How do you get an LOA?

Chockstock

The Stars and Stripes Forever
10-Year Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
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Oog. I've looked all over the USMA admissions website and the internet and all I could figure out is that it stands for 'Letter of Assurance". God, I feel so dumb. Can anyone fill me in on how you get one? I know it assures your appointment given that you get a nomination. How much of the application needs to be complete to get one? Is there a deadline?

Thanks again!

Chockstock
 
It is not something you can try to get. If, after reviewing your file, you are deemed "worthy" of one, you will be sent one. I have seen candidates get them that were no surprise and some get them that were a huge surprise. I've seen amazing candidates not get them as well. What you seek is an appointment, not an LOA. Get your file done; don't worry about the LOA, as it is out of your hands completely.
 
Oh. So, how much of your application needs to be completed to be considered for an LOA? I know that what you're telling me makes sense - the decision next March is what matters. But still - I'd like information on "receiving" the LOA. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to do my best to get one, would it?
 
As far as I understand, for AF and Navy, they really, really like to see the whole application complete in order to send an LOA. Yes, there are exceptions, but it seems like most of the people who got one had everything (except for medical and obviously the nom) done.

WP seemed to start sending them out very early. My son knew 3 kids who got them in July, just based on their SLS information. They stated something like "if everything is as you represented to us on your SLS application, we will then send you an LOA" and once they got the official transcripts, SAT scores, etc. in, they got the LOA. Seems like a lot of people get them from WP without complete packets (not everything official in, without the essays, or the teacher recs, or the CFA), but obviously you'd have to have enough in for them to determine that you were high enough quality that they wanted you. If you haven't completed your application at this time, you really should be working on it hard.

As far as doing your "best" to receive one - there's really no way to do this per se. It's more doing your best to complete your application so that they have an earlier chance to look at it and see if you deserve the LOA. So get it done!! :wink:
 
There is no "earliest" you can get an LOA. All you have to do is apply and if they deem you good enough they will send you one. To increase your chances of one you will have to do the same as if you wanted to increase your chances of an appointment, be above average and stand out.
 
I will humbly offer a few specifics for how to get an LOA.

1. Be a recruited athlete/decent scholar who is going to be a direct entry (no year at prep school).

2. Have a very high ACT/SAT score with the usual leadership attributes that lead to that high score. The academies are trying to compare themselves to the Ivy's so they like having that average ACT score enhanced.

The LOA is a really smart tool for the academies. It precedes early approvals at the other top schools and lets the MOC's know who to give appointments to. I would love to know what % of people receiving LOA's end up going to the academy, but I suspect it is a closely guarded secret.
 
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