<p>Will my son's app be considered when the admissions board meets in Sept if he has not had the BGO interview?</p>
<p>Everything else is complete, just having a tough time arranging the interview.</p>
<p>Thanks USNA1985. We would have flown our son to El Paso for the interview. Still waiting for the evaluation of the interview to be submitted to the Academy.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Will my son's app be considered when the admissions board meets in Sept if he has not had the BGO interview?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Normally, I'd say no. However, this year (for the first time), I've had a candidates receive an LOA prior to the interview. So, not sure what to tell you.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We would have flown our son to El Paso for the interview.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sorry that I misunderstood. Still, USNA doesn't expect people to do that.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Still waiting for the evaluation of the interview to be submitted to the Academy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Because many BGOs have "real" jobs in addition to their BGO work, completing the evaluation may take a few days. If a couple of weeks go by and if the rest of the application is complete, you may want to follow up with the BGO. But I'd give it some time.</p>
<p>For the Class 0f 2010, the BGO interview was not required prior to receiving a LOA. The letter my son received clearly stated that there were 4 items that had to be completed prior to March 1st for the guaranteed appointment - It stated that he was guaranteed an appointment as long as 1. BGO interview was completed, 2. DoDMERB cleared, 3. Receive an Nomination, 4. Pass the CFA.</p>
<p>Not sure what may have changed but in the past you could go before the Board prior to the interview.</p>
<p>Profmom, why do you choose to ignore my posts. I think that last year we decided that the 2010 letter had simply not been updated to reflect current policies. Your inability to get with the program does no one any favors.</p>
<p>The BGO interview continues to be required for the package to go before the Admissions Board, juist as it did for the class of 2010. I am sure there are exceptions, but rest assured, they are, indeed, exceptions.</p>
<p>LOL - USNA 69 Why do you believe that you are the only one who could possibly be correct? </p>
<p>Respectfully, for the Class of 2010 the BGO interview was not a requirement to go before the Admissions board or receive a LOA. Another poster whose daughter also received a LOA for the Class of 2010 posted back in fall of 2006 the same information as I stated here. </p>
<p>
[quote]
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/naval-academy-annapolis/163515-loa-2.html?highlight=LOA%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/naval-academy-annapolis/163515-loa-2.html?highlight=LOA</a> See Post #22 dated 10-17-2006</p>
<p>This is how last year's LOA was written:</p>
<p>We are pleased to advise you that the Admissions Board has found you qualified to compete for admission to the USNA Class of 2010. You are ( in BOLD TYPE, their emphasis) guaranteed an offer of appointment--- if your remaining admissions requirements are completed. You should be proud of your outstanding accomplishments as you have earned the opportunity to join one of the country's premier offier training programs. As the undergraduated college of the Navy and Marine Corpts, the Naval Academy will prepare you to become a leader in the Naval Service and provide an experience unmatched by any other college or university.</p>
<p>Please remember however that your guaranteed offer of appointment is contingent upong completeing all of your remaining admissions requirements. You must complete the following marked requirements by 1 March 2006 or this offer may no longer be valid......</p>
<p>Nomination
Medical Qualification
Blue and Gold Officer Interview....</p>
<p>We wish you success in the promont completion of your remaining requirements for admission and look forward to welcoming you as a member of the Brigade of Midshipmen. " by Peskemom dated 10/17/06
[/quote]
</p>
<p>According to the BGO I just spoke to, she has a LOA recipient that has yet to do his interview. Seems another BGO on this board has also had this happen.</p>
<p>For those who are concerned about the package being reviewed without a completed interview, have your son or daughter call their regional director and ask.</p>
<p>Anecdotal examples aside, the official policy remains today the same as it did for the class of 2010, the BGO interview is to be completed before the package goes before the Board. Again, as I stated above, exceptions are probably made. Don't count on it though.</p>
<p>With that said, a BGO who requires the board to make the above exception probably does not deserve to be a BGO.</p>
<p>First, it's important to remember that the overwhelming majority of candidates will NOT receive an LOA. And, that should not be your "goal," as there is virtually nothing you can do at this point that will determine whether you receive one. Focus on getting an appointment; and if an LOA comes, so much the better.</p>
<p>Second, you should assume that your packet will not be reviewed until it is 100% complete (other than medical), to include your BGO interview. Counting on an exception is not smart.</p>
<p>As for scheduling interviews, there can be times when it's virtually impossible to schedule an interview during the summer for a number of weeks due to the candidate's lack of availability (sports camps, vacation, NASS, etc.) and/or BGO unavailability (out of town business, vacation, etc.). Most BGOs (and candidates) make every effort to ensure the interview doesn't hold up the application.</p>
<p>BGO just called and I got an LOA!!! my head has increased about 10 times its normal mass - IM GOIN CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>btw, I had everything in. I would say just make it #1 priority to get things finished. Fingers crossed for a nomination!</p>
<p>Congrats Zoobernarf! :D</p>
<p>Congratulations! Lucky..</p>
<p>Just one thought-
BGO's can add in comments and notations into the candidate file prior to, and after, the formal interview and evaluation are completed. As such, the admissions office does have access to the notations, based on information provided by the BGO, dependent on the interactions to date between candidate and BGO, and independent of the formal interview.</p>
<p>The official policy is that the admissions office requires a BGO interview to be completed with a subsequent evaluation submitted prior to the file being considered for an appointment. Having said that, it is possible that the admissions dept will consider offering a LOA for an outstanding candidate pending the official BGO interview, however contigent on its completion. As pointed out, these are "exceptions" to the rule, and fall outside the usual process, and depending on what the BGO has already "noted." As for LOAs, the numbers issued are relatively low- so don't get all unnerved if you do not get one and fall into the regular pool with notification as late as March 1st. "Hurry up and wait"..... might as well get used to it, so use your time wisely and retake SATs (if you need to), keep your grades up (the new school year is just starting, and those grades WILL count!) and enjoy your senior year!</p>
<p>For those anxious to have their BGO interviews completed, the suggestions to contact your BGO, and if no reply within a week, contact the area coordinator....sre reasonable. Please keep in mind summer vacations just ended for many this last weekend, so a little patience goes a long way. Rest assured, the BGOs will be "reminded"- and even "nudged" to get their interviews completed from the admissions office- so let the pressure come from there, and not from you! But do contact, tell them you are "ready, willing and able" to set up a date for your interview, and use that wait time to practice. (if you search this site, you will find lots of tips on how to prep for the interview!) </p>
<p>Best of luck everyone!</p>
<p>usnaathlete2013...
This is probably a little too late for you to benefit from my input....but maybe it will help those who follow you...JUST BE YOURSELF...the Blue & Gold Officers have been there...done that...they want to see who you are....don't be put off by all these other people who post here...they all want to be the experts...and many times are not..stay focused... Your BGO knows you, and will help you...Good luck...and Go NAVY!!!</p>
<p>no one has all the answers- but collectively, we do a pretty decent job! Plenty of alumni, BGOs, Navy parents and even Mids that have some level of expertise- and when we do get it wrong, we have plenty of alumni, BGOs, Navy parents and Mids to set the course straight!</p>
<p>I've just finished three interviews in the past two weeks. Af ew observations.</p>
<ol>
<li> Dress. The question seems to always come up about how "dressed" should you be. [Like a hardboiled egg?]. Anyway, there are other reasons, beside dress, that I will rank the Candidates the way I did, but it sure was easier to be confident of my rankings when comparing the all-important "first impression." Khaki pants, shined shoes, and a pressed, collared shirt sure go a long way towards impressing this 50+ BGO on first glance. I couldn't help but notice the third-ranked [so far] kid who answered the door in khaki shorts, a knit shirt, and tennis [well, I guess they call 'em running shoes now] shoes.</li>
</ol>
<p>Wheether you agree with the above advice or not, whether you think it is "right" "wrong", "fair"or "unfair", the bottom line is you never know who youy are going to get. So why take a chance,</p>
<ol>
<li><p>PLEASE look the interviewer in th e eye when you answer questions. This takes practice and concentration. Practice. NOW!</p></li>
<li><p>PLEASE anticipate and have a well-developed answer for "why do you want to attend?" This is a basic question to which you should have a clear, affirmative answer. AND PLEASE, be prepared to go a step beyond "I want to serve my country." Many fine ROTC graduates will "serve" their country just as well. Practice. NOW! </p></li>
<li><p>Work on "carrying" a conversation. There are silent spots in any interview; help the interviewer segue into the next section. Make sure the BGO understands YOUR story, your goals, your strong-points. You know, if the point is particularly importatnt to you, it would not hurt my evaluation if you were to ask somthing along th e lines of: "Did I make my self clear on . . . ." </p></li>
<li><p>Consider the interview to be an oral essay. You will work, and work, and work, and refine your essay. Have you worked on your interview skills with the same determination? Have you practiced your answers. Practice with your parents. </p></li>
<li><p>Finally, consider the BGO to be the voice for all those things you were n ot able to put on the application. The Academy knows your grades, your club participation, your extra-curricular activities, probably, even, your leadership opportunities. What I want you to help me convey to the Academyis: What have you LEARNED from the past four years. What have you learned about yourself, your fellow classmates, those you have led. CONVEY to me the meaning of all this to you. TALK about your disappointments, success, and what that has come to mean to you. Believe it or not , I WANT to write a very positive evaluatoin of you, BUT you have to provide me the material with which to write something positive. YOU have to DISTINGUISH yourself from the 1,000 other varsity, 4.0 applicants, who are eagle scouts [gold star scouts], who are applying.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It was SO easy to write a very lengthy, upbeat, positive narrative about the candidate who I ranked, in several areas, in the top 5%. He gave me a lot to work with. It was more difficult to write up even 1/2 as much for the person who was ranked average.</p>
<p>This is the sales job of your life so far.
It's up to you. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>My BGO called me last week asking me to call him back to set up and interview. I called him and left a message, and then sent him an email. It's been a few days and I still haven't heard from him. Should I be worried?</p>
<p>i wouldn't worry. most BGOs have day jobs and families. try to be patient.</p>
<p>Mine went on a trip to California, I left a message with his wife, and he called me the day after he got back and scheduled the interview :D don't stress it.</p>
<p>Agree with above. Most BGOs hold down full-time jobs; many travel; some of us even go on vacation. :) If more than a week goes by, try again.</p>