BGO Interview - Page 2

osdad · 07-27-2009, 01:11 PM

mumsy,

My D also got a call saying basically the same thing. I think they're actively recruiting CC kids before the Ivy's get them... (I'd insert a smiley here if I knew how to do it)

As I gain more understanding of the process it makes sense that there will be a fair number of candidates who have LOA, are medically qualified, but do not get the one appointment from their MOC. In my state, the MOC's all submit 10 names to the Academy - which selects one to go against that MOC's allottment. The other 9 might all have LOA and I suspect its these candidates who go into the national pool. But as I said, I'm still learning about the process.

mumsyto3 · 07-27-2009, 01:45 PM

osdad,
Thanks for your reply, we're still trying to learn this whole process. First, what does "CC" stand for? Second, what is the national pool? We're familiar with the 4 sources of nomination (senator X2, rep, and VP), but we're not familiar with what the national pool refers to. We are from one of the very competitive states and don't see how there would be enough nomination spots from the 4 sources above. Best of luck to your daughter!

osdad · 07-27-2009, 02:13 PM

mumsy,

CC stands for College Confidential. As they say in Lake Wobegone: All our kids are above average...LOL

If you do the numbers, on average, apppointments only add up to about 50% of any years class of about 1200. (535 House and 100 Sen. They're allowed 5 at any time so it might be 5 from one year and none for the next 3 but on average I assume it comes to one per year. I don't know if elections play into that? If we throw the bum out after two years does the new bum get a new allotment of 5??? ) So to fill the remaining slots they can pick another kid who has an appointment from any district and it doesn't go against that MOC's allotment. I assume that is the national pool that's being referred to.

MomofHopeful2011 · 07-27-2009, 02:41 PM

The nomination/LOA issue is fairly complex - I will try to enlighten a bit but I will surely leave out a scenario here or there...

To get to the National Pool the candidate must have a nomination of some kind. The National pool is comprised of those students that did not get an appointment off their MOC slate (or other nom source) but do have a nom - perhaps it is a Presidential nom (child of military - any qualified child of military, within the rules, can get the nom but only limited appointments allowed via that nom). If a student has an LOA and no nom then there is no guarantee of appointment. However, typically a MOC looks favorably on LOAs and grants them a nom, though not all - some MOCs will not allow an LOA to be in the decision process ... some MOCs do not tell the committee about the LOA and thus if a committee did not deem the student qualified for a nom, don't give it - it just depends on the workings of each MOC and their committee. I have heard of students with an LOA that either did not understand the process or for some other reason failed to apply or complete their MOC applications. That translated to no nomination. In highly competitive areas, if a MOC is of the opinion that the LOA is not something that the committee should use the decision, the student will want to be sure to do well on the nom side. In our area the LOA is kept from the committees knowledge - the thought being that if the candidate is good enough to qualify for an LOA, they should be good enough to shine through on the nomination process too (and typically that is the case). The SAs can grant a supe nom - but if the candidate did not do their homework and try to get the MOC nom the SA looks less favorably and may not grant the Supe nom. There are other reasons that a SA may decide not to grant a supe nom to an LOA recipient as well.

The MOC may not be charged with an LOA recipient ... what I mean is that on the slate of noms from the MOC they can place 10 names per slate. They may have only one available slate this year or possibly more (one slate of ten for each vacancy in their district, up to five cadets/mids are allowed to be charged to a MOC at any given time - in other words, no more than 5 cadets/mids at any time at each SA). Let's assume the MOC places ten candidates on one slate, including the LOAs but does not select a principal nominee ... they just submit an unranked slate. In that scenario the SA is obligated to select the candidate to get the appointment based on the highest WCS of all ten names on that slate. If the LOA is the highest WCS, then the LOA is charged to the MOC and potentially no other candidates get appointed off that slate. If the LOA is either not the largest WCS or the MOC has nominated a principal (that is not the LOA) then the principal or largest WCS will be appointed and charged to the MOC and the LOA will be appointed and granted a supe (or other nom, maybe the VP). If the LOA is not on the slate (meaning the MOC did not give a nom) the SA is not obligated to give that candidate a nom. If the LOA is nominated with any kind of nom they will get an appointment (assume passes medical and/or whatever else limits are placed on the LOA).

It can get very confusing, I know, and there are any number of scenarios that can exist in the whole nomination process that can change things. The key here is that while an LOA is a very good thing, it is not an appointment. To get the appointment the student must get a nom and must any other stipulations set forth within the LOA. I am aware of LOA recipients that have not gotten an appointment, though it is rare. If you or your child receives an LOA, the student can view that as an excellent sign and a strong reason to do their best on the nomination process but it is not an appointment.

As to what happens when they change office - the charged cadets/mids are charged to the MOC District not the MOC as a person so they stay charged to the DISTRICT if/when there is a change of office.

usna09mom · 07-27-2009, 08:40 PM

Need to make a correction to an earlier post

Voting members in US Congress are 435 House plus 100 Senate = 535 total

Quote:

The total membership of the House of Representatives is 441 Members. There are 435 Representatives from the 50 states. In addition, five, non-voting Delegates represent the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. A non-voting Resident Commissioner, serving a four-year term, represents the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

-House Historian

Hmm, wonder who nominates candidates from the US territories and Washington, D.C., their delegates?

osdad · 07-27-2009, 09:14 PM

I blame it on my fat fingers and a new laptop keyboard.

Thanks

rangelady · 07-28-2009, 10:50 PM

A brief comment on the issue of elections. No, the "new bum" does not get a new allotment of 5 at the SA.....that allotment of 5 per SA is per seat of House of Reps or Senate. No matter which bum takes up the space.

The consternation in dealing with the changes elections bring lies mostly in a newbie not having a process for selections, perhaps a staff with no experience with SA's, the need to appoint a new committee in their district to handle such things, etc. As alluded to in earlier posts, there are a variety of ways each MOC may name their slate of nominations. Interview or not. Competitive slate or principal nominee. Each one with a different deadline. And different methods of having the information/application submitted. Some want your application to include the letters of rec/evaluations in sealed envelopes, some want those items mailed directly to MOC.

Word to the wise. Read voraciously on this and the service academy forums. Read the Smallwood book. Read your MOC's directions, then read them again with highlighter in hand. Follow them to a tee. We set up a long table in an unused room to organize the packets going to each MOC.

And don't be afraid to ask the MOC's office questions. "What type of slate do you use? Competitive or principal nominee?" Now is probably better for asking questions and understanding the process than late fall when they are inundated with applications, etc.

Whistle Pig · 07-28-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

No matter which bum takes up the space.

Rangergal! You made me laugh.

Blame it on my fat head!

Simple things for simple folk.

usna09mom · 07-29-2009, 12:52 AM

rangelady offered some good advice. The Smallwood book was a valuable resource for us. Make a timeline and keep a master calendar for deadlines. For college applications in general, go to Costco or some office supply store and buy a box of letter size envelopes and 8-1/2 by 11" envelopes. For high school counselor and those writing letters of recommendation, we included a checklist for them to follow. This is a time to kick a**. Get things in early otherwise you risk losing tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money, e.g., service academy appointment and/or NROTC scholarship. Good luck, it's worth it!

navy2010 · 07-29-2009, 05:03 PM

If you have an LOA make sure to mention it during your MOC interview (assuming you get to interview). I would leave it towards the end- meaning, make a "great first impression" first- then at the end, perhaps before winding it up with a handshake and "thank you for your time" at the close of the interview, slip in "I would really appreciate your consideration of a nomination. I have a letter of assurance, and this will be possible only with the help of your nomination." (even though you most likely will be speaking to a committee appointed by the MOC).

What I would NOT do is bring up the LOA in the first few minutes of the interview. Impress the committee first- on your own- then when you have them convinced you are the best candidate since sliced bread, leave them with the news of the LOA- it will just validate their already-formed opinion of you!