<p>After filling out the Pre-Candidate Questionnaires, I've gotten letters from the Naval and Air Force Academies saying that I'm an official candidate and I have access to their online applications. I also received information allowing me to go the USMA Candidate Login, but it still says "Initial Evalutation Pending". It has said that this evaluation is pending for about two months, but I haven't gotten any more letters from the academy or access to the application. From what I understand, admissions pretty much just looks at your SAT score for the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire. I got a 1450, so I don't really understand why West Point doesn't consider me an official candidate at this point. Should I be concerned about my situation?</p>
<p>yeah! me too! mine's been initial evaluation pending for a long time. i'm not sure if i should proceed to send my nomination applications if they might just be a waste of time</p>
<p>My D's said that for months last year. It'll be awhile for it to change. Unless things are different this year, I recall she didn't get the app stuff until August last year. I hear WP is doing it all online this year so it may be different but she didn't get the packet of the full app and essays to write etc from WP until well after the other academies. And the "initial eval pending" message was there for a very very long time - quite possibly well into fall. So be patient and fill out everything they give you to fill out whether it be paper or online. Do it all timely (earlier is better even though they give you forever to do it).</p>
<p>Thanks, it's reassuring to know that I'm not alone. I just wish I had West Point's application right now so that I could fill out all of the applications and ask for all of my recommendations at the same time. I'm also a bit wary about filling out the congressional nominations right now because USMA is my first choice, but if I don't get through their first "initial evaluation" it would be a waste of time when I could have just requested a nomination for USNA.</p>
<p>Last year the paper based application went out in late August - yes it was agonizing.
That being said, West Point will issue LOA's to highly qualified student who excel in academics, leadership and athletics based on your pre candidate questionairre and high school transcripts, as early as this summer. It is possible to get an LOA before you have access to the application.</p>
<p>Think of the whole process as 3 independent parts - Application, DoDMERB and nominations. Now, the best advice I can give all of you is to proceed with each one of those as if, the others are not a factor. Do your nomination applications (easier to do them before the busy senior fall, esp if you are in a fall sport), continue with Dodmerb, as if the application process will be successful for you. All three parts work together, but seperately to get an appointment.<br>
Just go with it - continue with the process, do not delay any of it.
If you are serious about an Army career the also apply for an AROTC scholarship, you could possible get moving on Dodmerb earlier because of their timing.
One more thing, welcome to the Army - hurry up and wait!</p>
<p>Many members congress (MOC) for your nominations will allow you to indicate more than one academy for a nomination. Our Senators required D to choose only one but our Congressman gave her the option to select any/all academys. The nomination is important - if you can get the application at least begun it will help. I really suggest you get as many application parts done as possible in the summer (at each academy you are considering and all nomination sources you qualify for). You won't hvae as much time in the fall and early is alwasy a good thing in this process. I think D ended up writing at least 20 essays for the SA's. AFA/WP/USNA each needed three. ROTC for each needed a bunch and both senators needed at least one as well as the local Congressman. And, all essays were somewhat different than the others. The more you can do in the summer the easier your fall will be. Early is important, I cannot stress that enough. Be early in everything - be thorough - be accurate - do well - but be early. If you get those essays etc. done early, you have fall to keep working on SAT and/or ACT scores and ensure grades and extra curricular are kept to a high standard.</p>
<p>I have the same situation with my Congressman allowing you to select all three for nomination to and the Senators only allowing one. I guess I can get all of the Senators nomination paperwork done and then wait until I here from USMA. I just wanted to do all of the applications at once, including the nominations, but I will definitely get started now.</p>