LOA... now what?

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MG23Hopeful

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Looking for advice. DS received a letter of assurance last week from USMA, which puts him in a situation he hasn't planned for. Although USMA is clearly his first choice, he has applications in progress at USNA and USAFA, as well as 3 colleges with Army ROTC programs. He is now considering pulling out of some of these applications, as he feels he has (by far) the greatest chance at getting the appointment to USMA. All he has left on his application is clearing the medical exam and getting a nomination. (We live in a "less competitive" district.) His argument is that if he fails to get the appointment to USMA for some unforeseeable reason, he probably wouldn't get appointments to the other SAs. He thinks his time is best spent focusing on getting his USMA nomination and working on just one or two Plan B schools. I'm wondering if not completing his other applications, especially the ones for USNA and USAFA, will a negative impact on his nomination interviews. He plans to speak with his FFR in the near future and get her opinion, but I thought I'd see what experience and advice others have on this issue.
 
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Complete all SA applications, list USMA as #1 choice with MOC. The extra work for 2 more apps is really not that much.
DS got 2 nominations from our district MOC; would have gotten 3 but he didn't apply to USNA [obviously . . . ;)]
 
I agree. Finish the applications. Options are always good and who knows what the year might bring. If and when he gets appointments to all he can thoughtfully accept his #1 and respectfully decline the other 2.
 
Way too many things can happen between now and R-Day for your DS to become comfortable or complacent. Beware trying to read into any one SA’s actions, e.g. “If USMA doesn’t accept me, neither will USNA or USAFA.” They’re independent institutions with different criteria and applicants, so beware the transitive property. And what if USMA rejects DS for a medical issue that doesn’t matter to USNA or USAFA? It happens.

Now, if DS really has no desire to attend USNA or USAFA, he shouldn’t. But if he’s open to them, he’d be foolhardy to count his USMA chickens before they hatch.
 
I had a similar question—if all I have left with the LOA is the medical and nomination (told I would “be fine” and in a non-competitive district), should I finish my AROTC applications? If I am medically disqualified from USMA, it seems unlikely that I would be qualified for AROTC. I am applying to USMMA as well as several plan B, C, and D schools.
 
MG23Hopeful said:
I'm wondering if not completing his other applications, especially the ones for USNA and USAFA, will a negative impact on his nomination interviews.
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No, it will not hurt his application to USMA when discontinuing his application to the other academies. That being said I would complete the other applications. As pointed out above it's minimal effort. Also, see the below...

@prospective2019 Continue the AROTC application. If you were medically DQ'ed for USMA then AROTC might grant a waiver that USMA would not. Each commissioning source grants their own waivers and one academy or program may reach a different decision than another. Also, if you were injured late in the game so that you could not report on I-Day then having AROTC as a backup may allow you to participate after you heal, since you'll have several more weeks to do so.

Always keep all options open for as long as possible when you are able to do so. Just a good rule to live by if nothing else. Just my 2 cents.
 
I agree with the others, finish all the applications and keep the options on the table (especially Plan B) in the event that an unforeseen situation occurs and the USMA appointment come together. My son received a LOA early in the process and since USMA was his top choice by a significant distance, chose to discontinue his other applications. When the waiver process extended beyond his expected timeline he got VERY nervous and started looking for a plan B late in the game. Luckily everything worked out and he received his medical waiver and appointment but it was a nerve wracking experience. Your DS has a better chance with multiple commissioning sources in the event that he needs a waiver, so don't limit the possibilities.
 
Don't burn a bridge until you come to it.

Way too early to think about withdrawing applications and declining other offers.
 
^^ I agree. An LOA alone is not an appointment and no guarantee you will receive a NOM or pass DODMERB. Only after you ACCEPT an appointment offer to one of the SA's does it make sense to stop pursuing your application to the other SA's. We are only in August and the current cycle for applications is just beginning.
 
The LOA is a Conditional Offer of Appointment, which means that when he satisfies the condition(s) as stated in the LOA, it will change to a Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment. If his main desire is to commission as an officer in The Army (and AROTC is is his "back-up" plan), then I can see no reason as to why he would finish his applications to USNA and USAFA.

His logic is flawed however. All three SAs have vastly different medical waiver processes. What is easily waivered at one SA is nearly impossible to waiver out of, at another SA.
Again though, if he wants to be in the Army, I see no reason to fill out applications for USAFA and USNA. The cultures in each of those branches are vastly different than Army.
I have heard of applicants being offered appointments to all of the SAs and they have a difficult time deciding to which one they should go. I truly don't understand that one. Surly, you would rather go to one over the other, right?

ALWAYS have a back up plan. He can satisfy the condition(s) of his LOA and receive an Offer of Appointment, but if between then and next Summer he gets injured, or becomes ineligible in any number of ways, his offer can be rescinded. Getting an Offer this early can be as stressful as waiting, because you want to wrap them in bubble wrap for the next several months. ;)
 
Thanks very much, everyone, for taking the time to respond. I appreciate all the feedback and varied opinions. I will share these bits of wisdom with him. I was tempted to insist he finishes the applications, but it is his life and ultimately his choice. I also couldn’t come up with a concrete reason why he absolutely should complete them, but there are some good points made on this post that should help him decide. I’ll continue to watch this thread for more input.
 
MG23Hopeful said:
I was tempted to insist he finishes the applications, but it is his life and ultimately his choice.
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Great approach, @MG23Hopeful. It is indeed his life, and he should reap what he sows. Sadly, there are many parents who intensely hover like a [insert your favorite military rotary-wing aircraft here] throughout the application process. And even more sadly,some continue thus even after their DS/DD has taken the Cadet/Midshipman oath. Takes only a glance at the various Facebook parent group websites to see this. Your DS will benefit greatly from your thoughtful yet restrained guidance.
 
Yes, I also agree to continue all of them. DS had an LOA to USNA, which was his first choice. He also had an interest in USMA, and applied for NROTC and AROTC Scholarships. He got all of them, but he ended up changing his mind to go with USMA, in the end, after he received the appointment there and had overnight visits to both USNA and USMA. Our DD was applying to all of the above, but then discerned she wanted a more traditional college experience and pulled all of her academy applications and accepted her NROTC scholarship. Kids can change their minds and it is good to have options.
 
HS seniors should be leaving as many doors open for their future as possible. These tend to be high achieving young people who will accomplish great things over time. Don’t go shutting down any potential paths that have yet to be explored. To be discussing pulling any applications in late August is just crazy talk.
 
About the LOA letter in August...This is really about the MAs competing with other high achieving colleges such as the Ivys. I think an LOA early in August shows that this DD/DS has completed the app and has the grades/test scores to be appointed had this DD/DS been a regular applicant. Again it is really tough because with other civilian schools an agreement between athletic recruit/coaches would seal the deal. MAs are just different. Plan B/C is wise but if DS is committed to USMA then just take that leap of faith.
 
WashingtonUSNA2123 said:
Again it is really tough because with other civilian schools an agreement between athletic recruit/coaches would seal the deal.
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Agree with @WashingtonUSNA2123 except for this part. Letters of intent aren’t signed until January or February, so to believe an agreement between athlete and coach in August “would seal the deal” is irresponsible and naive. The landscape is strewn with sad stories of coaches backing out of verbal offers, leaving recruits holding the proverbial bag. And it goes the other way too. Athletic recruiting at the D1 level is not for the faint of heart.
 
Smalltowngirl said:
What does the LOE say? My DD got a letter today and we’re curious.
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LOE is Letter of Encouragement. It means is that based on the information submitted so far, you are likely to be competitive. It is a tool RC's use to get applicants to finish the application and keep up the level of interest.

It is a good thing, but does not have the weight of an LOA, which guarantees an appointment if qualified with nomination.
 
Right. I’ve read that but my DD just got a letter from admissions with pre addressed envelopes that says congrats, use your portal to complete items, if you have questions, blah blah. It seems like something they would send early in the process—not when were this far along. She still has to complete CFA and Medical.
 
DS received the big brown envelope with pre-addressed envelopes too and was wondering what they were for?
 
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