<p>When do most candidates send in their applications for nomination?</p>
<p>Early i would assume. But me being a procrastinator, I submitted my application the last day the post office was open before the deadline (which was a Saturday) in October (it was due the first Monday of November I think)</p>
<p>Deadlines for Congressional nominations are usually around the October-December timeframe. While you do not need to submit them yet, you should start working on them. Ask your teachers for recommendations before the school year ends (and before they are inundated with requests from other classmates when senior year begins). Ask them to keep a copy so that it will be easier for them to do another one for USMA later (if relevant). This summer is a great time to get your nomination applications completed. It will free up some time later to get the USMA and other backup plan applications done.</p>
<p>The application to West Point is really a lesson in Project Management. Find out what all of your deadlines are (each MOC will have different deadlines and forms) and get other people involved early enough so that you can easily beat the deadlines. If you are applying to multiple service academies, the need for proper planning is really critical.</p>
<p>^^^^^^^Couldn't have said it better!</p>
<p>I learned a hard lesson in managing time and not procrastinating; there were a couple of times that I was sure I had missed any chance of getting in this year. To paraphrase a famous Founding Father: GET IT DONE NOW!!! Turn them in well before the deadline, but don't wait, because you will put them off longer and longer until one day you look at your calendar and see two days left before the deadline arrives, and sometimes these deadlines are around federal holidays or Sundays, when the mail doesn't run.</p>
<p>Yes, ITA, get your portion of each nomination app done as soon as possible. I strongly suggest approaching the people who you want to write recs for you very soon. That was the major hitch for our son who applied to 3 SA's and 4 nomination sources. Granted, he was asking a lot of several very kind folks, but he spent a significant amount of time chasing them down to submit a rec for each packet. Even though he asked this time last year! <i don't="" think="" the="" vp="" requires="" a="" rec,="" but="" i="" could="" be="" wrong.=""> They are people with busy lives, who may need a lot of lead time. If you're ready with your components of what is required, then once you get the rec's in hand, BAM! the packet can be submitted. </i></p><i don't="" think="" the="" vp="" requires="" a="" rec,="" but="" i="" could="" be="" wrong.="">
<p>One more tidbit: make a copy of everything <sans personal="" recs="" since="" they="" are="" sealed=""> you submit.</sans></p>
<p>Wishing you the best of luck as you proceed!</p>
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<p>The easiest one to get is the Presidentail nomination if your parents are connected to the service that is the one I got. It reall requires not work at all just a few papers if you are not so lucky then do like all the others said and go the congressmen route. Also do as many as possible makes it easier to get in.</p>
<p>I know that my daughter's coach had to write several recommendations and the applications were being submitted during the fall season when the coach was extremely busy. Appropriate notice and giving coaches a chance to write these recs during the summer when they have more time would likely be appreciated.</p>