Class of 2020

Been lurking the posts for months now. Happy to report our DS got an LOA Saturday! Very unexpected because his scores were all average--30 ACT, average CFA. We are wondering what they see in him that they gave him an LOA. Seriously, this is shocking. We are so very proud and perplexed at the same time when we see others' credentials in comparison. So everyone--have faith!!

He is now diligently preparing for MOC on Saturday and December 5th. Anyone know if he has a better chance of getting a nomination with LOA? Everything is so intense...
Congrats to your DS and your family! I'm sure he is plenty impressive to get an LOA. Btw what part of the nation are you from?
 
Been lurking the posts for months now. Happy to report our DS got an LOA Saturday! Very unexpected because his scores were all average--30 ACT, average CFA. We are wondering what they see in him that they gave him an LOA. Seriously, this is shocking. We are so very proud and perplexed at the same time when we see others' credentials in comparison. So everyone--have faith!!

He is now diligently preparing for MOC on Saturday and December 5th. Anyone know if he has a better chance of getting a nomination with LOA? Everything is so intense...
Congratulations to your DS. I'm sure it is a relief, now on to getting his nomination. Good luck to him. Is your son's application complete except for a nomination? If so, when did he complete his application?
 
We live in Minnesota. He got everything in at the end of September. It said application was completed. Then it showed up that he needed another form filled out about body mass (he was in-season for football). Then the portal finally showed his application as complete again on October 24th. Yep, his application is now complete except for the nomination. FYI-he is NOT a recruited athlete...
 
Nice job! I wish my application was finished but my ALO is slacking (just kidding it's an expression). Can you give a quick rundown of his resume? It's just out of curiosity and for those who want to size themselves up with a person who obtained a LOA (including myself lol)
 
We live in Minnesota. He got everything in at the end of September. It said application was completed. Then it showed up that he needed another form filled out about body mass (he was in-season for football). Then the portal finally showed his application as complete again on October 24th. Yep, his application is now complete except for the nomination. FYI-he is NOT a recruited athlete...
Congratulation to my fellow Minnesotan! It seems like just yesterday we were in your shoes. 4 heal clicks and we are staring at graduation. Enjoy the ride. :)
 
I am a little hesitant to post this message because I know how many incredible applicants and their parents are waiting on pins and needles. I don't want to add to your anxiety, but I promised I would post if we heard anything from the academy - so here goes...

My DS recieved a "Letter of Assurance" from USAFA this morning!!!

Notification came via e-mail and his application portal was updated. I am still stunned, I think I have read it 100 times already. So very proud of him!!!

We know that this is not an appiontment, as he still needs a nomination (his interviews are next month), but damn this feels good :) and yes fencersmother I know he can't rest on his laurels and still needs to pursue back up plans ;)

For any of you that are curious about his qualifications/achievements there is a brief overview listed on this thread in post #5. I would be glad to answer any other questions anyone may have.

This forum has helped us in so many ways. Thank you!!

:jump1:
First of all, congratulations!!!!!!

This, of course, means he received the early notification making him highly qualified. Can you give us a little insight into what may have contributed to this? I greatly appreciate it!
 
My husband and I are still perplexed by it all. Here's what he has on his resume:
ACT, super-scored: 30
GPA: 4.11
Class Rank-School doesn't report it or allow families to know it because it is so competitive. They sent the rank to the AFA. We presume he is maybe in the top 15-20% based on last year's class.
CFA: bb75, pu9, sr8.4, su62, pu60, run 6:58

He is a 2 year captain for the FB team, 3 year letter winner, 3 year letter winner/Varsity Lacrosse player, coached youth football, summer football camp counselor, works part-time, went on a mission trip, founded a volunteer group to shovel driveways for the home-bound in our area, respite caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient, tutor, volunteers for youth church group. Typical NHS, Student Council participation. (We believe this is a very typical amount of community service for all the applicants---nothing too spectacular but it shows he was engaged in his community)

He received excellent recommendations, as everyone does....

This is why we presume he is an 'average' applicant.

All we can think is that perhaps his essays set him apart. He took a MAJOR risk and didn't write 'typical' essays. He spoke from his heart and tried to make sure his personality showed rather than reiterate his 'accomplishments'. I, personally, was nervous about his approach, hoping his risk would pay off rather than be a detriment to him.

It is very out of character for me to share anything that seems to be prideful. The reason I share his story is to encourage the 'average' kids, like my son, to keep the faith!
 
Your son sounds like an excellent and very deserving candidate! The leadership he has displayed as a youth football coach, camp counselor and founding a volunteer group sets him apart and displays the attributes that are highly sought after in a appointee!
 
He is now diligently preparing for MOC on Saturday and December 5th. Anyone know if he has a better chance of getting a nomination with LOA? Everything is so intense...

Make sure he prints the LOA letter off his portal and provides it to the congressional staffer running the interviews and also brings a copy to the interview. While USAFA communicates that a candidate has a LOA to the congressional and senate offices, sometimes this information does not get to the interview panel. However, he should be very humble about how he goes about this.
 
Any more LOAs or Appointment offers for USAFA 2020? I imagine some should be flowing at this point.
 
congrats on the LOA. Has your son been medically qualified?

Sometimes there is just no figuring LOA's: my twins had almost identical scores, literally. Their gpa's were withing 2 one-thousandths of a point, and identical SATs, sports, etc. One received an LOA, one did not.

They both showed up on I-Day, and literally, no one cared about the LOA, nor in four years did it ever come up among the cadets. Parents, yes, a different story.
 
congrats on the LOA. Has your son been medically qualified?

Yep, he is 3q'd :) He has his MOC interview Saturday morning and a Senate interview Saturday afternoon, big day!!

Which leads me to a perplexing question... When DS told his MOC coordinator about his LOA, coordinator congratulated him and said something to the effect of, "barring something unexpected you won't have any problem with the interview/nomination it is basically a formality for you now that you have an LOA". He went on to say, "but don't expect the principle nomination, we generally put our LOA holders in the #9 ranked slot". (This MOC designates a princple and ranks the alternates.)

I have read reams on this forum (including all the stickies) and am still confused about the nomination process. So assuming the principle nominee is 3q'd, my question is this: If DS (3q'd with an LOA) is ranked #9 on MOC slate, does that count as a "nomination"? Which in this case would equal an appointment, correct? Or does it mean he will go into the national pool to continue to compete for a nomination?
 
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congrats on the LOA. Has your son been medically qualified?

Yep, he is 3q'd :) He has his MOC interview Saturday morning and a Senate interview Saturday afternoon, big day!!

Which leads me to a perplexing question... When DS told his MOC coordinator about his LOA, coordinator congratulated him and said something to the effect of, "barring something unexpected you won't have any problem with the interview/nomination it is basically a formality for you now that you have an LOA". He went on to say, "but don't expect the principle nomination, we generally put our LOA holders in the #9 ranked slot". (This MOC designates a princple and ranks the alternates.)

I have read reams on this forum (including all the stickies) and am still confused about the nomination process. So assuming the principle nominee is 3q'd, my question is this: If DS (3q'd with an LOA) is ranked #9 on MOC slate, does that count as a "nomination"? Which in this case would equal an appointment, correct? Or does it mean he will go into the national pool to continue to compete for a nomination?
He will be competing for an appointment not a nomination as he already has that ranked at #9 in the slate.
 
People have gotten accepted THE WEEK OF I-DAY! It ain't over till it's over...

Complete your items, work on B &C plans, start working out! Running at altitude is a bear.

Best of luck to you all!
 
So assuming the principle nominee is 3q'd, my question is this: If DS (3q'd with an LOA) is ranked #9 on MOC slate, does that count as a "nomination"? Which in this case would equal an appointment, correct?

Yes.

The MOC is using principal as a charging aspect. Basically, they are forcing USAFAs hand.
~ Your DS has an LOA, and if 3 Q, plus this MOCs nom...he will get appointed.

HOWEVER, because the MOC used the principal for their slate. USAFA now must offer an appointment to that principal also if that candidate is 3 Q. The MoC will be charged for the principal nominee if they accept the appointment. The LOA will be charged to another source, such as the Supe.

In essence for my scenario, the MoC will have at least 2 cadets appointed that they can tell their constituents regarding attending, but only 1 was charged to them.
~ It is not uncommon to see 8+ on a slate get an appointment, while at the same time the MoC only had 1 charged.
 
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DS was DOD qualified for all 3 academies as of last week, passed CFA at WP SLE, and completed state nomination interviews the wknd before Thanksgiving.

Yesterday he (and I) received an email from USAFA re: change of status, and kept getting an error message upon attempting log-in. Prayed for patience, and within a couple hours, after school, he was able to get in and found a Letter of Assurance. He was *so* happy and surprised. I have been all over the place with emotions. Just need the nom now ("just" LOL ). What a Christmas present that would be!

My understanding is news of the LOA *should* be sent to the MOC he interviewed with in Nov, as well as the VP (he also requested that nom - we have no qualifications for Pres, etc). I've asked him to confirm that with his AFA liaison.

Exciting to see progress, and very unexpected as we didn't think we'd hear anything until March. Ironically, I made him sit and complete other college apps with 12/1 deadlines on Sunday. Haha. Poor kid. Oh well, at least he will have back-up plans of anything compromises his appointment.

If he receives an appt to the AFA and Annapolis, he says it will be a difficult decision. Wants to fly.

Anyway, that's our update!

Thanks for the posts. I think we '20 parents are going to really need one another next summer!
 
DS was DOD qualified for all 3 academies as of last week, passed CFA at WP SLE, and completed state nomination interviews the wknd before Thanksgiving.

Yesterday he (and I) received an email from USAFA re: change of status, and kept getting an error message upon attempting log-in. Prayed for patience, and within a couple hours, after school, he was able to get in and found a Letter of Assurance. He was *so* happy and surprised. I have been all over the place with emotions. Just need the nom now ("just" LOL ). What a Christmas present that would be!

My understanding is news of the LOA *should* be sent to the MOC he interviewed with in Nov, as well as the VP (he also requested that nom - we have no qualifications for Pres, etc). I've asked him to confirm that with his AFA liaison.

Exciting to see progress, and very unexpected as we didn't think we'd hear anything until March. Ironically, I made him sit and complete other college apps with 12/1 deadlines on Sunday. Haha. Poor kid. Oh well, at least he will have back-up plans of anything compromises his appointment.

If he receives an appt to the AFA and Annapolis, he says it will be a difficult decision. Wants to fly.

Anyway, that's our update!

Thanks for the posts. I think we '20 parents are going to really need one another next summer!

I have a brother currently at USNA, and he said that some midshipmen who were PQ got pilot slots without even putting it on their sheet. From what I understand, there are more pilot slots coming out of USAFA, but it's harder through UPT. On the other hand, less midshipmen generally want to fly, so it's a little easier to finish. I have good friend who just graduated #1 of his navy UPT class, and he generally agrees.
 
DS's USAFA portal - 12/14/2015:

"Congratulations! You have been offered an appointment to the US Air Force Academy! Please open the attached letter for details."

:groupwave:
 
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