Incomplete status

[Capt MJ]

DS is going for LOA with USNA, which requires completed application minus the nomination. He didn't get one from USMA. Attending one of the best private schools in the country, summer lab at one of ivy's that he got by himself (I am as far from academia as one can imagine), being Eagle scout, boys state and running weekly EMT shifts (that he really enjoys) was clearly not enough for USMA.

There may be a bit of annual confusion here about Letters of Assurance, which are not offers of appointment. Each of the SAs has their own way of using these class-building tools.

Early in the admissions cycle, USNA may give out LOAs with conditions, assuring the candidate of an offer of appointment if certain conditions are met - this could be CFA complete, first semester grades, DoDMERB qualified or waivered, nomination, etc., or any other combination. That means the application is not yet complete, whether because of items under the candidate’s control or not.

Later in the cycle, into the spring, with a complete application and no conditions remaining to be met, USNA might send an LOA to let the candidate know to hang on, an appointment is going to be headed your way.

These are the copy and paste comments I usually make about LOAs and how to think about them, as these questions surface every year:

- Candidates apply for an appointment to the SA. Submitting a quality application in a timely manner is the best chance for an appointment. Any candidate who applies may be considered for an LOA.

- Most midshipmen and cadets did not receive an LOA.

- On the appointment lists posted here on SAF every year, you might see more LOAs than you would expect. It’s a very small data slice; roughly 10-15% of the appointees in a class at a DoD SA find their way to SAF to post on annual appointment threads. That group is likely skewed toward appointees and parents who lean far forward searching the internet for information that might provide an edge in the application process.

- USNA can give an LOA at anytime they wish in the cycle, to anyone, for any reason, in any format, with conditions or not, in any phase of the candidate’s application. It is a class-shaping tool. LOAs have been known to be given out at USNA Summer Seminar.

- LOAs given early in the cycle often have a condition(s) to fulfill - nom, DoDMERB clearance, CFA, first semester grades, etc. Late in the cycle, one might be given to urge the candidate to be patient and continue to check the portal.

- It is quite possible to receive an LOA and no offer of appointment, if a condition(s) is not fulfilled.

- The goal is an offer of appointment, not LOA.

- Every year, outstanding fully qualified candidates with nom(s) are not offered appointments. There is simply not enough room in the class.

- Resist the urge to look left or right at other applicants. Someone with a “lesser stat” than you may receive an LOA. You cannot see the totality of their application and all its graded elements, nor do you know how or why the SA is using the LOA.

- And finally, I can’t resist my usual practice of describing the LOA as a unicorn. If one wanders into your portal, rejoice. But don’t spend any time on thinking about how to attract or capture one.

 

[Heatherg21]

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

@Heatherg21 how did you get that magic Unicorn to appear?

 

[Holden100]

@Heatherg21 how did you get that magic Unicorn to appear?

Same place where those check marks on the portal are suppose to appear maybe?

 

[Heatherg21]

@Heatherg21 how did you get that magic Unicorn to appear?

 

[Don't Give Up the Ship]

...

 

[Capt MJ]

Apologies to the OP for this rabbit hole.

 

[Sealion II]

FWIW:

Dear DD,

We are pleased to advise you that the Admissions Board has found you qualified to compete for admission to the United States Naval Academy with the Class of 2027. You are guaranteed an offer of appointment if your remaining admissions requirements are satisfactorily met. etc.

Received 10/1/2022

 

[Sealion II]

We wouldn't have even known what a LOA was if it weren't for posters here. And the great advice to focus on the end goal: appointment.

 

[jbm2m]

We wouldn't have even known what a LOA was if it weren't for posters here. And the great advice to focus on the end goal: appointment.

Agreed. The only real thing my DD’s LOE has done for us is to make us confident she will get a waiver review - and *maybe* a slight leg up in the nomination process. Beyond that, it’s just been motivation to get all remaining stuff done.

 

[NCA]

I’m the OP and am quite enjoying the conversation, actually Everyone’s situation is unique. For my DS, he can’t afford not to apply to one civilian school for early decision because ED increases his chance quite a bit and it’s his option-b. As such, an LOA would be extremely nice because he wouldn’t have to worry about applying for ED.

 

[jbm2m]

I’m the OP and am quite enjoying the conversation, actually Everyone’s situation is unique. For my DS, he can’t afford not to apply to one civilian school for early decision because ED increases his chance quite a bit and it’s his option-b. As such, an LOA would be extremely nice because he wouldn’t have to worry about applying for ED.

Also the big thing on our end! If not for really liking and West Point, and her LOA, there’s a specific Ivy my DD would be applying to early. It would help tremendously with her chances, but here we are… *really* hoping we get word on waiver before ED deadline, but prepared to wait if necessary.

 

[Holden100]

I’m the OP and am quite enjoying the conversation, actually Everyone’s situation is unique. For my DS, he can’t afford not to apply to one civilian school for early decision because ED increases his chance quite a bit and it’s his option-b. As such, an LOA would be extremely nice because he wouldn’t have to worry about applying for ED.

My older DS applied ED1 because it was his first choice, got in and then withdrew all his other applications (including the very involved service academy apps). That was tough, but he has no regrets. That was always his first choice school, and, fortunately, he was awarded both Army and Navy ROTC scholarships there. But, yes, these are all very difficult decisions. My younger DS, now an applicant, decided last year he would not apply anywhere binding, but will apply EA. I'm secretly very happy he's not so set on one school. The ED app was actually very stressful in retrospect.

 

[mike1979]

I’m the OP and am quite enjoying the conversation, actually Everyone’s situation is unique. For my DS, he can’t afford not to apply to one civilian school for early decision because ED increases his chance quite a bit and it’s his option-b. As such, an LOA would be extremely nice because he wouldn’t have to worry about applying for ED.

Thank you! We are in the same exact position and I have been trying to explain that to the folks on this forum for the last two months. At some point we are calling it a day and moving along with ED to the civilian school. I am not going to sit and wait until May of next year and wonder if SA got enough of diversity candidates and athletes so that they can start looking at the rest of the applicants. I never went to college and I am doing fine. My children will be fine as well.

 

[Roo555]

DS is going for LOA with USNA, which requires completed application minus the nomination. He didn't get one from USMA. Attending one of the best private schools in the country, summer lab at one of ivy's that he got by himself (I am as far from academia as one can imagine), being Eagle scout, boys state and running weekly EMT shifts (that he really enjoys) was clearly not enough for U

DS is going for LOA with USNA, which requires completed application minus the nomination. He didn't get one from USMA. Attending one of the best private schools in the country, summer lab at one of ivy's that he got by himself (I am as far from academia as one can imagine), being Eagle scout, boys state and running weekly EMT shifts (that he really enjoys) was clearly not enough for USMA.

I’ve read on the site that kids are dinged for parents calls/involvement. I know you want what’s best for your son but I think you should consider that you might be hurting him by making all these call and demands for him. And I’ve read your other posts so I know that you think this is over his head but if you are telling the admissions people that he can’t handle the IT issues what makes you think they are going to want to give him a weapon?

 

[mike1979]

@Roo555 Wow, just wow. You've managed to establish logical connection between someone's parent helping the candidate to navigate IT issues with such candidate not being able to handle a weapon upon graduation...

Okay. Jokes aside, let me try this one more time. Establishing web-based portal in 21st century is not a paramount task. Portal should be working, plain and simple. It should be working on very first day when it is released. It still doesn't work four years later and no one can articulate when all the issues will be resolved. No candidates should be navigating any IT issues. The more broken it is the more people would call the admissions the more frustrating it would be for everyone involved, why not just fix it since that is what would need to happen anyways at the end of the day. There is also plenty of aspects in the application for the candidates to handle themselves (which btw go on top of their day-to-day activities) and all other applications that are being filled out in parallel

Where did everyone get the idea that high-school-aged candidates should be able to handle everything themselves otherwise they are not fit for what is ahead of them? If my son is forty and need help then guess what? I am going to help him as many times as I see fit. Why? BECAUSE I AM THE PARENT and the child didn't ask to be born, I've checked.

 

[NCA]

Well… @Roo555, despite that logic, USNA can’t seem to fix it’s IT issues, but taxpayers are funding Navy with $250B+ each year, so… I think everyone just need to cool down. IT issues are really frustrating for both parents and applicants. Shaming parents with nonsense logic seems counter-productive.

 

[Heatherg21]

For those over 21 may I suggest a trip to the cocktail thread with a few rashers of perfectly crisped bacon?

 

[Heatherg21]

Thank you! We are in the same exact position and I have been trying to explain that to the folks on this forum for the last two months. At some point we are calling it a day and moving along with ED to the civilian school. I am not going to sit and wait until May of next year and wonder if SA got enough of diversity candidates and athletes so that they can start looking at the rest of the applicants. I never went to college and I am doing fine. My children will be fine as well.

I’m sorry the process is so challenging, honestly. And ED and binding decisions complicate things for sure.

If your son or daughter is serious about their desire to serve as an officer in this Nation’s military, and they think an SA is the right path for them—- then May of next year may be the date they need to make peace with.

Having just spent 32 hours in admission BGO in person training, I can assure you that diversity and athletes are not the focus. Are they a component? Yes. Are they taking slots from others? I don’t believe so.

The overall candidate and where they measure up on their local nomination slates are what it really comes down to.

Every parent can believe their kiddo is totally qualified and deserving. Many kids are turned down who check every box. I’ve met my son’s roommates and friends. Several are Re applicants. They were freaking Adonis rock stars. And didn’t get in the first time.

I, and others recently mentored a kiddo on the forum who was a reapplicant. He took the advice, did the work, bided his time, made a plan and executed it. He is now wearing his whites during the first days of his academic plebe year.

 

[Roo555]

Look I’ve got a kid in this admissions cycle. I’ve helped him…..from over his shoulder. I’ve helped him….by saying I think it’s time for you to call. I’ve helped him….by helping him make a bullet list of things he might want to discuss while he has the admissions officer on the phone. I’m not saying you should be totally uninvolved or uncaring….I’m saying just like you stood him up and encouraged him to walk, just like you put the fork in his hand and encouraged him to put his own food in his mouth, just like you steadied the bicycle and then LET GO….maybe it’s time to help him but let him do things for himself.

My son was held up 3 weeks with “Complete and On Hold.” I finally said tell your principal today is the day and you’re fixing this. HE got permission to call and be on his personal email all day. HE tracked down a source that could help him and eventually HE got the problem solved.

We can all be pissed about the IT issues but I bet the folks on their end don’t come into work and clink their coffee cups and smile in the morning because this is so difficult. Instead they do their job. Which is what they are asking our sons (and daughters) to do.

And seriously….scour these forums. I’m not joking about them dinging a kid for the parents calling. That may not be a current practice but it was in years past. They don’t want to hear from you. They want to hear from him. I’m trying to do you a favor by telling you that because I’ve spent hours reading back years in the forums. I get your heart. You’re a caring dad. But being a bully to the admissions team—and I’m sorry but that’s how you come across whether it’s true or not—cannot be helping your kid.