<p>I see some questions about 'hold' status...this what we learned last year as I replied to a parent who questioned me privately...</p>
<p>My son's experience was HOLD is good. Better than alternate. Hold means that your child is being seriously considered. It is not 100% but I would say in the high 90%. Hold means that they can't give it to them because their scores are not at the very top so they have to wait and see if someone with higher scores comes along or they have a Dobmer issue that needs to be resolved. Alt means if no one shows up after they have filled the slots they will start from the alt pool. </p>
<p>Have your child call and check his status often (my son called every two weeks). Ask if there is anything else they can do. Bend their ear about some things you are currently doing, running, extra classes. Really show them that USMMA is their first choice! The student needs to do the calling. Have them be friendly and excited when they call. </p>
<p>I would say it is pretty safe as a parent to start buying a few things for the academy (ie white underware, white towels, sole inserts etc) as Christmas presents. They can still use these things (just in case). This will help to pump up your child and keep the excitement flowing. </p>
<p>Very important is to have a back up plan. Go ahead and apply to another safe choice, we even made a refundable deposit on a room. Our son was not notified until March...we were missing a lot of grass between the door and mailbox but the victory was sweet! Good Luck</p>
<p>I have learned allot about all of the service academies on this site and I have had allot of my questions answered. My son has a LOA and on the school website they list his status as "conditional." Yesterday his status on the DODMERB website changed from "offer extended" to "accepted." Our members of congress in Texas apparently do not do interviews and I don't think their boards have even met yet. The school has told me that they do not report any application status to DODMERB. Anybody know that this all means?</p>
<p>The school is correct. Usually on the DODMERB website you will see "qualified" if the candidate has been given clearance. they send this to the USMMA and it becomes part of the file. My S did not have interviews with our two Texas senators but he did with our Congressman. He also had an LOA. The USMMA will wait until the candidate is triple Q's (qualified medically, scholastically, and physically with a nomination) before reviewing the file to determine if an appointment will be offered. With the LOA they are basically saying that based on a scholastic review of the candidate they are prepared to extend an appointment offer on the condition he is qualified by the DODMERB, passes the CFA and receives a nomination.</p>
<p>That's what is so confusing. He was medically qualified several months ago. It says "accepted" under application status not the spot where it shows him medically qualified. He is already physically qualified.</p>
<p>If the USMMA site says "Conditional", that means an LOA was issued, usually conditional on a nomination or DoDMERB.</p>
<p>My son's USMMA status on DoDMERB also changed from "Offer Extended" to "Accepted" without any other information being passed to us. His status on USMMA site still says "conditional", and he has not received a nomination for Kings Point that we know of.</p>
<p>Luigi59 - so are you saying that the school is telling DODMERB about a status change? It sounds like my son is listed on the school and DODMERB site exactly the same as your son. The school is telling us they have no idea how or why DODMERB is showing a status change.</p>
<p>Has DodMerb changed since last year? The only thing they did last year was state "Qualified" for each academy and/or "Pilot Qualififed." So they are now saying what Academy they are qualifed for? That sounds like way to much work for DodMerb!</p>
<p>The Admissions Status comes directly from the admissions office of that particular program, DoDMERB only posts the information.</p>
<p>That's not my opinion, that is a direct quote from the DoDMERB website (I posted the link).</p>
<p>DoDMERB does not/should not change the "Admissions Status" without input from the Academy.</p>
<p>I know there are some people who don't like it, but sometimes the first indication of an LOA or Appointment comes from the DoDMERB website, often well in advance of a US Mail letter or a phone call from your MOC.</p>
<p>Well, that makes things more confusing. I have spoken to the admissions office at USMMA and USCGA and both schools adamantly deny informing DODMERB of any change in an applicant's status. I have also talked to an officer at DODMERB who stated he does not know how an applicants status gets changed. Somebody is being less than truthful. Also - Luigi59 - I looked at the link you posted. Unless I am missing it I don't see anything about DODMERB posting anything about "admission status."</p>
<p>Well I can tell you that last year my son's DoDmerb never indicated in any way his "admissions" status to any of the academies. He found out from the Academies about admissions. DodMerb only gave indication of qualification and/or remedial action necessary for medical items.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know there are some people who don't like it, but sometimes the first indication of an LOA or Appointment comes from the DoDMERB website, often well in advance of a US Mail letter or a phone call from your MOC.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Funny, because that has indeed been the case of two kids I know of this year going to academies. They saw the change to their status & a few days later, a phone call or letter happened. I know DODMERB was changing a few things. Don't know how the academies feel about this as they or the nominating sources usually like to be the first ones to make the call. BIG GRIN. We sure are nosey parents right along with the kids! I dunno mcrobbiej...... I'd probably buy a KP sweatshirt to go under the tree this year to be safe! :D</p>
<p>Luigi59 - thanks for that link to DODMERB. You have cleared that up for me. I think that you are right. The SA's and MOC's would rather break the news to the candidate instead of them seeing it on a website. Jamzmom, I don't want to jinx my son by buying a KP shirt yet. We will see what happens in the next few weeks.</p>
<p>I spent six weeks earlier this year getting through DODMERB. I had their personal extensions, because my DS's medical was complicated. </p>
<p>They do not accept or reject candidates for the academies. They only MEDICALLY CLEAR each applicant. </p>
<p>And my experience has been they are WAY behind the academies reporting on the candidates status.</p>
<p>When my DS was cleared, I received a phone call from Captain Johnson himself. My DS's status did not change on DODMERB for two weeks after that clearance!</p>
<p>I tried all day yesterday to check my son's application status on the KP website and couldn't get in. This morning I finally got on and saw that his status changed from "conditional" to "principal." That's a good thing right?</p>
<p>Oh yea! That's a GREAT thing! That means the LOA is on it's way.......congrats!!! But don't tell your son.....wait until he opens the letter or you hand it to him, and make sure you have your camera close by, you'll want to remember the look on his face.</p>