LOE & Overnight Invitation

Teragram

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So my DD opened her portal today and there was a LOE on the home page! It included an authorization to do an overnight visit. I have seen many posts about LOA's and know these are rare and often reserved for specific groups of candidates, but should we assume this is a good sign that her application has been reviewed by admissions and she is very competitive for an appointment if nomination is obtained? Also, if you receive a LOE does that mean you will not receive a LOA at some point or is it still a possibility as she continues to strengthen her file (taking SAT on Oct 1)?
 
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Congrats! An LOE means she is a strong, competitive candidate, it authorizes an overnight visit (which I strongly suggest your DD take), and encourages the candidate to finish his/her application. It doesn't hold the weight of an LOA (guaranteed appointment if 3Q), but it's a good indication West Point wants her. Have her schedule, then do the overnight. She'll have a better idea afterwards if West Point/the Army is what she wants. She can mention the LOE on her resume for the nomination application, and during the interview. She should consider herself competitive, but there's no way of knowing if she'll get an appointment even with 1 or more nominations -- sometimes it's just a numbers game.

My Cow received an LOE but didn't do the overnight because he had done SLE. I know they're two different things; those doing an overnight have different interactions with cadets than those that do SLE. My DS didn't do an additional overnight because of the cost.

Good luck!
 
Congrats! An LOE means she is a strong, competitive candidate, it authorizes an overnight visit (which I strongly suggest your DD take), and encourages the candidate to finish his/her application. It doesn't hold the weight of an LOA (guaranteed appointment if 3Q), but it's a good indication West Point wants her. Have her schedule, then do the overnight. She'll have a better idea afterwards if West Point/the Army is what she wants. She can mention the LOE on her resume for the nomination application, and during the interview. She should consider herself competitive, but there's no way of knowing if she'll get an appointment even with 1 or more nominations -- sometimes it's just a numbers game.

My Cow received an LOE but didn't do the overnight because he had done SLE. I know they're two different things; those doing an overnight have different interactions with cadets than those that do SLE. My DS didn't do an additional overnight because of the cost.

Good luck!
Thank you! DD also did SLE, but did a CVW at USNA so really wants to take advantage of overnight invite so she can have as much information and experience with both in order to make best decision if it comes down to choosing. Hopefully we can make it work. I will mention to her that she can add this to her resume for nominations (she is just finishing them up to mail for Oct 1 deadline) and to be sure to address in interviews. I appreciate any and all advice since this is my first time around with this process and some of the acronyms are like a foreign language :)
 
If its financially feasible for your family to send them to WP for an overnight, do so! Your DD will get a chance to follow a Cadet but more importantly she will have the opportunity to meet with an admissions official to discuss her file. For me, this is gold, because admissions will now see a face with the file. And that could make all the difference in the world

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Son was also offered a visit. He doesn't want to miss school but really wants to go and compare to USNA. He was at a CVW last week. Going to check with his teachers tomorrow about the week of Thanksgiving workload.
 
Son was also offered a visit. He doesn't want to miss school but really wants to go and compare to USNA. He was at a CVW last week. Going to check with his teachers tomorrow about the week of Thanksgiving workload.

If I understand you correctly, your DS wants to visit WP during Thanksgiving? That would be a very bad week and weekend. No body will be there, WP will be closed.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
On the link his RC sent it had an available overnight the Monday before. He really doesn't like missing school.

He wants to attend the classes. He went to SLE but he wanted to experience a bit during the academic year. He emailed his RC to clarify but wants to talk to his Calc and Physics teacher tomorrow about the workload. He missed 2 days last week already. He hasn't missed a day in HS up until last week.
 
On the link his RC sent it had an available overnight the Monday before. He really doesn't like missing school.

He wants to attend the classes. He went to SLE but he wanted to experience a bit during the academic year. He emailed his RC to clarify but wants to talk to his Calc and Physics teacher tomorrow about the workload. He missed 2 days last week already. He hasn't missed a day in HS up until last week.

The Cadets will be very stressed during that time because that will be a few days before TEEs and wanting to go home. He may/or may not have a good experience being a "drag" during that time depending on the Cadet that will be assigned to him. They usually have a list of Cadets will to take on a "drag", but the list could be thin during that time. Like I stated before, meeting with admissions would be huge.

I can empathize with your son limiting time away from school, however he needs to invest time for his transition and select a college that fits his needs for the future.

Push Hard, Press Forward

Your son is more than welcome to PM me.
 
Thanks Tug Boat. Son isn't a huge fan of online forums but I will let him know. I giggled last week when he said he was a drag. :)
 
If its financially feasible for your family to send them to WP for an overnight, do so! Your DD will get a chance to follow a Cadet but more importantly she will have the opportunity to meet with an admissions official to discuss her file. For me, this is gold, because admissions will now see a face with the file. And that could make all the difference in the world

Push Hard, Press Forward
I 100 percent agree. The overnight visit is and extremely valuable experience and perspective that you can only get by sharing a day with the host Cadet. My son knew WP was his destination when we picked him up the next morning.
 
The Cadets will be very stressed during that time because that will be a few days before TEEs and wanting to go home. He may/or may not have a good experience being a "drag" during that time depending on the Cadet that will be assigned to him. They usually have a list of Cadets will to take on a "drag", but the list could be thin during that time. Like I stated before, meeting with admissions would be huge.

I can empathize with your son limiting time away from school, however he needs to invest time for his transition and select a college that fits his needs for the future.

Push Hard, Press Forward

Your son is more than welcome to PM me.
My son is on the list to host a candidate. He still maintains a good friendship with his host last year, and his hosts roommates. There is kind of a legacy thing with that. Your host is called your dad, and the guy who was his host would be your grandpa. Lol.
 
@Love4monsters - If the RC says that the Monday of Thanksgiving week is available, then it is not inconvenient for the cadets.
TEEs are not until mid-December, and I doubt they would even be thinking about TEEs that week. They are probably thinking of being only a few days away from going home for Thanksgiving!
If the Monday before Thanksgiving works for your DS, and he wants to go and can go, then go! As others on this thread has said, it may help him decide if WP is for him as it will give him a truer sense of what being a cadet is like.
 
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Thanks Buff! He had conversation today with the RC. Working on the timing.

I agree about the visit. He was at SLE but being there during the academic year would be helpful. He was at USNA last week and enjoyed the classes. Son is looking forward to academic rigor which he certainly will get at either academy. He is a science/math aficionado.

A roller coaster ride is such an apt description of this process. However it turns out, proud of all these young leaders who desire something more.
 
Buff81 is correct. This is what happens when you're tired. TEEs=Term Ending Exams aren't until December before winter break. Cadets may have mid-terms before or after Thanksgiving

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Plebes in regular level history, math and English courses have an English essay due, a history essay due, and a wpr in math the 2 days before thanksgiving.

-1337BeachedWhale1337
 
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Son is looking forward to academic rigor which he certainly will get at either academy. He is a science/math aficionado.

However it turns out, proud of all these young leaders who desire something more.
I cannot speak for USNA, but at USMA the classes are not very rigorous at all. There's so many classes that we have to take that we don't really get to go in depth on the stuff we learn. I'm not saying it's easy, because it's not. Cadets at USMA are taking a lot more classes than at most other colleges and have other responsibilities as well. However, I don't think it's very accurate to call the curriculum here rigorous-at least in what I have experienced thus far. The AP classes I took in high school were much more in depth and difficult.

A free education at a fairly reputable school with gaurenteed employment afterwards is a hell of an offer. I don't think it takes someone desiring "something more" to choose this path if it is available to them.

-1337BeachedWhale1337
 
My Son had Appointments to USNA and USMA he visited USNA his Junior year, and then USMA then Did USNA one more time just to make sure. Point being...The visits were what helped him make a very important decision.

PS We visited VMI also but that is another story :)
 
TRAVEL:

Arrangements for a WP visit are a pain if he/she has to fly. Tip- The West Point Motel 156 Main St Highland Falls was very good about taking an underage guest , I did have to fax them a note accepting responsibility. Son said it was a clean and decent room, close cab ride and cheap.

It is almost impossible to fly in and get their early enough in the morning to report for your one day overnighter.

USNA- has a longer more liberal Drag policy (USE Southwest)
 
Thanks for all the help! He emailed the point of contact to arrange the visit. Yay! A good decision made for his future. He was a drag at USNA last week and loved it.
 
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