<p>My son was accepted to the NASS, but was unfortunately unable to attend due to a schedule conflict. As a result of the application, he was given an official candidate number. He hasn't decided whether to apply to the Academy or not, and hasn't yet pursued a nomination, etc.</p>
<p>Oddly (I think) he received an email from our local BGO requesting an interview. Is this normal - i.e. do they contact anyone in their region who has a candidate number and request to set up an interview? It feels strangely out of sequence to me, but I am not an expert by any stretch.</p>
<p>I believe my son is going to do the interview, because he is at once interested in the USNA and solidly on the fence. Is it a bad idea to use the BGO interview to gauge one's own level of interest? Or it is better to only do the interview if you're certain this is what you want to do? We do not want to waste the gentleman's time, but he'd really like the opportunity to speak one-on-one with a graduate.</p>
<p>When DD and I went, the BGO spent the first hour explaining the NA, what to expect, opportunities while there and after graduation…basically recruiting. We watched some videos of the NA. And he answered any and all questions that either of us had.</p>
<p>Then he asked me to wait outside while he talked to DD one-on-one. This was the interview part. </p>
<p>I say you should go ahead and do the interview but only if your S is ready to answer the question: Why do you want to be a Naval Officer? If he him’s and haw’s here it might not be good. Another question DD was asked: “If you do not get an appointment, what will you do?” Saying “Well in that case, I’ll go to the Cullinary Institute to become a cake decorator” might not go over well either. :)</p>
<p>Hahah - osdad - understood! His hesitation stems from two things - the fact that he’s been offered an athletic scholarship to compete in his sport at the 9x Div I national champs school, & the Naval Academy only offers his sport at the club level, and also that he would like to shoot for medical school and isn’t sure of his chances out of the academy.</p>
<p>He’s 16 - I’d be surprised if he could articulate a real desire to do anything of any import - and he’s a smart kid. Is it considered bad form to “coach” his interview responses? I don’t believe he’d know what to say if left to his own devices.</p>
<p>Its an anomaly of the BGO system. The BGIS sometimes indicates to interview a candidate as soon as entered into the system, which a happens this time of the year. [Ordinarily this is only after applicant is a candiate for the current year, e.g. rising seniors.] Personally, even though BGIS has an indicator to interview, I don’t interview untial applicant has completed at least 50% of their applicant packet. [I figure if they are not interested enough to finish that much of their packet, I shouldn’t worry about it too much.] Other BGOs and regions do it differently.</p>
<p>If you son is a rising senior [regardless of age], has questions, and is interested in attending, then take advantage of the interview. Express your interest and/or let teh BGO know that your are a bit early in teh process. [YHou could also send an email asking to defer interview until a bit more of the packet is completed; that you need the summer to consider all your alternatives.]<br>
It’s fine to interact w/ BGO tos ome degree w/out going through the interview process. I think you sh/ wait for interview because a “report” will be filled out and applicant evaluated; I think you want this to be as good as possible. [You could even ask for a quick interview to get questions answered–whcih could be over the phone or by email–and ask for the “formal” interview to be done later.]</p>
<p>As Bill0510 stated, each BGO does things differently.</p>
<p>As soon as I receive notification of a new candidate assigned to me, I make contact w/in 24hrs. The reason I do this is because as you can see from a number of forums these candidates have several questions, as do the parents. I do let them know, once they contact me, that I’ll sked the interview when there packet is about 50% complete, BUT I am available to answer any questions they might have about USNA’s process or the nomination process or questions in general. Most of the candidates that have been identified as “official” are the ones who applied for NASS and that is why they have candidate number and why they show up in the BGIS. </p>
<p>Also, you have to remember that BGOs are volunteers and they might be trying to knock something out knowing they will be out of the area for a while.</p>
<p>I agree w/ Bill0510 - just let you BGO know that you would like time to complete more of the packet, and prepare for an interview. There is no shame in that and shows that you want to think through your choices and even responses to possible questions that might come up during the interview.</p>
<p>Either way, i say go ahead w/ an interview as it is required to complete your package and it’s not going to hurt you say if your son changes his mind and wants to attend USNA.</p>