<p>I am wondering how important is this? I have everything in. I am academically qualified with a vision waiver pending and have nominations. I have read this several times and seems to be sound advice. I just do not have anything to call about .....or "Do I?"..... Hmmmmm</p>
<p>Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Try to touch base monthly. It will give show them your interest in USNA.</p>
<p>As usual, everybody has an opinion.</p>
<p>If you have nothing to add; if you have completed your application; if you've done everything you are supposed to do . . . calling will add nothing to your application.</p>
<p>As was mentioned in the Should I clal my BGO thread . . . many, many, many [if not most] applicants are admitted with one BGO contact and minimal contacts w/ the admissions office.
Your application packet speaks for itself. You are what you are. Calling will make virtually no difference. Your interest, by this time, has been expresse through your essay, your BGO interview, your reference letters, etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>I don't think it is important at all.</p>
<p>Thank You for your quick response.</p>
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If you have nothing to add; if you have completed your application; if you've done everything you are supposed to do . . . calling will add nothing to your application.
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<p>Agreed. They don't keep score of how many times you call or for what. You should restrict your calls to when you need to confirm that they have received something they are expecting, to correct an error in your file, etc. Anything else will be both ineffective and annoying.</p>
<p>Agree with the above. There may be certain situations where you will need to call regularly; however, they are narrow and limited. One of the reasons CGO uses BGOs (how's that for acronyms?) is to reduce the need for candidates to call CGO. If in doubt, ask your BGO first whether you should continue to follow up with CGO on an issue. Just calling to call will NOT improve your chances for an appointment.</p>
<p>We've heard the exact opposite, do not call & if you have updates for your file, send hardcopies in the mail. I guess the old adage "the squeaky wheel gets the oil", does not apply in this case. Your BGO is there to help you with the process, consult with him or her first.</p>
<p>Okay, dumb question. . .</p>
<p>But, when will your BGO contact you? Or should you contact him/her when you attain candidacy and a nomination?</p>
<p>I already know who the BGO for my area is, and I've talked to him before I applied to USNA. But should I contact him again, or wait?</p>
<p>Yours should be the initiation. Ours has never contacted us but has been helpful throughout.</p>
<p>There have apparently been some changes in this procedure lately, i.e. when during the process you should be contacted.
USNA seems to have wanted an earlier contact FROM the BGO TO the candidate than was previously made. Previously--and I think the pendulum is swinging back to this--there was no official contact FROM the BGO TO the candidate until it was time to schedule your interview. Relatively late in the process.
This is not to say that contact wasn't made TO the BGO FROM the candidate.
As mentioned earlier, subject to daily demands, this type of contact is fine.
This may vary by district, but in many cases, the BGO might not contact you at all until such as it is time to schedule an interview.
Remember . . . volunteers that have other things to do. It does not mean anything beyond the fact that a BGO may have other things to do.</p>
<p>Zaph,</p>
<p>I actually disagree with you a little. You are right they don't keep tabs on how many emails or phone calls they get. However, if a candidate keeps in contact with the admissions office (in moderation) then the candidate will stand out in the admissions counselors mind in a positive way. Thus, when he/she presents your record to the board, they could make a statement on the candidate's behalf; "candidate xyz has really shown dedication to getting his application in and is constantly keeping us up-to-date...it displays officer-like qualities." This statement may lead to positive responses by the board. Remember, an important quality the board looks for is dedication.</p>
<p>Well, straight from the horse's mouth:</p>
<p>The USNA CIS (candidate info system) candidate information home page says that candidates are to contact their BGO's as soon as they have received notice of their candidacy.</p>
<p>
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</p>
<p>I actually disagree with you a little. You are right they don't keep tabs on how many emails or phone calls they get. However, if a candidate keeps in contact with the admissions office (in moderation) then the candidate will stand out in the admissions counselors mind in a positive way. Thus, when he/she presents your record to the board, they could make a statement on the candidate's behalf; "candidate xyz has really shown dedication to getting his application in and is constantly keeping us up-to-date...it displays officer-like qualities." This statement may lead to positive responses by the board. Remember, an important quality the board looks for is dedication.
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</p>
<p>have to disagree with the disagreement...</p>
<p>when you call the admissions office, rarely do you get past the reception desk to speak to an admissions counselor....most often you get someone assigned to the desk (the one sitting right in the lobby) who no doubt will have a line of people waiting in front of him/her for the next admissions session....these folks do not play a part in presenting your file to the board, so annoying them with unnecessary calls is just that- annoying. Let your record speak for itself- just make sure it adequately reflects who you are.</p>
<p>I would not call the admission office unless you have a specific reason to do so.... if you have a question, run it by your BGO first, and then your regional director if your BGO can not give you what you need....then, and only then, would I call the admissions office. Out of over 10,000 files that are opened any given year, only about 7500 ever get completed....can you imagine if each of those 7500 "candidates" each make one call, let alone several? Do you really expect anyone to remember you from that? Show your REAL dedication by completing the process timely, and by your record. Squeeky wheels, IMHO, do not equate to dedication....they equate to someone who is insecure of their record, desiring of special attention, "more worthy" than the next guy.... "dedication" is the kid who is applying for a second, or third time, someone who has visited on multiple occassions, someone who wants the Navy no matter how they get there, be it USNA, NAPS, Foundation, NRTOC, etc.....who has researched and applied to all applicable sources.... THAT is dedication. </p>
<p>Instead of calls, what I would do is get the paperwork in on a timely basis, and triple-check that it is accurate and thorough. Send hard-copies of any updates, providing they are significant to your application.</p>
<p>The exception to the above is IF you are missing admissions paperwork FOLLOWING your offer of appointment..... such was the case last year, when the admission packets arrived without several forms that were listed as "enclosed." Even then, after the first few calls were made by various parents, a message got out quickly to the remaining appointees as to the status of the missing paperwork....with a message that it was "unnecessary" to call the admissions office!</p>
<p>As for contacting your BGO, I would contact them when you have done adequate research of the academy and have decided to move forward with your application. The first contact should be by way of a letter of introduction, with numbers where you can be contacted. Wait at least 2 weeks after that, then followup with a phone call if you have not been contacted, remembering that BGOs are voluntary helpers with busy lives of their own. Once your peliminary application has been submitted and you have been issued a candidate number, you will "show up" on the BGO system and they will know of your interest....many BGOs will contact you at this point if you have not gotten to them first. Additionally, should you fail to meet minimum requirements following submission of your peliminary application, the BGO may contact you as well to let you know what areas need to be improved to make you a viable candidate.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>My son had the direct line and email to the admission counselor who was assigned to him. She contacted him by email in September and told him what he needed to do to be a competive candidate. Once he was medically disqualified she was an invaluable resource. We truly believe if it was for his contact with her he probably would not have obtained his waiver and be at the academy right now. If he sat by and let his record stand by itself I honestly believe his dream would not have been realized.</p>
<p>I am sorry I mean if it was NOT for his contact with her. Sorry for the typo and any confusion it may have caused.</p>