Appointment Question

[Boymomof3]

I didn’t know there was a minimum math score. What is it? Why didn’t the coach mention this when he looked at your records?

I forget what they are but on my son’s visit, the Admissions Officers provided the minimum SAT scores. I agree that I’m surprised the coach didn’t say something sooner. Even though my son had the minimum, I suggested he share the scores with his coach on a call this past summer as DS was adamant that he wasn’t taking it again, even though we suggested he should. The Coach flat out told him: I need you to take it again/you need a 30-40 more points. It wasn’t fun for him, but he worked with our SAT tutor and brought it up 90 points. At that point, we told him he didn’t need to take it again .

 

[Mcclp5]

I forget what they are but on my son’s visit, the Admissions Officers provided the minimum SAT scores. I agree that I’m surprised the coach didn’t say something sooner. Even though my son had the minimum, I suggested he share the scores with his coach on a call this past summer as DS was adamant that he wasn’t taking it again, even though we suggested he should. The Coach flat out told him: I need you to take it again/you need a 30-40 more points. It wasn’t fun for him, but he worked with our SAT tutor and brought it up 90 points. At that point, we told him he didn’t need to take it again .

What were the Minimum SAT scores?

 

[Boymomof3]

What were the Minimum SAT scores?

Unfortunately I can’t remember. Maybe low 600s but please don’t quote me! I think there was mention of math carrying a heavier weight. And, based on the coach’s suggestion, I feel like they’d like to see around at least a 1250 - 1300 even though that is higher than the minimum originally communicated.

 

[Mcclp5]

Unfortunately I can’t remember. Maybe low 600s but please don’t quote me! I think there was mention of math carrying a heavier weight.

Got it

 

[Iblameej]

I forget what they are but on my son’s visit, the Admissions Officers provided the minimum SAT scores. I agree that I’m surprised the coach didn’t say something sooner. Even though my son had the minimum, I suggested he share the scores with his coach on a call this past summer as DS was adamant that he wasn’t taking it again, even though we suggested he should. The Coach flat out told him: I need you to take it again/you need a 30-40 more points. It wasn’t fun for him, but he worked with our SAT tutor and brought it up 90 points. At that point, we told him he didn’t need to take it again .

Yes! Before my son was given an LOA - the coach did a pre-read on him, we had to send him ACT scores and transcripts.

 

[franknd]

He is on the waitlist.

Can you elaborate on this? I'm unfamiliar with the existence of a "waitlist," in February no less. Did the coach tell your son this? Did he explain what being on the "waitlist" meant?

 

[Boymomof3]

@franknd - just jumping in with what we know about the “waitlist”: on the encouragement of the coach my DS did reach out to his admissions contact. She is the one who told him that he’s on a “waitlist” as it’s too early to make all of the decisions. My guess is that it’s a combo of two things for him - the application deadline was moved to March 01 (from Feb 01) & he is strong candidate but not one w/ a 1400+ SAT. He’s definitely a “well rounded” student (Eagle Scout, team captain, three noms, etc) w/ a strong SAT but he’s not one who would earn an LOA. We really like his Plan “1b” so he’ll be ok if it’s a no - just over here killing time . Some kids are offered noms to USMMA if the MOC doesn’t have one left for their first choice (DS #1 was one of those kids in 2021). He had never considered USMMA & chose not to (he did get a nom from a different MOC to his first choice). But… I think some kids may choose to explore USMMA later in the process if they can’t secure a nom to their first choice. Hope this helps a little!

 

[Iblameej]

@franknd - just jumping in with what we know about the “waitlist”: on the encouragement of the coach my DS did reach out to his admissions contact. She is the one who told him that he’s on a “waitlist” as it’s too early to make all of the decisions. My guess is that it’s a combo of two things for him - the application deadline was moved to March 01 (from Feb 01) & he is strong candidate but not one w/ a 1400+ SAT. He’s definitely a “well rounded” student (Eagle Scout, team captain, three noms, etc) w/ a strong SAT but he’s not one who would earn an LOA. We really like his Plan “1b” so he’ll be ok if it’s a no - just over here killing time . Some kids are offered noms to USMMA if the MOC doesn’t have one left for their first choice (DS #1 was one of those kids in 2021). He had never considered USMMA & chose not to (he did get a nom from a different MOC to his first choice). But… I think some kids may choose to explore USMMA later in the process if they can’t secure a nom to their first choice. Hope this helps a little!

I agree with this and think that is why MMA switched deadline and hands out many more LOA’s.

 

[KPEngineer]

HIJACK ALERT!!!

she was overweight but has an 17% body fat

This demonstrates the falacy of the DOD height/weight chart.

/End Hijack

 

[Mcclp5]

Can you elaborate on this? I'm unfamiliar with the existence of a "waitlist," in February no less. Did the coach tell your son this? Did he explain what being on the "waitlist" meant?

I know there is a hold file

HIJACK ALERT!!!



This demonstrates the falacy of the DOD height/weight chart.

/End Hijack

yes she is all muscle ( she is a swimmer ) and is short

 

[franknd]

So do I infer that if an applicant doesn't have an LOA, then the applicant is likely on this "waitlist" until at least after the 1 March application deadline?

 

[Iblameej]

So do I infer that if an applicant doesn't have an LOA, then the applicant is likely on this "waitlist" until at least after the 1 March application deadline?

I never heard of a waitlist….wouldn’t that be after getting an official decision? Some students are then offered a spot on the waitlist?

 

[kpmom2013]

There is not an official wait-list at USMMA, but some people find it easier to call it that. The term that is generally used is "Hold." Once your application has been reviewed and you are considered suitable for admission, your status is usually reflected as "Hold." Admissions then reviews these hold candidates and makes offers of admission based on many factors including the strength of the application, geography, sex, race, and other considerations in order to fill the class and get the numbers they are looking for. Many offers of admission are made to hold candidates in March, and offers will continue going out over the following weeks as candidates accept or reject a spot in the class. Most candidates have a May 1 deadline to accept an offer. If there are still spots in the class after that, offers will continue to go out to hold candidates in May and sometimes even into June. Those later offers have shorter and shorter deadlines for acceptance from a week down to only 24 hours toward the end of the cycle. I know the wait can be nerve wracking, but try to enjoy your senior year and spend time with your family and friends. Good luck to all.

 

[franknd]

There is not an official wait-list at USMMA, but some people find it easier to call it that. The term that is generally used is "Hold." Once your application has been reviewed and you are considered suitable for admission, your status is usually reflected as "Hold." Admissions then reviews these hold candidates and makes offers of admission based on many factors including the strength of the application, geography, sex, race, and other considerations in order to fill the class and get the numbers they are looking for. Many offers of admission are made to hold candidates in March, and offers will continue going out over the following weeks as candidates accept or reject a spot in the class.

This is helpful because it hasn't been particularly clear how they dole out appointments up to this point.

So I looked at the last three years of DIY appointment lists here (and so this is necessarily limited to that data), and they show that:

For the class of 2025, only 23 out of 82 (28%) documented appointments were made before March 1.
For the class of 2026, that figure jumped up noticeably, 35 out of 59 (59%).
For the class of 2027, the proportion of pre-March 1 appointments dropped back down to 18 out of 61 (30%).
So far this year, for the class of 2028, 24 appointments have been posted.

 

[DrJoJo]

Agree 100% with the need for a backup plan. My DS was a recruited athlete as well and had all the assurances in the world but in the end he needed a medical waiver which was not granted until May 2nd ... AFTER we had already paid enrollment and housing deposits for his backup school. He's at the Academy now, but we would have been scrambling to get him into a decent school at the last minute if we had not "hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst."

Wow, May 2nd? That is good to know. I didn't realize it could be that late.

 

[franknd]

Also, on further reflection, I suspect the reason that the class of 2026 appointments were more heavily front-loaded is that applications were noticeably down that year, to the effect that of the 444 who "met selection criteria" (which I infer equals 3Q + Nom), 419 (94%) received appointments, so they weren't too concerned about being oversubscribed. In contrast, the year before 538 "met selection criteria," and 451 (84%) received appointment offers, which is probably why the appointments came relatively later.

They haven't posted 2027 appointment data, and the 2028 application deadline hasn't passed yet.

 

[KP_Dad]

Wow, May 2nd? That is good to know. I didn't realize it could be that late.

Yep. Medical waiver was granted May 2 and official appointment came within an hour or two thereafter. February thru April were extremely nerve-wracking months for our family last year. Thankfully, it all worked out! We were even able to get our deposits to backup school refunded.