Letter from academy admissions

John41057

5-Year Member
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Oct 4, 2012
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My DS received a letter from the Director of Admissions today. It would appear that he is moving up the food chain toward a possible LOA. What is your take on this letter? Is this a letter that all applicants get as they progress? This is just the main topic.......
Regards
John

Congratulations! Based on a review of your academic and extracurricular record, the Office of Admissions believes that you have the potential to be a successful cadet at the United States Air Force Academy and become an Air Force officer of character. Accordingly, I plan to recommend you to the Academy Board for an offer of appointment contingent upon receipt and satisfactory completion of your remaining admissions requirements.
 
Hi
You may be right, when I spoke to admissions today I asked if any LOA had been sent out? The person said no and that they did not know if any would be going out. Perhaps as the class size is being so reduced and the candidate pool of such high quality, they are going to stop sending out LOA. I do thank it would help with plan B planning.....
Regards
John
 
Just to reiterate...

This cycle, there will be LOA's for highly recruited athlete's...and there "MAY" be "a very few" LOA's for the exceptional (and I mean like ROCK STAR AMAZING) students...but that's REALLY a small number.

The class will be smaller than 2016 according to the last meeting I had with admissions folks. Think 1,000 and a couple extra. Remember, 2016 was "tagged" with 1,037 originally. This class will probably be smaller but still over 1,000.

DO NOT WORRY OR COUNT ON AN LOA!!!

And always have Plan B working!!! :thumb:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
highly recruited athlete

HI
Thanks for the information as this is all new to me. My DS is a highly recruited athlete and it would be nice to get the LOA in hand. His coach has pulled out all the stops to get him. So assuming coaches can get their 1st round pick, all will work out in the end.
Regards
John
 
Ahh, the coveted blue-chipped athlete slot. Make sure your DS keeps up his grades, his sports, and all those ECs. AND, does his best at the nomination interviews.

My one son got his on his 18th birthday; son #2, with almost identical stats, not till spring.

Now, don't go nuts, but do have plan B firmly in hand.

and best of luck!
 
Bluechip athlete

Hi
Thanks, but in reality all of our eggs are in the academy basket. My DS has been offered a team slot since the end of his Sophomore year and has worked hard to meet all the requirements. He has done so and coach has confirmed the academy will be offering him a slot in the 2017 class and I will take him at his word. I am not sure how the coach thing works, but if coach gets one player for sure he said it will be my DS. Only helped with possible acceptance not with meeting all the other requirements. DS has worked above and beyond, as do all academy hopefuls.
Regards
John
 
Blue Chip Athlete

Hi John, I agree with the previous posters here.

Your son should definitely have a plan B and C. You see, it doesn't always work out the way you plan and it would truly be a tragedy if your son was left at the alter without a good backup plan. I am here to tell you that it does happen that things don't come together as planned.

My son was a recruited athlete, official visit, football game, weekend stay, went to classes and was so looking forward to his SA years and he was left at the alter with no reason given other than "try again next year". He was told by his liaison once he was funneled back to him at the end of the cycle that he would have likely gotten in on his own if he hadn't been put in the recruited athlete pool and therefore generally overlooked for regular admission. Over 2000 SAT, tons of EC, capt., youth fundraising coordinator for walk for life, etc.

The point of this post is just to make you aware of circumstances that do happen in this process and to make sure that your son is in the best possible position to succeed in his college career, wherever that takes him.

Fritz
 
Fritz, did your son have an LOA in hand? I do understand that there are many things that can go wrong along the way, hence the need for plan B.
 
Hi Son, that sounds funny on it's own. :)

No, he did not have an LOA, just the often given verbal commitment and chase that culminated in serious disappointment for my son. Hence the post to try offer the OP a cautious view of not having a backup plan.

Fritz
 
My son is supposed to receive his LOA from USAFA next week, informed by coach that it went through the board. He will pass on other offers after receiving it (plan B's). Just hoping the LOA means it is very likely he will be able to serve at USAFA, since he will let other LOAs and Scholarships go - hence his backup winds up being his plan E. Very excited though, he really liked the school, team, and wants to fly/serve in the AF.
 
I agree with the previous posters that having and keeping a Plan B alive is just good common sense. My son was a recruited athlete and had all the grades and EC's as well. It worked out for him (and continuous to work...he's class of 2016) however I'll share a little story.

On our recruiting visit to the academy, I met a another recruit and this was his second go around. He was all but assured of a slot by the coach, yet the slot never materialized. He went to another college for a year and then tried again. This time, both USAFA and West Point came through with offers. He chose West Point.

I never fully appreciated just how competitive it was getting into a SA until I went through this process with my son. And even after he received his acceptance, there was a fair amount of uncertainty on whether was what he wanted. Looking back, he knows it was the best choice. But as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20!

Best of luck to you.
 
Hi
Thanks, but in reality all of our eggs are in the academy basket. My DS has been offered a team slot since the end of his Sophomore year and has worked hard to meet all the requirements. He has done so and coach has confirmed the academy will be offering him a slot in the 2017 class and I will take him at his word. I am not sure how the coach thing works, but if coach gets one player for sure he said it will be my DS. Only helped with possible acceptance not with meeting all the other requirements. DS has worked above and beyond, as do all academy hopefuls.
Regards
John

My experience comes from a different angle. I am a high school teacher. I had a student who was a 4-year varsity letterman, All-Conference 3 years, All-Academic team all 4 years in my AP Calculus class. The student was being recruited heavily by USAFA, but did not receive an LOA. He was told to complete the application process and the coach would take care of the rest. He did what the coach told him to do (to the maximum) and he is now the class of 2016.

If the coach tells you that he/she wants you, ask them exactly what they want you to do. The process may be a bit different for a recruited athlete, but the coaches will be up front about what you are required to do. maintain contact with the coach to make sure you are still on their radar.

I know some people cry 'foul' when the process is different for recruited athletes (ICs), but the student I mentioned above would probably have gotten in without being a recruited athlete anyway. High ACTs, active involvement in school activities, and a person of impeccable character.

Best wishes to your DS. If the coach has offered him a slot, I'm fairly certain that USAFA coaches have the integrity to be truthful with you. Ask them straight up what their plan is regarding your DS. That being said, injuries do happen. Make sure that you have a plan B, too.

Best wishes. :thumb:
 
Recruited athletes

Hi
Thanks for the follow up information as it helps in so many ways. The AF coach has always been up front with my DS on what was expected of him if he wanted a chance at getting into the academy (no waiver on expectations regardless of ability). Once my DS got his grades where they needed to be (5 college classes all A) outside of high school due to poor attention freshman and sophomore year then ACT above USAFA requirements. The coach told DS he had confirmed with admissions and athletic department admission that he would be offered an appointment. Coach also informed DS that he had turned in the paperwork required to get my DS as his #1 pick for the team in the 2017 class. I will say after being around this coach and speaking to other parents who have worked with him. In my heart I expect it all to work out as promised. That being said, you are all right, there should be a plan B as anything is possible, including senior year injury.
Regards
John
 
My DS received a letter from the Director of Admissions today. It would appear that he is moving up the food chain toward a possible LOA. What is your take on this letter? Is this a letter that all applicants get as they progress? This is just the main topic.......
Regards
John

Congratulations! Based on a review of your academic and extracurricular record, the Office of Admissions believes that you have the potential to be a successful cadet at the United States Air Force Academy and become an Air Force officer of character. Accordingly, I plan to recommend you to the Academy Board for an offer of appointment contingent upon receipt and satisfactory completion of your remaining admissions requirements.

What sport does your DS participate in?
 
Another possibility which we have seen here is the injury or illness which can happen at BCT - and lots of plan B's stay in place till the beginning of the academic year.

Good luck!
 
Another possibility which we have seen here is the injury or illness which can happen at BCT - and lots of plan B's stay in place till the beginning of the academic year.

Good luck!
Smart.:thumb: In our case, plan B wasn't set free until August 8th (Acceptance day).
 
This showed up today on DS Online Application Status page.

IMPORTANT NOTE – As the USAF Academy begins the process of appointing students to the Class of 2017, our Academy Board has begun making early offers of appointment. However, these offers are extremely limited with the majority of offers of appointment to the Academy being made during the month of March for candidates who have completed all phases of the application process. If you have questions on your status, please contact your Admissions counselor.
 
Be advised also, last year, albeit later than this ( I think March), they limited the amount of time, after appointments were sent, that you could accept. If the deadline passed and you had not responded the appointment went to the next in line. They did spell this out on the portal and I am sure in the packets that were sent. Just want all of those lurking to know this. Good luck to all those in the Class of 2017 and those waiting to hear. It is a long road, be patient.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE – As the USAF Academy begins the process of appointing students to the Class of 2017, our Academy Board has begun making early offers of appointment. However, these offers are extremely limited with the majority of offers of appointment to the Academy being made during the month of March for candidates who have completed all phases of the application process. If you have questions on your status, please contact your Admissions counselor.

John41057 -

I saw the same note on my DD's Online Application Status page. Above this note next to "Your Status:" is "Candidate". Does your DS status also show Candidate or given his status as an athlete does it say something else (e.g., "Appointee")?
 
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