LOA - How, Why and When?

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informe

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Hi
I have been reading about the LOA for the few lucky ones. A few questions about LOA. I know that they start coming from September onwards. But what prompts such an offer?

Do you have to complete all sections of the application including CFA, BGO interview, Medical before a LOA is offered?

Or if you complete certain portions of the application then you will be evaluated/offered a LOA? [Based on previous posts I gather that you do not have to have passed medical or have a MOC appointment to get this, since the LOAs were offered contingent on these items].

But what other portions of the application [minimum] have to be completed to be considered for a LOA?

Thanks for the info.
 
The answer is it depends. However, you should assume you will not get an LOA and complete the application, as such. If an LOA comes, it comes -- if it doesn't, then it doesn't. Your focus should be on submitting your best record to compete for an appointment.
 
Even if you get an LOA you still must complete all items listed on it to include securing a Nom. We hear every year of a few candidates with LOAs who do not secure Noms. Do not assume that USNA will find you one.
 
Thank you to both of you for the answers.
But my question is, based on past experience will the LOA be offered to select candidates who have completed "all" items in the check list or if they have completed certain items then they will be considered for loa?

Just curious to know if any has an answer?
 
Would a candidate who completed all required forms receive an LOA, or a candidate that still requires some forms completed such as the CFA and teacher recommendations?
 
An LOA is could be compared to a conditional offer of appointment. I believe the LOA is based mainly on academic qualifications. An LOA basically says that you will receive an appointment id you pass the CFA, receive medical qualification, and receive a nomination. The purpose of an LOA is two-fold. Admissions figured out over the years that the cream of the crop of their applicant class usually is applying/getting accepted to other high-caliber schools such as MIT, the Ivies, Stanford, etc. Their thinking is that it if they offer a conditional acceptance, they are less likely to lose that great candidate. It also encourages LOA recipients to complete the rest of the application because completion means acceptance.

Side note: An LOA is a great thing to have (some have nicknamed it the Golden Ticket, the other being a Principal Nomination). Your goal is not to get an LOA, it is to get an appointment. If you are the last person appointed, good for you! It doesn't matter at the end of the day. Also, LOA recipients in your district are actually a good thing. They make slates less competitive. LOA recipients aren't charged to their MOC because they just have be on the slate. If one is a slate of 10 and 2 of those 10 have LOA's, you only have to compete against 7 other people for the slate.
 
They can be offered at any point. If you have things missing from your file then they will be noted on your LOA as required to be completed along with securing a Nom.
 
So as UsNavy2019 says perhaps it is based on academic credentials rather than completing the application at the time of offer? In some ways this makes sense but who knows? Thanks USMAROTCFamily and Navy Hoops.
 
The bottom line is an LOA is nice but it isn't the finish line. It is not an appointment. As we have stated before, there are a few folks every year with LOAs that either don't get a nom or are not 3Q for some reason (CFA or medical). The goal is an appointment. If an LOA arrives great, but that doesn't mean you can stop.
 
My son received an LOA in early February that stated it was conditional upon him being medically qualified. He had started the DoDMERB process and was disqualified with a waiver pending when the letter arrived.
 
So are those LOA candidates "walk on water" academics? like 2300-2400 SAT, 35-36ACT, class Valedictorians?
 
Majority of the time yes, but not always. We have seen candidates on this board with lower stats than that get LOAs. None of use really know the magic formula. So many factors can come into play such as diversity candidates too. And remember diversity can mean many things in the admissions process too.
 
My son wasn't a "walk on water" candidate. He was second in class, but only had a 30 on the ACT. However, we are from South Dakota, so he was only competing with candidates here who were interested in USNA. Luckily for him, most in South Dakota are interested in the nearby Air Force Academy. :) So, the pool wasn't as large as most face. I imagine most LOAs are given to candidates who help meet a need for the SA, such as athletes or those who help the class be diverse -- based on geography, ethnicity, gender, etc...
 
SDMom2019 said:
I imagine most LOAs are given to candidates who help meet a need for the SA, such as athletes or those who help the class be diverse -- based on geography, ethnicity, gender, etc...
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but I'm more inclined to say some...not most.
 
DS received an LOA in December of last year, contingent upon getting a nomination. The nomination and LOA crossed in the mail. He was not a recruited athlete but was a strong academic candidate (4.3 GPA, 35 ACT, all honors/AP curriculum). We are in Northern Virginia.

This thread actually helped answer a question I had a couple weeks ago - DS's USNA portal changed in July and showed, in addition to his MOC nomination, a "qualified alternate" entry. I understand now that with his LOA, he wouldn't need to be charged to his MOC (he just needed to be on the slate).

Still learning about this process even after going through it!
 
F15DOC said:
So are those LOA candidates "walk on water" academics? like 2300-2400 SAT, 35-36ACT, class Valedictorians?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say "walk on water" in every aspect. DS had only a 31 ACT and SAT was lower, he was Valedictorian but of a very, very small class of a college-prep school, he had all honors curriculum with a 3.97 unweighted GPA and 4.87 weighted, he had no AP's as school doesn't offer any, was elected to a high position at Boys State (did not go to Boys Nations), hadn't completed his Eagle Scout at time of application (but got it after appointment), 4 sport Varsity athlete, 3 sport team captain, 2-year All-State Baseball (not recruited and will not continue playing), got a leadership award at SAME Camp, worked as staff at Philmont Scout Camp and he did not have a stellar CFA. I believe he got in under the "Leadership" category. I would say he was a very well rounded, strong candidate, but I have definitely seen more stellar resumes.
 
LOA why? Because they want you to be at the academy for many different things ( athletics, academics, diversity, etc - not just all academics though) and they realize that Harvard, UPenn and every other top school wants you too. So they say, "We'll get you in as long as you finish and qualify for all the other requirements needed for an appointment (get nomination, pass DODMERB, get CFA done, etc.)"

LOA when? Anytime. Whenever they decide to give it to you. Look at the different incoming class threads and you will see kids get it very early and very late. Don't let getting that LOA be your goal, if it comes it comes.

LOA how? Usually you will either get a letter or they will update your portal with some type of correspondence. Or both.
 
Do both letters of recommendation have to be completed to be reviewed for a LOA? Or could one recommendation be turned in and the other still pending?
 
DS had all parts of his app done and submitted by sept 1. He needed the nomination from one of our congressmen which wouldn't come till after dec 1. He also needed a medical waiver (which you don't get unless they want you and even then it's not a sure thing). While he did not receive an LOA (and I was told it was because he needed 2 things....the nom and the waiver.) He received three nominations the first week of December and the call from Senator Sanders office regarding his appointment came on dec 13 (on our way to Army Navy). Then I wondered what we needed to do to get the waiver. To my surprise, the waiver was waiting in the mailbox on Monday! Sooooo....you may not receive an LOA but they may want you and process your application quickly. FYI....not a recruited athlete. Don't know how that plays into the process since he wasn't.
 
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