2015 LOA's recieved

did the last wave of LOAs go out already? just wondering... i got notice from my MALO last week that i was in the running for one but have not received anything from admissions yet
 
jake s--TN07--16 July
AKH--VA11--23 July
caseyrc93--AZ?--16 July
hopeo19--OR05--20 July
jiu-jitsu girl--TN01--26 July
abeastlybeast--FL24--26 July
jonathanrwkelly--NY13--21 July
chattahoochie--GA03--26 July
BigNick--CA01--26 July
tallbutshort--CA17--16 July
WestTexasmom--TX19--16 July
GilmanCoach--WI07--21 July
mbets--NJ03--July 23
FBItomboy007--PA16--26 July
freedomtruck--NY20--26 July
ds of kendr--TN01--26 July
SD Academy Bound--SD--26 July
wang93--02 August
 
Last edited by a moderator:
oops sorry, forgot my state/district

jake s--TN07--16 July
AKH--VA11--23 July
caseyrc93--AZ?--16 July
hopeo19--OR05--20 July
jiu-jitsu girl--TN01--26 July
abeastlybeast--FL24--26 July
jonathanrwkelly--NY13--21 July
chattahoochie--GA03--26 July
BigNick--CA01--26 July
tallbutshort--CA17--16 July
WestTexasmom--TX19--16 July
GilmanCoach--WI07--21 July
mbets--NJ03--July 23
FBItomboy007--PA16--26 July
freedomtruck--NY20--26 July
ds of kendr--TN01--26 July
SD Academy Bound--SD--26 July
wang93--TX03--02 August
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My SAT was only 2100 but I think that was not the critial factor. I also had 4+ GPA, Captain of Varsity Football Team, Captain of Varsity Wrestling Team, President of Student Body, Boy's State, SLS, etc
 
My daughter is a bit disheartened she hasnt received an LOA, even though i keep stressing it isn't that big of a deal. Her SATs were 710/660/660. She has a 98 gpa with rigorous AP/Honors courses. Our school doesn't rank, but she will likely be right at top 10% cutoff. She is a 3 sport athlete, with 8 Varsity letters, and one captain. She is student council treasurer, and does model UN and has received a couple of signficiant academic awards/recognitions. She went to SLS and did pretty good on the CFA, easily above average in all areas i think and maxed or almost maxed a couple. She has already been medically qualified, and her entire file is complete with the only outstanding thing being her candidate statements which will be in within a week. Any ideas what kept her from gettting Loa? I am thinking her SATs weren't high enough? I know she could possbily still get one, but she was expecting to be in first wave, especially since we are from Maine so there are only a handful of kids in the entire state that apply.
 
GreyHogs, I suggest having your daughter contact her MALO or admissions through the portal. I have done so and asked for ways to improve my file and what has kept me from getting an LOA. In all likely hood it will be the SATs, it was with me and so I am taking the ACTs in September. It may not be the standardized tests that are holding her back. Her best bet is to ask admissions, this will show them that you are doing everything possible to gain an appointment. Good luck.
 
GreyHogs said:
My daughter is a bit disheartened she hasnt received an LOA, even though i keep stressing it isn't that big of a deal. Her SATs were 710/660/660. She has a 98 gpa with rigorous AP/Honors courses. Our school doesn't rank, but she will likely be right at top 10% cutoff. She is a 3 sport athlete, with 8 Varsity letters, and one captain. She is student council treasurer, and does model UN and has received a couple of signficiant academic awards/recognitions. She went to SLS and did pretty good on the CFA, easily above average in all areas i think and maxed or almost maxed a couple. She has already been medically qualified, and her entire file is complete with the only outstanding thing being her candidate statements which will be in within a week. Any ideas what kept her from gettting Loa? I am thinking her SATs weren't high enough? I know she could possbily still get one, but she was expecting to be in first wave, especially since we are from Maine so there are only a handful of kids in the entire state that apply.
Click to expand...

She sounds great! Those SAT scores are absolutely competitive. (You can check out the competitiveness of the scores for WP and other colleges on the College Board site.) Please remember that WP likes balanced candidates and SATs and grades aren't the whole package that they consider. I would think she should complete her candidate statements thoughtfully but lickety-split. She should carefully read the questions, think carefully about what she is saying and make her answers sincere to her. I truly believe it was the details in his recommendations (e.g., the teachers really knew him and saw potential in him) and the candidate statements that set our son apart. While I proofed his statements when he submitted them, I re-read them a few months later and was moved by the concepts he used and how he expressed his thoughts. Also, remind her to remember her audience and how her statements will impact them.

Another thought. . .Since she is athletic, has she been recruited? If not, contact the coach of her best sport and see if there is an interest. There are reasonably priced camps held so she can show her skills to the coaching staff. She can't be recruited unless they know about her.

Also, LOAs are not essential to an appointment and many, many appointees do not receive them. Our DS received one because WP does not participate in the sports college commitment process (I can't recall the formal name for that) and they did not want him to "jump ship" to another school. He wanted one because he had told the other schools he was no longer interested and needed some type of formal document to show WP continued to be interested in him. He didn't want to get down to the end and not have his first choice to come through for him.
 
I'd bet it's her SAT score that is keeping her from getting a letter of assurance, especially if that 710 is the writing score. But her scores are still very competitive for an appointment, even if they are on the low end for getting an LOA.
 
njdos92 & Grannie:

thanks for the comments/advice! We have been in touch with MALO, and he thinks she looks strong! She is a soccer player, and has been to the camp, and they've seen her play, but she is probably walk-on material and won't be considered to be 'recruited'. I know much of this is just a numbers game the way WP admissions works, and beyond that how you rank in your particular district etc. So, we'll just be patient I guess. Writing is her forte so i am confident her candidate statements will be good and is the reason she's not rushing them, although knows she should get them in soon. Once she does, her file will be absolutely complete.
 
tallbutshort said:
I'd bet it's her SAT score that is keeping her from getting a letter of assurance, especially if that 710 is the writing score. But her scores are still very competitive for an appointment, even if they are on the low end for getting an LOA.
Click to expand...

Well, her 710 was CR not writing...but probably would have been better to be MATH score given that it's west point. I know the scores are very solid, just maybe not quite high enough for the initial wave of LOAs. I heard that due to the error of admisions last year which ended up offering admissions to 1300+ cadets (whereas they are only congressionally approved for about 1100), they really had to ramp up their criteria this year to avoid the same...and especially held the early LOA candidates to higher standards than ever before....makes sense i suppose.
 
I know the scores are very solid, just maybe not quite high enough for the initial wave of LOAs.
Click to expand...
I would agree. This is why you often here - don't worry about the LOA, concentrate on the appointment!!
Have her go ahead and take the SAT's again. Concentrate on the Math and I bet she gets over 700. Her profile looks very very competitive. She should NOT be discouraged at all!

I heard that due to the error of admisions last year which ended up offering admissions to 1300+ cadets (whereas they are only congressionally approved for about 1100),
Click to expand...
Noooooooooo. The appointed 1300+ on purpose. The total strength is 4400 but the numbers go down as the classes move to graduation. They need more than 1100 in each plebe class. Don't allow this misconception to sway her whatsoever.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
I would agree. This is why you often here - don't worry about the LOA, concentrate on the appointment!!
Have her go ahead and take the SAT's again. Concentrate on the Math and I bet she gets over 700. Her profile looks very very competitive. She should NOT be discouraged at all!


Noooooooooo. The appointed 1300+ on purpose. The total strength is 4400 but the numbers go down as the classes move to graduation. They need more than 1100 in each plebe class. Don't allow this misconception to sway her whatsoever.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouragement! I think we are done with SATs...i don't see her doing much better as she already raised them...and the admissions stat isnt a misconception...they really screwed up last year...they are congressionally approved for around 1100 per class (each class will lose roughly 10% by graduation--the class of 204 already lost 60+ during beast!)...last year they were too agressive with loas and probably because of economy and more people thinking that 'free' is a pretty good deal they ended up with over 1300 and had to get funding approval. Overall candidate score to get loa was increased to 6350 where it had been closer to 6000 last year i think. But, to me, it just seems weird b/c even with low sats, her overall score should be higher than that with file near complete. We're working on nomination too!! Only 2 districts in Maine!
 
buff81 said:
Where did you get this number?
Click to expand...

Someone's yanking a chain. That doesn't even make sense.

Entering numbers by class:
2013 - 1299
2012 - 1292
2011 - 1305
2010 - 1311
2009 - 1251

In 2003-2004 congress authorized an expansion of the corps strength to 4400. West Point has yet to reach that strength - although they may be getting close.

They did have exceptional yield this year and it makes sense they would raise the score required for an LOA; but they are offering them.

GrayHogs - By retaking the SAT, your daughter increases her chances. If she REALLY wants to attend West Point then she has nothing to lose (save $50 and 4 hours). Scores do rise in the senior year and she won't be penalized. Also by retaking the test she shows tenacity and motivation.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
In 2003-2004 congress authorized an expansion of the corps strength to 4400. West Point has yet to reach that strength - although they may be getting close.
Click to expand...
I wonder if Congress and West Point still want/need that many cadets. The projected needs of the Army in 2003-2004 may not be what is currently projected.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Someone's yanking a chain. That doesn't even make sense.

Entering numbers by class:
2013 - 1299
2012 - 1292
2011 - 1305
2010 - 1311
2009 - 1251

In 2003-2004 congress authorized an expansion of the corps strength to 4400. West Point has yet to reach that strength - although they may be getting close.

They did have exceptional yield this year and it makes sense they would raise the score required for an LOA; but they are offering them.

GrayHogs - By retaking the SAT, your daughter increases her chances. If she REALLY wants to attend West Point then she has nothing to lose (save $50 and 4 hours). Scores do rise in the senior year and she won't be penalized. Also by retaking the test she shows tenacity and motivation.
Click to expand...

Yeah, sorry, my figures were just slightly off, I was estimating off the top of my head...I was a bit low in my estimations but regardless, what I say about them being over is true as this info came directly from insiders that i know....if you look at 2014, the number is 1400, which is 100 more than usually admitted before, and it caused serious problems for the admissions people that they were that far over. And that did cause them to increase their standard for LOAs quite a bit this year by raising the total candidate score. They are giving out, as always, just being a bit more cautious probably until they get a better hand on numbers
 
the number is 1400, which is 100 more than usually admitted before, and it caused serious problems for the admissions people that they were that far over. And that did cause them to increase their standard for LOAs quite a bit this year by raising the total candidate score. They are giving out, as always, just being a bit more cautious probably until they get a better hand on numbers
Click to expand...

While the number is higher than previous classes - West Point has worked hard to get to this number. It was planned all along.
The 'problem' with admissions was the yield was very high very early. This is why they have raised the early LOA standard.

PS - I sent you a private message....
 
Forbes has a lot to do with this. Rated #1 in the nation in 2009; WP graduates making $69,000/year as a 2nd LT, blah, blah blah. WP should have anticipated a big wave of applicants for class 2014.

Can this continue? It can. But I do anticipate the effect will fade somewhat in the upcoming classes. I just don't see how the case for 2014 will continue unless it is rated as the #1 college repeatedly or its rank jumps significantly with News Week, etc. However, sticking to very traditional/rigid teaching methods, WP has not changed that much in the last some years has it?

So, instead of tightening the LOA's, maybe they should keep it the same as before if they don't want to miss too many qualified kids.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top