Letters of Assurance.

D

don't_give_up_the ship

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I'm a Sophomore in high school and am doing many things now to set me different from the rest of the applicant pool, but I was wondering what SAT or ACT scores and what GPA would I need to secure a letter of assurance early on because I really want and am eager for the LOA. If anyone could help me out answering this that would be awesome, thanks.
 
Even 1600 SAT and 36 ACT scores and a perfect weighted GPA of 5.0 will not necessarily get you a LOA.
The point is getting an Offer of Appointment - and it's a marathon - not a sprint.
 
Any at least advice as to getting an LOA though? I fully understand that the overall goal is to receive the offer of appointment, but it would just be incredible to receive a LOA.
 
It's the same answer for both... Do your best, take the hardest classes you can, become a leader, be involved in activities, be active in your community..... My son received an LOA August before his HS senior year. It was great. Then he waited 7 months after that to get a nomination. That wasn't so great. An LOA is nice, but it's not an appointment.
 
don't_give_up_the ship said:
Any at least advice as to getting an LOA though? I fully understand that the overall goal is to receive the offer of appointment, but it would just be incredible to receive a LOA.
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Personally, I would not stress over it. About ten percent get them for a variety of reasons.

My son didn’t know what an LOA was when he applied. Your best bet is to focus on your leadership, grades, extracurriculars, community service, standardized tests, writing, etc. That’s what you can control.
 
brewmeist said:
It's the same answer for both... Do your best, take the hardest classes you can, become a leader, be involved in activities, be active in your community..... My son received an LOA August before his HS senior year. It was great. Then he waited 7 months after that to get a nomination. That wasn't so great. An LOA is nice, but it's not an appointment.
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What does the LOA mean? Because before I that that once you got a LOA you were fully accepted in.
 
The LOA means that USNA has accepted you. But to get a full appointment, you still need to get a nomination and pass DoDMERB.
 
LOA stands for letter of assurance. It is a conditional promise to offer you appointment if — big if — you fulfill the conditions that are stated in the letter. In other words, it is an offer of appointment, pending your ability to address the issues the SA stipulates. Could be DODMERB or CFA or test scores or nomination or something else. Each year, there are a few LOA holders who fail to fulfill the conditions and do not receive offer of appointment.

As others have said above, and worth repeating: Focus on getting the actual offer of appointment. That’s the prize, not an LOA.
 
don't_give_up_the ship said:
I'm a Sophomore in high school and am doing many things now to set me different from the rest of the applicant pool, but I was wondering what SAT or ACT scores and what GPA would I need to secure a letter of assurance early on because I really want and am eager for the LOA. If anyone could help me out answering this that would be awesome, thanks.
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I think you are way ahead of where you need to be at this stage. There is a whole lot of ground work to be laid before wondering or even thinking about an LOA. Here’s what I’d suggest. First things always first. Go to https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php to answer initial questions that you may have. Scour the admissions portion. This should be your primary source. Augment your newly attained knowledge by reading everything in the section entitled “USNA Admissions FAQ’s—What Are My Chances” found above. Had you done this previously, I don’t think you would have posted your question or your follow-up questions. Try and get a better feel for the entire application process. Doing so will enable you to do more deliberate planning and focus on what is important.

Good Luck.
 
MidCakePa said:
LOA stands for letter of assurance. It is a conditional promise to offer you appointment if — big if — you fulfill the conditions that are stated in the letter. In other words, it is an offer of appointment, pending your ability to address the issues the SA stipulates. Could be DODMERB or CFA or test scores or nomination or something else. Each year, there are a few LOA holders who fail to fulfill the conditions and do not receive offer of appointment.

As others have said above, and worth repeating: Focus on getting the actual offer of appointment. That’s the prize, not an LOA.
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Thanks!
 
WT Door said:
I think you are way ahead of where you need to be at this stage. There is a whole lot of ground work to be laid before wondering or even thinking about an LOA. Here’s what I’d suggest. First things always first. Go to https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php to answer initial questions that you may have. Scour the admissions portion. This should be your primary source. Augment your newly attained knowledge by reading everything in the section entitled “USNA Admissions FAQ’s—What Are My Chances” found above. Had you done this previously, I don’t think you would have posted your question or your follow-up questions. Try and get a better feel for the entire application process. Doing so will enable you to do more deliberate planning and focus on what is important.

Good Luck.
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You're absolutetly right, thanks!
 
For many, this application process takes nine (9) months or more. There are many opportunities along that timeline to have your hopes summarily crushed, without adding another milestone to it. There are so few Letters of Assurance given out - and no criteria has even been leaked or published - that it is statistically improbable that a Candidate would receive one.

This is why we caution against holding out hope for a Letter of Assurance (LOA). It is no reflection on you, @don't_give_up_the ship. This same question gets asked every application cycle. If other applicants read this thread, they will know a little more.

So, it's a good thing. ;)
 
There are no stats that say candidate WT Door has hit these marks and will receive an LOA. I have seen LOAs go to candidates with average stats and those with water walker stats and everything in between. Alot of times there are intangibles involved that don't necessarily stand out in stats. I had a young man two years ago receive an LOA to USAFA. He was not a recruited athlete or minority. He had near water walker stats. He was EA to USCGA also. First board scholarships for USAF and NROTC. He did not receive his appointment to USNA until April. The best thing you can do, as was already mentioned, is to read and educate yourself on this process. Read the USNA admissions site inside and out, apply for STEM and Summer Seminar when you can. Identify areas you can improve on your app, prep for your SAT/ACT, work on fitness and team sports, volunteer, find things to lead.
 
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Since you are a sophomore you have somewhat the advantage of time. First things first. Make sure your goal is to be a Naval Officer. Really investigate and think about the careers that are possible and try to understand the commitment. If your goal is to be a Naval Officer learn the other pathways to achieve this as well. Both my kids were planning on NROTC if they did not get into USNA and I believe they would have thrived there. I have gotten to know several mids who went enlisted to USNA as well when they have stayed with us.

Then read every drop down menu for USNA admissions.

Read through the top threads on this site and search questions you have if possible first.

A very strong application turned in early is helpful. Both my kids who received appointments to USNA had them before the application period had actually ended. One had an LOA and one did not. The one who had better SAT's, better AP test scores, better GPA, was a three time state champion, started an LLC, and was president of his class did not get an LOA.
Have strong SAT's by January junior year when NASS and prelim USNA application starts. Take the SAT's 10th grade year and if you don't do well , then you have all summer before 11th grade to study! Khan Academy got one of my kids to near perfect on his 6th SAT try.
Be ready to crush CFA summer before Senior year. So if you are weak in any areas now work on it. One of my kids trained for a year to get pull ups...her weakness, to near max over a year.
Plan to ask 11th grade math and english teachers to get letter of recommendation done before they go on vacation...so ask April to May junior year for this. Do the same for your guidance counselor letter. Once they get back in late summer they will be inundated with all the civilian recommendation requests and you could more likely get lost in the shuffle.
Don't just get sign up for activities to look good but get involved in things you are passionate about and actually be a leader.
 
If you get a LOA, pass the medical exam, and apply for a Presidential nomination, does that mean you're "in"? I'm asking because I know Presidential nominations are usually given by USNA and I don't know if this is one of those situations in which they are used.
 
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