Will senators ignore an early application?

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HiMyNameisNick

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My classmate is applying to West point, and I am applying to the Nval Academy.

and my classmate told me that if you send in your application for nominations too early that they will simply ignore them or send them back...is this true? I was under the impression it is better to get the application done early, in case there are any problems or a delay.

I know sending it in early gives no advantage to getting a nomination, But it does not make sense that they would send it back or throw it out.
 
Getting your application for an SA done early is different than getting your nom application done early. The majority of people will say get the app for SA done early because it may or may not have an impact. This is not true for MOC nom applications.

Your class mate is incorrect to say they will ignore them or send them back. HOWEVER, they do not look at noms on a rolling basis. They place them together in a file and look at them all at once after their date for applying has closed. Apply Aug 1 and you have the same chance as getting it if you apply the last cut off date, which typically runs anywhere from Oct 1 -Nov 1.

Now why should you wait to apply for a nom from an MOC?

You wait because once submitted you do not have the option of adding onto it, an option that you have for your SA application. For example, maybe in September you are placed up for an academic/community award, if you submit now to the MOC then your placed into a situation where you have to figure out how to let them know of your award.

Many applicants will apply for their VP and Presidential nom during the summer because, as the rule goes, if you have 1 nom you will be a candidate and no longer an applicant (if you have a completed package). Once a candidate, you can meet the board and get an apptmt.

NOW before you all start thinking that by August 15th you will have an apptmt because you completed everything and have a nom, REALIZE the apptmt board will not meet until @ end of Sept./mid Oct., only those with LOA's this early on will get the BFE.
 
I'll piggy-back on this as I work very closely with my MoC and "occasionally" with one of my Senators.

When your request for nomination arrives, it's tossed into a big box marked with the SA of your choice. About once a week, the boxes are emptied and the information collated from them. And then the package is sent out (on a date determined by the MoC's office boss) to everyone that requested nomination. This is the "application package" and is something YOU fill up with goodies! :biggrin:

And then you send it back, hopefully fairly timely although...and here's what a lot of folks will say is the reason to wait: the MoC's board probably won't meet until October/November. So...if you make a huge rush and get it all in prior to 31 JULY...that's great BUT BUT BUT...you don't want to forget that you can update it ANYTIME that you have something more!!! MANY folks forget to update and that's bad.

Yes, MOST MoC's offices will accept updates and will update your profile PROVIDED you are the one to send in the update, do it "timely and professionally" and keep the office appraised of any changes. I know mine does and all the MoC's of AZ do. I know one Senator's office does, but I don't know about the other Senator's office as I haven't worked with them.

The BIG error we see here I'll repeat: folks do NOT update their packages!

I chair the AF nomination board for my MoC and we'll even accept an update during the nomination interview, if its relevant.

The BIGGEST thing to take from all our comments is, I think: put together the most complete package you can and submit it when ready. Then if ANYTHING changes (SAT/ACT scores, awards, etc.) call/message your MoC's office and let them know and offer to send them copies, etc.

I'll be they'll say "hmm...very serious applicant here...good!" :thumb:

Just my thoughts...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
flieger83 said:
I'll piggy-back on this as I work very closely with my MoC and "occasionally" with one of my Senators.

When your request for nomination arrives, it's tossed into a big box marked with the SA of your choice. About once a week, the boxes are emptied and the information collated from them. And then the package is sent out (on a date determined by the MoC's office boss) to everyone that requested nomination. This is the "application package" and is something YOU fill up with goodies! :biggrin:

And then you send it back, hopefully fairly timely although...and here's what a lot of folks will say is the reason to wait: the MoC's board probably won't meet until October/November. So...if you make a huge rush and get it all in prior to 31 JULY...that's great BUT BUT BUT...you don't want to forget that you can update it ANYTIME that you have something more!!! MANY folks forget to update and that's bad.

Yes, MOST MoC's offices will accept updates and will update your profile PROVIDED you are the one to send in the update, do it "timely and professionally" and keep the office appraised of any changes. I know mine does and all the MoC's of AZ do. I know one Senator's office does, but I don't know about the other Senator's office as I haven't worked with them.

The BIG error we see here I'll repeat: folks do NOT update their packages!

I chair the AF nomination board for my MoC and we'll even accept an update during the nomination interview, if its relevant.

The BIGGEST thing to take from all our comments is, I think: put together the most complete package you can and submit it when ready. Then if ANYTHING changes (SAT/ACT scores, awards, etc.) call/message your MoC's office and let them know and offer to send them copies, etc.

I'll be they'll say "hmm...very serious applicant here...good!" :thumb:

Just my thoughts...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...

thank you, this was very helpful
 
The GA MOC's we have talked to seem to have a consistent approach:

- All application information is online, there is no separate package they send you.

- Incomplete applications are ignored. Which means you have to send SAT ahead of time. And probably transcripts, though they will accept a sealed & signed transcript in a school envelope as part of the package.

- Two that we talked to indicated they did not examine any prior to the stated Aug 1 date.

Hope this helps!
 
If you carefully read through your congressmans/sentors site regarding their nomination process they will tell you when the application process opens, and when it closes. If it doesn't give you an open date, and you are worried you might be too early just give them a call. So, if you sent your packet after their nomination process has opened WHY would they throw your packet out? Doesn't make much sense.

Follow the instructions you are given by both application processes. I think part of the reason this process to get into a SA is so long and difficult at times is to weed out those who just don't want to put in the time, can't follow instructions, and so forth.
 
I do not believe nomination applications could be "updated" in Texas. Maybe my memory is failing me. However, if one were so inclined to send in his/her package for nom early....might be worth a phone call to see if it could be updated or if it needed to go in totally complete.
 
The one thing, do NOT be late, even one day late. It is the easiest way in the world for an MOC to toss your application in the garbage -- and, yes, I'm being serious. So, while being very early doesn't help, don't push it up to the last day such that an unexpected event might cause you to miss the deadline.
 
Agree with all of the above. One thing also...don't be afraid to follow up with a phone call to make sure that your information has arrived. We did not do this with one of our MOC's and at an informational meeting that was held in our state for candidates, my son approached the Representative's assistant who was in attendance and she had not gotten the request for a packet that my son had sent out. The very next business day, we received a call from the MOC office asking for information and a week later got the packet. From then on, we followed up with a phone call to all MOC's offices and made sure any information that we sent was received. These offices were always very cordial. (that being said, don't make a nusance out of yourself) In fact, when my son got his appointment, the MOC's secretary called us and left a message congratulating him on the good news. I played the message, got so excited I hit the delete button.....you guessed it...had to call her back and ask her to pretend I hadn't got the message and call and leave it one more time. She did so with even more enthusiasm than the previous time! I bet she got a good chuckle out of that! :shake:
 
Start the nomination application process early. There will be many parts to the application and any one of them can cause a delay. First things first, fighure out what your requirements are and get started! Take the time to write essays and then rewrite them. Send in your test scores and send them in again if you do better. Order your Junior year transcript before the counselors are bogged down. Collecting the letters of recommendation can take a few weeks. Once you have collected everything, send it in. Update once again right before the deadline.
The above is what my son did and it worked out just fine.
 
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