<p>I was just wondering what the most competative areas for nominations are (for all academies). Does anybody know if New York (Eastern, to be a little more specific) is particulary difficult?</p>
<p>it all depends..
each congressional district is different, so it depends on which district you are in, how many "slots" the MOC has, and how many from your area are competing.
senatorial nominations for NY State are highly competetive...especially as there are only 2 senators, each with the same 5 slots at any given academy for any given year. Again, depends on how many "slots" each has, and each averages over 600 nomination requests each year. As with the other MOC, they can each nominate up to 10 candidates for any given spot they have open at that academy.</p>
<p>I do not know districts but someone told me that VA, CA, TX, FL are the four most competitive states.</p>
<p>since a candidate can only request a nomination in the district in which they reside (apart from the VP nomination or presidential one if applicable), it would stand to reason that the most competetive area is the one you are already in- in the end, its the only one that matters!</p>
<p>"senatorial nominations for NY State are highly competetive...especially as there are only 2 senators, each with the same 5 slots at any given academy for any given year." </p>
<p>I don't think you meant it this way, however Senatorial nominations are highly competitive in ANY state since all states have only 2 Senators...</p>
<p>In regards to the most competitive districts, VA and CA are the most competitive simply becuase the large military communities in both of these states foster more prospective candidates, thus inflating the number of applicants for a nomination, making it more difficult to obtain the nomination.</p>
<p>The same holds true for FL, NY, MD, and TX for the same reasons.
CM</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't think you meant it this way, however Senatorial nominations are highly competitive in ANY state since all states have only 2 Senators...
[/quote]
Uh, not so much. North Dakota's two senators have just as many noms as NY's two senators. This makes NY's (as one of the more populous states) senatorial nominations far more competitive than many others.</p>
<p>Will grant you, though, that Virginia, California, and Texas are particularly problematic for candidates. However, many of these military communities have access to other nomination sources.</p>
<p>What about Oregon?</p>
<p>Here's little math exercise that might help put some context on "competitive states".</p>
<p>Approximately 1500 appointments will be offered each year with an expected acceptance by 1200. (Remember: additional appointments go out only after the Academy hears back from these appointees by the April 30 deadline, so each appointee who turns the Academy down doesn't automatically mean someone comes off the waitlist -- an expected rate of declination is built into the original set of 1500 appointments).</p>
<p>Of the 1500 appointments some subset is fulfilling MOC "slots". There are in 535 Members of Congress (435 Representatives in the House and 100 Senators in the Senate.) Each MOC has 5 "slots" at the Academy at any one time, which means one or two usually come open in a given year. In addition, the Vice President has 5 slots at the Academy at any one time. For the purpose of our math, lets use an average of 670 slots open to MOC's and the VP in a given year.</p>
<p>In addition one hundred candidates may be appointed from the pool of Presidential nominees (available to children of career military only.).</p>
<p>So, we are up to 770. Where do the other 730 come from? The remainder of the class -- almost half you will notice -- are selected from the pool of applicants that are triple qualified and have a nomination. A quick look at the statistics on the geographic distribution of midshipmen</p>
<p>shows that there is a disproportionate number selected from the "competitive" states.</p>
<p>For example, in 2007 the Brigade had 290 midshipmen from Maryland (out of approx 4000 total). This is 7% of the Brigade. Residents of the state of Maryland are actually less than 2% of the United States as a whole. </p>
<p>The point is the same that has been made before -- if you are triple qualified (medical, physical and academic) your competition is for a nomination. The Academy has published before that out of the 12,000 or so applications received each year, only about 2000 meet all 4 requirements. At that point, the math suggests that you will have a 75% chance of admission, and which state you are coming from not the driving factor. Lesson: focus on the nomination!</p>
<p>oiixxg: thank you for the analysis, which brings me back to the point I tried to convery earlier: "that it would stand to reason that the most competetive area is the one you are already in- in the end, its the only one that matters!"
Concentrating on SATs, applications and the final year of study is definately the way to go.</p>
<p>You did not mention superintendent nominations, sec nav nominations and NROTC nominations. There are also special nominations for prior enlisted, and those in foundation and NAPS programs.
CM</p>
<p>candidate mom- you make a good point-superintendent nominations are an option, but it is my understanding they are also difficult to obtain and are used for highly-desired candidates who are unable to secure a nomination elsewhere, but I could be wrong on this. In any case, the sups noms are open to everyone regardless of state. It is my (limited) understanding that NRTOC noms are for those enrolled in the program and/or service...I do not believe NAPS needs nominations, but foundation kids definately need to secure another one for the current year (that point I'm sure of). In any event, for anyone applying, it would be prudent to apply to every source you are eligible for, and while there are several sources to choose from, I would still contend they are all competetive. (by the way, we found the Candidate Handbook very helpful on explaining the nomination process) Please, please correct me if I am misinformed as I would hate to think I am leading anyone astray with inaccurate information!</p>
<p>I was just curious, what is the difference between NAPS and Foundation? I thought NAPS was "foundation".</p>
<p>i'm from TX, and it is EXTREMELY competetive here....mostly because of the conservatism of the state, and all the service academies are well represented by TX, i went to NASS, and the mids i got to know all told me it seemed like out of 10, at least one is from TX</p>
<p>...anyways, getting a nomination over here is difficult, you've got to have just about everything....the grades and SAT scores are skyrocketing over here....i'm ok academically, my congr. office head told me that my academics were at the top and i was almost a shoe in for the nomination, as long as my interview wtiha liason officer goes well,</p>
<p>it's tough here....from my school alone, my graduating class is 1000, adn i know of 25 applying to service academies...but i'm sure there are so many more that i just dont know</p>
<p>Hugh Jass: Naps and foundation are two seperate and distinct entities. Naps is the USNA's prep school in Rhode Island that preps candidates for admission to the academy. It is geared towards those already in the "fleet", although recruited athletes are also sent there for prep. It has a "military" flavor much like USNA (this based on hearsay)...and the candidates have a seat in the following year's class as long as they maintain grades, etc. Candidates are referred for NAPS by the USNA Admissions Board.</p>
<p>The foundation program is run by USNA alumni, also to prep candidated for admission. Like Naps, candidates are referred to the foundation program by the USNA Admissions Board; while the USNA recommends upwards of 600 candidates for consideration, the foundation program selects approx. 60 to sponsor in any given year (another competetive process). While recruited athletes are also referred to the foundation program, the program is limited in the amount of "spots" that can be awarded to athletes. Like NAPS, foundation candidates have a seat in the upcoming class provided grades are satisfactory. Unlike NAPS, the foundation schools (there are 24) are generally private, and include a PG year at a private school, a junior college, a military school, or in some cases a college. The foundation works with the candidate to find the best match. Foundation candidates, while they do not have to resubmit an application, must apply for, and receive, another nomination (I do not think that is the case at NAPS). One other difference is that the government pays for NAPS (and the students that are attending get paid a monthly stipend), while the family pays for the tuition at the foundation school (sometimes with some support from the foundation scholarship program). Each has its pros and cons....both are geard towards making the candidate successful at the Academy, and the programs seem to be working as each year the graduation rates for those attending a prep year are higher that those directly admitted from HS. Time matures us all!</p>
<p>you can read more in the USNA catalogue, or by logging onto the USNA ALumni / Foundation scholarship pages; there is also info in the candidate handbook for USNA.
I hope this helps with some of the confusion! Best of luck!</p>
<p>correction to above: according to the foundation web page, they sponsor up to 80 candidates each year; recruited athletes cannot exceed 25%.</p>