SLE Denial

maxd950729

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Jan 24, 2016
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So my application was rejected for the SLE for the class of 2021. I have read threads saying that it doesn't have any affect on your application but other threads have said that 60% of the kids who attend get an appointment. Can someone elaborate on this? It seems like I will be at a disadvantage when the real application starts this in June.
Thanks
 
Nope don't worry about it. Really a marketing tool for the academies. But now your app is started early and you have a feel for what kinds of questions will be asked etc..
 
It has no effect on your application. That is what was told to me by the regional commander for the Southeast region.

However the 60% figure you are talking about is more like 50% and instead indicates a correlation.

It does not mean you are out of the running though. To select for SLE the academy isn't as limited as they will be when selecting for admissions. Mostly because of the nomination system and how that works.

So don't lose hope yet and keep pushing yourself to improve and finish the application when it opens up.
 
My USMA grad had zero interest in SLE and didn't bother to apply. He went to Boys' State and did other things with his summer.
 
You don't get any WCS points for attending SLE. That's what folks mean when they say that it doesn't affect your application. It's just that the candidates that apply are competitive candidates. It does not mean that you are not competitive. SLE offers are not made to just the top candidates. There is somewhat of a geographical distribution of offers. They don't want all SLE attendees coming from VA or TX, for example. They want folks from all over the country. They also want to invite candidates that could help them reach their class composition goals.
Don't fret about it. See if you can go to Boy's State. That would help your file, not SLE.
 
My DS did not apply and therefore did not get selected for SLE. He is currently a plebe. My DD attended NASS and is a 2/c at Navy. Do not worry about it. It you think about it all those who attend SLE have a strong interests in WP. There will be some that will decide WP is not for them after attending SLE. Some will decide not to apply to any SA's. Others will apply to NAVY and/or USAF and possibly get an appointment there. There will be those that attend SLE and apply to WP but fail to get an appointment. You would expect a large number of them to get appointment because they are among the group most likely to see the process through to the end. I believe about 1000 attend the program. 60% of that is 600 which is roughly half the class size of recent classes. So another 600 spots are up for grabs.
 
Yeah I got accepted to Boys State and plan on attending. I knew it was good for my application but I didn't know that it would be better than the SLE for my file.
 
I was denied SLE and did not attend Boys State but I still received an appointment.
My advice would be to fill your application up with leadership positions and be able to write about those experiences. Also keep up your grades and do well on the ACT and/or SAT.

This is nowhere near the end of the road for you, rather, it's just the beginning.
 
Our cadet did not go to SLE and never heard of Boys State. As others have said, SLE has no bearing on your application. No worries.
 
Neither my cadet nor my grad attended (or applied) for SLE or Boys' State. The summer before senior year was spent working and traveling.
 
I was denied SLE at first, got a call back (but was already going to NASS and girls state), and then finished my application in August and received an LOA on September 3 this past year. Don't think too much into it!
 
I didn't even apply for SLE and am pretty sure I would have been denied but yet I still got an LOA and appointment. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
My son was too late to apply for SLE by the time he decided he wanted to attend a service academy, and therefore never did it. He was assured by many at WP that SLE doesn't help or hurt a candidates application.

If you want a predictor of your chance at admission to WP, I would look to two things; the class profile of prior WP classes, and the relative competitiveness of your congressional district and your state. You want to be above the curve nationally, but most important, you want to be at the top in your district, because that is your competition. The problem with that is that it is difficult to determine the relative strength of your in-district competition.

Here is a secret (and don't tell anyone else): attend a WP admissions briefing, which are conducted daily I believe. Make sure it is far enough down the road that most if not all of the applications are already submitted. At the end of the briefing and tour, ask to speak with the RC who is on duty that day (who probably conducted the briefing). That may or may not be the Regional Commander for your region (you could theoretically call and ask, if you wanted to plan your visit on a day your RC is there). When you meet, ask to go over your application, and ask what you need to be at the top of your district. We did this twice, and both times, with two different RC's, we got a very good analysis of the competition, including a lot of specifics about the person or two who made up the real bonafide competition. My son was also told exactly what scores and other things he needed to achieve in order to beat the others, including ACT, CFA, and athletic accomplishments.

WP is way more up front about that than USNA or USAFA, and the RC's road mapped everything very clearly. The briefing and tour were excellent too.
 
Yeah I got accepted to Boys State and plan on attending. I knew it was good for my application but I didn't know that it would be better than the SLE for my file.
Boys State is definitely something you want to attend. If you could do both, great, but if you have a schedule conflict, go to Boys State. My son desperately wanted to get into one service academy's summer program and got denied, but ended up with an LOA and an appointment. He was accepted into another academy's summer program and attended, but got rejected for an appointment. Obviously it has no bearing on getting an appointment. What it does is give you an idea of what academy life is like.
 
Much like the posts by LFK1998 and VelveteenR, I did not attend SLE and had never heard of Boy's State until this past fall and I still received an appointment. Don't worry about it, just keep sight of the goal and you'll be fine!
 
2018 DS did not apply to SLE and therefore and did not go. 2019 applied to SLE and was accepted to both that and boys state. After recommendation by his RC - he chose to attend SLE over Boys State and had a GREAT experience! So not necessary for some - great experience for others - good for those who are wondering if West Point is for them...
 
Spend your summer studying for SAT or ACT, top score will prob help you get a higher WCS....not SLE:)
 
My son didn't apply to SLE until just before the applications closed. He did not get in but he has received an appointment to West Point. I wouldn't stress it.
 
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