Don't Forget Nominations

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>To those of you applying for the Class of 2011 . . . in your scramble to get your USNA application completed quickly, don't forget your Member of Congress (MOC) applications.</p>

<p>First, be sure to apply to ALL sources of nomination for which you qualify. I know it's easy for some to say, "I qualify for a Presidential, so I'll spare myself the agony of doing all those MOC nom packets." Wrong answer. Trust me, it is the wrong answer.</p>

<p>I repeat, for a number of reasons that directly affect the likelihood of your receiving an appointment, you should apply to all nominating sources for which you qualify. For almost everyone, that's a minimum of your 3 MOCs plus the Vice President. Doesn't matter that you live in CA, where 500 people might be vying for noms from 2 Senators. Apply anyway. </p>

<p>Note that many MOCs, especially in competitive geographic areas, have very early deadlines. For example, one Senator requires packets to be mailed by Sept. 25. If you miss the deadline, you're out of the running. It's an easy way to thin the pack. Also, some MOCs will require multiple essays. If you haven't already started this process, you may be behind the power curve.</p>

<p>If you haven't already done so, get on-line today and figure out what the requirements are for your 3 MOCs. For those with special situations, such as active duty military parent, joint custody arrangements, etc., make sure you're applying in the correct state and district.</p>

<p>Do your very best on your packets. Virtually all (if not all) MOCs use citizen committees to evaluate candidates. These people are usually connected in some way with the Academy and/or the military and really care about selecting the best candidates. So, they will read your essays and resume, etc. carefully.</p>

<p>Getting Triple Q'd or an LOA from USNA is literally only half of the battle. Be sure not to short shrift the other half.</p>

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<p>Excellent advice USNA1985, and summer is the perfect time to complete the MOC application while service academy candidates may be waiting until school begins in the fall to get evaluations from math/English teachers. </p>

<p>We live in California and thought that the chances of receiving a nomination from one of our US Senators was a long shot since both stated in their introductory letters that they receive approximately 1,000 service academy applications annually. My daughter did exactly what you recommended and APPLIED TO ALL NOMINATING SOURCES FOR WHICH YOU QUALIFY. We didn't even think she would get an interview, but nonetheless applied for a nomination from both US Senators and our local MOC. Shortly before Christmas she received a competitive nomination from our MOC which we pretty much expected. Approximately six weeks later, one of our senators notified my daughter that she was her principal nominee from the State of California for USNA!</p>

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<p>Do multiple nominations help the chances of getting into the Academy, or do the extra's not matter for much. I'm asking because today this appeared in my CIS:</p>

<hr>

<p>NOMINATIONS</p>

<p>These are your nominations received to date. If there are general questions concerning the nomination process please visit our Admissions website at <a href="http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps4.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps4.htm&lt;/a>. If you have a specific question concerning the status of application for a Congressional Nomination please contact your respective Senator/Representative's office.</p>

<p>Nomination Source State District Date Received</p>

<h2>Presidential 28-JUL-2006</h2>

<p>Just to make sure, the above does mean I have a nomination, not that I'm in the running or something else (dont want to get my hopes up).</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

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<p>I'll Chime in with another story.</p>

<p>In my son's disctrict you have to call the Congressman's office and request the nomination forms - they are not available online! When you do this, you will be informed that you must write a letter stating your intention to compete for a nomination and your reason for doing so. </p>

<p>My son mailed his letter on a Monday, he received his application form from the Congressman on Thursday of the same week.</p>

<h2>According to the Congressman's office, they keep track of how many forms they send out and how many they actually get back. Shows motivation and follow though. </h2>

<p>As far as multiple nomination sources go. I've been told by an Air Force Admissions Officer that multiple nominations do help as this does indeed put you into more selection pools. You compete overall, but you also compete within each selection pool you are nominated under. So if the competition is stiff in one pool you can get a second look in another pool. </p>

<p>Having said that - there may be a lot of collusion among your members of congress/senate of your state. In a popluous state, nominations are highly prized, in my state I have been told that my congressman and the 2 senators pretty much have a caucus and compare lists. </p>

<p>For example: if our 2 Senators each nominated the same 10 people for the Naval Academy this means that they overlapped. From their perspecitive it's better not to overlap nominations because by selecting a different set of 10 people they can increase/double the pool of candidates from their state. So you will get passed around - well maybe not so much passed around as passed over when they see that you already have a nomination in the bag. </p>

<p>I know a kid who got his AFA nomination from Senator #1, Naval Academy from Senator #2 and his Military academy nod from his congressman. This is NOT an accident! The congressman generally feel as though one nomination to an academy is enough. Things might be different in states that aren't as competitive. But this could explain why my Son's congressman has a due date that is 3 weeks after the due dates of the 2 Senator's office. The congressman wants to see who the Senators have chosen and choose a different set of people!</p>

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<p>I was told by 1 of our senator's offices that they got together with the other senators staff after the committees had rank the applicants and picked every other one so there were no doubles.</p>

<p>Also was told that they would set up a video interview since we are out of state. My son just need to check the out of state box. The staff member said these go very well in general.</p>

<p>As to the Presidential, someone told me last year that AFA had 489 kids apply with Presidential nominations they can only admit 100. That is why they say don't count on that one nomination. These tend to go to applicants from very competive states like FL, VA and TX.</p>

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<p>For those who can achieve it, it definitely helps to have multiple nominations. To amplify on what ChessDad said, the more nominations you have, the easier it is for an Academy to "slot" you (count your presence at USNA to a particular individual, such as MOC, President, etc.). </p>

<p>Also, if you receive mulitple noms, the Academy knows that you have competed against peers in your district/state and have been selected in the top 10 more than once. Obviously, that stands out, especially in competitive geographic areas. That said, I have seen candidates with mulitple noms not receive an appointment.</p>

<p>The folks above are also right that, in some states, you will not be able to obtain more than one nom to the same Academy -- or maybe even more than one period. The reason is usually that MOCs want to please as many consituents as possible. </p>

<p>I wouldn't say there is collusion. Rather, MOC noms are completely at the discretion of the MOC and it does vary by individual. Thus, one or more MOCs can decide not to give a nom to someone who already has one. That said, MOCs do retire and get defeated -- or can simply change their approach. Thus, just because a "policy" for noms in your state or district was in effect last year, don't assume that it's still the case this year.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
As to the Presidential, someone told me last year that AFA had 489 kids apply with Presidential nominations they can only admit 100. That is why they say don't count on that one nomination. These tend to go to applicants from very competive states like FL, VA and TX.
[quote]
</p>

<p>And one more thing, the above is generally correct in terms of not relying on a Presidential nom. It's not that they can only admit 100 folks with only a Pres nom -- it means there are only 100 people who can be slotted to/counted against the President. At least at USNA (and I expect it's similar at other Academies), there are slots allocated to SecNav, the Superintendent and others who aren't official nominating sources. [When you add up all of the official nominating sources, you come up with a number less than the number of appointments given -- these other sources account for the additional slots.] </p>

<p>I don't know that Pres noms go to applicants from competitive states (have no knowledge either way, but it makes sense when you think about it). But, there are many more people w/Pres noms than there are slots.</p>

<p>Also, Pres noms are not competitive. If you qualify for one, you basically get one. Thus, having just a Pres doesn't show USNA how you matched up against your peers. Of course, candidates with only Pres noms do receive appointments, so don't despair if you compete for an MOC nom and don't get one.</p>

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<p>"just because a "policy" for noms in your state or district was in effect last year, don't assume that it's still the case this year."</p>

<p>That is very true, as ChessDad's location did not limit nominations for the class of 2010. So if that is indeed the case, it must be a new policy. Son received multiple MOC nominations to the same academy (USNA) and we know of multiples for WP within that state.</p>

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<p>RKavanaugh</p>

<p>Congratulations! You have a Presidential Nomination! Remember to keep applying for every nomination for which you are eligible and keep up the great work!</p>

<p>Keep us updated!</p>

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