<p>Babble-on: I find that your posts don’t describe the SA application/nomination accurately.</p>
<p>“I just checked the senator and representative nomimations for my part of my state. Between 2 senators and 1 representative, there were a total of 160 nominations. That’s not counting the students who live in this same area who got Presidential nominations or anyone who got a ‘superintendent’s’ nomination.”</p>
<p>-I believe that you mean that there were a total of 160 nominations total to ALL of the SAs for your 2 Senators and 1 US Rep. Each MOC is allowed 5 people WHO ARE ALLOTTED TO THEM at each SA at a time. That works out to an average of 1.25 slots to fill per year to each of the 4 SAs that require nominations. Since each MOC is allowed 10 nominations per open slot, per SA, per year, each year you would expect AT LEAST: 3 MOCs * 4 SAs * 1 slot * 10 noms = 120 nominations (unless there aren’t enough quality candidates), with a MAXIMUM of 3 MOCs * 4 SAs * 2 slots * 10 noms = 240 nominations (if every MOC has 2 slots - unlikely). From my viewpoint, 160 looks just about right. I put “who are allotted to them” in all caps (above), because as a previous poster pointed out, once one nominee is allotted to their MOC, the rest of that MOC’s nominees go into the “national pool.” People are offered appointments from the pool based on their “whole candidate score,” so more than 1-2 people per year from a single MOC’s district may receive appointments to a single SA if that district is very competitive.</p>
<p>-Your earlier comparison of MOC nominations to “overbooking” of airlines is not without merit. Every MOC is allowed up to 10 nominations per open slot, to allow for “fallout” due to scholastic and medical disqualifications, and to allow for addition of candidates to the national pool.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>How could it be that a person with excellent grades and test scores might not be offered and appointment? The truth is that grades (actually class rank) and test scores are only one facet of the “whole candidate score.” Great grades/rank from a less competitive school or in less difficult classes won’t stack up against someone from a more competitive school. Great grades without having additional time demands (ECAs, sports) don’t demonstrate the type of time management needed to succeed at a SA. And the list goes on…</p></li>
<li><p>You are incorrect in stating that a Presidential nomination outweighs a MOC nomination. Every MOC is guaranteed that one FULLY-QUALIFIED candidate from their slate of nominees will receive an appointment. As I understand it, Presidential nominees go into the national pool (unless that person also has a MOC nomination).</p></li>
</ul>
<p>-Why should someone with a parent or sibling receive any extra consideration for receiving a SA appointment? Several academic studies have been done to look for factors that contribute to achieving success at the SAs, because the SAs want to select applicants who can survive the academics AND other SA stresses. One factor that significantly correlated to success was having an immediate family member who had attended a SA. It has nothing to do with “genetics,” but it takes a special level of committment to make it through 4 years of “free” (ROTFLMAO) education, and having another family member who has been there/done that allows a young person to make a more informed decision.</p>
<p>The truth is that many wonderful candidates who apply to the SAs each year don’t make it in. Many re-apply the next year. Many others receive ROTC scholarships, or find other ways to enter service. I applaud you and RPIbound and others who have not received appointments this year for your attempts to attend a SA, and I wish you good luck as you move on.</p>