early but late nomination

NamD

Candidate
5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
249
hello!

This question just popped up today:
does it really matter how early you submit your application if you cannot get a nomination until november? Will USMA or USNA still review an applicants file and put them in the "competitive/not competitive" piles and continue on reading files that do not have nominations?

I guess what I am trying to ask is, since they cannot offer you an appointment without a nomination, why send in the applications so early before the nomination process?
 
Early applications = decision if competitive or not = DoDMERB schedule = time to get remedials and whatnot.

I'd guess this is the main reason (besides showing interest and competing for a(n) LOA).
 
I guess what I am trying to ask is, since they cannot offer you an appointment without a nomination, why send in the applications so early before the nomination process?

Because they can offer you a conditional appointment. Also known as a Letter Of Assurance, it assures you of an appointment when (or if) "the condition" is satisfied.

In the scenario you describe, a candidate would be offered a conditional appointment (LOA) dependent on obtaining a legal nomination. Once he has the nomination, the appointment is assured.

LOA's can have other conditions (successfully passing the CFA, obtaining DODMERB qualification, maintaining good grades) or may have any combination of conditions.

Although in the past, LOAs were handed out based on some very preliminary data (i.e. a rigorous transcript and high SAT scores) they are becoming far less commonplace and are usually reserved for only the most highly qualified candidates.

The academies are competing with each other and civilian schools for top-flight candidates, especially highly qualified URMs, and sending them an LOA, giving them a feeling of "being wanted" can often be enough to get them and keep them "in the flock."

:cool:
 
At West Point, URMs are:
African Americans
Hispanics
Native Americans
 
Early applications = decision if competitive or not = DoDMERB schedule = time to get remedials and whatnot.

Forgot to add... this is what my Admissions Officer's e-mail said.
 
My cadet wanted to get everything finished early because he had a very difficult fall semester at school as well as a ridiculous senior exit project. He also needed to spend time applying to his backup colleges and pursue an ROTC scholarship.
 
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