LOA questions

smj89

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
43
I know a lot of people don't receive LOA's so I don't want to sound full of myself or anything but I did find out the other day I have one from USAFA, and I'm still pretty nervous about an appointment. I was just wondering if anyone knows how likely it is to still not get an appointment. My first interview was terrible (USMA grad interviewed me), my 2nd was fantastic, and 3rd was pretty neutral. I'm just really nervous I won't get an appointment still. It's just hard to trust that I could actually get in because up until now it's been this 'fantasy' but now it could be reality.
 
Smj, congrats on the LOA, it's a step in the right direction. I'm assuming you are waiting on a nomination? If you land one of those and you are fully qualified, then you will receive an appointment. Good luck to you.
 
Smj, congrats on the LOA, it's a step in the right direction. I'm assuming you are waiting on a nomination? If you land one of those and you are fully qualified, then you will receive an appointment. Good luck to you.
Thank you! Yes, I am still waiting. TN historically doesn't let us know until the Jan. 31 deadline. I'm just nervous because I know LOA's are given to outstanding people and my application was honestly pretty average. I did not expect in the slightest to receive one, and I really thought receiving a nomination was like winning the lottery. I know it sounds contradictory since I have a LOA but I don't feel like I'm competitive enough for a nomination.
 
Thank you! Yes, I am still waiting. TN historically doesn't let us know until the Jan. 31 deadline. I'm just nervous because I know LOA's are given to outstanding people and my application was honestly pretty average. I did not expect in the slightest to receive one, and I really thought receiving a nomination was like winning the lottery. I know it sounds contradictory since I have a LOA but I don't feel like I'm competitive enough for a nomination.
Well, USAFA deems you competitive enough. And from what I gather on the forum, the Academy does inform your state MOCs about LOAs. Did they not mention it when you went for your interviews?
 
Well, USAFA deems you competitive enough. And from what I gather on the forum, the Academy does inform your state MOCs about LOAs. Did they not mention it when you went for your interviews?
I went for my interviews about a 1 1/2 months ago, and I reviewed my LOA about three days ago.
 
Your congressman or senator will be notified that the academy wants to give you an appointment......They should give you the nomination since they know it will be filled.
 
Your congressman or senator will be notified that the academy wants to give you an appointment......They should give you the nomination since they know it will be filled.
Thanks! It's a relief to here that. Are you at USAFA now?
 
Your congressman or senator will be notified that the academy wants to give you an appointment......They should give you the nomination since they know it will be filled.
We all would like to think that they should give you a NOM, but you can read here on the forum that it is not a guarantee as some MOC do not. And there have been some cases of candidates having an LOA and not receiving a NOM, although rare. Even so, there are other places the NOM can be found by the NOM gods, but no one is privy to how all that works.

I would try not to worry about it...you have done all you can. Now you just have to wait and let it all sort out. Sometimes I think the waiting is harder than submitting the app.
 
No problem and yes I am!
Looking back, do you think you made the right choice? Academically, is it manageable or do you loose your mind with calculus and science ? I'm just trying to understand the magnitude of the difficulty. Sorry for all the questions but you know more than I do!
 
We all would like to think that they should give you a NOM, but you can read here on the forum that it is not a guarantee as some MOC do not. And there have been some cases of candidates having an LOA and not receiving a NOM, although rare. Even so, there are other places the NOM can be found by the NOM gods, but no one is privy to how all that works.

I would try not to worry about it...you have done all you can. Now you just have to wait and let it all sort out. Sometimes I think the waiting is harder than submitting the app.
Thank you! I'll say a prayer to the nom gods to help me out! You're right all I can do now is wait.
 
Looking back, do you think you made the right choice? Academically, is it manageable or do you loose your mind with calculus and science ? I'm just trying to understand the magnitude of the difficulty. Sorry for all the questions but you know more than I do!

The academy is very difficult, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I personally love the place even as a freshman. The instructors are awesome and the resources you will have to access to are simply unbeatable. In addition to the academics, the friendships that you develop will last a lifetime.........This semester I tested into Calc II and Chem 110 (our higher level chem class) so I had a somewhat difficult schedule. Calc II was hard for me, but I got through it (first time I was happy with a C) and made Dean's list this semester.
 
We all would like to think that they should give you a NOM, but you can read here on the forum that it is not a guarantee as some MOC do not. And there have been some cases of candidates having an LOA and not receiving a NOM, although rare. Even so, there are other places the NOM can be found by the NOM gods, but no one is privy to how all that works.

I would try not to worry about it...you have done all you can. Now you just have to wait and let it all sort out. Sometimes I think the waiting is harder than submitting the app.

LOAs are usually based on what's on your application. Sometime, BGO/FFR/ALO interview is done before the LOA is sent out.

Most nomination processes involve interviews and in rare cases where an outstanding candidate is not given a nomination is usually self inflicted. Having served on several nomination panels, I can say that although I don't expect candidates to tell us that they want make a career out of the military, I expect candidates to understand that when they graduate from a SA, they will become a military officer and lead our soldiers/airmen/sailors/Marines.
 
@smj89 - You might want to follow up with the MOC offices to make sure they know you have an LOA. Personally I never rely on bureaucracy to complete anything. I always follow up.

I expect first semester will be one of the toughest challenges you've faced to date. I hardly think you will lose your mind though.
 
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