Where to Find my BGO

JohnJr1601

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2017
Messages
68
Hello again,
I was wondering if our BGO was chosen based on where you live, or where your school is. I go to school in MD, but I live in NOVA (Northern VA). I reached out to someone, and he did not specifically tell me, he just said: "I can help you even though you go to school in MD." This makes me think that my BGO is based on the location of our school.
 
Have you applied or are you in the process of doing so for the class of 2023? If you've applied for the class of 2022, there should be contact information on your portal for your BGO.
 
Have you applied or are you in the process of doing so for the class of 2023? If you've applied for the class of 2022, there should be contact information on your portal for your BGO.
I'm currently a Junior so I will be applying in the Spring. I've heard from multiple people that it is a good idea to reach out to your BGO before you apply.
 
My plebe went to school in PA and we live in Maryland. Her BGO was in PA but her nomination interviews were MD. If you have a BGO who is quick to reply and ready to help, use your resources! Even if your final interview is conducted by another BGO you have someone currently at your service. Good luck!
 
My plebe went to school in PA and we live in Maryland. Her BGO was in PA but her nomination interviews were MD. If you have a BGO who is quick to reply and ready to help, use your resources! Even if your final interview is conducted by another BGO you have someone currently at your service. Good luck!
Thank You!
 
I've heard from multiple people that it is a good idea to reach out to your BGO before you apply

Another of those things that are more urban legend than reality. Many older threads on this topic. When applying to any SA you will often find well-meaning friends/relatives or the postman who will offer all kinds of advice even when they have no idea what they are talking about. BGO's are volunteers and your level of involvement with them will vary based on how they choose to operate. You don't gain any 'points' by contacting them early (or often). BGO's on here have commented that the actual interview will most likely not take place until at least 50% of your application is complete to make the best use of their time.

This was also discussed when you asked similar questions in May & September.
 
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I'm currently a Junior so I will be applying in the Spring. I've heard from multiple people that it is a good idea to reach out to your BGO before you apply.

After you get your online application started, they will send you an EMail with your candidate number and information on how to login to the Candidate Information System (referred to often around here as your "Portal")

After you can login to your Portal, make sure that you;
1. Request that your (first 6 semesters) grades be sent to USNA before you leave school for summer break. These have to be sent from the school, not through some service like Parchment.
2. Request recommendation letters from your English teacher and Math teacher (they upload these to the portal). Get their personal EMail addresses if possible.
3. Request Academic Information from your H.S. guidance counselor. Get personal EMail address, if possible.

If you get those things done and your application is strong, your BGO may end up contacting YOU. This is what happened with my DS.
He was just getting ready to call the BGO, when the BGO called him.

When your application gets to around 50% complete, things will start to happen.
DoDMERB will contact you through their medial testing partnership with Concordia.
The Email will give you a link with details on how to set up your DoDMERB account and how to schedule a medical/hearing/eye exam in your area.
Do what they tell you to do and when they tell you to do it. Get used to this!

Between your Portal and the DoDMERB website, all the information to complete the information that they need will be posted.
There will be easy to follow directions as to how to do that on each website.

Practice your CFA. The only way to get better CFA scores is to practice. If you aren't already in great physical condition, make sure that you are when you have that BGO interview.
The BGO is the only one with a pipeline to USNA that is going to lay eyes on you until you are ultimately turned down, or offered an appointment.
 
I've heard from multiple people that it is a good idea to reach out to your BGO before you apply

Another of those things that are more urban legend than reality. Many older threads on this topic. When applying to any SA you will often find well-meaning friends/relatives or the postman who will offer all kinds of advice even when they have no idea what they are talking about. BGO's are volunteers and your level of involvement with them will vary based on how they choose to operate. You don't gain any 'points' by contacting them early (or often). BGO's on here have commented that the actual interview will most likely not take place until at least 50% of your application is complete to make the best use of their time.

This was also discussed when you asked similar questions in May & September.
Thanks for the advice!
 
I'm currently a Junior so I will be applying in the Spring. I've heard from multiple people that it is a good idea to reach out to your BGO before you apply.

After you get your online application started, they will send you an EMail with your candidate number and information on how to login to the Candidate Information System (referred to often around here as your "Portal")

After you can login to your Portal, make sure that you;
1. Request that your (first 6 semesters) grades be sent to USNA before you leave school for summer break. These have to be sent from the school, not through some service like Parchment.
2. Request recommendation letters from your English teacher and Math teacher (they upload these to the portal). Get their personal EMail addresses if possible.
3. Request Academic Information from your H.S. guidance counselor. Get personal EMail address, if possible.

If you get those things done and your application is strong, your BGO may end up contacting YOU. This is what happened with my DS.
He was just getting ready to call the BGO, when the BGO called him.

When your application gets to around 50% complete, things will start to happen.
DoDMERB will contact you through their medial testing partnership with Concordia.
The Email will give you a link with details on how to set up your DoDMERB account and how to schedule a medical/hearing/eye exam in your area.
Do what they tell you to do and when they tell you to do it. Get used to this!



Between your Portal and the DoDMERB website, all the information to complete the information that they need will be posted.
There will be easy to follow directions as to how to do that on each website.

Practice your CFA. The only way to get better CFA scores is to practice. If you aren't already in great physical condition, make sure that you are when you have that BGO interview.
The BGO is the only one with a pipeline to USNA that is going to lay eyes on you until you are ultimately turned down, or offered an appointment.

Thank You!
 
BGO's are volunteers and your level of involvement with them will vary based on how they choose to operate. You don't gain any 'points' by contacting them early (or often).

I would caution against general statements about how BGO's operate or how we perceive out candidates. I for one appreciate and recognize the initiative when a potential candidate reaches out early,freshman, sophomore, or even 8th grader and asks about USNA. I usually give them some of the same advice here --read the website, dropdowns, etc, sometimes steer them here, and give them the pep talk on academics, athletics, and leadership positions. No, they don't get "points" on there application, but does demonstrate motivation, interest and perhaps they learn something that helps improve their application.

In response to OP ...that's an interesting question, and probably no "right" answer. The BGO program is broken into "Areas", essentially along state lines ,, and some States having more than one Area. Candidates are assigned based upon they school attend (I have seen errors where someone was assigned here but they attend a school with the same name in another state). There is not necessarily a BGO assigned to every school --while it would be nice, sometimes there are simply not enough BGO's to go around ! (If there are not enough BGO's to assign to every school, the Area Coordinator is the default in BGIS). My recommendation would be to reach out to your schools BGO (ask your Guidance Counselor) , or if none assigned, reach out to the Area Coordinator for state where school is located and your residence is located, and they will coordinate to get you assigned to a BGO. (It may not necessarily be the BGO you interview with).


Her BGO was in PA but her nomination interviews were MD.
> Yes, Nominations are always based upon State of Residence.
 
In Northern VA and in MD, BGOs are assigned to schools -- most cover multiple schools that are generally close to where the BGO lives. Thus, your BGO will almost certainly be based in MD. Given that you travel to school in MD each day, working with a BGO there shouldn't present any issues.

My view on contacting your BGO before you are in the CIS system . . . do so if you have questions. There is no need to do so just to "score points," demonstrate motivation, etc. Most BGOs conduct some sort of initial "reach out" to new candidates (usually via email) once they are assigned in late spring (May/June). Until then, BGOs are primarily focused on the current set of candidates but are available to answer questions from underclassmen.

You can find your BGO by asking your school guidance counselor. If he/she doesn't know, you can ask the Area Coordinator for your region. Contact info for that person can be found on-line.
 
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