Any more LOAs going out?

hopefulparent

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Will there be any more LOAs going out at this point? Seems like most MOCs are about to start interviews/nominations. If there any reason to keep checking mail box for LOA?
 
No idea. Seriously.

Focus on getting a nom and getting an appointment. Update your file if there are significant changes.
 
For the class of 2013 LOAs went out until the end of February (don't know if beyond that), so unless things have changed they could be coming for about 3 1/2 more months.
 
For 2011 LOA's were also out until end of February.
 
As 1985 is trying to tell you, getting an LOA is not an end in itself; you need a nom and to become the best qualified candidate you can be. Focus on the latter, not the former. USNA is not shooting for some magical number of LOA's, it is looking to bring in a certain range of new midshipmen for the Class of 2015. Also, as 1985 and other BGOs have tried to get across, we cannot tell you the information you want to hear simply because it is not disclosed to us; the best we can do is give you a vague conjecture based upon our observations over the years. Quite frankly, in my neck of the woods, I have seen more LOAs go out earlier in the past two or three years than in the previous 15 years. Sometime after the first of the year Admissions will quit issuing LOAs and focus on offers of appointment. Now get to work on your prime objective and best wishes.
 
I just received an LOA today dated November 1st.
 
As 1964 notes, LOAs have escalated dramatically over the past several admission seasons. USNA has been traditionally, prior to recent changes, the most conservative, sending few LOAs. As they have focused efforts on targeted recruitment (the evidence is reflected in a near 50% increase in candidacies, not a consequence of either economics or a laissez faire/passive approach to admissions, but rather a ramped up staffing and investment in those targeted areas and preferrred populations), the LOA has been recognized as a tool with potential of keeping both both top-rated and top-targeted prospects "on the line," and remaining competitive for their consideration relative to other SAs and secular institutions. Historically, USMA offered many more and many earlier LOAs. Some would say because they had to do so. Others would say it was merely a more aggressive admissions recruitment.

In any case, this has changed very dramatically over the past 3 years for USNA. What would be most interesting and will never be revealed, is a profile of LOAs. And this would be enormously helpful to answering questions and helping advisors (counselors, BGOs, others) to push candidates, as 1964 and 1985 are rightly trying to do ...to major in the majors, so to speak, i.e. doing one's best to be one's best in every aspect of the application and nomination processes. LOAs are like winning the batting title in spring training. Might land one on the 40 man roster, but won't mean diddley in keeping one there or getting one to the All Star game, world series, or HOF. Count on seeing those, not. They may not reflect a picture some think they must. All of which simply says, for all practical purposes, in the end they are just an encouraging "attaboy", keep going.
 
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As 1964 notes, LOAs have escalated dramatically over the past several admission seasons.
I think 1964 was stating that he had seen LOAs go out earlier, not that he had seen them "escalated dramatically". If either is stating that there has been an increase in LOAs, could you please tell us the source of your assumption?
 
I've actually seen fewer LOAs this year in my neck of the woods and I have some very highly qualified candidates.

LOAs (which didn't exist when I was applying) were introduced to "combat" Early Action/Early Decision programs at civilian colleges. B/c of the nom process and the need for medical qualification, the SAs couldn't guarantee a place in December the way civilian colleges could. So, LOAs were designed to assure highly qualified candidates that, if they met the requirements the SA couldn't control (nom, medical), they would get an appointment.

I believe that some civilian colleges have cut back on the "Early" programs that force candidates to commit in December -- they may still tell the student he/she has a slot but don't require a commitment until May. Thus, the SAs don't need to be as aggressive with LOAs. Whether they choose to be is another question entirely.
 
... So, LOAs were designed to assure highly qualified candidates that, if they met the requirements the SA couldn't control (nom, medical), they would get an appointment.

That's exactly the way it worked for my Plebe. Once LOA was received all other applications - excepting Plan B where she was already accepted - went unsubmitted.
 
That's exactly the way it worked for my Plebe. Once LOA was received all other applications - excepting Plan B where she was already accepted - went unsubmitted.

That's what I'm doing; just waiting on a nomination to be recorded.
But for backup purposes, does anyone know when candidates are notified of NROTC scholarship selection?
 
That's exactly the way it worked for my Plebe. Once LOA was received all other applications - excepting Plan B where she was already accepted - went unsubmitted.

I'm not even sure the Naval Academy was either of my sons' first choice. But the LOA had the desired effect on them. All of a sudden, all of the other applications just seemed to be in the "too hard category" and they took the bird-in-the-hand.

Actually, I think they were just sick of writing essays. :smile:
 
That's what I'm doing; just waiting on a nomination to be recorded.
But for backup purposes, does anyone know when candidates are notified of NROTC scholarship selection?

CandidateElias, make sure you have a Plan C at a civilian college. Stuff can happen that eliminates both NA and ROTC as possibilities. That's why we wrapped our kids in bubble wrap after about the first of the year. :biggrin:
 
Mongo, I am stating that I am seeing LOAs going out earlier AND that I am seeing more LOAs being issued, based upon my personal observations as an AC in Northeast Ohio for 12 years. Until the last few years the use of LOAs did not seem as great, most likely because USNA was not in the practice of making early commitments. preferring to empasize actual offers of appointment. AGAIN, my personal observation based upon a specific area - I cannot vouch for what was happening anywhere else in the US.
 
Mongo, I am stating that I am seeing LOAs going out earlier AND that I am seeing more LOAs being issued, based upon my personal observations as an AC in Northeast Ohio for 12 years. Until the last few years the use of LOAs did not seem as great, most likely because USNA was not in the practice of making early commitments. preferring to empasize actual offers of appointment. AGAIN, my personal observation based upon a specific area - I cannot vouch for what was happening anywhere else in the US.

I would guess that the earlier notification is due to the Board getting in gear a few weeks earlier than scheduled the past couple of years since all those who need their blessing and are complete will go before the first few boards. We were told at HUB training this fall to expect fewer LOAs and to expect less willingness to 'find' nominations for those outstanding candidates who need them since the pool of outstanding candidates is so large that should one fall by the wayside, there are two to fill the slot. This was in response to our assistant AC's question as to why there are so few this year. Are yours, by chance, football players as a result of the almost victory over Ohio State or are you agreeing with the other poster's speculation that they have "escalated dramatically" due to diversity efforts?
 
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Some of you are indicating that you let your "back-up" plans fall by the wayside once you get an LOA, nomination, or appointment. I would strongly recommend you follow through with that back up plan and keep it in place until you walk through the doors of Alumni Hall on I-Day. Why? What if you are ill or injured when I-Day rolls around? Break a leg skiing spring break? Get a little too wild at a graduation party and bust your arm? You may be grateful to have a back up plan in place!

Son kept his back up plan in place up to I-Day. When we returned home from the festivities, I mailed letters he had written to the housing department, admissions dept, scholarships & financial aid, and the engineering department.

A search of these forums will yield lots of advice from the past year or two on this topic.
 
No stats, so shoot away. I'm betting the ranch. They've become much more aggressive with these over past 2 seasons. For obvious reasons that have zilch to do with almost beating the Buckeyes. It's an intriguing theory, and gave me a nice smile. Do you really perceive that a football team almost winning against an admittedly favored opponent is going to make this type of impact??? Among star students OR star athletes? Maybe at Ohio State, but not at a USNA or other SA. That's one serious fishing trip.
 
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