Nominations with two LOAs

[fern2019]

I was wondering if a LOA would affect whether or not a nomination is given, especially in a very competitive state like VA.
From what I've read, MOCs don't use their nominations on LOA recipients in order to keep a nom for candidates that are competing for open slots.
So would a LOA from two service academies help out at all?

 

[Craig]

First off, if you have an LOA you are still competing for a NOM so leave nothing to chance. LOA does not guarantee a NOM. The NOM is a condition of your LOA to get the appointment. The LOA often gives you an edge in getting a NOM. It makes sense if you already have a NOM and an LOA, they may choose not to give you their NOM. If you have no NOM and an LOA, i doubt they would rule you out based on having an LOA.

 

[MammaMia]

Fern, I've read on these boards that having an LOA may give you an edge in getting a MOC nom (assuming you have a good MOC interview) because they know the candidate will get an appointment. (The MOC will have a "successful outcome" from their perspective.) And it's up to the academy whether that MOC is charged for the nom or not (it could go to another source the candidate has applied for), so if the MOC gives ten noms (including one to an LOA recipient) it's still possible that more than one constituent will get an appointment.

 

[Pima]

+1 Mammamia

Fern, you are confusing the charging of a nomination with the LOA requirements for an appointment regarding a nomination.

No offense, but just because you have an LOA doesn't mean your WCS will be the highest score, thus charged to the MOC. IOWS, a candidate that was not offered an LOA, may have a higher score than you, and that person will be charged to the MOC. Meanwhile, the MOC can say to their constituents that two were appointed from his slate bexause as Mamma stated he placed you on the slate. For all you know they will charge you to the Supe. The charging doesn't mean squat once you are there. A VP charge doesn't mean more than a ROTC charge.
~ Think of the class appointments like a jigsaw puzzle. The LOAs and principals are the border. They then will start filling in the interior. Someone with 6 nominations(Presidential, VP, 3 MoCs and ROTC) can be used in multiple ways. Yes, there will be some that have 6. Rare, but theoretically it can happen. A candidate from NC can be in NROTC at UNCCH, and Dad is retired out of the Army. They could have 6 nominations

Most candidates will inform the MOC they have an LOA. It does happen that they don't get a nomination, but it is insanely rare, especially if the MOC knows that the SA has already given an offer of an LOA.The reason why is it is no harm, no foul by giving it to you. The chances are they get to say they have at least two.
~ Think of a state like CA, or VA where it is highly competitive. There could be 5 candidates with an LOA. They can place all 5 on their slate, and then give a principal to another. All 6 would be appointed. It makes that district look like chances are stronger, when in reality if you removed the LOAs it was the same rate as every other MOC. In No VA it is not uncommon for 8 out of the 10 on the slate to get an appointment....see above regarding nomination charges.

As others have stated apply for all nominations, including the VP.

 

[2018USNA]

Bottom line is that you need a nom from some source or else the LOA is useless. Good luck.

 

[usna1985]

For the OP . . .

MOST MOCs give at least some of their 10 noms to LOA candidates, assuming they have LOA candidates in their state/district. There are some twists to this general rule, however.

In the past, MOCs preferred to give their noms to LOA candidates b/c they knew those folks would receive appointments. At some point, however, a couple of things happened.

USNA started giving out more LOAs and, quite frankly, some of those candidates didn't interview well -- and I mean not well at all. They looked good on paper but were not impressive in person and thus the MOCs started to say -- hey, wait a minute, why should I give one of my 10 precious noms to a candidate who may have impressed USNA but doesn't impress me? So, some w/LOAs didn't get noms.

On a more clever note, some MOCs with LOA candidates said -- hey, what if I give a nom to the LOA candidate but a PRINCIPAL nom to another (non-LOA) candidate; that means I automatically get 2 appointments. Well, if you so the math, with fewer available slots due to smaller incoming classes and a decent number of MOCs getting 2 appointments (or even 4 in some years), the numbers don't add up - far too many "guaranteed" appointments and too few slots. This is largely what happened last year when a small number of principal nominees ended up w/o appointments.

So, the answer to your first question is . . . no one can tell you. In my experience, if you're a great candidate, you'll get a nom, even in a very competitive area. However, it's not a sure thing and, today, LOA recipients w/o noms typically receive TWEs.

As to your other question re 2 LOAs -- actually, if you're in a competitive district, it complicates matters. In competitive areas, most MOCs ask candidates to "pick one" SA or to rank them in terms of preference. I can only say to CHOOSE WISELY. If you are in a super-competitive area (and especially if all the MOCs are from the same political party), you may well only get one nom period. One nom to one SA.

If you rank USNA first for two MOCs and (for example) USAFA first for the third MOC, you may well only get a nom to USAFA. Great if USAFA is your first choice -- not so great if USNA is your first choice. IOW, be careful of trying to "game the system" and get two appointments -- it might happen but you also might lose out on an appointment to your first choice.

So, to answer your question, having 2 LOAs helps IF you really want to attend both schools and like them equally. That way, you can split your preference and have two shots at getting an appointment. However, if you have a clear first choice, it really doesn't help you at all b/c you should list that choice first w/all your MOCs and that puts you in the same position as if you only had one LOA.

Lengthy explanation, I know. Hope it helps.