To be considered for LOA

Kazakh93 said:
Memphis9489,
I'm planning on applying to USNA in February (along with the summer seminar). I know that an LOA is extremely rare to get, and it is only given out to extremely qualified candidates. If you don't mind me asking, what did your sons do in high school to get an LOA?
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They had very good grades and did very well on both the ACT & SAT. They also did well on the AP exams. In addition, they took very advanced (AP) courses in high school, especially in the math and sciences.

One son validated two semesters of Calculus and one semester of Chemistry. He will be majoring in Mathematics but will be taking many courses from the Chemistry department.

The other son validated a semester of Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. He will be majoring in Chemistry.

They played four years of baseball for a large high school, but they were not recruited to play baseball. They did, however, attend the Academy's Baseball/Leadership Camp in 2007. They were asked to return to the camp in 2008 but they elected not to. Consequently, they do not play any varsity sports at the Naval Academy; which they really didn't want to. I advised them that playing Varsity sports and academic excellence are strange bedfellows at USNA for anybody in a technical major. You see very few Varsity athletes majoring in a Group 2 major. Group 1 majors are practically unheard of.

In high school, they were in the National Honor Society and several activities.

They were both invited to NASS but only one chose to go. The one that went didn't like it that much. Instead of thinking, "This is great!" he came back thinking, "I could do that if I had to."

They both had visited the academy on many occasions and, with me being a grad, they knew what the place was all about and how it operated. No surprises.

Actually, they didn't do anything particularly unusual. They just did really well in the few things they chose to do.

They also finished their packet relatively early. At the time of the LOA, the only thing they had remaining was a nomination. Everything was finished.
 
LOA in hand & DoDMERB issue two weeks later is very disappointing.
 
It's that time of year again, where applicants pin their hopes on an LOA. And time to remind them that an LOA is NOT your goal. An appointment is your goal.

Applications are reviewed by the Admissions Board. They are not reviewed for LOA's. They are reviewed for appointments. If they see one they REALLY like, they may issue an LOA, often dependent upon securing a nomination, completing DoDMERB, etc.

MOST, I repeat, MOST appointees DO NOT receive LOA's. Plan on waiting for an appointment, most issued Feb-April. If something good arrives earlier, consider it a bonus. But do not expect to hear until at the earliest February.

No sense, absolutely NO sense, in worrying about what is beyond your control. If you don't have the "IT" for an LOA (keeping in mind that IT changes every year, every week, for different reasons), then it is too late to get "IT" to add to your application. Especially if you don't know what flavor IT is this month!

However, if you know your test scores are less than stellar, you can change that. If you want to improve your CFA, get after it and do so! Wringing your hands over an LOA will only serve to make a long drawn out process even more long and drawn out.
 
Gonavy93 said:
Can others confirm whether or not it is necessary to have completed the BGO interview before being considered for an LOA? Thanks!
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Why do you ask?

You really have no control over it. If the BGO makes contact and attempts to set up a date, the last thing you should do is attempt to delay it.

Lately, the CGO has been holding BGOs more accountable to complete the interview prior to completion of the remainder of the package. Two candidates, in recent contact with Admissions, as posted here, have been told that the interview is required. As Memphis has attempted to speculate, perhaps there are situations where the LOA might be offered without an interview. I have no idea where AF6872 is obtaining his information. Generally though, the BGO interview will be a part of the process prior to the LOA being awarded.
 
Memphis9489 said:
It has very little to do with LOAs. Does that help? :smile:

I'm wondering, just out of curiosity, if you think the observation is false?

Didn't I say it was "unscientific"?

Didn't I say it was just their "observation" - not their data collection?
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In some circles, this is known as rumor mongering, often with an ulterior agenda.

Do I think it is true? I have absolutely no evidence or reason to think that it is.
 
AF6872 said:
LOA in hand & DoDMERB issue two weeks later is very disappointing.
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The DoDMERB is a bureaucracy that struggles to maintain consistent standards.

Both my twins were wearing braces at the time they took their medical. But, they came in to the medical with a signed letter from their orthodontist stating that the treatment was both effective and that the braces were scheduled to be removed in mid-June, well before I-Day. (If you didn't know, you can't show up for I-Day wearing braces. We were well aware of that.)

Son #1 was simply given a notice that the braces had to be removed prior to reporting. Simple. Logical. Duly noted.

Son #2 (who took his medical at the SAME clinic but on a different day) was labeled as "medically disqualified" because of his braces. And yet, the doctor found a small hernia that none of us were aware of. The doctor didn't have a problem with the hernia. But the braces - now, that was serious. Ridiculous!

Really - which is more serious - braces on your teeth which are scheduled to be removed, or, an internal organ protruding from its rightful place?

We got the hernia fixed anyway - although it was not noted as a disqualifier. I was concerned that, at a later date (when it was too late, perhaps), somebody (with common sense) was going to say, "What the heck is this? This kid has a hernia, for crissakes! He can't be a midshipman with a hernia. That doctor should have disqualified him."

It took the power of Larry Mullen to "fix" the braces problem. (Which he did, promptly, by the way) You would think my son was the first candidate they had ever seen who was wearing braces at the time of his medical exam.

You can't just sit back and resign yourself to the findings of the DoDMERB, especially if you suspect a mistake has been made.

In our case, with my one son, in my opinion, they made two mistakes. They disqualified him for something that did not warrant a disqualification and they did not disqualify him for a condition that they probably should have. (Although it was easily fixable. They should have insisted that it get fixed prior to admission.)

In any case, they handled the "braces" issue in two completely different ways.

The DoDMERB is the "wild card" of the admissions process. It is the one thing you have very little control of.
 
"Candidates to be offered appointments are identified after careful evaluation by each academy. Exceptionally qualified candidates are often offered a letter of assurance (LOA) once they have been found scholastically qualified by the service academy's board. The LOA guarantees an offer of appointment after the remaining admissions requirements have been completed."

Congressional Guide
The Nomination and Appointment Process

DoDMERB was very helpful and we got the whole thing straightened out in about two weeks. Thankfully!
 
i was wondering what is the actuallu medical exam? is it just like a military physical?? i tried to go to te website but theres always a security issue with the website? i'm just wondering what to expect.
 
Mongo-

The LOA that my son received clearly showed that the BGO Interview, DoDMERB, CFA and nomination did not have to be complete prior to obtaining the LOA. The LOA stated the guarantee of an Appointment was conditional on the completion of those 4 items.

My son was not a recruited athlete. He had his package done with the exception of the Interview, DodMERB by the end of July. DoDMERB scheduled first week in September and Interview end of August. Medically Disqualified end of September, LOA mid October. Medically qualified mid November.

As most have stated - you all need to have your goal be the Appointment. LOA is nice but not the goal.
 
I think Profmom2 has clearly demonstrated that an LOA can be given at the discretion of the academy any time during the application process even if the paperwork, medical exams, and remedials, etc. are incomplete. Thanks!
 
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Get an 800 on the math portion of the SAT and they will jump all over you.
 
2400 with all three and they will drive to your house deliver you to Annapolis thirty days prior to I-Day and hide you in an undisclosed location before USMA, USCGA, USMMA and USAFA can find your driveway.:thumb: Profmom2: We had the same with LOA. DoDMERB was the problem but we worked with them and straightened it out. That was a bad two weeks.

Larry Mullen can jump in here but the DoDMERB Physical is an examination administered through contracted medical offices for all government agencies. Results are forwarded to DoDMERB for review. As I understand it is the same as a military physical?
 
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Profmom2 said:
The LOA that my son received clearly showed that the BGO Interview, DoDMERB, CFA and nomination did not have to be complete prior to obtaining the LOA. The LOA stated the guarantee of an Appointment was conditional on the completion of those 4 items.
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Profmon, things have changed since your day. CGO has placed a renewed effort to hold BGOs accountable in conducting interviews in a timely manner. Therefore, the odds of someone completing a package and not being contacted by the BGO for an interview is much less than it was four years ago. The verbiage will remain in the letter because there are certain recruited athletes for whom, due to possible NCAA violations, the normally assigned BGOs are not allowed to interview. For planning by candidates, do not assume that your package will go before the board without an interview and the last thing they would want to do is not be readily available when the BGO desires to schedule the interview.

LOAs are awarded based on total WPM points. The CFA contributes to these total points. Therefore, it could be the slight boost of an outstanding CFA that places one in the LOA range. Also, physical fitness is an important precursor in the awarding of an LOA. For a 3-sport all conference athlete, there may not be a question. But for the 1600 SAT number one in his class of five hundred whose ECs consist of nothing but clubs. Boy Scouts, band, etc. they may want to see the results of the CFA before offering an LOA. In any case, doing it in a timely manner can help a candidate in a lot more ways than it can hurt him.

True, as everyone has said, DoDMERB results are not required for an LOA. But a candidate should still not drag his feet in the completion of it.
 
Mongo said:
Profmon, things have changed since your day. CGO has placed a renewed effort to hold BGOs accountable in conducting interviews in a timely manner. Therefore, the odds of someone completing a package and not being contacted by the BGO for an interview is much less than it was four years ago. The verbiage will remain in the letter because there are certain recruited athletes for whom, due to possible NCAA violations, the normally assigned BGOs are not allowed to interview. For planning by candidates, do not assume that your package will go before the board without an interview and the last thing they would want to do is not be readily available when the BGO desires to schedule the interview.

LOAs are awarded based on total WPM points. The CFA contributes to these total points. Therefore, it could be the slight boost of an outstanding CFA that places one in the LOA range. Also, physical fitness is an important precursor in the awarding of an LOA. For a 3-sport all conference athlete, there may not be a question. But for the 1600 SAT number one in his class of five hundred whose ECs consist of nothing but clubs. Boy Scouts, band, etc. they may want to see the results of the CFA before offering an LOA. In any case, doing it in a timely manner can help a candidate in a lot more ways than it can hurt him.

True, as everyone has said, DoDMERB results are not required for an LOA. But a candidate should still not drag his feet in the completion of it.
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Actually Mongo, Profmom is correct. According to my BGO handbook, LOA's can by handed out to exceptionally qualified candidates once they have been found scholastically qualified. BGO Interview, CFA, and DODMer are NOT part of being "scholastically qualified".

Many students will have the academic portion of their packet complete as soon as June or July. Things like 4.0, SAT scores near the 1700's etc or ACT scores in the 30's, can certainly yield you a LOA.

Not sure why but a lot of candidates get hung up on trying to receive a LOA when to be honest with you it's hit or miss, it all depends on the flavor of coffee the board is drinking that day, I really don't think there's a science behind who gets LOAs and who doesn't.

What the candidates have to be focused on is COMPLETING THE PACKET for USNA and getting the NOMINATION. Especially the nomination...if they can get a nomination the LOA is useless.
 
USNA'02 said:
Actually Mongo, Profmom is correct. According to my BGO handbook, LOA's can by handed out to exceptionally qualified candidates once they have been found scholastically qualified. BGO Interview, CFA, and DODMer are NOT part of being "scholastically qualified".
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I don't know how long you have been a BGO but I would not suggest that you not do your interviews in a timely manner (around the 50% completion point) or you perhaps will not be a BGO for long. As I have stated before, CGO is lately pushing hard for timely completions and insist that it be completed prior to the point that an LOA would be offered.

Yes, passing or failing both the CFA and the DoDMERB are two of the three items in the triple qualified designation. However, the 'scholastically qualified' portion, which is in essence one's entire WPM score, includes either positive points for outstanding CFAs or negative points for marginal CFAs.
 
Mongo said:
I don't know how long you have been a BGO but I would not suggest that you not do your interviews in a timely manner (around the 50% completion point) or you perhaps will not be a BGO for long. As I have stated before, CGO is lately pushing hard for timely completions and insist that it be completed prior to the point that an LOA would be offered.
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Is it a CGO rule -or- are they just "pushing hard"? When they "insist" does that mean they demand?

Perhaps it's just perfunctory.

I couldn't resist. :smile:
 
Mongo said:
I don't know how long you have been a BGO but I would not suggest that you not do your interviews in a timely manner (around the 50% completion point) or you perhaps will not be a BGO for long. As I have stated before, CGO is lately pushing hard for timely completions and insist that it be completed prior to the point that an LOA would be offered.

Yes, passing or failing both the CFA and the DoDMERB are two of the three items in the triple qualified designation. However, the 'scholastically qualified' portion, which is in essence one's entire WPM score, includes either positive points for outstanding CFAs or negative points for marginal CFAs.
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You've totally lost me, too many "nots". What does my post have to do with how or when I conduct my interviews? For your information, I contact my candidates immediately when they show up on my student list to arrange an interview.

People who received LOAs last year the letter specifically stated that their appointment was contingent on finishing DODMEB, CFA, BGO Interview, and receiving a nomination. Like I said before the interview has nothing to do with being "scholastically qualified"
 
USNA'02 said:
You've totally lost me, too many "nots". What does my post have to do with how or when I conduct my interviews? For your information, I contact my candidates immediately when they show up on my student list to arrange an interview.

People who received LOAs last year the letter specifically stated that their appointment was contingent on finishing DODMEB, CFA, BGO Interview, and receiving a nomination. Like I said before the interview has nothing to do with being "scholastically qualified"
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Okay, if you fulfill your interview requirements as you are directed, prior to the record going before the board, the BGO interview will be, like it should, a part of the determination. The interview is indeed a part of 'scholastically qualified'. The interview is both used by the board to determine qualification or lack thereof, and, like the CFA, adds or deducts WPM points to determine the final 'scholastically qualified' WPM score.

So back in post #9, gonavy93 asked if it was possible to get an LOA without an interview. I could have said possible, but not very probable. Why did he ask the question? Is he complete and has not been contacted by the BGO? Is he attempting to 'game' the system because he is a poor intervewee? I asked but he has not responded. We dont know.

So, additionally, I should have additionally stated that it was out of his control and he should not, by any means, attempt to subvert the BGO's attempt to conduct an interview. That the CGO may be waiting for the interview to put it before the board. That an outstanding interview might just give him the necessary extra points to push him into the LOA range.

I think the statement is in the letter because regualr BGOs are not permitted to conduct interviews on athletes for certain sports. The coach 'conducts' the interview. Kind of a manipulation of the system that is beyond the 'need to know' basis for a candidate and his family.
 
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