What exactly does an LOA guarantee?

Other than in the situation that happened last year, I don't think a candidate that is eligible for the wait list can be offered NAPs as they are fully qualified for admission and DS was told specifically by admissions that fully-qualified cannot be offered NAPS.

I would agree that the qualifications of those sent to NAPS seems to be getting better all the time. and that is a great thing.
 
MJP said:
Other than in the situation that happened last year, I don't think a candidate that is eligible for the wait list can be offered NAPs as they are fully qualified for admission and DS was told specifically by admissions that fully-qualified cannot be offered NAPS.

I would agree that the qualifications of those sent to NAPS seems to be getting better all the time. and that is a great thing.
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I agree. I cannot imagine what a fully qualified (academically) candidate has to gain by attending NAPS. It defies the entire mission of NAPS - to prepare those who need preparation. However, they will sometimes send a prior enlisted to NAPS, despite their stellar high school academic credentials, for the simple reason that they have been out of academic circulation for a year or more. The type of "studies" an enlisted sailor does in "A School", or any other training program, is not the same as the studies they will be confronted with Plebe year at the academy.

Like I said, most candidates who are fully qualified yet, for some reason, there is no room - will generally be encouraged to reapply. If the academy really wants that candidate, their chances are nearly as good the next time around as they would be if they attended NAPS. Let's face it, there is no shortage of fully qualified candidates who do not get offers of appointment. The best of that bunch are usually encouraged to reapply - not sent to NAPS.
 
Memphis I agree with you. I think last year was an anomaly with LOAs, principle noms, MOCs leaving office and new MOCs entering with slates. Admissions has never come out and said anything, but from chatter on the boards from last year and other places it sounds like there were a few weird things that happened. I think there could also of been folks with princple noms who might not have been 3Q too. None of us will ever know the answer. Also, I agree 100%, regardless of high school record for priors, being out of a school environment for more than a year is a hard adjustment and why even those with great quals will get sent there. A/MOS school is not USNA in any way. My best friends sponsor two prior enlisted Mids. One was a direct admit the other went to NAPS first (and was a Nuke). The direct admit was taking college courses at night and has struggled all Plebe year. He is making it through, but he really struggled to adjust to time management, getting away from social media when studying, study skills in general. Today he even says he wishes he had gone to NAPS to just reinforce better habits and to help make the mental transition. The other young man had a stellar high school package and I believe was a wait list candidate the year he applied out of high school. He enlisted, went to Nuke school, reapplied and they sent him to NAPS. He said NAPS was the best thing that happened to him. He was very thankful to have the year to adjust to being back in a school environment and really work on study skills even though he had only be out of a school environment for about 9 months total.
 
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