee who turns down their appointment. Just guessing, but perhaps they may be looking for a specific applicant to fill a specific slot that has already been awarded. For example, female swimmer intending a technical major turns down their appointment. They then may look for a similar individual off of the wait list to fill that slot. If this is correct, then which specific applicant gets an appointment will be determined by the specific appointee that turns down their appointment. Just a guess.
I think you are exactly right, Alex.
 
I've seen this mentioned a few times as it was said to my DS when he attended AIM last summer but why were they told not to apply in EA but to wait for RA. I don't understand that logic. Based on the number of offers that went out in EA, seems like he should have done it then. He has been waitlisted now so we will be sending an updated resume and fall transcript to hopefully beef up his status. He has had a couple of big things happen this spring for leadership that I think are good.

Also, is it good to complete an athletic profile. DS was a swimmer but he is not interested in swimming in college. He is running track for the first time and is enjoying it and played baseball up until his sophomore year and was a decent player for our school which is highly competitive in this state and our school is in the largest classification in the state. He just gave it up because it takes so much time in the spring here. The team has already played 20 games this year but the weather has been helpful. If it would help booster his status he would prefer track or baseball.

I see so many on here that give bios on the child I sometimes I feel like I am reading my son's bio so there are a lot of great kids on here applying to the academy. He is fortunate since he has a 4 year NROTC scholarship to Ole Miss and he is ecstatic about it. If this works out, he will have to sit down and weigh it all out. Either way, I know he is happy with his choices.

Whether anyone on here is accepted or not, I wish all the best to everyone that gave the effort. It is a hard road to travel to get to this point. Our kids did a lot to earn this consideration and they will be the better for it. Everyone who attempted should be proud of their efforts and accomplishments. I'm proud of my DS because what he did to build his resume earned him knowledge, experience dealing with people in adult settings, and it paid off as he has earned other scholarship money to help pay his way through. I'm sure this is the same for most of you as well. Good luck and God Bless!
 
UAF32, there is just another example of the whisker hair differences. My DS was denied a NROTC scholarship, yet, he received a USCGA appointment?! He did receive a 4 year AFROTC scholarship. I have a friend that is a big university's NROTC commandant, he said this year the applicants were beyond amazing and he himself would likely have not received a NROTC scholarship if he had to compete (he recd NROTC) years ago). And he is the one that interviewed my DS and told me his interview was great. So more head scratching....
 
I'm not sure if Acing your OWL's in Divination could help you figure out the process. Just a little Harry Potter humor to lighten the day.
 
Agree with AlexT and from conversations previously with AO. AO hope to replace like with like and if that is not available, then they seek to fill a need - basically asking around to see if there is some skill they are going to lose with the graduating 2016 class that needs to be replaced or a current skill that is not present in academy that would be good to have. It is hard for the AO to select from so many great candidates without some logic behind it.

From reading the forum we know that for 2020 class - 196 appointed in EA, 90+ appointed in RA (Grevar mentioned about 90 appointed on March 6th) - so on paper the class would seem full but the reality is that it is not - due to appointments declining or not passing DoDMERB.
My DS is currently on the waitlist and has been since EA. They pulled some EA off of the waitlist just last week to wrap up RA. That happened last year as well.

There are at least 2 more chances for all of our DS/DD to get pulled off of waitlist:
- Early May - when those appointed have to confirm. Any that decline or do not confirm will open up a slot.
- Early June - when the conditional appointment offers (such as DoDMERB) have to meet their conditions.
Don't forget that as the CGA is working through its waitlist, so are the other service academies which can trigger more openings at the CGA.

Good luck to all that are waiting.
 
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I hear you. I imagine that young man regretted using the word "whim," and in further posts it seemed that he had indeed done more research about the CG that his original post implied. It took me several hours to distance myself to be able to counsel him from my training rather than my emotions.

I have hesitated to throw this out there, but IMHO, the nomination process (or some other arduous process) would greatly minimize people applying to the USCGA impulsively. The USCGA process "feels" more like a regular college process (with a physical fitness test thrown in for "fun"), so applicants perhaps don't realize the difference between going to a good engineering school and signing up for military service with educational and employment privileges and guarantees. At minimum, it would seem the interview should be mandatory rather than optional.

I know the current nomination system is fraught with frustrations and imperfections, but I know for our DD, it was a hugely beneficial experience. Even though her process did not lead to an appointment with the Navy, her research led her to discover the Coast Guard, which in so many ways is a wonderful fit. If being waitlisted does not yield an appointment for the class of 2020, she is definitely applying again next year.

I applied to USCGA and USNA. I found the nomination process a waste of time. I live in a competitive state and found that nominations were still a poor screening process and kids with connections were first in line. Where I live a lot of people are friends and family of politicians, and when I mentioned I was applying to Navy they would offhandedly mention they could've "helped me" get a nomination. The entire point of the nomination process is to screen candidates because going to the academy means more than just being a good student/athlete -- it means being a good person. I feel the nomination process says it's doing this, but really, it fails to a lot.

USCGA requires a lot of effort to apply to. A physical fitness test I don't think is anything someone would just do for fun. And even then, you are scored. So if you're physically unfit and scoring <165 points, that's already a bummer on your application. Plus, four essays and recommendations that have to be done separately outside common app. I understand the frustration as well qualified candidates get rejected. But that's not to say that the academy accepted unqualified candidates in their stead. I think anyone who is accepted to the academy is well versed for the job. And of course recruits are in the mix as well, but any other academy will do that too. I've heard plenty of stories about football players looking at USNA and the coach approaching them with a leather-bound acceptance letter, no nomination needed. Sports bring in money; that is the reality.

Two boys from my school were accepted to USNA out of the ~5 who applied. One went through a loophole and applied for a nomination in a state where his parents owned land, and even then one of his parents worked in admissions at the academy. The unsung reality is that USNA probably didn't even look at my application after I didn't get a nomination. It's upsetting, but I came out of the process more annoyed at the fact that I had to fill out three lengthy applications, do several more essays, acquire more recommendations, and spend up to ~100 dollars sending my standardized scores, only to be rejected for students who had connections.
 
Wait List for DD; echoing UAF's experience at AIM. An emphasis was put on not going EA unless you were an A1 candidate. DD wanted to wait until Nov SAT's and to ace first marking period grades to put a cherry on top of the app. My only advice to 2021's would be to go EA, unless you have a huge deficiency. The extra 20 points on the SAT didn't seem to help. Not sure EA would have either.

Just have to wait for May 1 confirmations to come in and hope someone similar drops. I agree with AlexT on the waitlist. No ranking. Just grouped to set up replacements of similar credential and roles(sports ect..) when appointments get declined.
 
So can anyone tell us how many have accepted their appointment for the Class of 2020?
 
Reminder to all those still on waitlist to keep sending achievement updates to AO including latest transcripts. Most up to date information needs to be with AO before May 1st. Supposedly phone calls will be the initial method of communication for those given appointments off the waitlist. Let us hope for lots of happy phone calls between now and June for all of our waitlisted DS / DD.
 
For what is worth, I asked my DD to ask the kids that are members of the USCG Class of 2020 Facebook page if they have accepted their nomination yet. My DD says about 100 kids said they have. I have no idea how well this number reflects the real acceptance rate.
 
For what is worth, I asked my DD to ask the kids that are members of the USCG Class of 2020 Facebook page if they have accepted their nomination yet. My DD says about 100 kids said they have. I have no idea how well this number reflects the real acceptance rate.
It has been really strange. We are at the Academy now for AEP. Maybe 6 said they have accepted. DS said most of his AIM buddies that he has stayed in contact with have accepted appointments elsewhere. For those on the wait list, keep the faith.
 
proudofmyboy: Thank you for giving us hope...we've been waiting since Oct when DD applied! But its true...the law of averages kicks in and I guess that's why the SA have the Wait list!

3 more weeks till May....but who's counting?
 
proudofmyboy: Thank you for giving us hope...we've been waiting since Oct when DD applied! But its true...the law of averages kicks in and I guess that's why the SA have the Wait list!

3 more weeks till May....but who's counting?
Best of luck...We are pulling for you..This is a great place..
 
of course, not to be a stick in the mud, but the letter said they give 350 appointments for an incoming class of 290. So that means that about 60 of those wont be offered to waitlisters either...
 
of course, not to be a stick in the mud, but the letter said they give 350 appointments for an incoming class of 290. So that means that about 60 of those wont be offered to wait listers either...
Wait listers have already been offered appointments, and there are still others declining, so no one should give up hope. I'm at CGA right now.
 
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