My #3 applied to NASS and SLE--so they had his low GPA (3.1) and low PSAT scores (whatever they were)...and he received a letter from USMA on his portal "Non Committal" and USNA sent him a letter telling him what he needed to do to become a candidate. Because he he had successfully kicked it into gear as a junior (3.4) and did well on the SATs (well enough...passing that bottom bar of 600 on each section)--he was strong enough to become a candidate and have the candidate portals opened for him. He sent those test scores and he sent his transcript--and it was enough. The applications are a lot of work for the kids and for admissions, I can see where they reserve the right to save everyone the effort. I am proud of this kid whether it works out with USNA or any of the academies. He set his course--overcoming our tremendous family tragedy--and did it. His GPA is higher now, he has AP and Honors classes, he went after Eagle Scout with remarkable gusto and did a very complicated Eagle Scout Project--clothing drive in five big schools for Syrian refugees in Jordan (this came together by Divine Providence)--and he is a nice, nice, helpful person and a generous leader--he will be a good officer no matter the commissioning source. So, again, may be too little too late--but I know he was so happy when those portals opened and he became a candidate. It seems so silly--to have to struggle to even open the application and to celebrate that--but he did it!
And, re-reading what I wrote...the word is 'freebie'--not 'free-bee'--you can tell I don't use that word frequently.
Last, about that USNA grad O-6...if he is worth his salt he would want the process to work fairly for his child. As parents we have to want our children to be set up for success. He has to trust that the admissions office was making the best decision for his son or daughter--nothing could stop that kid from making changes (year at MMI, taking harder classes as a senior and reapplying.) If the student wants USNA, there are many pathways. (My least favorite was offered by a BGO at my son's school who said, 'He could always enlist in the Marine Corps and apply.' I think #3 was ready to sign on the dotted line and stand on the yellow foot steps.) So, when admissions puts a halt on things, we have to trust them--they want to recruit kids who can meet the challenge. We have to want that too.