<p>Is there some 'magic' WCS cut-off number that allows national pool rolling appointments to be made before every candidate's file has been reviewed, or do all national poolers wait till April?</p>
<p>I don't know the whole process, but it seems to me that if the Board has yet to review every candidate's file to determine every candidate's WCS, there would be some risk in offering appointments since yet-to-be reviewed files could land higher on the WCS ranking. Maybe every candidate near the historic WCS point bubble is put in a holding pen until all files have been reviewed (??)</p>
<p>It seems that the only risk-free 'rolling' appointments that could be made are for LOAs and when a particular MOC's entire slate has been reviewed and the WCS ranking is established for that MOC (competitive method). In that case, obviously an appointment could be offered to the highest WCS and 2nd if more than one slot open, etc... </p>
<p>Sorry if this is general knowledge to most; we're trying to get smarter through your collective intelligence!</p>
<p>You have answered your own question. The 'selected alternates' cannot be selected until all the primary nominations have been filled. The primary nominations cannot be filled until all the candidate files have been evaluated. Files aren't even required to be completed until March. Settle in for a long wait. This more than likely includes LOAs in the national pool.</p>
<p>So, let me make sure I've got this straight.</p>
<ol>
<li> Every appointment that has been offered to date is limited to MOC principles or LOA's that have obtained some form of nomination.</li>
<li> Appointments for MOCs that use the competitive method cannot be made until every candidate's file within that district or state is reviewed and the WCS ranking is complete within that district or state.</li>
<li> Regardless of an individual file's WCS total within the alternate pool ('national pool'), appointments cannot be made from that pool until every last file is reviewed to ensure the accuracy and inclusion of every file, and therefore final ranking by WCS.</li>
</ol>
<p>I guess #3 is the confusing one. If a candidate's WCS measures favorably against historical data, do they really wait until the entire national pool is reviewed, or can they offer an appointment relatively risk-free knowing the student is likely within the top 1500?</p>
<p>Thank you for the insight. I just want to be able to convey the correct information to friends and family regarding the process. They think they're tired of waiting; think about those poor kids whose files have been complete for months!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't know the whole process, but it seems to me that if the Board has yet to review every candidate's file to determine every candidate's WCS, there would be some risk in offering appointments since yet-to-be reviewed files could land higher on the WCS ranking.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Right - but the academies are sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place. They don't have "early decision" or "early action" - most selective and very selective schools do. They know they are competing against these schools for scholars. This is the purpose of the LOA - to offer a guarantee to very highly qualified candidates early in the hopes that will woo them away from other schools. Because the process takes so long - they don't want candidates to lose interest.
The LOA is also a psychological boost - kids like to be wanted. They tend to gravitate to schools that really want them. Offering LOA's is a way for the academies to begin to build the next class.</p>