<p>I just have a question about the whole nomination process. I sent in my application to my Congressman, and went in for the interviews. I guess now I'm just waiting to hear back form him. What I'm confused about is how the nomination process works. Exactly what goes on, how many people are nominated to each academy? I thought he was allowed to nominate 10 people in all for all the academies....or am I mistaken? On Congressman Scott Garrett's Website it says: </p>
<p>With respect to the Congressional category, each Representative and each Senator is allowed to have at each of those academies at any one time five persons charged to his or her quota. There are three methods of nominating, and I use the competitive method. For each vacancy, ten nominations may be made on a strictly competitive basis. The competitive method provides that the nominees compete among themselves for final appointment determined by the admissions authorities. They take into consideration a nominee's academic record, extracurricular and athletic activities, physical aptitude, ACT and/or SAT scores, leadership ability, and medical qualifications. Such facets of an applicant's record are also considered during the nomination selection process. No person will be offered admission if he or she does not meet the physical standards of the Academy unless awarded a medical waiver. </p>
<p>I'm confused by what this mean, "For each vacancy, ten nominations may be made on a strictly competitive basis."</p>
<p>So is that ten nominations for each academy, or ten nominations for all the academies. And then from those who are nominated, they must compete with each other to get into the actual school?</p>
<p>I'm wondering this because I want to know if getting into the actual school is harder than getting the nomination....any help or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>It IS confusing, isn't it? You are close in your understanding. Each nominating authority has five slots at each academy. For a nomination, he may nominate up to ten individuals for each slot available, at each academy for which he has a vacancy. Some years it might be one, sometimes more, depending on if someone withdrew, graduated, etc. Usually there will always be one available, but not always, it could be none. This is why you increase your chances of getting in by selecting as many or all of the academies you are willing to attend. It gives them more latitude with their nominations. Suffice it to say, you will never really be able to figure out your chances because of all of the variables in play that you are not aware of, so relax and wait. Easier said than done.</p>
<p>Our senators and congressman send 10 names to EACH academy per nomination they have available. They let the academies decide who, out of the 10, is most qualified to receive the actual appointment. It sounds like your congressman does the same. If you get a nomination from this congressman, the academy will compare you with the other 9 that got nominated and decide who they will offer the appointment to.</p>
<p>When they say "ten nominations may be made on a strictly competitive basis" I think it means they don't rank the 10 nominees, they just send the 10 names and let the academy rank them.</p>
<p>The congressman will nominate 10 guys. From there the Academy will only choose 1 out of the 10 for the actual appointment?</p>
<p>I've already been found qualified academically,medically, and physically. I'm just worried about the nomination, and this has just gotten me even more confused.</p>
<p>So basically there were about 30-40 guys applying for a nomination from my congressman. From the 30-40 guys applying for a nomination, 10 will actually recieve a nomination. From the 10 that have been given a nomination, only one will recieve an appointment?</p>
<p>So basicalyl I have to beat out 30 other guys to get in?
Or am I still getting this wrong?</p>
<p>You got it, champ! However, if you are on a slate of nominees vs a primary type of nomination, you would still have a shot at being placed into the National Waiting List from which about 300 or so are granted appointements each year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The congressman will nominate 10 guys. From there the Academy will only choose 1 out of the 10 for the actual appointment?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>One nominee will receive an appointment that will count against your Congressman's quota. The remaining nine nominees will be placed in a national pool from which the academy selects qualified alternates for appointments to bring the class to the desired end strength. Nominees selected from the national pool do not count against any MOC quotas. Theoretically, it is possible for all ten nominees to receive a appointment; although, in reality that is highly unlikely.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for all the info, I finally understand it now. So although only one or two will get an appointment with the congressional nomination, the other 8 or 9 nominated still have a shot? What are the odds of getting in if your a nominated candidate, qualified academically,physically, and medically--but not the one that was given the initial appointment?</p>
<p>Hard to say. The National Waiting List ranks candidates by whole candidate score which is made up of academics-60%, leadership-30%, and physical fitness-10%. I found this quote in the link I posted above: Title X, U.S. Code specifies that West Point must admit 150 from the National Waiting List as "Qualified Alternates" - those candidates who have Congressional nominations - and these appointments must be in the order of their Whole Candidate Scores (strictly objective). So they have to admit at least 150 off of the list, it could be more depending on other factors.</p>
<p>All you can do is keep updating your file. If you get an award, another varsity letter, or elected to a leadership position be sure to let admissions know. It may increase your score just enough to get you selected off the national waiting list (if you do end up on it).</p>
<p>I'll take a WAG at it. As I recall, every year around 600 or so are placed on the National Waiting List. About half of those, somewhere around 300 will be given an appointment. So, depending on how you want to look at it, you might have a 50/50 shot, a great chance if your number is say 200 or lower or none whatsoever if your number is 500 or greater. You should be able to find out what your NWL number is from the admissions officer later next year, in 2007. Don't bother them now however with this kind of question, they won't have it yet and you'll just be annoying them, never a good thing.</p>
<p>So I think I got the hang of the nomination process, but I still have another question...</p>
<p>What happens if I am given a LoA....
and someone else in my district is given an LoA as well?</p>
<p>Since usually only one or two spots are available each year, it's not possible for more than one or two persons to recieve an LoA, am I correct?</p>
<p>(I haven't recieved an LoA yet...although I check my mail constantly in case one may magically appear)</p>
<p>The fact that only 1 person out of 30 or 40 will get the appointment from my district scares me!</p>
<p>Let me try to clarify what I was saying in the above post---</p>
<p>(imagine this scenario is in regards to USMA)
Say there are 10 people nominated. Two of those nominated were already given LoA's. 1 of the remaining 8 is given the primary nom. That means...3 people are supposed to be given appointments BUT---</p>
<p>the Congressman ALREADY has 4 people attending USMA. 1 person will graduate, so 3 people will be at USMA. That means the congressman only has 1 spot to give an appointment------BUT 3 people were given LoA's/Nom's or the Primary Nom.</p>
<p>WHAT HAPPENS??
I'm just confusing myself.....</p>
<p>Yes, you are confusing yourself, but there is still hope. If you don't get the primary nomination slot from your MOC, you will be placed into the National Waiting List from which several hundred are given appointments each year. You could still make it in, depending on how you rank against the others in the Waiting List.</p>
<p>My understanding is that those with LOAs are not counted against the congressional representative's slot. if I remember the numbers correctly, last year Senator Dole nominated 10 candidates (she had 1 slot open). 4 of those candidates had LOAs. 5 candidates were given appointments - the 4 with LOAs and the 1 that WP chose from her list (she does not give a primary nomination but uses the competitive system).</p>
<p>A word to the wise about the National Wait List. Your chances of getting into West Point in any given year also relate to the date that you are actually put on the National Wait List. If you are late in the process and the "yield factor" from the Admissions Office is high from earlier offers, you still may not get an appointment even though your total candidate score is higher than some candidates that were given earlier in the process off of the National Wait List.</p>
<p>SO...get your applications in as early as possible and make sure you work as aggressively as possible to cure any DoDMERB problems that may arise. Contrary to what you may have heard, the turtle doesn't get into West Point.</p>