When Should I Apply For a Nomination?

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Feb 26, 2020
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I know candidates should apply as soon as possible. However, how does this work with test scores? Many tests, especially now (Coronavirus), will be taken over the summer. Would it be better to wait until I take the ACT in July before I apply? I am not confident with my current ACT, which is a 28 (sophomore year). The nomination application begins in a couple weeks for my local Congressman and Senators.
 
I encourage candidates to begin working on the package over the summer. You can always UPDATE the nominating office with higher scores, or updates to the package. There are no points for getting it in early, but understand that you have more time in the summer than you typically will during your academic year.
 
Each MOC has different application dates, procedures, requirements, essay prompts etc. Some will want test scores sent from College Board, some will accept emailed scores. Every one is different. We had a binder with a section for each SA, each MOC and NROTC. Dates were put on white board and prioritized in order of application close dates. Prepare your resume, ask for a mentor/teacher etc to review it. This resume is not for a job interview, it doesn't have to remain one page. You need to include your accomplishments, leadership, athletics, awards, skill sets.
I can say this, I have seen some silly questions get asked by candidates in group chats etc, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Rarely in this process will you find something that cannot be answered by you, reading the instructions and drop down menus etc. Do not harass the MOC personnel in charge of nominations. You need them on your side. Be professional in any and all communications with them, no 'lol' or 'my bad'. (yes, I have seen and heard of that happening).
You are wise to pursue this early, you can be organized and ready to roll when applications open. Keep improving your self, and practice and train for the CFA and use Khan (or another site) to improve your test scores.
Good luck to you!
 
I would say that the best course of action is to start the application as soon as possible, get the boring stuff out of the way such as medical or background forms. I would then write the essays and start the extra curricular activity list(s). Here's the thing though, applications close in December and you should't submit these final two until the end. Why? Because you could earn a new award or have a better idea for an essay, something could happen in your life that gives you a better perspective on the application. After you submit, it is really difficult to add changes because it involves contacting the academy directly. I would also suggest that you should send EVERY SAT/ACT score, even after the application deadline because the academies still review information like that after the December deadline.
Always do your best and most importantly keep your integrity! They check social media too and you never know who could be following you on snapchat/twitter/facebook/instagram who has a random connection to someone in admissions.
I hope this helps and good luck!
 
I would say that the best course of action is to start the application as soon as possible, get the boring stuff out of the way such as medical or background forms. I would then write the essays and start the extra curricular activity list(s). Here's the thing though, applications close in December and you should't submit these final two until the end. Why? Because you could earn a new award or have a better idea for an essay, something could happen in your life that gives you a better perspective on the application. After you submit, it is really difficult to add changes because it involves contacting the academy directly. I would also suggest that you should send EVERY SAT/ACT score, even after the application deadline because the academies still review information like that after the December deadline.
Not sure if you're an applicant or a parent but as someone who has been through this process for decades, I heartily disagree. How early in the application season you should target gets debated a bit among the experienced folks on here but I haven't ever seen much support for waiting until the end or even near to it. The end of the cycle is a very busy time for admissions AND for applicants and it is quite easy for things to drop through the cracks. Sending updates to admissions is really not that hard and in most cases, will not have much if any effect on the the candidate score.

By the way, do you know what is NOT in the candidate score? The essay. Yes, the essay gets looked at by admissions but its more of a glance unless something catches their eye. When it comes to the MOC panels, I can tell you that the panels that I've been on for decades now, we have 10-15 mins to scan a candidate's application, transcript, Letters of Rec, etc. Honestly speaking, it is rare to have time to go beyond skimming the essay much less putting a lot of analysis into it.
 
Thanks for the info. I am curious - when you sat on a panel for a MOC, were you the only panel for that MOC, or did he/she have more than one panel going at the same time? In other words, did you get to do all the interviews or is that divided up? Also curious how many panelists were on your panel? Thank you.
 
Won’t speak for @OldRetSWO, but generally the MOC process varies greatly by district and state. We live in a mid-size state with one major metropolitan area and a couple of smaller ones. All three MOC panels that DD faced varied in member number, but 3-5 is a common number. And there were multiple panels — our congressman ran interviews over a couple days in one location, our senators ran several simultaneously over several days in several locations.

Be ready for anything. What was done last year may not be done this year. Things — and MOCs and their staffs — do change.
 
Thanks for the info. I am curious - when you sat on a panel for a MOC, were you the only panel for that MOC, or did he/she have more than one panel going at the same time? In other words, did you get to do all the interviews or is that divided up? Also curious how many panelists were on your panel? Thank you.
Both at my Congressman's level and at the Senatorial level, I've seen multiple small panels and often it is two or three interviewers but at times, as interviewers had to leave, I have had to do some by myself. For the Congressman, the candidate had one interview that was under an hour in total. For my state, the Senators have the interviews jointly and each applicant gets interviewed twice, one for Senator 1 and one for Senator 2 but the difference is who the paperwork goes to, in reality, the panels just interviewed the candidates as they were assigned by the staff and then the staff routed the interview evaluations as needed so that each Senator had a unique interview set for each applicant. There were a few candidates who only applied to one of the Senators and those individuals only had one interview.
 
I would say that the best course of action is to start the application as soon as possible, get the boring stuff out of the way such as medical or background forms. I would then write the essays and start the extra curricular activity list(s). Here's the thing though, applications close in December and you should't submit these final two until the end. Why? Because you could earn a new award or have a better idea for an essay, something could happen in your life that gives you a better perspective on the application. After you submit, it is really difficult to add changes because it involves contacting the academy directly. I would also suggest that you should send EVERY SAT/ACT score, even after the application deadline because the academies still review information like that after the December deadline.
Always do your best and most importantly keep your integrity! They check social media too and you never know who could be following you on snapchat/twitter/facebook/instagram who has a random connection to someone in admissions.
I hope this helps and good luck!
I would like to point out that if your application is in and complete pending review, you can easily update awards leadership etc. Our son was CPR with West Point and USNA by Oct 1. That fact and his round 1 NROTC scholarship award and admission to his college of choice with 30k per year in merit was mentioned favorably during moc interviews. Completing all of his apps was looked upon favorably during those interviews and remarked upon.If you wait until late in the, cycle you cannot benefit from those types of milestones. Also, your high school guidance counselor can email admissions with any resume, or school or athletic updates. Our son did this until he received his appointments.
 
Some of the above comments are jumbling the SA application with the MOC process, two different things. The OP is asking about the MOC NOM application. Each MOC runs their own process and their website clearly indicates what is required and the applicable deadline. None of them provide extra points for submitting early. Most who conduct interviews do them all at one time after the deadline has passed, so it isn't a race to submit early. Likely, they will accumulate all submitted applications until it is time for the interviews. However, if you miss their application deadline, you will be out of the running that year for the MOC NOM.

Each SA has a separate process that allows for updating your file if you have additional awards, sports achievements, etc. after submitting your application. That has nothing to do with your MOC application.
 
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