When do admissions boards look at your file?
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USMAROTCFamily
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DS's BGO said he will not conduct interviews with candidates until the files are 100% complete.
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Wow! DS's file opened in June and his BGO met with him immediately to conduct the interview and also offer guidance and pointers on completing the application and CFA. I guess everyone's mileage will vary!
falconchic88
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MammaMia, our BGO had the same policy as USMAROTCFamily's. DD did her interview last week and it was submitted yesterday, so now her portal is 100% complete, with Pres Nom. So I'm with you, its hurry up and wait time.
DD is going to retake ACTs in September and retake CFA. She passed but she wants to max several sections. SO she is staying busy studying and working out, not to mention school and soccer! So I think the waiting is easier for her than her Mamma!
DD is going to retake ACTs in September and retake CFA. She passed but she wants to max several sections. SO she is staying busy studying and working out, not to mention school and soccer! So I think the waiting is easier for her than her Mamma!
usna1985
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The USNA recommendation for % completion for doing interviews is 50%. That said, it is very BGO dependent. In all honesty, some don't have full-time jobs and/or only have one or two candidates in a cycle. They may well decide to interview everyone regardless of completion percentage.
For those who work and/or may have 20+ candidates in a cycle, it's simply a matter of time and prioritization. In my first years as a BGO, I would interview everyone as soon as they requested the interview or even seek them out. In many cases, the candidate never completed his her/package (not because of the interview
). When I'm looking at a potential 20 interviews a year, I realized I was "wasting" a lot of time on folks who really weren't interested in USNA.
Given limited time, I'd rather focus on those who have completed a high percentage of their packets -- including at least something THEY are responsible for (i.e., CFA or essay vs. their teacher recs). This tells me they are invested in the process -- they have enough interest to turn in most of their items.
I have made -- and continue to make -- exceptions, such as candidates who are looking for guidance/info about USNA in trying to decide if it's for them, etc. But where I live, those individuals are few and far between.
My personal view is that 100% is a bit much -- however, I must admit it's annoying when I interview someone at 89% and they never send in that final item.
At the end of the day, USNA won't review your packet until it's 100% complete. We were told that, last cycle, no one who didn't complete their packet was offered an appointment. So, provided your BGO is fairly prompt in scheduling interviews when you're done, there is minimal delay in USNA reviewing your record.
For those who work and/or may have 20+ candidates in a cycle, it's simply a matter of time and prioritization. In my first years as a BGO, I would interview everyone as soon as they requested the interview or even seek them out. In many cases, the candidate never completed his her/package (not because of the interview
). When I'm looking at a potential 20 interviews a year, I realized I was "wasting" a lot of time on folks who really weren't interested in USNA.Given limited time, I'd rather focus on those who have completed a high percentage of their packets -- including at least something THEY are responsible for (i.e., CFA or essay vs. their teacher recs). This tells me they are invested in the process -- they have enough interest to turn in most of their items.
I have made -- and continue to make -- exceptions, such as candidates who are looking for guidance/info about USNA in trying to decide if it's for them, etc. But where I live, those individuals are few and far between.
My personal view is that 100% is a bit much -- however, I must admit it's annoying when I interview someone at 89% and they never send in that final item.
At the end of the day, USNA won't review your packet until it's 100% complete. We were told that, last cycle, no one who didn't complete their packet was offered an appointment. So, provided your BGO is fairly prompt in scheduling interviews when you're done, there is minimal delay in USNA reviewing your record.
I will add a couple things:
- The Board doesn't meet until September, NOBODY is 3Q'd at this time. It's impossible.
- I thought the official word from admissions was 40% complete for an interview. But maybe this could be just guidance from our AC (area Coordinator). I will investigate it.
- Finally one thing that drives me nuts on all these internet sites (Forums, FB etc.). The 3 Q's: CFA, Medical and Board. The 3rd and final Q is BOARD. It is not academic or scholastic. It is an overall score taking into account a candidates overall composite score (Whole Person) which can/will include things like: CFA scores, ECAs', ACT/SAT scores, Teacher Recommendations, Sports participation and YES Academics (GPA, class ranking etc...). Getting that third Q is making a big cut/milestone. From the 18K plus applications the Academy gets every year only about 2500-3000 get 3 Q'd. Unfortunately as discussed, us BGO's are not supposed to tell the candidates when they are 3 Q'd. Do I agree with this no, but I abide by it. One thing to remember also if you are 3 Q'd you will not be considered for the NAPS, read: someone who gets accepted to NAPS was never 3 Q'd.
Hope this helps. I know this a painful long process, especially if you are not an LOA player. My best advice is to work on plan B and C , it's a very competitive road to the USNA. I have seen kids with near perfect SAT's get turned down and kids with marginal SAT's get accepted. Don't take it personnel, the Navy Officer Corp consist of only about 20-25% USNA graduates, there is more then way to skin a cat (get a commission). Good luck everyone...
- The Board doesn't meet until September, NOBODY is 3Q'd at this time. It's impossible.
- I thought the official word from admissions was 40% complete for an interview. But maybe this could be just guidance from our AC (area Coordinator). I will investigate it.
- Finally one thing that drives me nuts on all these internet sites (Forums, FB etc.). The 3 Q's: CFA, Medical and Board. The 3rd and final Q is BOARD. It is not academic or scholastic. It is an overall score taking into account a candidates overall composite score (Whole Person) which can/will include things like: CFA scores, ECAs', ACT/SAT scores, Teacher Recommendations, Sports participation and YES Academics (GPA, class ranking etc...). Getting that third Q is making a big cut/milestone. From the 18K plus applications the Academy gets every year only about 2500-3000 get 3 Q'd. Unfortunately as discussed, us BGO's are not supposed to tell the candidates when they are 3 Q'd. Do I agree with this no, but I abide by it. One thing to remember also if you are 3 Q'd you will not be considered for the NAPS, read: someone who gets accepted to NAPS was never 3 Q'd.
Hope this helps. I know this a painful long process, especially if you are not an LOA player. My best advice is to work on plan B and C , it's a very competitive road to the USNA. I have seen kids with near perfect SAT's get turned down and kids with marginal SAT's get accepted. Don't take it personnel, the Navy Officer Corp consist of only about 20-25% USNA graduates, there is more then way to skin a cat (get a commission). Good luck everyone...
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USNA's official guidance on conducting interviews is when a candidate shows a sincere interest in attending USNA and that discretion is left to the BGO (there are some recommendations on when to conduct the interview). Interviews should be done prior to 100% packet completion (obviously). Sometimes the issue is that some candidates may submit multiple forms really quickly or the school officials submit them simultaneously and rockets their completion percent from partially complete to fully complete in a matter of minutes.