<p>That is exactly how it went down for my son last year. He got the email this same week in April and got his appointment notification about a week or so later. Now THAT was a long, long week. We kept wondering, what does this email mean? Did other kids get it? That was torture. We weren't familiar with this board then so we didn't know what to think.</p>
<p>It worked out really well for my "alternate" and I hope it will work out for all of you out there getting this type of communication. I do think the email said to call right away, and he emailed AND called.</p>
<p>Well Commiss I can see we are going to be on opposite sides of the field, my son responded to the CGA email by saying he's been sitting on an appointment to the USNA for over a month waiting to hear from the CGA, he started this process with the CGA as his first choice, but he's not going to put his appointment in jeapordy waiting what could be another 3-4 weeks for a 1 in 10 shot at the last slots...one less Alternate in the pool.</p>
<p>Well I guess this is what they are trying to find out...it will whittle down the list and give those with no other appointments the opportunity to go to the CGA. It's too bad this process couldn't go more smoothly but they can't make more appointments until they hear from those who already got one.</p>
<p>It does appear that those left in the pool have a slim chance of getting an appointment. If my S had an appointment to another academy he to would of taken it. I was surprised to read that the pool was still at 200 it seems that this year there were more direct appointment and less from the alternate pool.</p>
<p>I think this will cut down that 200 substantially. But it is still a long shot with 20 spots to be given. However that number might go up if kids turn down appointments. We shall see!</p>
<p>longrun,
my son's AO told him at the beginning of this process something along the lines of the "new plan" for this year was to give out more slots up front in an attempt to pull in more highly qualified candidates before they went to other schools, which seems to be what they've done. As a consequence they have drawn less from the alternate pool. When he discussed early action with his AO, the response was "get your application in early" and do whatever it takes to get your name in front of us early on as we are giving out a lot of slots...it's unfortunate they kept up the encouragement in their posts telling applicants of the past years ratio of at least 30% alternate candidates making it in; unless I’m missing something it appears like this year it's going to be much less. My final comment on this process; as a parent I certainly appreciate they consideration they have given my son. Having said that, when I think about the amount of effort each candidate puts into their application, the process and in particular, this end game is quite impersonal; very little real communication from the CGA or their AOs and then finally sending out a broadcast email to solicit interest addressed to alternates in general. Email is a wonderful tool that we all use; it’s also an awful crutch fall back to in the interest in saving time that is incredibly impersonal. I may be naive to think so, but I think every applicant has earned the right to something more than an electronic form letter.</p>
<p>Whoa...this process is not much different from any of the Academies...I've been through this with USMA, USNA, CGA with my son and CGA with my daughter. I don't think the CGA should be singled out. They are trying to get the best candidates possible. My son waited and waited on USNA then got a very brief letter of denial very late in the process. He was Triple Q with a nomination. His emails were not even replied to.
This entire process calls to mind the Bismarck quote There are two things you dont want to see being madesausage and legislation. Add the Academy admissions process to the list.</p>
<p>I don't think the perceived inefficiency or impersonal nature of this year's admission process is indicative of other issues the academy is dealing with. It's probably more a function of management that rotates through the academy at a faster rate than what we are used to in the business world. New people, new processes, new policies, etc. Sometimes learning and improving comes through trial and error.</p>
<p>My comments were not meant to be directly critical of the CGA and their application process, of all the service academies they undoubtedly do more with less; and I'm sure the people there, AO's etc would like to have the luxury of extra time to contact and stay in touch with each and every applicant, I doubt they have it and as a consequence communication suffers. Unfortunately, your conduct, be it an academy or an individual obviously reflects the institutional or individual priorities, if communication was important then the means to facilitate it would be found. Given that all the service academies operate in similar manners, I hope at some point they consider the mixed message they are sending; “become one of us and join our family”…” but don’t expect us to find the time to talk to you”. I also don’t buy the “you have to put up with this to get the free education excuse”, there is nothing free about serving your country after graduation, particularly at a time of war. The service academies and the services they represent are the lucky ones, as we are as citizens, all of us are fortunate to benefit from the kind and quality of kids that apply. As far as those kids that are not chosen the first time around, they are no less qualified the second time around; the only question is whether they will continue to try or move on and whether the service academies believe it is in their best interest to take another look at them. How they are treated the first time through will have an impact on them and their perceptions about that service and the academy it represents. At a time when our kids are filled with hopes, goals and expectations as they become adults, I think it’s incumbent on all of us to frame rejection in such a way as to not discourage kids at this age, there will be plenty of that as they grow older.</p>
<p>Agree with Boss's comment above - the CGA should not be singled out. My son's AO at CGA was very responsive and helpful. Our experience with USNA was somewhat different. Long wait, little communication, late replies to emails and finally a letter mid-April indicating he was on the wait list and would not hear till 3rd week of May. But that is just one person's antidotal experience and not indicative of what someone else may experience at either of these academies.<br>
I'm sure admissions at all the academies have to juggle waiting to hear from appointees who may decline without losing well-qualified alternates on the waitlist.</p>
<p>Totally agree with the above couple of postings. Check out the other service academy boards here and other sites, and you will see lots of kids waiting. By the way, if anyone wants high morale everyday and to be able to tell a school how to do everything to suit them, I would not suggest going to any service academy. They are not there to make your life easy; they are trying to make you an officer. Big difference.</p>
<p>Might be smart for those kids to stick to a regular college where they can skip classes whenever they want and....okay I could go on and on...but I won't.</p>
<p>There are certainly "morale" problems at all the academies. Cynicism and "*****ing" are an art form. At the CGA the new commandant Capt. Keene has made the effort to meet the cadets half way on some reforms that make things a tad "easier" for them. </p>
<p>The CGA is a great opportunity for any young man or woman. Getting there might be hard, staying is harder and graduating hardest of all. But it is certainly worth the struggle.</p>
<p>If you are deciding between two service academies, just be sure to realize how much different they are from each other and where you will end up after graduation in four years...or where you will be in six or seven years.</p>
<p>One thing I am going to miss this BB when my S gets his final notice. It has been my experience that the AO manager there candidate pool differently. I would think with a pool of 200 divided by 3 or 4 AO a more personal approach should not be out of reach.
I think that some appointment where made from the alternate pool but I am thinking it is much less than the 30% mark.
At least today I did not care if the mail came or not!
I also agree that it would be an honor for my S to attend the USCGA but it would be the hardest and must reward college he applied to.
Good Luck to ALL</p>