What Are the Best Ways to Prepare for the BGO and Nomination Interviews?

Some great advice here. I have a question: Does the USNA contact a Blue and Gold Officer about interviewing a prospective candidate, or is this done entirely at the discretion of the BGO?
 
MrKen57 said:
Some great advice here. I have a question: Does the USNA contact a Blue and Gold Officer about interviewing a prospective candidate, or is this done entirely at the discretion of the BGO?
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I’d recommend the candidate contact the BGO to setup the interview…better for the candidate to initiate the contact to arrange scheduling.
 
All great advice. The best advice our son received post a mock no joke interview with a West Point parent club mock panel was to be authentic.
Yes, nerves are present. Yes, be confident and know your material and your why and your reasoning and plan B, C and Z.

They interview a lot of folks. Make a positive impression.

Just as people say, “write the essay only you can write”; I think the same goes for interviews. Be the interview they remember and the impression you leave is one that is positive and no one else could leave.
 
My DS brought copies of his up to date resume with him that he handed to everyone on panel. It was appreciated by them. He also brought copy of LOA for a later MOC interview.
 
usnabgo08 said:
I’d recommend the candidate contact the BGO to setup the interview…better for the candidate to initiate the contact to arrange scheduling.
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He has. As soon as he came back from his CVW, he called his BGO. Then the BGO set up the interview.
 
Devil Doc said:
Did you sit in on the entire interview or watch it with a remote camera or similar set-up?
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Seriously a real question. Parents are not to be present during the interview. Did the BGO know you were there?

There is a time to visit with parents, and then they are to be excused. That’s actually in BGO training. So if you are a parent, know that. And don’t create the awkward situation for the BGO/candidate.
 
Sometimes people attempt to be humorous or sarcastic with their replies and tends to fall flat. I can't believe any parent would think it was either a good idea or considered acceptable behavior to be watching surreptitiously and/or coaching replies from off-cam during any kind of video interview.
 
time2 said:
...Sometimes people attempt to be humorous or sarcastic with their replies and tends to fall flat...
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Not me, pal.

My replies are always humerus!
I especially like to get my intertubercular groove on when I talk about the medial epicondyle.
 
time2 said:
I can't believe any parent would think it was either a good idea or considered acceptable behavior to be watching surreptitiously and/or coaching replies from off-cam during any kind of video interview.
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I know of at least one candidate's parents who would probably do this. They stage managed him through scouts and then through his a Service Academy application and then (successful) reapplication
 
time2 said:
Sometimes people attempt to be humorous or sarcastic with their replies and tends to fall flat. I can't believe any parent would think it was either a good idea or considered acceptable behavior to be watching surreptitiously and/or coaching replies from off-cam during any kind of video interview.
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Oh I sure can!! When there is a full scholarship to a prestigious place on the line?? Yes. And I’ve met a couple of them. One at least up until last year still editing their Mids papers…to the point of doing the reading and holding the grading rubric. So wrong, imo.

Hopefully that post was sarcastic. Didn’t seem like it though.
 
As a current plebe who had this same question last year, I decided the best course of action was to go in completely openminded for these interviews. The BGO is an interview that you definitely do not need to worry about, think of that as just someone trying to get to know you. They lead the conversation and I had a very good experience for my interview. It lasted for 2 hours and it felt like 5 minutes. Use that time to ask any questions you have about what you might experience as a mid. As previously stated I went in with 0 preparation for my nomination interviews. Speak from the heart on why you want to go and they will see that. There is no need to be nervous as long as you show them you want to be an officer and will continue to apply if you don't get in this year. That is something that may set you apart from others. I am pretty sure I was offered a principal nomination just due to that fact.

With all that being stated I was told that I needed to tell a joke for my nomination interview so you way want to have one lined up! Hope this helps!
 
govolsfin said:
As a current plebe who had this same question last year, I decided the best course of action was to go in completely openminded for these interviews. The BGO is an interview that you definitely do not need to worry about, think of that as just someone trying to get to know you. They lead the conversation and I had a very good experience for my interview. It lasted for 2 hours and it felt like 5 minutes. Use that time to ask any questions you have about what you might experience as a mid. As previously stated I went in with 0 preparation for my nomination interviews. Speak from the heart on why you want to go and they will see that. There is no need to be nervous as long as you show them you want to be an officer and will continue to apply if you don't get in this year. That is something that may set you apart from others. I am pretty sure I was offered a principal nomination just due to that fact.

With all that being stated I was told that I needed to tell a joke for my nomination interview so you way want to have one lined up! Hope this helps!
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Yes the BGO interview is not intended to trick candidates or be intemadating. I do not recommend any joke for a BGO or Nom interviews-this can backfire. Be cheerful, knowledgeable and confident!
 
govolsfin said:
As a current plebe who had this same question last year, I decided the best course of action was to go in completely openminded for these interviews. The BGO is an interview that you definitely do not need to worry about, think of that as just someone trying to get to know you. They lead the conversation and I had a very good experience for my interview. It lasted for 2 hours and it felt like 5 minutes. Use that time to ask any questions you have about what you might experience as a mid. As previously stated I went in with 0 preparation for my nomination interviews. Speak from the heart on why you want to go and they will see that. There is no need to be nervous as long as you show them you want to be an officer and will continue to apply if you don't get in this year. That is something that may set you apart from others. I am pretty sure I was offered a principal nomination just due to that fact.

With all that being stated I was told that I needed to tell a joke for my nomination interview so you way want to have one lined up! Hope this helps!
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My BGO interview lasted 45 min, is that good or bad?
 
It’s neither. BGO’s are all different. Some are more chatty/small talk. Some are right to business. Some ask more questions than others. Some candidates answer with short answers. Some are long winded.

It doesn’t mean ANYTHING towards good or bad. Might if it was with the SAME BGO. But I would suggest not even then, BC candidates are also different (reserved vs chatty). Some may bring a resume so there is info already provided, vs some may not and the BGO has to gather info and write it down.

It’s neither good or bad. It’s a non-issue.
 
My DD2024's BGO interview was in a public area and both parents were asked to attend. DH and I said nothing during the interview - I always wondered if it was a test to see if parents would start answering for their DD/DS. My DD spoke the entire time and she was rather good at "carrying the conversation", not just responding like a deposition with Question: Answer format. At the end, BGO asked DD to step away and he asked us a question - really to gauge our support of DD. For candidates: my DD said she just pretended like we were not there. It was a great reaffirmation that as parents, you are their entire world, the whole pie when they are born. By end of high school, the pie is sliced and you really only know your DD/DS 1/16th. They have many influences and people that help shape her. Her answers were about things I didn't know about, and were quite amazing.

In general -
Be yourself, be your best self.
Have answers to the common and routine questions
Always turn the conversation to about YOU, don't go on a tangent and talk about things that have nothing to do with YOU.
Have 5 bullets of things you want to leave the BGO knowing about you that are not on your resume or otherwise in your packet.

For those with no military experience - here is the advice I gave my DD:
You are the expert of YOU.
They aren't concerned that you have no military experience. Turn this into a key advantage - because YOUR experience from SLE, FVE, AIM/Genesis, CVW, USMMA recruiting trip - was yours alone - and thus you are the expert of it. This first hand experience helped you define, refine, and now articulate Why this SA? In an interview or essays - keep it all about YOU and your experience.
 
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