<p>I got a nomination to the USAFA. However, in case I do not get in, I would like one to the USNA as well to have a chance there. I got my USAFA one from my congressman, and I have an interview next week with my senator. Am I allowed to get another nomination for another school, or is it only one for one school?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>George</p>
<p>I believe you can get nominations for all the schools. I have a friend who just got nominations for Annapolis and West Point from our Representative.</p>
<p>Yup, you can get nominations for all schools. ALSO, keep in mind that TWO nominations for USAFA would solidify a potential appointment most likely.... your call.</p>
<p>I thought you couldn't get more than one per academy, and having more than one does NOT help your chance of admission.</p>
<p>You can have more than one for USAFA. Whether or not it helps your chances is debatable.</p>
<p>You are correct that receiving more than one doesn't help your chances. However, you could interview with both senators and your rep and all 3 could nominate you. They would only use one, but more than 1 could nominate you. In my son's case, one of the senators still wants to nominate my son even though he's already been given a Presidential nomination and has already been given an appointment. In our state, there's almost no chance in the world for 30 applicants to look for nominations. 10 each senator and rep. Therefor, it doesn't take away from someone else getting a nomination if he wants to nominate my son anyway. Actually, the academy would love it if the senator did nominate him. Then they could give the presidential nomination my son has to someone else. In most states however, the senators and rep usually talk to each other so they aren't duplicating nominations.</p>
<p>As far as different academies go, our senators and rep have check boxes on the apps for Air Force, Army, and Navy. They want you to check all 3 boxes. This way they will send a nomination, if you are worthy, to all 3. They use the one interview for all of it. Each state is different as well as each senator and rep. It's their choice. If you want them to nominate you to one of the other academies also, just call them up and ask them if they will. Mind you, you have to have an application on file with the other academies or the nomination will go into limbo some place.</p>
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You are correct that receiving more than one doesn't help your chances.
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For the average candidate (without and LOA) it very well COULD help your chances.</p>
<p>Each MOC submits a slate of 10. From that slate ONE gets the appointment. If you get a nomination from your senator - you are competing against 9 others - presumably from across your entire state. If you come in 2nd - you lose and go into the national pool and depending on how competitive you are you could drown (not get an appointment). If your Represenative nominates you - and you come in 1st - you win! If you are 3 q'd the appointment is yours. If your representative refuses to give you a nom - because you already had one from the good senator then a lesser candidate from your Congressional district could get the nomination.</p>
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Then they could give the presidential nomination my son has to someone else
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exactly - and that someone may come from a very competitive district where it is either a) very difficult to win a nomination or b) won't win his MOC's slate. In the case of b) having more than one nomination definitely helps the candidate.</p>
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Mind you, you have to have an application on file with the other academies or the nomination will go into limbo some place.
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Wrong - you may then submit an application to the academy. This happens in district that may have an extra slot for one academy - the MOC may actually ask a candidate if he/she would be willing to accept a nomination to another academy. I also know of a case where this happened when the candidate was color blind and found out into the process he would not receive a waiver for USNA - the MOC then asked if he would consider USMA and he did, applied and was accepted.</p>
<p>Whether or not you get a nomination to more than one academy depends on your MOC and how competitive your state/congressional district is. Those with little competition or who have an extra slate available often give candidates nominations to more than one academy. Some MOC's ask you to rank the academy you wish to be considered for and others ask you to pick one academy. Here in PA our represenatative asks candidates to rank the academies and our Senators ask the candidate to pick one academy.</p>
<p>bottom line - while you only need ONE nomination for each appointment - you don't know which nomination you need. Go for all you are eligible.</p>
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</p>
<p>To answer your question - you should be honest with your senator. Inform his office that you received a nomination to USAFA and you are applying to two academies and wish to be considered for a nomination to USNA.</p>
<p>Honestly is the best policy - don't tell one MOC that USNA is your first choice and the other that USAFA is your first choice. Be upfront and see what happens. It all depends on the competition in your state.</p>
<p>JAM is right on. Two nominations won't necessarily help for the academy side, but will help seal your nomination and that's one less part to worry about. In fact, sometimes the nomination is harder to get than the LOA! I received my Senator's and my congressman's nomination, so you can get two. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, Hornetguy! ;)</p>
<p>Couple of items of information</p>
<p>Each Senator and Congressman (Member of Congress or MOC) runs their nomination program in a manner that they want.</p>
<p>MOCs have several options for awarding the nominations - the most common used is to give a list of up to 10 names to the academy, unranked, and the academy can choose. Alternately, the MOC can rank the first 1, 2, 3 (up to all 10) candidates and the remaining are unranked - then the academy MUST select the 1st qualified candidate by ranking, even if a lower ranked candidate looks like a much better individual. (It's the MOCs choice!) MOCs can nominate individual to all multiple academies - the lists to each academy is not shared (and the academies don't share their lists). I knew a MOC who gave a nomination to USNA, USMA and USAFA to a single individual (in Sept), and after the individual chose which 1 he wanted, then the MOC submitted an updated list to the other academies. (This might be done by a MOC who wants to "reward" a big-time political supporter by giving a guaranteed slot to the supporter's child ...and I have seen it done!)</p>
<p>In some states (like here in Washington) - the MOCs might coordinate the nominations. In WA State, it seems that the MOCs tend to "spread the wealth" around. A candidate might get only 1 nomination to only 1 academy (choose - but choose wisely what you want!!) This way, each MOC is giving 30 names to the big 3 service academies (10 each), and this might be regarded by the recipients positively for constituent (voting) purposes. If a MOC gives an individual a nomination to several academies - it seems to reduce the "spreading the benevolence around". My son got his nomination from his Congressman, and the letters he got from the 2 Senators basically said thanks for applying, we saw you got a nomination from Congressman xxxx ...and 1 Senator then tossed a bone - an undesired nomination to the Merchant Marine Academy. </p>
<p>BUT - YMMV. Other MOCs might not coordinate the nominations with other MOCs, might be willing to give nominations to several service academies to a single individual, etc.</p>
<p>But ...if you are a quality candidate - you only need 1 nomination to get in. If you are not a quality candidate, multiple sources won't necessarily help you get in - unless the MOC gives a list where the candidates are ranked, and you are the highest ranked qualified candidate - then the academy must take you (unless you aren't fully qualified).
If you have a parent who served a sufficient time that you are eligible for a Presidential Nomination (managed by the Superintendent/Admissions Board) - then a MOC nomination again is beneficial to the Academy in allowing them to juggle the applications around to select the highest qualified candidates possible.
And the admissions board likes it if an individual has both a MOC and a Presidential nomination - because they can decide which nomination to use to get the best results!</p>
<p>Numbers game - about 500 candidates typically apply to a service academy and are eligible for a Presidential Nomination. 100 can be chosen.
MOCs typicallys submit 10 names, and 1 must be chosen (unless none are qualified).
But - for all 538 MOCs - (assume all submit 10 names) - the non-chosen candidates that are fully qualified - up to 9 times 538 are thrown together into a national pool and 200 names will be selected from that national pool. (But not all those candidates are fully qualified, so the pool will be smaller than the number might seem.)</p>
<p>It is tough based on numbers - maybe 14,000 start out showing interest. (They submit their name and some basic information to start the process).
About 8000 might be qualified enough based on SAT/ACT scores to send them more information and let them start the application process.
About 5000 pretty much complete the process ....and maybe about 2500 - 3000 meet the basic qualifications to be considered - if they get a nomination.
So if you meet basic qualifications and can get a nomination - your chances might be more like 1200 out of 3000. But it isn't a lottery - it isn't random statistical chances ...if your overall "score" based on academics, SAT/ACT scores, Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) is very high, then your chances go up SIGNIFICANTLY.</p>