<p>I just wanted to know how tough it was for people to ge recommendations from senators?</p>
<p>It seems to me that there's a good amount of competition (which varies a bit depending on where you live) but that it's not an impossible feat if you've got a good "profile" so to speak. What state do you live in?</p>
<p>For my application for Nominations from my two senators and representative I got letters of recommendation from three state senators that I knew personally. My ALO and BGO told me that since I knew the senators personally, it was a great idea to have them right recommendations for me and could have been one of the things that helped me get a nomination from my representative.</p>
<p>like zach said, there are differences between states. Places like TX and CA are going to be more difficult than someplace like Idaho because of population.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Exactly what I was going to say</p>
<p>Geography and population does plays a role - in Pennsylvania last year the applicant ratios were 3.0 to 1.5 to 1.0 for USNA, USMA, and USAFA respectively. Fewer probably apply to Air Force from Pennsylvania because of the distance from home.</p>
<p>I would think Texas, California, and Colorado may be the three most competitive states to secure a nomination from a U.S. Senator for USAFA.</p>
<p>I think Gasdoc is right. At summer seminar they gave us a breakdown of where USAFA cadets come from, and if I remember correctly a relatively large percentage of cadets (and SS kids for that matter) come from Texas and California, and Colorado would be competitive for obvious reasons. Alaska, on the other hand, may be the state to live in if you're looking for a nom ;)</p>
<p>I live in massachusetts. How competitive do you see it being out here?</p>
<p>I know there is someone around here who has the break down of the stats for New England and I'm sure they'll post 'em here eventually. But if my memory is correct, have a smaller number of Service Academy applicants than other areas of the nation which would translate to less competition for a nomination.</p>
<p>USAFA is 20% Texan and slightly less Californian. Very large breakdown!</p>
<p>There was 185 people that applied for nominations from Senator McCain in Arizona.</p>
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<p>Recommendation letters should only be written by someone who knows you personally, a little better than just a passing acquaintance.</p>
<p>Do you know Senator Kerry and/or Senator Kennedy well enough for them to write you a letter or recommendation?</p>
<p>Or are you confusing the term "recommendation" with "nomination"?</p>
<p>A nomination from a Senator is almost always going to be harder than a nomination from a Representative as the Senator has candidates from the entire state</p>
<p>185 for McCain?! Is that abnormal? They must have taken a long time. At least in Senator Kyl's they had multiple interviewers.</p>
<p>I would think coastal New England including Mass. would be "squid city." Likewise Maryland, and parts of Virginia.</p>
<p>They probably got 185 applications, but didn't interview anywhere near that many. I was told Chambliss and Isakson had over 200 each, but they didn't grant interviews to them all. The congressman for our district, on the other hand, has a policy to interview everyone who applies (which is usually 20-30). This year he had 44!</p>
<p>No, the academy staff lady told me they screened the candidates and only took the top 30..40.. maybe even 50..candidates for interviews. I don't remember that exact number but I know it was 185 statewide. Have you received any word on McCain's nomination? I got one from him for Air Force and Navy on Friday even though my interview didn't go so smooth.</p>
<p>I got an alternate nomination from him. I finally got a card from Air Force that everythings processed, so I'm an official candidate. </p>
<p>I saw that on the Naval forum they said once everything is in you can see the appointment within two weeks possibly.</p>
<p>ohh yeah I got one of those today too. Yeah it would be awesome if we could get them before Christmas.</p>