Will colleges view my nomination to USNA favorably?

Amazed

Amazed

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My DD is in the process of applying to her last few colleges (as her plan B, of course). There are questions about awards, honors, etc.... Should she include the fact she has a Congressional Nomination to USNA?

Will the colleges look at that favorably or do you think they will not? Last colleges include Cornell, Columbia, Colorado School of Mines, Stanford and Webb Institute, if that matters.
 
While it sounds impressive, I suspect most colleges don't know what it means or really care. In fact, it could even hurt -- sending the signal that they are just a Plan B .
 
I agree with @Old Navy BGO. Your DD likely has a plethora of other fabulous achievements besides the congressional nomination.

If I am an admission counselor for University of X, am I supposed to be impressed that an applicant has been recommended for acceptance at another competing institution?
 
I also agree. Getting a NOM is a step in the application process to only the SA's and really has no meaning to other colleges. Passing CFA and DODMERB are also steps in the process, but I wouldn't list those as 'accomplishments' either when applying to other colleges.
 
yes, these were my thoughts after our initial excitement of receiving the nom. it is awesome...but will the remaining schools she hasn't applied to yet think of themselves as plan B? that's why I asked.

Anyone care to weigh in differently as the schools may be actually impressed with this?

Seems like we are best to leave this off her remaining applications.
 
I was trying to argue for the other side. But, I can't think of a single, good reason to include it.

AROTC-Dad has it correct. There is a good chance your DD has all the other credentials she needs to get admitted to (at least some of) the schools on your list above.
 
Amazed said:
yes, these were my thoughts after our initial excitement of receiving the nom. it is awesome...but will the remaining schools she hasn't applied to yet think of themselves as plan B? that's why I asked.

Anyone care to weigh in differently as the schools may be actually impressed with this?

Seems like we are best to leave this off her remaining applications.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't include a nomination on a basic application. HOWEVER, I WOULD include it as an accomplishment for any application to a scholarship or honors program. Many honors programs (especially those that include academic scholarship money) utilize those awards to lure excellent students who might otherwise attend other schools. A nomination shows you are a step closer to admission at an Academy. Moreover, as awesome as getting a nomination is, it's not an appointment, and even if it was, lots of folks have weighed in on the importance of having a backup plan (for injury, etc). So if your DS or DD is pursuing scholarship/honors opportunities at other schools, I would consider including it in those applications. But most schools seems to have honors applications that are separate from the general application, and I'd treat the disclosure differently for each one.
 
Many colleges ask you where else you have applied in order to gauge your competitiveness.

Point to consider - if they offer you admittance the 'free' SA option may help any [merit based] financial aid offer.

But end of the day who knows; cant hurt might help IMHO.
 
If your DD has prepared a resume and it can be uploaded to the college application, I would definitely include it on her resume. On the common app for colleges, I would also include it in the accomplishment section like 22bravo says. If your DD has won an ROTC scholarship, she should definitely include that. My limited experience has been that the military seems to be a real positive on college applications and differentiates one from other non-military candidates in a very positive way.
 
I would guess it would be like telling University of Florida that you got accepted to Harvard. If I were an admissions counselor, I would be think to myself, then go to Harvard
 
While impressive, I don't think I would include an academy nomination. Agree with dadof2018grad. I would include an ROTC award that you can potentially use at the school(s). Sometimes schools will let you upload the certificate or inform admissions.
 
This is a very good question and probably has no single best answer. It depends how you say it and position it. And it depends on specially where you are with everything. Schools can read as this kid is competitive and despite being nominated or admitted to multiple SAs still want to come to ours for these many reasons that are compelling. If you have that story I say include it. Because no matter what, schools will see that you are applying to SAs based on your interests. So if you have ROTC National Scholarship already granted and can use to enroll that is a major Plus Plus in your app to that school and many others. If you are not applying through ROTC at that school then your story is less compelling.

Again it depends on your story.
 
thank you all for your thoughts. DD is applying to USNA and is waiting to hear about NROTC scholarship status as well. IF she gets a NROTC scholarship, she will go back to all the colleges she applied to and tell them she has earned a NROTC scholarship; I agree that colleges (with an NROTC program) would "like" this, as it does imply competitiveness, but also that her tuition will be paid in full each year by a reliable outside source. She would "only" (lol) need a scholarship for room and board so if the college was considering any scholarship for her, they may only need to entice her with 15k/yr instead of say, 65k/yr.
 
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