USNA Class of 2021: LOA Already in June 2016!?!?!

Padre101

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Went to my DS's NASS Session #1 Closing Ceremony today. A candidate from Louisiana who had already completed his application, taken the SAT and ACT multiple times, apparently had teachers who turned in their recommendations, and completed his CFA even before attending NASS received an LOA from the head of the Office of Admissions during the ceremony.

The board doesn't even meet until September, but he has his LOA secured already.

Great job and congrats to him.

Everyone else, let the Games Begin!
 
Memo to the Rest of the World: Take a deep breath. Don't panic.

Seriously. It's a single LOA. It's not an appointment. Take your time (within reason), turn in a great application in August or September or October . . . you'll have just as good a shot.
 
Congrats to the candidate!

And agree 100% with 1985, everyone relax. The flurry of LOA questions and near panic always starts this time of year. It's a marathon to get to USNA, not a sprint. Finish your stuff early, but don't rush it and miss things. LOAs are the exception not the norm. Remember once you get to USNA no one cares that you had a 1600 SAT or LOA. An appointment in July or an appointment the week before I day is all the same and gets you to the same place, a Plebe.
 
Think of a regression analysis. An LOA such as this early one is one of those outlier dots. There is a big blur of dots waiting to happen during the usual peak times. If you overlay an appointments graph over the LOA graph, it becomes clear that LOAs<no LOAs.

No one is behind at this point. This time next year for 2021, no one will give a hoot about whose appointment came with what flavor nom or sported an LOA. All plebes are the same on I-Day. Slates are wiped clean.
 
Just heard about that from DS. He was a little salty that everybody has said to not rush things etc but that apparently if you do you might get an LOA. Had to remind him that its better to get all of your AP scores in etc and wait for the teacher he wants to write his lor in the fall. But I bet for the BGOs these early LOAs are not helpful...unless its one of yours :)
 
LOAs can happen at any point during the process. Most happen earlier in the process then later as once a candidate is 3Q with a Nom, they would get an appointment (most of these very early appointments will have a Presidential Nom). Yes, you want to finish the application early. It can only help. It also means they usually don't have all their classes, other college apps and nominations going on at the same time. The best application they can put forward is the goal. And remember an LOA is great, but they still must get a Nom and pass DoDMERB. These two items can and do hold up an LOA to an appointment (it happens every year). Hang in there, its a long ride. Try to enjoy it too!
 
This is the part of the oft-mentioned roller coaster ride where the cars start leaving the station, slo-o-o-wly inching to the top of the first peak, after which the crazy part of the 2021 candidate/nominee/appointee/re-applicant ride starts.

2020 plebes-to-be are back in the station, boarding cars for their next ride starting I-Day.

2016's latest rc ride just launched...
 
This is the part of the oft-mentioned roller coaster ride where the cars start leaving the station, slo-o-o-wly inching to the top of the first peak, after which the crazy part of the 2021 candidate/nominee/appointee/re-applicant ride starts.

2020 plebes-to-be are back in the station, boarding cars for their next ride starting I-Day.

2016's latest rc ride just launched...

I guess for you veteran forum people, it must seem like the Circle of Life:

 
This is a whole lot more enjoyable to read having gone through the whole application, nomination abomination last year.
Now June 30th...That is another story. That roller coaster is about to board.
 
Hahaha! Yes it is a cycle every year for candidates and also for Mids. Admissions process has honestly not changed much in several decades with the exception of social media and the portal. I think it makes a more informed candidate which is great and has really helped to reduce attrition. I am not sure it's a downside, but it can be for some. Having the constant portal access and 24/7 social media can get overwhelming and candidates freak out when they see LOAs and appointments. I always tell every candidate, there is only one thing you can control in this process... You. Don't worry about the rest of the stuff.

1. Get your app done early, but get it done right. Rushing and not having your best application is not the right answer either. You can always update scores and other itemsas they come along. It's easier to do an app now, without senior year classes started, 7 other college apps, and MOC paperwork.
2. Candidates need to own this process, not Parents. Some may disagree with me, but Candidates should be contacting their BGO, admissions and MOC offices. It's part of the learning process and ownership. Yes they are all busy, not busy enough they can't call at lunch or after class. All the paperwork should be done by them. Yes they might not know the details of their surgery at age 4, but it's a great time to sit down and review their medical history.
3. Practice your CFA over and over again. So many candidates just try certain events but not under test like conditions. Do it as you would an actual test with someone counting. Your body needs to learn how it will perform under those conditions. Also don't wait until the day before... Every year we hear... I got sick, it rained, I was in football shape. No excuses. If you start now, there is no reason you can't have it done before school starts.
4. You are not the exception to the rule. Part of the application process is filling it out as required. If you have a question ask your BGO. They also have lives, jobs, etc. Dont panic if they don't reply in 15 minutes. If they don't response in a few days, follow up. This is part of the learning process for a candidate to learn how to be professional.
5. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Even for that candidate who got an LOA they still need to complete DODMERB and get a Nom. It's not over yet. They might need a remedial. Heck they might decide Notre Dame is a better for for them.
4. This will not be the first time to you hurry up and wait in the military. It will become a common occurence in life. This is the first of many long waits... waiting for Plebe Year to end, summer training assignment, 1/C leadership billets, service assignment, ship assignments and School dates, graduation! Then comes what plane did I get? What unit am I going to? Did I get selected for school? What is my next unit/assignment? Did I get that next gig I really wanted so we don't have to move again! Did I get selected for promotion, command, another school, etc. it's never ending in the military. I always say its part of the learning process to hurry up and wait and gain patience.

Good luck to 2020 as they head off to I Day shortly. Go and relax with family and friends. Stay in shape, but don't hurt yourself. Don't do anything stupid either. Go have 1 more slice of pizza with your family and go see 1 more movie with your friends. Oh and sleep a lot and enjoy your sheets (you will understand this in about a month). And good luck to 2021 who is now starting the journey. Enjoy the journey, it's a long one that pushes you and will grow you.
 
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I remember talking to several detailers (actual midshipmen) from my NASS company who were very bitter about this LOA. I get what you guys are all saying, that his LOA doesn't affect anyone else's application or chances. But as a candidate you can't help but be at least a little outraged because, as the admissions director said yesterday, the admissions board has not even met yet. This means that this guy's application hasn't even been evaluated and USNA is saying that they are ready to offer him an appointment (yes I know that he still must go through DoDMERB and nominations, but an LOA is basically USNA giving their approval - hence why it is called a "conditional appointment").

They basically said "congrats on completing the application early, here's an LOA". I remember the admissions director talking about how he "stands out among his peers" and "has worked so hard this year". Um, and nobody else has? I could have easily completed my entire application before school got out... if I had known that would have been to my advantage. In fact, I had already completed over half of it before I got to NASS. Submitting application documents is not exactly "hard work". Half of them consist of entering an email address, clicking the submit button, and waiting for someone else to fill out a form. I spent my spring semester working my butt off in school/sports/ECAs instead. Where's my LOA?

I apologize for my tone being as salty as the Dead Sea but I hope you guys will at least be able to see this from a candidate's perspective.
 
Sneak, gonna be blunt here, gotta let it go. It's why I repeat over and over again, worry about you and no one else in this process, it's the only thing you control. First off, it wasn't because his application was complete he got an LOA. An LOA is not a finishing medal. I am sure admissions has more than his completed application. That candidate had something that admissions saw and wanted. None of us know the in the weed details of this candidate or what caught admissions eye about him. He could be raising his siblings, working part time, 1600 SAT and saves puppies on the side. You might too get one in the next few weeks or months. Remember an LOA can be issued without a complete application. Every candidate who finishes this process has worked hard. You aren't alone. If you were at NASS you got a first hand glimpse of the quality of candidates and Midshipmen you are up against. They have all worked hard. The where's my LOA is a perfect example of the mindset you need change. As someone who wants to be an officer you will learn quickly that doing your job is not award worthy as an officer. Finishing your application does not equal an award. It means you finished one of the requirements. Often as an officer your awards are done quietly and without fanfare, while you will make a huge deal of it for your Sailors. Seeing someone get an LOA should fire you up to push more, work harder and finish your application, not vent where is mine. I wish you good luck and hope you get an appointment.
 
Sneak, gonna be blunt here, gotta let it go. It's why I repeat over and over again, worry about you and no one else in this process, it's the only thing you control. First off, it wasn't because his application was complete he got an LOA. An LOA is not a finishing medal. I am sure admissions has more than his completed application. That candidate had something that admissions saw and wanted. None of us know the in the weed details of this candidate or what caught admissions eye about him. He could be raising his siblings, working part time, 1600 SAT and saves puppies on the side. You might too get one in the next few weeks or months. Remember an LOA can be issued without a complete application. Every candidate who finishes this process has worked hard. You aren't alone. If you were at NASS you got a first hand glimpse of the quality of candidates and Midshipmen you are up against. They have all worked hard. The where's my LOA is a perfect example of the mindset you need change. As someone who wants to be an officer you will learn quickly that doing your job is not award worthy as an officer. Finishing your application does not equal an award. It means you finished one of the requirements. Often as an officer your awards are done quietly and without fanfare, while you will make a huge deal of it for your Sailors. Seeing someone get an LOA should fire you up to push more, work harder and finish your application, not vent where is mine. I wish you good luck and hope you get an appointment.

I just want to clarify that I didn't mean to suggest that I think that USNA owes me anything when I said "where's my LOA". I was just trying to make the point that the reasons for handing out the LOA as stated by the director of admissions during the brief didn't make much sense to me.

But I completely understand that another candidate's LOA doesn't affect me at all. Like you said, I will go back to worrying about myself and myself only since there is absolutely nothing that I can do to control who gets an LOA and who doesn't. I mean, if I want to be in the military I should probably prepare myself to deal with things that I may think are unfair but are 100% out of my control, right?
 
Absolutely could be. And he could be an all American something in some sport with perfect SATs. None of us know the details of his application. Trust me, he didn't get an LOA because he finished his application and that alone.

Sneak, you nailed it. The adult world, and especially the military, isn't always fair. You aren't always (in fact rarely) will get a reason why in the military. You just have to push on and continue to do better. Admissions won't detail his stats and intangibles in front of anyone. It's a breach of privacy. Their intent was to say... 'You guys are on deck. See what can happen? Now get back home and complete you application and keep improving yourself.'

My best friend from USNA got an LOA back in the day this early. He had great stats (well above average) but not perfect stats. Of all those things the thing that stood out then and even today, he is the most phenomenal human I know. My room mate had a 1590 SAT with perfect math. Rhodes finalist, PhD at 24. I mean serious genius from a crazy good school and had all the other items to go with it. She got into nearly every Ivy and Ivy like school with full rides, but no LOA. On pure statistics were by far the superior. Guess what? We all reported to I Day the same, got yelled at the same, and finished the same. Well she sat in the smart kids seats for graduation, but she was jealous she couldn't sit with her company mates at graduation! Bottom line, improve yourself, complete your app to the best of your ability and keep learning. Good luck!
 
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How about this angle
Perhaps they wish to create excitement and motivation for all you bright lads and lasses out there to get cracking on all the things entailed in the process.
Take a qualified early applicant, give him an LOA. Then watch those applications start to get completed...just sayin
 
This is the part of the oft-mentioned roller coaster ride where the cars start leaving the station, slo-o-o-wly inching to the top of the first peak, after which the crazy part of the 2021 candidate/nominee/appointee/re-applicant ride starts.

2020 plebes-to-be are back in the station, boarding cars for their next ride starting I-Day.

2016's latest rc ride just launched...

And some of us....19 days until I-Day, are still sitting on the Wait List....dental exam complete, wisdom teeth out...eye exam, shots updated...updated passport...etc...
 
And some of us....19 days until I-Day, are still sitting on the Wait List....dental exam complete, wisdom teeth out...eye exam, shots updated...

My sympathies. "Cars with seats available are still being added to the 2020 roller coaster" might be apt.

If any consolation, my DH got his appt about a week before I-Day, having decided to turn down USMA and his hometown Ivy after realizing Navy and the sea were what he wanted. Fit his risk profile even then.

I hope the magic happens.
 
I don't even know what part of the roller coaster that is... Maybe stuck at the top? Or it stopped right before it got back to the platform to get off? Good luck NWTLF. Pulling for yeah.
 
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