USNA Class of 2029 Waiting, Speculating, Hoping

Does the BFE come after an appointment is offered or after an acceptance of the appointment?
 
ThinkingMans said:
I personally found it surprising how invested parents are in these things. At least, my parents wouldn't try and ask questions on this forum. Really gave me insight into differences in culture.
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I'll give you some insight as to one reason why. Many parents (such as myself) don't know how we are going to pay for college (and we are not saddling our children or ourselves with student loan debt). The ratios for expected family contributions have shifted in the past couple of years, and not in the favor of families. This is especially exacerbated for families with multiple children. I have 4 myself. No amount of saving, or 529 plans can make up the gap in how much the cost of education has skyrocketed. If your child expresses an interest in an education with no out of pocket expenses, you are looking for any possible leg up to make that happen. Personally don't care where he goes and if I am being honest, wish he was not going into the military. I also wasn't involved in any aspect of the application process. My involvement consisted of offering the BGO a drink at the interview and then disappearing, and intermittent driver to CVW's. But when it comes to the $$$ aspect of college admissions and attendance, it's all hands on deck to get any possible advantage to allow a foot to get jammed in the door somewhere.
 
Hi all!
I'm new here but having been following this forum for a couple months..finally decided to join and post since this is getting real! My oldest DS has applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA and received nominations to all 3 from PA senator (USNA) and local congresswoman (USMA and USAFA). We are just waiting for DODMERB results but everything else is complete.
I'd like to just say it's so nice to hear others in the same boat, patiently or non-patiently waiting to see if they get an appointment. The support here is unreal and I certainly don't feel alone in this process! You already feel like family :):)
 
MamaBear3 said:
Hi all!
I'm new here but having been following this forum for a couple months..finally decided to join and post since this is getting real! My oldest DS has applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA and received nominations to all 3 from PA senator (USNA) and local congresswoman (USMA and USAFA). We are just waiting for DODMERB results but everything else is complete.
I'd like to just say it's so nice to hear others in the same boat, patiently or non-patiently waiting to see if they get an appointment. The support here is unreal and I certainly don't feel alone in this process! You already feel like family :):)
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Welcome aboard!
 
MamaBear3 said:
Hi all!
I'm new here but having been following this forum for a couple months..finally decided to join and post since this is getting real! My oldest DS has applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA and received nominations to all 3 from PA senator (USNA) and local congresswoman (USMA and USAFA). We are just waiting for DODMERB results but everything else is complete.
I'd like to just say it's so nice to hear others in the same boat, patiently or non-patiently waiting to see if they get an appointment. The support here is unreal and I certainly don't feel alone in this process! You already feel like family :):)
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Welcome from a 2025 candidate and a fellow PA resident! :)
 
I hope everyone here has had a wonderful summer and holiday season since I haven't posted since last application cycle.
Brief recap: my DS was turned down last cycle and was devastated, as I discussed last year. The support and advice from this forum during that heartbreak was amazing. 💙
Last summer he attended NSI and even though it is a shorter camp than Pleeb Summer, he felt it was a great experience and the command at the Naval Training Command Center was TOUGH! He said, (and you could tell from the pictures we saw on the Facebook posts) "Mom, those guys eat people for breakfast" 🤣 He had a great time and learned a lot. It was a great introduction to Naval customs, courtesies, and training. I was definitely in tears seeing all of the mids at graduation and him in his whites. 🤩
He followed through with his Plan B and went to college and has been in the school's Navy ROTC unit (which has been awesome). He took a Pleeb course load and learned so much about himself. We got to visit him a few times (I even got to attend my first Naval Ball with him 💃) and at one visit he said to me he was glad he was not accepted to the Academy last year. He said he didn't think at that point in his life he was mature enough to handle the Academy rigor and the past 5 months has taught him so much about himself. It has been so heartwarming to see his maturity (not getting super frustrated with his 4 younger siblings and helping to teach them how to behave versus getting upset with them). He freely admits and I whole heartedly believe that the discipline he has received so far from his unit has and will continue to make him a better man, brother, and father/husband one day. He is definitely more patient and has a thicker skin.
He followed through with his plan, got straight A's this semester, and has just completed his re-application. He just told me today that his application shows they received his fall semester transcript and is now Complete-Pending Review.
For all of those first time applicants/parents, you are in the right place. This forum has provided a wealth of knowledge and support to countless and is made possible by the amazing individuals that continue to feel success in the amount of people they can aid. The selflessness and support of the individuals on this forum has made a difference in so many families journeys and I want to thank you all again. 🥰
Here is to the next cycle 🍾 , I wish everyone the best of luck and for those that are unfortunate enough to not gain admittance this cycle, remember: Keep your head up! You do deserve it but sometimes our paths take an unexpected roundabout that will help us be more successful in the long run. Watching our children learn, grow, and succeed from a failure is the best gift parents can be given.
Now the wait begins..... ⏰🥳
 
Iriswhite23 said:
I hope everyone here has had a wonderful summer and holiday season since I haven't posted since last application cycle.
Brief recap: my DS was turned down last cycle and was devastated, as I discussed last year. The support and advice from this forum during that heartbreak was amazing. 💙
Last summer he attended NSI and even though it is a shorter camp than Pleeb Summer, he felt it was a great experience and the command at the Naval Training Command Center was TOUGH! He said, (and you could tell from the pictures we saw on the Facebook posts) "Mom, those guys eat people for breakfast" 🤣 He had a great time and learned a lot. It was a great introduction to Naval customs, courtesies, and training. I was definitely in tears seeing all of the mids at graduation and him in his whites. 🤩
He followed through with his Plan B and went to college and has been in the school's Navy ROTC unit (which has been awesome). He took a Pleeb course load and learned so much about himself. We got to visit him a few times (I even got to attend my first Naval Ball with him 💃) and at one visit he said to me he was glad he was not accepted to the Academy last year. He said he didn't think at that point in his life he was mature enough to handle the Academy rigor and the past 5 months has taught him so much about himself. It has been so heartwarming to see his maturity (not getting super frustrated with his 4 younger siblings and helping to teach them how to behave versus getting upset with them). He freely admits and I whole heartedly believe that the discipline he has received so far from his unit has and will continue to make him a better man, brother, and father/husband one day. He is definitely more patient and has a thicker skin.
He followed through with his plan, got straight A's this semester, and has just completed his re-application. He just told me today that his application shows they received his fall semester transcript and is now Complete-Pending Review.
For all of those first time applicants/parents, you are in the right place. This forum has provided a wealth of knowledge and support to countless and is made possible by the amazing individuals that continue to feel success in the amount of people they can aid. The selflessness and support of the individuals on this forum has made a difference in so many families journeys and I want to thank you all again. 🥰
Here is to the next cycle 🍾 , I wish everyone the best of luck and for those that are unfortunate enough to not gain admittance this cycle, remember: Keep your head up! You do deserve it but sometimes our paths take an unexpected roundabout that will help us be more successful in the long run. Watching our children learn, grow, and succeed from a failure is the best gift parents can be given.
Now the wait begins..... ⏰🥳
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Brilliant post about the many good points of NROTC as either primary or alternate plan.

The great thing is, your DS is set on a quality path to a commission on the same timeline as if he were at USNA. If he is offered an appointment to USNA, he can then choose where he thinks he wants to be but know he has found a path he is thriving on. If he is not offered an appointment, he is just fine where he is, and can decide if he wants to reapply.
 
Iriswhite23 said:
I hope everyone here has had a wonderful summer and holiday season since I haven't posted since last application cycle.
Brief recap: my DS was turned down last cycle and was devastated, as I discussed last year. The support and advice from this forum during that heartbreak was amazing. 💙
Last summer he attended NSI and even though it is a shorter camp than Pleeb Summer, he felt it was a great experience and the command at the Naval Training Command Center was TOUGH! He said, (and you could tell from the pictures we saw on the Facebook posts) "Mom, those guys eat people for breakfast" 🤣 He had a great time and learned a lot. It was a great introduction to Naval customs, courtesies, and training. I was definitely in tears seeing all of the mids at graduation and him in his whites. 🤩
He followed through with his Plan B and went to college and has been in the school's Navy ROTC unit (which has been awesome). He took a Pleeb course load and learned so much about himself. We got to visit him a few times (I even got to attend my first Naval Ball with him 💃) and at one visit he said to me he was glad he was not accepted to the Academy last year. He said he didn't think at that point in his life he was mature enough to handle the Academy rigor and the past 5 months has taught him so much about himself. It has been so heartwarming to see his maturity (not getting super frustrated with his 4 younger siblings and helping to teach them how to behave versus getting upset with them). He freely admits and I whole heartedly believe that the discipline he has received so far from his unit has and will continue to make him a better man, brother, and father/husband one day. He is definitely more patient and has a thicker skin.
He followed through with his plan, got straight A's this semester, and has just completed his re-application. He just told me today that his application shows they received his fall semester transcript and is now Complete-Pending Review.
For all of those first time applicants/parents, you are in the right place. This forum has provided a wealth of knowledge and support to countless and is made possible by the amazing individuals that continue to feel success in the amount of people they can aid. The selflessness and support of the individuals on this forum has made a difference in so many families journeys and I want to thank you all again. 🥰
Here is to the next cycle 🍾 , I wish everyone the best of luck and for those that are unfortunate enough to not gain admittance this cycle, remember: Keep your head up! You do deserve it but sometimes our paths take an unexpected roundabout that will help us be more successful in the long run. Watching our children learn, grow, and succeed from a failure is the best gift parents can be given.
Now the wait begins..... ⏰🥳
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Thank you for this. My DS is also applying to NROTC as Plan B. Friend's of ours oldest son is doing NROTC at California school and thriving!
I tell my DS all the time it will all work out as it should.. one way or another. Of course that is hard to see when your 17!
 
His college has a week long event of parent/student information sessions the first week, so my husband and I stayed to take the degree specific classes. That week our DS also started his Midshipmen orientation. It was funny to watch him run Red light, Green light in his Professional Casual Attire in the summer heat/humidity getting yelled at by the Gunnery Sergeant. 😂
During the classes, students would filter in and out and there was an obvious difference in the ROTC students and the rest of the kids. They acted and presented themselves with so much maturity and professionalism. His unit requires them to have 10 hours of study hall/tutoring since he is an Engineering major and he likes the tutoring center so much he just got a part time job there for this spring semester. We have definitely had the discussion that he is in a perfect place if he were turned down again and that regardless of the outcome, he gave it his best and has forcibly made himself a better person as a result. . His reasoning for reapplying is that he really wishes the PT/Naval requirements weren't just 2 days a week and knows that he will get so much more exposure and experiences if he were accepted to the Naval Academy.
 
Mine didn't apply for any ROTC scholarships, but after the huge disappointment of an early LOA, but no noms, so no appointment in his first cycle for c/o '25, he decided to walk on to the NROTC unit at his Plan B school as a college programmer. Applied for and won an NROTC scholarship while there (last year they let college Freshman apply to the 4-year national scholarship) as well as a letter of recommendation/nom from his PNS for his application for '26. Got his appointment and hit the "Accept" button before he even had a chance to tell me he got it. :P NROTC is a great path. So is the Academy. Whichever suits your kid best will be the right one.
 
USMC Crayons said:
I'll give you some insight as to one reason why. Many parents (such as myself) don't know how we are going to pay for college (and we are not saddling our children or ourselves with student loan debt).
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This! And I am just so freaking proud of both of my kids and want to support them and know what they may be getting themselves into. What better place than an anonymous forum? Here I can proudly tell people when my kid got 5 nominations, on my own social media the kid would be embarrassed and people would either think I was bragging or have no idea what I was talking about. But as a kid yourself, you have no idea what it is like to be a parent and see this person, who you carried as a tiny baby become an amazing person, and some of us like to celebrate and participate in that journey, every parent is different and some couldn't care less, or have no interest. Those that do, tend to find their way here.
 
MamaBear3 said:
Hi all!
I'm new here but having been following this forum for a couple months..finally decided to join and post since this is getting real! My oldest DS has applied to USNA, USMA, USAFA and received nominations to all 3 from PA senator (USNA) and local congresswoman (USMA and USAFA). We are just waiting for DODMERB results but everything else is complete.
I'd like to just say it's so nice to hear others in the same boat, patiently or non-patiently waiting to see if they get an appointment. The support here is unreal and I certainly don't feel alone in this process! You already feel like family :):)
Click to expand...
Welcome! PA here too, DS has a noms to USNA and USMMA from the PA Senators and noms to USNA, USAFA, and USMMA from our Congressman. We are awaiting waiver status from DODMERB for waiver for childhood viral induced asthma that stopped at age 9 (and prescription - 1 inhaler at age 14 that was lost), sent a PFT test that was passed with flying colors. Waiver requested by USMMA, crickets on the other two. It is so stressful. He has an LOA to USMMA.
 
NY1234 said:
Welcome! PA here too, DS has a noms to USNA and USMMA from the PA Senators and noms to USNA, USAFA, and USMMA from our Congressman. We are awaiting waiver status from DODMERB for waiver for childhood viral induced asthma that stopped at age 9 (and prescription - 1 inhaler at age 14 that was lost), sent a PFT test that was passed with flying colors. Waiver requested by USMMA, crickets on the other two. It is so stressful. He has an LOA to USMMA.
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Curious if the PFT was requested and if so by which SA, or did you submit PFT on your own accord?
Thank you so much:)
GOOD LUCK!;)
 
NY1234 said:
Welcome! PA here too, DS has a noms to USNA and USMMA from the PA Senators and noms to USNA, USAFA, and USMMA from our Congressman. We are awaiting waiver status from DODMERB for waiver for childhood viral induced asthma that stopped at age 9 (and prescription - 1 inhaler at age 14 that was lost), sent a PFT test that was passed with flying colors. Waiver requested by USMMA, crickets on the other two. It is so stressful. He has an LOA to USMMA.
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Congrats on the nominations. :) I am understanding the waiver review (just obtaining one) can take a minute. I do think my son will need one as well so I am having him focus on Plan B, C, D, Z.. I'm wishing the best for you!
 
How long does it typically take to receive a decision from USNA after the application is fully complete? My Nomination was the last thing I needed and has finally been entered. USNA waived my medical in November and now my app is fully done.
 
There is no "typical" timeline to receive a decision. The delay ranges from days to months, depending on factors that are opaque to, and not in the control of, the candidates.

Try to focus on living your best life with your family and friends until and after you do receive a decision.
 
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