CFA
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I think you might need to read and edit...it sounds like a chicken and egg scenario
I think admissions uses the arrival of a candidates transcripts as the minimum for someone's file to be evaluated as to whether a LOA can be offered. Meaning admissions will evaluate your file based on the information that they have at the time they receive you transcripts. So they likey would take more than academics into consideration before offering an LOA.
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LoA's are granted to candidates that admissions wants that are standout candidates (athletically, academics, etc). Having great academics isn't the only thing that admissions will look at for an LoA as far as i know. Most of the LoA's I know of this year came from kids with transcripts only through 6 semesters, but they had submitted pretty much everything else in their file except minus nomination and medical generally.
Don't bank on an LoA. You want the actual appointment. Getting an LoA was cool cause it gave me peace of mind, but until I got the actual appointment, it didn't matter.
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FlyBoy1993
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DS was told in Q&A at SLS that the minimum was transcripts, sat's, and passing CFA for a LOA that was not a recruited for other reasons. (Athlete or URM)
And given you would most likely dealing with LOA's for academic reasons, the SAT's had to be in the 1300 (math+reading) range or better that year to get into consideration, etc.
IE: If they are looking at it without the full application, your core stats (transcript and adjusted GPA, SAT's, and CFA) had to be exemplary.
While you cannot count on early LOA consideration, it's worth getting the transcript, SAT, and CFA in early if you want to be in the running for that.
While medical is usually not required to issue an LOA, there is no advantage in waiting on that either. Get it in and checked off, and it's one less variable left open.
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If I have the green show up for my cfa, does that mean I passed it, or that they just received it?
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If you take the CFA at USMA's SS, I know it counts as a real one for USMA, but does it for USAFA? And if you do badly, can you choose not to send it in?
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Do not send it to USAFA if it's not your best & final, they normally do not allow retests!!
This year both USMA & USNA allowed a follow-on CFA to be submitted in addition to the SLS/NASS score if you improved.
DS sent his SLS CFA to USAFA without knowing they only allow one submission.
Also, they did not test at USAFA summer seminar, just did practice. (Unlike SLS & NASS)
Both USMA & USNA accepted each other's scores, you just call them up to have them fax it, they know the routine.
Make sure and write down your scores when you do them!!!! Last summer DS did not get a handout or anything. Just were told the scores and if you were considered at risk. No pass fail, just told if it was "at risk".
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The standard answer is that the CFA is the item most in your control, and you need to do as good as you can, and try to max as many as you can. And for sure be above average in all.
That said, there is some strategy that factors in.... IE: If you can max some, well above average in some, and get above average in all... then it might be worth sending it in early to get in consideration for LOA's earlier. But to be realistic you need to have very high academic performance or be recruited for other reasons for this to be a factor.
If you are not an academic standout, then my suggestion would be to try to max as much of the CFA as you can, even if it means a later submission. You want every point you can get!!!
During the last year's SLS I did not pass all the events in the CFA and I received an LOA mid-July. I believe my ACT scores, GPA and my leadership qualifications were the deciding factors for the LOA. I did not re-take the CFA until sometime in August.
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I don't know how the retaking works, but I would retake it if I were you. Your mile is really strong, but pull-ups and push-ups are weak (assuming you're a guy), and push-ups are weak even for a girl. I recommend retaking it, and in the mean time adding random sets of 10 to 15 push-ups throughout the day, I found that made it a lot easier for me to do more push-ups. Recommend the same for pull-ups. You can do a bunch, so you just need to strengthen your arms and core.
