LOA Numbers

BReilly2017

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2016
Messages
21
Alright I have a real simple question that needs a straight forward answer if possible.

How many LOAs does the academy send out each year? I understand it may not be a set number so if someone knows the average that would also be good.

I have heard from a regional BGO coordinator that it is between 200 and 250. This was said during an information briefing.

On the other hand, during my BGO interview I was told that only around 80 to 100 are given out.

That was my only question. If others have LOA questions feel free to ask them here. Hopefully if there are enough posts it will attract the attention of a BGO or moderator that can answer further questions.
 
What are you looking for in the numbers?

I am a candidate for 2021 and was just wondering what percentile a candidate might have to be in order to receive an LOA.

An individual from my school received a LOA and is a plebe right now. I was able to talk to her this weekend as they were given back their phones for parents weekend. She was very gracious in answering some of my questions.

When she started asking how my academics we're, she said I was right where she was at the end of junior year. I had a 4.0 taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (equivalent of taking all AP classes or hardest curriculum at a school). The only area where I didn't compare directly to her academically was that she scored just under a 2300 on the SAT where as I scored a 34 on math and 32 on English taking the ACT. Despite that slight disparity, I will be an Eagle Scout come mid-September, have been a varsity swimmer since freshman year, and did well on my CFA at NASS (74ft basketball throw, max pull-ups, 8.4sec shuttle run, max sit-ups, max push-ups, and 5:32 mile).

So essentially I'm doing everything I can to score high enough on the admissions board's ranking to receive an LOA.
 
There might have been other factors that she may have had that you don't have. It's like compare apples to oranges. Her gender could have been a factor that triggered the LOA. Was she a recruited athlete? That could have been a factor. There could have been other factors that you don't know about.

Your goal is an appointment not an LOA.

Your stats are solid and arguably competitive, but comparing your stats to others is futile.
 
There might have been other factors that she may have had that you don't have. It's like compare apples to oranges. Her gender could have been a factor that triggered the LOA. Was she a recruited athlete? That could have been a factor. There could have been other factors that you don't know about.

Your goal is an appointment not an LOA.

Your stats are solid and arguably competitive, but comparing your stats to others is futile.

Yep I completely agree with your point about there probably being other factors in addition to her academics that led to her receiving an LOA.

To answer your question she was not a recruited athlete.

I don't see comparing my stats to others in the pursuit of an LOA and hopefully an appointment futile though.

Candidates that the academy sends LOAs are those who exemplify the characteristics they look for in a candidate (or are a recruited athlete). Therefore, If the individuals who receive an LOA are the best of the applicant pool, wouldn't striving to be better than the best, in the hope of an appointment, be a cause that is not futile?
 
LOA determinations are subjective. There are no specific stats, that if you meet or exceed, guarantees you an LOA. That is why comparing your stats is futile.
This process is long...appointments typically aren't handed out until late November or December (except for those with Presidential nominations) and possibly all the way until April. Trying to think about the chances of an LOA/appointment might only lead in bitterness and disappointment. Try to work on your other college applications, complete and enjoy your senior, hang out with friends, etc....do things to distract yourself...it honestly isn't worth to sit around and try to do probability with admissions.
 
Yep I completely agree with your point about there probably being other factors in addition to her academics that led to her receiving an LOA.

To answer your question she was not a recruited athlete.

I don't see comparing my stats to others in the pursuit of an LOA and hopefully an appointment futile though.

Candidates that the academy sends LOAs are those who exemplify the characteristics they look for in a candidate (or are a recruited athlete). Therefore, If the individuals who receive an LOA are the best of the applicant pool, wouldn't striving to be better than the best, in the hope of an appointment, be a cause that is not futile?

Believe me, I'm not trying to be confrontational or argumentative. This forum is trying to help candidates by sharing advice and lessons learned.

LOAs are rare and random, and not necessarily the best of the applicant pool.

But after reading this forum for a very long time, I've seen numerous people trying to compare themselves to others. There have been times candidates with clearly superior stats get rejected while others who you've would have assumed to be rejected get LOAs or appointments. There are a number of factors that may trigger an LOA or appointment offer other than your academics, sports and extracurriculars such as the following: underrepresented minority status, gender, underrepresented congressional district, candidate being the first person in the family going to college, enlistment record, 2nd or 3rd time applicant, etc. That's why comparing yourself to others is a waste of time and will cause unnecessary anxiety or unfounded confidence.

Given that you've already compared yourself with your former schoolmate, what good has done for you? Is there anything you can change in your application to make yourself get an LOA?

Listen, I will congratulate you if you get an LOA. That would be great. But, right now, your time is better spent getting the best possible application ready and securing your nomination source.

I honestly think that the Admissions Office did a disservice during NASS this summer. I was in the audience when my DS finished NASS and the head of the Admissions Office gave one of the NASS attendees an LOA. It was like the Golden Ticket to the Chocolate Factory, and everyone wanted it. I think she wanted to encourage people to finish their applications, but misled people in thinking that LOAs are easy to get or are common. They are neither. IMHO.
 
Alright, thanks for spending the time to reply to my posts everyone.

I really don't have anything else to ask or say at this moment. I guess I'll go back to playing the waiting game with admissions and hope for the best.
 
Alright, thanks for spending the time to reply to my posts everyone.

I really don't have anything else to ask or say at this moment. I guess I'll go back to playing the waiting game with admissions and hope for the best.

Best wishes to you. My son is in the same "boat."
 
You may think the LOA is the golden ticket. It isn't. Many with LOA still get rejection letters and have to go through medical or other reviews and that can be a nightmare. Concentrate on your application and don't worry about how many or who got one.
 
You may think the LOA is the golden ticket. It isn't. Many with LOA still get rejection letters and have to go through medical or other reviews and that can be a nightmare. Concentrate on your application and don't worry about how many or who got one.

Just saw DS for PPW and he assured me that nobody discusses the admissions process at all. Other than maybe knowing NAPS, Foundation and prior enlisted, nobody knows anything about the admissions in terms of whether someone had an LOA or got their acceptance in April. Don't sweat it.
 
BGO's don't know the process used by admissions to issue LOA's, so no one on this forum can really provide anything but hunches and guesses on this topic. Lots of older threads about LOA's and they all conclude the same thing.
 
Those with a NAPS or Prior Service roommate get the Golden Ticket in the Plebe year. They have been there done that for at least one year. NAPS kind of congregate together after Oath of Office on Stribling but after that they are great with their roommates.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top