How much of your application needs to be completed to be considered for an LOA? I have everything done except for two teacher recommendations and my Blue and Gold Officer Interview. I just wanted to know if I really need to get my teacher recommendations in quickly. My BGO Interview should be scheduled shortly, so that will hopefully be taken care of soon. Thanks for the help!
App Completion for LOA Consideration?
- Thread starter c.long
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Any admissions office in the country will tell you it is to your advantage to get your application packet completed as early as you can and be thorough, accurate, etc. I first heard this at my initial BGO training session; about 10 years later I heard the same advice from an admissions rep from MIT! Which I feel is fairly strong confirmation of the concept.
Reportedly there is a measurable advantage to completing said applicant package in the fall as opposed to after the end of the calendar year. I have had candidates who had nominations receive offers as early as the first of October. Take it for what its worth, and best wishes.
Reportedly there is a measurable advantage to completing said applicant package in the fall as opposed to after the end of the calendar year. I have had candidates who had nominations receive offers as early as the first of October. Take it for what its worth, and best wishes.
Vista123
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The application process is pretty interesting to me (some people are interested in baseball stats...don't judge 
From what I have read, my OPINION is that there are very very many parts that are important but two of the most important are Math ACT and Teacher recs. The teacher recs took the teachers just a few minutes. Is there any reason not to get them in now? I think you would be in better shape if you had your two awesome teacher recs in your packet.
just one point of view
From what I have read, my OPINION is that there are very very many parts that are important but two of the most important are Math ACT and Teacher recs. The teacher recs took the teachers just a few minutes. Is there any reason not to get them in now? I think you would be in better shape if you had your two awesome teacher recs in your packet.
just one point of view
Either the SAT or ACT, just get a score in the high percentiles on whichever test.
The general consensus on here is that applicants should take both.
Well the reason I don't have one of my teacher recommendations in is that she had surgery and is out of school. I've been trying to contact her, but I'm not sure how she's doing and I honestly feel bad for hammering her to do it in the status she's in. I'd get my senior year english teacher to do it, but I want to wait because my junior english teacher really liked me a lot and she knows me better. I haven't had my senior english class yet (obviously) so she really doesn't know me well as a student. I would love to be able to know if I was in sooner rather than later, but I don't know if I need ti have all of my application complete to be considered for an LOA. I already have an NJROTC Nomination and am medically qualified.
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Do you mean that you have already been awarded the NROTC Scholarship? Just wondering what you meant by nomination?
I'd keep delicately pressing your teacher, letting her know how important it is.
Mostly likely they'll want the teacher recommendations before making a concrete decision.
It's still early August. I didn't have my application 100% complete until mid September (for some reason, my BGO took a month to submit my interview evaluation) and still received an LOA in October. You can afford to give it a few more weeks. Press gently, but given your teacher's situation, it's understandable if she doesn't respond for a while.
It's far better to have your teacher be able to write an outstanding recommendation than rush the process.
NJROTC and MCJROTC units can nominate three students to USNA; distinguished units can nominate six students to USNA. For some reason, this is not so well known. Helps to read the fine print sometimes.
Yes, I have a nomination from my NJROTC Unit. I did also receive the NROTC ISR Scholarship endorsement which is basically an LOA for NROTC. This makes me think I'd be competitve for an LOA to the Academy. But thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to see if I can get her cell phone number and have a more concrete way to contact her over her school e-mail. Again, I appreciate the help!
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Math scores from either the SAT or ACT exams tend to be weighted more than the English or CR scores. Keep in mind that the SA's have been primarily engineering oriented schools until relatively recently, so there most assuredly is a math/science bias. Consider also that the degree awarded is a Bachelor of Science. Finally, look at the required courses for the first two years - another big clue. Personally I recommend shooting for math scores in the 700's (SAT) or 30's (ACT). I know there are some candidates who get selected with lower scores, but you would have to have access to their whole person multiples to understand fully why they were so attractive. How much do you want to gamble? Best wishes.
Too much focus on LOA
Having read this forum for years...3 years prior to my now 1C DS applying to USNA, I am constantly amazed at the false importance attached to the LOA. Too many on these forums talk of this letter as something approaching the Holy Grail of admissions. As has been stated time and again by many others it is overrated. The largest percentage of admissions do not have this paper.
Not saying they are not nice...it is just a shame some people hype them to the point where these young candidates stress over something which is useless after I day, and just not necessary if you have what it takes in the first place
I would suggest those who had them during 2017 plebe summer not wave them in the face of the detailers.
To overate the LOA on here does a disservice to the candidates who read this forum and places a focus on something much less valuable than ongoing focus on academic success and leadership.
Just my thoughts
Having read this forum for years...3 years prior to my now 1C DS applying to USNA, I am constantly amazed at the false importance attached to the LOA. Too many on these forums talk of this letter as something approaching the Holy Grail of admissions. As has been stated time and again by many others it is overrated. The largest percentage of admissions do not have this paper.
Not saying they are not nice...it is just a shame some people hype them to the point where these young candidates stress over something which is useless after I day, and just not necessary if you have what it takes in the first place
I would suggest those who had them during 2017 plebe summer not wave them in the face of the detailers.
To overate the LOA on here does a disservice to the candidates who read this forum and places a focus on something much less valuable than ongoing focus on academic success and leadership.
Just my thoughts
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From a parent who would welcome the coveted LOA, I can say that it should have very little value after its receipt. Seriously, I cannot imagine anyone "waving it in the face of a detailer" I am sure it happens, but you are simply asking for trouble by doing so.
My DS received the ISR, which is basically the "LOA" for NROTC. He was awarded with the full 4-year NROTC scholarship a couple weeks ago. What does that mean in the grand scheme of things? Only that he was fortunate enough to get his application in early, and was competitive enough to get the early consideration. The simple fact is that if he had waited a few months to turn it in, he likely would not have been as competitive as he was here in July/August, and would likely not have received the ISR.
Don't get me wrong we are incredibly grateful that he was selected for the ISR, and are equally hopeful that he will receive the coveted LOA for USNA or USCGA, but we understand that life and his acceptance to either doesnt hinge on that. Equally as important, should he receive the LOA for either, once it is received, that's the end of it. Great to receive, and congrats to all who do, but it should end there!
Just my personal thoughts...
Dial the gate
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Agree with grevar.
I don't think any of us thinks come IDay, having an LOA means anything. However tomorrow or the next day or any day between now and IDay, getting the LOA would be incredible peace of mind knowing what you are doing come this summer. My DS does not think an LOA is a license to slack off, if anything it removes a huge stressor and will allow him to continue on the path he's set to this point and have a great year. It would also free up a ton of time and money in that you could finish up plans B and C but not work on plans D, E and F, one more ACT or SAT test, application fees or college visits.
"Strive for the maxes, aim for the best, be team captain/president/leader." These are the things we have learned long ago are the things that hopefully will set him up for success. For my DS, an LOA is just one of those "maxes" he is striving for.
The parents and students who live and breathe for all the information gleaned from SAF are more informed than most and so probably "tend" to be a little obsessive, but I think that is the nature of the internet....ask any physician how annoying it is to have a patient's first words be "I read on the internet...."
I don't think any of us thinks come IDay, having an LOA means anything. However tomorrow or the next day or any day between now and IDay, getting the LOA would be incredible peace of mind knowing what you are doing come this summer. My DS does not think an LOA is a license to slack off, if anything it removes a huge stressor and will allow him to continue on the path he's set to this point and have a great year. It would also free up a ton of time and money in that you could finish up plans B and C but not work on plans D, E and F, one more ACT or SAT test, application fees or college visits.
"Strive for the maxes, aim for the best, be team captain/president/leader." These are the things we have learned long ago are the things that hopefully will set him up for success. For my DS, an LOA is just one of those "maxes" he is striving for.
The parents and students who live and breathe for all the information gleaned from SAF are more informed than most and so probably "tend" to be a little obsessive, but I think that is the nature of the internet....ask any physician how annoying it is to have a patient's first words be "I read on the internet...."
Yes, I understand why everyone is saying that an LOA isn't really important. I wasnt trying to make it out so that it was another super important document or anything like that. And you would have to pay me a lot of money to convince me to wave it in a detailers face, haha. It's really just a peace of mind type of thing for me. It would be great to know early on what my options are instead of having to wait and continually stress about it. Who wouldn't want to know where they could go to college early?
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I agree that most folks would like to avoid the stress. However, this is really just the start of a long list of things in your life that will be stressful for extended periods of time. Suggest you learn to deal with it. The process isn't what's causing the stress. The stress is something you place on yourself. Do your best each step of the way and then forget about it... each step of the way... no stress.