July LOAs

BigNick

5-Year Member
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Jun 28, 2010
Messages
562
My son was just told by one of the West Point Admissions Officers that some LOAs would be awarded in about 2 weeks.
 
My son was just told by one of the West Point Admissions Officers that some LOAs would be awarded in about 2 weeks.

Good news! I hope to get mine, but am still waiting for my transcript to process.
 
To receive an LOA, how much of one's portal must be completed?
 
To receive an LOA, how much of one's portal must be completed?

I think people have gotten it before doing their CFA. I'm sure transcripts play a big part in the decision of a LoA though. Definitely have to get that in.
 
They told us at SLS that test scores and transcripts were necessary for your application to be considered for an LOA.
 
Hypothetically, I must have high test scores to receive one, is that correct?
 
Make sure to get your complete junior year transcript sent to USMA. It's one of the pieces USMA usually wants in hand before sending out LOA's.

Getting your file updated as soon as possible is imperative. As you may have heard, West Point experienced an unusually low decline rate for the Class of 2014 and they were over committed by April 1. A number of candidates who would have received offers in any other year, did not get their files completed early, and thus, were not offered a place in the Class of 2014.
 
Hypothetically, I must have high test scores to receive one, is that correct?

Yes and a competitive academic record. Byt you really shouldn't be worried about getting an LOA because only a few are sent out to the top candidates.
 
Oh okay, phew! I got worried because my SAT scores aren't the best and I thought I had to send them in right now so this is a sigh of relief.
 
Oh okay, phew! I got worried because my SAT scores aren't the best and I thought I had to send them in right now so this is a sigh of relief.

If it makes you feel any better, my highest SAT that I'll end up submitting is a 1970. Too late to take SAT's...about to attend orientation for college next week, and have to move in next month :p.
 
I'm afraid that my 6th semester (end of junior year) transcript will not show a calculated GPA until the fall. Will that affect my chances of receiving a LOA?

However, my combined SAT scores come out as a 2270.
 
I'm afraid that my 6th semester (end of junior year) transcript will not show a calculated GPA until the fall. Will that affect my chances of receiving a LOA?

However, my combined SAT scores come out as a 2270.

LoA's are given around Fall time too. Just because you don't receive your LoA July doesn't mean you won't get it. Although with those SAT scores, I could see you getting the LoA and me not getting it, haha.
 
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You guys have impressive scores. Do you have any tips? My SATs are 1750, first time taking without studying. 630 reading, 550 math, 570 writing. On PSATs, I received 66 reading, 57 math and 61 writing.
 
You guys have impressive scores. Do you have any tips? My SATs are 1750, first time taking without studying. 630 reading, 550 math, 570 writing. On PSATs, I received 66 reading, 57 math and 61 writing.

That's pretty good for first time, no studying. I would suggest taking the hardest classes for math and English. That's what really pulled me through. By doing so, you will learn new ways of tackling problems. Taking harder classes in English for example, requires you to more deeply analyze literature, as well as help develop your writing so it can be more sophisticated (writing and reading go hand-in-hand). Taking harder classes in math will develop your critical thinking skills that are so important to the math section of the SAT's. I took a prep class from Kaplan but they really are a waste of money because they teach you tips that you could have learned yourself.

As for "studying" for this thing, you really can't "study" for it. The test is either you know it or you don't know it. However, knowing the directions beforehand will help with time so you don't waste your time reading the directions when you could be reading a passage or writing your essay or doing some math problems. With the writing portion, you should come into the essay with a wealth of knowledge, not just personal experiences but also references from books, popular culture, or movies. It will help you provide much stronger examples when you argue your thesis. For math, it will only test you up to the Algebra II level, so make sure you finish that class STRONG before you take the SAT's. However, most people don't get hooked up on the math concepts, but rather, the complicated logic that some of the problems offer. Again, taking harder math classes will expose you to complicated logic problems that will require much higher levels of critical thinking.
 
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You should try the ACT too. A lot of people, myself included, do better on it than the SAT.
 
I had difficulty actually "studying" for my standardized tests. I did well without any sort of test prep on both the ACT and SAT the first time around, but felt I could do better. I learned new ways of looking at the problems, or basically learning to beat the test I guess.

I like the ACT more because it doesn't try to trick you like the SAT does.
 
I had difficulty actually "studying" for my standardized tests. I did well without any sort of test prep on both the ACT and SAT the first time around, but felt I could do better. I learned new ways of looking at the problems, or basically learning to beat the test I guess.

I like the ACT more because it doesn't try to trick you like the SAT does.

I can definitely testify to the SAT tricks. They're so annoying.

I remember I took the ACT as practice and I found out it's just so much more straight-forward. I just didn't really get the science section.
 
My son was just told by one of the West Point Admissions Officers that some LOAs would be awarded in about 2 weeks.

LOAs for 2015 have started. I know of at least one.

To everyone: There is horrible signal at Camp Buckner and only wireless in a few spots. That combined with the busy schedule has kept me off the computer but I will start being on regularly soon.
 
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