<p>Does anyone here know/think that it makes any difference whether a candidate has one, two, or three nominations? Might that be a deciding factor in who gets appointments?</p>
<p>If it doesn't, it certainly should. If a candidate can impress 3 panels of MOC reviewers, it certainly says something about their character and application strength.</p>
<p>But I'm also curious to get an official answer from someone.</p>
<p>LOA, only need one.
No LOA, having more than one probably gives you a bit of a better chance because it gives the Academy more options. If you only have one nom and its from MOC 1, you're only chance of an appointment is from MOC 1's pool. If you have one from MOC1 and another from MOC 2, the Academy may see you as the most competitive in MOC 2's pool but not MOC 1. In the first case, you don't get an appointment. In the second case, you do. This is, of course, if the MOC just submits 10 unranked names.</p>
<p>Hopefully that's all correct. Forgive me if I made a mistake; this stuff is still confusing :D</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>What Candid8 said.</p>
<p>I don't believe Candid8's response is accurate. If you are deemed qualified but do not receive an appointment from MOC1, you may go into the national pool from whence many appointments come. But then the candidates are competing with those from all over the US.</p>
<p>Whistle is correct, you can be put into the candiate pool. Also LOA + 1 nom is wrong...what if the MOC gives a principal from the list and you are just a nom...or if there are 3 people from the MOC with an LOA, only 1 can get it. In the end an MOC can only have 5 at any given time. I hate to be the downer, but I have seen several from the same state with an LOA, if there are 4 LOA's from the state than 2 will definetly have to rely on another source, if two come from a highly competitive area, i.e. No. VA, than 1 will be left out in the cold...I am sure they will get it, but to say LOA only needs 1 nom is not correct, afterall everyone only needs 1 nom to get in!</p>
<p>Now I'm confused! The LOA states it is a conditional acceptance, with the only requirement being a nom. So you are stating that if the MOC has only one opening for the year and two candidates from his slate have an LOA, then only one will get the appointment, and the other goes into the national pool?</p>
<p>If you have an LOA they will find a nom for you, it might come from a different source (i.e. supe). They might save the MOC's nom for someone else. From what I understand this is why they want you to try for every available source, so they can have more freedom. </p>
<p>LOA's are rare and you should not be concerned. I was just saying that there are many scenarios of how people are selected. And the fact is in the end everyone needs just one nom, LOA or not. </p>
<p>Finally LOA's are given b/c they really want them, be proud.</p>
<p>BTW yes by law an MOC can only be charged at any given time 5, so the second from the slate would come from another nomination source.</p>
<p>LOA's are a guarantee of an appointment - it does not matter if there was a principal with 9 competing alternates - The 9 competing alternates are all on the MOC's slate, they just will be competing in the national pool with the principal getting the MOC's charged appointment. All 10 have nominations. The LOA recipient, who is part of the MOC's competing alternatives, has a nomination and is guaranteed of an offer. It does not matter "what kind of nomination you have, all that matters is that you have one. Many MOC's will give a primary to another candidate without the LOA, knowing that one of their other nominations has the LOA - that way they are guaranteed of having at least 2 appointments from their district or in the case of a Senator their slate. This was stated many times at the CVW parents brief by both USNA Admissions officers and by our congressional office Academy Liaison. </p>
<p>My son got his LOA in October and received the Appointment in November, and was NOT the principal appointee from either of his 2 nominating sources. To this day we have no idea "who" he is charged against and quite frankly do not care as it does not matter. Once you have the Appointment who cares how the Academy charges it as it makes no difference to the Appointee. He was notified by both of his nominating sources and invited to both receptions.</p>
<p>The original question: There is a slight advantage to one who has multiple nominations. Probably difficult to assess from th is angle, but, as stated above, if one has impressed multiple boards, that will be considered by appointments board.<br>
Only one slot will, ultimately, be used for the actual appointment.</p>
<p>From ww.usna.edu:</p>
<p>The USNA uses a selection process known as "rolling admissions." As soon as all of your candidate packet forms are received, the Admissions Boards will determine your scholastic "whole person" qualification. If your record of achievement is truly outstanding, you could receive an early offer called a Letter of Assurance. This indicates our intent to extend an Offer of Appointment, provided all your remaining requirements (nomination, CFA, Blue and Gold Officer interview and medical) are successfully completed. A Letter of Assurance could be received as early as September of your senior year. Of course, final admission will depend on continued success and good standing in your high school as well as continuing to maintain your qualifications for the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>If you are found scholastically qualified but do not receive a Letter of Assurance, you will be competing for an Offer of Appointment from within your nominating sources. Approximately 2,000 candidates are found fully qualified (scholastic, medical, CFA, and have obtained a nomination) each year. Of that number, about 1,500 will receive appointments and approximately 1,200 become midshipmen. Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15. </p>
<p>Bottom line as I read it is that a LOA is not a guarantee of an appointment, but it is close.</p>
<p>an actual letter of acceptance says in bold that you are guaranteed an offer of appointment as long as your remaining admissions requirements are completed. i would agree that an LOA is close to but not exactly an offer technically. realistically though they will find a way to get you in as long as you are medically qualified.</p>
<p>In a lot of states multiple Noms does actually mean you've impressed multiple boards, but in some of the smaller population states it could mean that they only had enough qualified candidates that quite a few get multiple.</p>
<p>Having said that though, can't hurt to get more than one.</p>
<p>Also realize that in many states, the Senators and Congressmen talk to each other about who they are going to nominate. This gives a chance for everyone applying for a nomination to be listed in the MOC's slate.</p>
<p>I might be wrong on this, but I don't believe the admissions board "decides" who gets which nomination and secondly, I don't even think the board considers if one has multiple nominations (for the reasons above). There is a special Appointments and Nominations Office inside the CGO, and I believe that office handles these matters. </p>
<p>As many mentioned before, it only takes one slate to be on, in order to have a shot at an appointment. In no way is one more "special" because they have received multiple nominations (maybe excluding a Vice Presidential nomination, since its extremely competitive).</p>
<p>The paper work received for the LOA states Guaranteed as long as you have completed your medical (found medically qualified), had your BGO interview, completed your CFA and have a nomination. The specific wording on the LOA was "guaranteed"</p>
<p>^what Profmom2 said in Post #9^
When I say you only need one if you have an LOA, I mean more than one nomination will not help you or hurt you. And I say this defining an LOA as a guaranteed offer of appointment provided a nomination is received (and the candidate is otherwise q'd). That is what an LOA is. And if someone has an LOA contingent upon receipt of a nomination, and that person receives a nomination, they will receive an Appointment.</p>
<p>If anything I said is wrong, sorry. but to the best of my knowledge, what I said was correct.</p>
<p>Excellent link from one of the WP threads explaining the Nomination, LOA and acceptance processes.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/educators/noms.htmls%5B/url%5D">http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/educators/noms.htmls</a> </p>
<p>I know it's WP centric, but all the SAs use similar processes.</p>
<p>Bottom Line: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Two things need to happen to get into an SA. 1) the SA wants you (offers an appointment). 2) Someone needs to nominate you</p></li>
<li><p>MOCs have only 5 people they can sponsor at any SA at one time. For each slot that opens up, they can nominate 10 people. If they offer a "Principal" nomination, the SA must accept that candidate in one of the MOC's available slots.</p></li>
<li><p>Candidates granted a LOA who get any nomination will be appointed, provided they are remain qualified (academically and physically)</p></li>
<li><p>The SA admissions staff manages the nomination process. If they have 2 candidates they want for one MOC slot, they will use the MOC's slot for one, and use one of the national pool of slots for the other. This is why they want propsective candidates to get more than one nomination; it gives them flexibility in the process. Profmom, you are correct. Once you have a LOA and a nom, u'r in. It doesn't matter to you whose nom you use, it matters to the SA admissions staff, as they want to keep their options open for other prospective candidates.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>So, does it matter if you get multiple noms? Yes and no. Yes, because the SA can use multiple sources for your nom and it helps them with their process, and yes, it shows that multiple sources think your SA worthy. No, because ultimately, you only need the one nom.</p>
<p>My son's LOA from USAFA says "virtually guaranteed." (My 9 year old nephew wanted to know if that meant he'd get in via virtual reality.)</p>