Are LOAs still possible

Hey!

I completed my application today for West Point. I see all these people getting LOA's on the various forums. I was just wondering, are LOAs still being given out? Did I finish at an acceptable time also? Thanks.

USMAalltheway

I'd say they're definitely still possible. Now if you said your application had been complete for two months, then I'd probably say that unless you recently added major changes (increased your ACT from 25 to 32 or similar!), then no, your file was probably already looked at. But if it's just complete now, I believe they continue to look at files for potential LOA's until nominations are complete (and they they're just looking at appointments instead)! Good luck!

I just got an LOA a few days ago and saw it for the first time today upon returning from a visit I made at the naval academy. There is still hope! Best of luck to you!

LoA's are still going out. I just got one two days ago.

LOA received today!!!

If my application was finished just last week (I was waiting on a teacher rec) will it still be considered for LOA. I know an apointment is the ultimate goal, just antsy!

I just read a post from January 2009. An applicant had seen several classmates receive LOA's. He felt his grades, leadership, etc were much higher. To make a long story short, he never got the LOA but did get an appointment in January 2009. This begs the questions, how important are LOA's?

11BRAVO said:

I just read a post from January 2009. An applicant had seen several classmates receive LOA's. He felt his grades, leadership, etc were much higher. To make a long story short, he never got the LOA but did get an appointment in January 2009. This begs the questions, how important are LOA's?

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I've been wondering that myself. On what basis are LOAs given out, exactly?
Just how important are they to the admissions process?
Surely the slots aren't ALL filled by LOA recipients. In fact, I'd wager the majority of people who get appointments never received a LOA.
But the question remains, what does one have to do to get one?

linkgmr said:

I've been wondering that myself. On what basis are LOAs given out, exactly?
Just how important are they to the admissions process?
Surely the slots aren't ALL filled by LOA recipients. In fact, I'd wager the majority of people who get appointments never received a LOA.
But the question remains, what does one have to do to get one?

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Only a small percentage of Appointees receive LOA, most are directly appointed around March.

There is no clear cut way to get one, if there was a secret to getting into a service academy then it wouldn't be hard to get in. The requirements for LOA probably change year to year based on what the academy wants.

Bravo, the way the academy weighs things is a secret. You may look at the grades and thing they are better but for all we know they may weigh certain classes differently. They could also grade leadership differently. The essays and recommendation letters probably played a role as well.

are just people with LOA's AND nominations being accepted right off the bat? making it typical for acceptances for people without LOAs to come in jan-march? or does USMA review your file and send their response once you revieve a MOC nomination?

This has been answered several times recently, but of course looking for the last 15 minutes I couldn't find any of the threads!

Basically, an LOA means that if you a nomination - ANY nomination - that you will receive an appointment (pending medical approval of course). That's why so many people are so excited to get one - it's kind of a way of doing the routine backwards! As long as you make the list of 10 on your MOC (Member of Congress)'s slate, with an LOA, you will get in.

However, the more normal way works in reverse. The congressman submits his 10 names, and if it's a competitive slate (ie. he just lists the 10 names and lets the academy choose who they believe is best), then it takes a long time because the academy CAN'T decide which of those 10 is the best until all 10 applications are complete and they compare them to one another. Since the applications aren't due until late Feb/beginning of March, even if you get a nomination and have everything in your application done already now, you won't get the appointment until all 9 of the other people on that slate are also done. And then you have to be the best of the 10, whereas with the LOA, just any of the 10.

Now if the MOC ranks their slate in order, and/or declares a "Principal" nomination (ie chooses someone as number 1), then by law, if that person is qualified, the academy has to offer them an appointment. It won't go on to anyone else unless they decline it (or aren't qualified). So you'd need to find out how your MOC ranks. Many do competitive. A lot of times if they do principal and you ARE the principal, they will tell you, but may not otherwise.

So in answer to your question, without an LOA or a principal nomination, the odds are that you won't hear anything until March (unless everyone on your slate is on the ball!). And even then, unless you're number one in the academy's eyes (and thus offered the appointment at that point), you still may be waiting while they see if #1 turns it down, or if you can get a slot from the wait list or somewhere else. So it's unlikely that you'd get a "no" response (rejection letter) anytime soon unless it was obvious that you were clearly unqualified (not likely if you got a nom anyways!).

Good luck!

thanks for such a thorough answer! i completed my application last weekend so unless the other 9 all have completed it early as recommended, sounds like i'll be going through the excruciating wait until march

This sounds like solid information. But why are LOA's sent out? I have heard they are primarily for applicants who may be making some special contribution to the academy, maybe an athlete who was recruited.

Here's a quote from Christcorp on the AFA boards, but it probably applies similarly:

Christcorp said:

LOA's are usually given to those that I call, for lack of a better term, the "No Brainers Club". In other words, traditionally, their overall score is so high, that no matter what the other applicants do, they are going to get an appointment. They give the LOA as a way to "SCHMOOZE" them into being excited and not applying to another school or academy. But LOA's are very rare. This is a forum; where about 1% of all applicants visit. Whether you see/read/hear a lot of people getting or not getting an LOA on this forum, is not indicative of any meaningful statistic. You could get an LOA; or not. You can get an appointment in Feb, Mar, April, may, or June. There are no hard set rules for this.

Not trying to discourage you. On the contrary. I'm trying to make sure you aren't discouraged if in the weeks and months to come, if you don't hear anything, that you don't become discouraged and think you aren't getting an appointment. 80-90% of all cadets didn't get an LOA.

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I had responded to your other post about LOA's. As I said there, my son knows 3 other boys from Summer Seminar with them to WP. I didn't mention, however, that none of them are recruited athletes or minorities. All just very strong applicants. However, my son is as well, and received LOA's from Navy and AF, and not WP. Who knows why?

I had believed before this year started that probably LOA's were mostly reserved for athletes. From the many kids he knows (he attended 3 different summer seminars), it seems like the athletes don't even really get them - more just a verbal assurance of an appointment from their coach (unless of course they qualify for them even without the IC "bonus" thrown in). We were very surprised (and relieved) when my son got his first LOA (from Navy), since he isn't recruited.

But overall, I think Christcorp said it best above - they're a recruiting tool designed to entice top applicants into focusing on their school (academy). Similar to the early admissions at civilian colleges.

The picture is becoming less cloudy.

LOA's are still being sent out. I got one yesterday dated the 25th of November.

Although I had been in contact with my Admissions Officer at West Point, and already knew that I would probably be getting an LOA soon, it was nice to finally get that letter!

I had finished my application completely with CFA on 2 Oct., but needed to have a teacher email admissions about something, which was probably why it took so long.

Good Luck to everyone still waiting!!!

M19