Conditional Acceptance...what's the deal here?

ima-gina-tion

USAFA 2015
5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
42
I'm not sure if high school students get the same thing, but I'm currently in college and my letter of appointment clearly stated that the appointment was conditional. I can't recall the exact wording, but I think it was about "continued excellence in academics, health etc etc"

Anyways, with finals week coming up soon, I'm just wondering what the expectation is here. I'm not too worried about my grades, but I must say that I'm probably not going to do as well as I did last semester.

So does anyone know how conditional it is? Should we be concerned since they had such a high number of people accept their appointment? And what is pushing it? (I got a 3.7 last semester...but this semester, I'm guessing it'll be closer to a 3.4ish.........it doesn't sound that bad but at the same time, it's lower than what I had before, which worries me)
 
Don't fail a class, don't have an Incomplete in a class, and don't let your overall GPA go down significantly; e.g. more than say .2-.3 and you'll be fine. If any of that happens, then the academy will probably reassess your appointment. Doesn't mean they'll take it away, just that they might. Just do well and don't worry about it. best of luck. mike....
 
everyone gets a "conditional appointment." it just means that if you screw up, they can take it away. in the words of my congressional advisor 3 years ago... "dont flunk a class, and dont go cherrybombin' mailboxes"
 
everyone gets a "conditional appointment." it just means that if you screw up, they can take it away. in the words of my congressional advisor 3 years ago... "dont flunk a class, and dont go cherrybombin' mailboxes"

Pretty much exactly correct!

I've had ONE candidate "tank" this...he ended up with "end of year-itis" and he received an "F" in his freshman English class.

His appointment was vacated.

Aside from what you've seen listed in previous responses...just do well, you'll be fine.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Same situation, so the best advise is not to fail a class and try to maintain a fairly high average consistent to your last quarter/sem grade?

To be honest, I'm incredibly stressed since it's not easy maintaining a high GPA in an increasingly harder schedule!

But I'm holding on and working my rear end off! :thumb:
 
Last edited:
i have been appointed to the class of 2015, i am a senior in high school and i am taking AP Calculus, this class quite frankly is kicking my butt, i really have to work to make a descent grade in that class. With the end of the year approaching and senioritis getting worse i have slacked off in that class some. It is not a class i need in order to graduate and i am not going to try and get credit for it at the academy to validate out of a class. Will this affect me in any way by having a low or failing grade in this class for the last nine week grading period? considering i have done good in all of my previous math classes and the earlier grading periods for this particular class.
 
i have been appointed to the class of 2015, i am a senior in high school and i am taking AP Calculus, this class quite frankly is kicking my butt, i really have to work to make a descent grade in that class. With the end of the year approaching and senioritis getting worse i have slacked off in that class some. It is not a class i need in order to graduate and i am not going to try and get credit for it at the academy to validate out of a class. Will this affect me in any way by having a low or failing grade in this class for the last nine week grading period? considering i have done good in all of my previous math classes and the earlier grading periods for this particular class.

Don't fail or get a bad grade... =P That would show that you are going to slack off...

Just keep working like you have in the past. Bring that grade up from your slacking. If you have an appointment already, DON'T DO ANYTHING TO RISK IT!

Just my 2 cents.
 
Don't fail or get a bad grade... =P That would show that you are going to slack off...

Just keep working like you have in the past. Bring that grade up from your slacking. If you have an appointment already, DON'T DO ANYTHING TO RISK IT!

Just my 2 cents.

THIS IS A DEAD-ON ACCURATE STATEMENT!!! :thumb:

Do NOTHING to jeopardize your appointment.
:hammer:
Slack off?

You can "afford" senior-itis the moment you walk across the stage and move the tassel from the one side of your cap to the other.

NOT BEFORE!!! :hammer:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Last edited:
I turn 21 next week, and most of my friends back home in Chicago are not 21. When I go home on leave, I am NOT providing to minors, because if (when, rather) I get caught, my commander can take away my appointment (if USAFA doesn't take it away first). =P

You grades aren't the only thing to jeopardize your appointment. Don't go out and get drunk underage, don't do something stupid and get a major injury, and for the love of god, don't get anyone (or yourself for the females reading) pregnant!
 
THIS IS A DEAD-ON ACCURATE STATEMENT!!! :thumb:

Do NOTHING to jeopardize your appointment.
:hammer:
Slack off?

You can "afford" senior-itis the moment you walk across the stage and move the tassel from the one side of your cap to the other.

NOT BEFORE!!! :hammer:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

Hi there! I'm back after a two-week break and of course I have a question right away....:smile: Assuming the stat that I have read numerous times on this forum is correct "appx. 30% of an incoming class is made up of non high school seniors ie prep/college/etc."......of that 30% group, what percent of THAT group typically receives an LOA? Thanks!
 
Hi there! I'm back after a two-week break and of course I have a question right away....:smile: Assuming the stat that I have read numerous times on this forum is correct "appx. 30% of an incoming class is made up of non high school seniors ie prep/college/etc."......of that 30% group, what percent of THAT group typically receives an LOA? Thanks!

Actually, that would be very few; if any. All non-high school applicants are handled differently. The overwhelming majority of the ones you're speaking of are prep-schoolers. There's no reason to give an LOA. An loa is the academy's version of "Early Acceptance". Colleges use this as a way to entice an individual who is definitely qualified. Usually qualified to the point where they can choose just about any school they want and will get it. Approximately 75-80% of prep-schoolers will receive an appointment. They don't need to give them an LOA. Same with college entrees. All of these students/applicants are usually on their 2nd year of applying. The academies have no need to schmooze them. It's the 17-18 year old senior who's getting offers from just about any place they apply to, that the academy wants to give LOA's to.
 
Darn....I like to be schmoozed! I guess what I may be confusing is on one of these threads there are current college freshmen talking about getting a letter of "conditional appointment" based on maintaining grades etc etc. Is "conditional appt" the "LOA" for the reapplyers? Or am I confused and need to go back on vacation?
 
All appointments are conditional, including those appointments given to folks who reciever an LOA. As CC said, the LOA is like early entry, it says you will get an appointment if you receive a nomination. That appointment will be given with same "conditional" clause.
 
Thank you, ElSib. I should have been more clear with my question. I realize that the situations you refer to above are all conditional. My question is actually: is it possible for a "regular college freshman" candidate to receive an LOA or are those only for prep/falcon/high school applicants. Thanks.
 
Thank you, ElSib. I should have been more clear with my question. I realize that the situations you refer to above are all conditional. My question is actually: is it possible for a "regular college freshman" candidate to receive an LOA or are those only for prep/falcon/high school applicants. Thanks.

Again; it would be extremely rare to see a prep/falcon applicant with an LOA. These individuals had to have applied the previous year for the academy. "You can't apply to the prep schools. You apply to the academy, and THEY decide you're not quite ready for the academy and MAY OFFER you the prep school". So basically, they already have you interested, or you wouldn't have accepted the prep-school.

An LOA is a "LETTER OF ASSURANCE". It means, "We ASSURE YOU, that if you finish your application, get a nomination, pass your DODMRB, and are qualified, that you WILL receive an appointment". You aren't competing with anyone else for the MOC's slot or any other slot. You have been "ASSURED" (Guaranteed) an appointment.

Is it possible for a college student who is applying to the academy to get an LOA? Yes; just rare. If that individual was the best of the best in high school, is kicking butt in college, is the well rounded applicant who is pulling this off while still involved with sports and other extra curricular activities, etc... Then yes, it's possible for the college student applying to the academy to get an LOA.

But honestly, you really need to not think about LOA. Even for the high school student applying, they are very rare. Somewhere in the 10% range. And even with an LOA, that doesn't mean you'll get the appointment, if you don't get a nomination, DODMRB, and are qualified. This season on this forum, we had an individual who unfortunately couldn't get the nomination. They had an LOA, but didn't receive the appointment.

And for what it's worth, it's not like an LOA is anything you can apply for, put in for, talk to someone about, be nominated for, etc... It's just something the academy decides. "We REALLY WANT this individual, and they are the type that MANY other colleges are going to want also. Lets give them an "Early Acceptance" so they might be motivated to come to the academy and not consider many of their other options". That's what an LOA is about.
 
That is exactly what I was asking and you have totally cleared this up for me. Thanks! I guess I was under the wrong impression that there were a LOT more than 10% LOA's. Thanks! On to senior prom/banquet/awards ceremony/baccaulaureate/convocation/prom/ and oh yea, graduation! LOL
 
Finals week=major anxiety.

When you said GPA would have to drop .2-.3 to have an appointment reconsidered...is that the cumulative GPA? the one shown/calculated by USAFA? Because online they never updated my GPA with my new semester grades (Unless for some reason they count a college 3.7 as a 3.4....:rolleyes:).

I mean realistically I'm guessing I'll get somewhere between a 3.3-3.5 for this semester. And online it still says for GPA I have a 3.4...which was my HS GPA.

idk I'm just nervous about this. If my appointment has to get reconsidered, will it probably get rejected since they have a lot of people accepting? gah geez this was just not my semester, honestly...:confused::confused::confused:
 
You're going to give yourself an ulcer. Just relax. The only way you're going to drop that badly on an overall gpa is if you fail a class. Do you plan on failing a class? Don't worry about it. Just do your best. That's all you can do. Why worry about things you can't control?
 
You're going to give yourself an ulcer. Just relax. The only way you're going to drop that badly on an overall gpa is if you fail a class. Do you plan on failing a class? Don't worry about it. Just do your best. That's all you can do. Why worry about things you can't control?
because it's finals week so I still feel like I have control, even though honestly all these exams are beyond me at this point...

so it is overall gpa? that would be a reliefff...and I have no plans on failing, just B/B+ range here :rolleyes:
 
My advice: start studying instead of stressing. If you can controll it, start controlling it instead of speculating on something that you will have no call on either way. It's the only thing that will help your situation. Also, my money is on your appointment not being reconsidered. Just... Start... Studying... Leave no doubt that you know the material. Some sleep before a test never hurts either :thumb: !
 
Back
Top