LOA - How, Why and When?

My twins: one got an LOA on his 18th birthday (October) and the other did not (identical stats for SAT/both recruited athletes/gpa w/in 0.001 of each other).

Was still a really great day of Twin A's high school career, and put twin B into high gear. A's package was complete, B's was not, but the rules have changed somewhat now.

In any case, don't expect an LOA, and don't be disappointed if/when you don't get it. No one will ask you about it on I Day or any other day.
 
I'm not sure I understand the logic of asking how much of the application needs to be completed for an LOA. You can't get an appointment if your application is incomplete, so might as well push hard to complete it (and nomination applications, since you need one of those, as well)...so work hard to complete the applications and if you get an LOA, great...if you don't, doesn't mean much.
 
Interesting you used "walk on water candidate" My DD recieved LOA last October from very competitive district. She was specifically told by her BGO that she was not a "walk on water candidate" She had virtually maxed out CFA, incredibly well rounded with very successful athletics (but not recruited), and community/high school service projects that she started and did on her own (I actually just found about another one last week from one of her siblings, still in high school). 2100 SAT (took them 5 or 6 times!) and at about top ten percent class rank so pretty good. Very self driven and positive and interviewed well. Still not sure what drove the LOA but as stated above just put the best of yourself forward and that is all one can do. She also had application in first day possible I believe.
She still needed Nomination and DODMERB to finish application.
 
DD received her LOA last September. Her application was complete, the only requirement was a nomination which she received in December. Not a "walk on water" candidate, but very well-rounded: class president, solid SATs/ACTs and class rank, multi-year All-State athlete in two sports, Science Olympiad state champion, drum line state champion. Her USNA LOA included a hand-written note commending her on her performance at NASS.
DD also received her LOA to USCGA in September, where she was recruited for both sports. She chose to attend USCGA for the mission of the Coast Guard, and is happy with her decision.
 
Interesting you used "walk on water candidate" My DD recieved LOA last October from very competitive district. She was specifically told by her BGO that she was not a "walk on water candidate" She had virtually maxed out CFA, incredibly well rounded with very successful athletics (but not recruited), and community/high school service projects that she started and did on her own (I actually just found about another one last week from one of her siblings, still in high school). 2100 SAT (took them 5 or 6 times!) and at about top ten percent class rank so pretty good. Very self driven and positive and interviewed well. Still not sure what drove the LOA but as stated above just put the best of yourself forward and that is all one can do. She also had application in first day possible I believe.
She still needed Nomination and DODMERB to finish application.

I think you are being modest or her BGO has very high standard, I have a low standard. I would consider your daughter as "walk on water candidate."
 
DD received her LOA last September. Her application was complete, the only requirement was a nomination which she received in December. Not a "walk on water" candidate, but very well-rounded: class president, solid SATs/ACTs and class rank, multi-year All-State athlete in two sports, Science Olympiad state champion, drum line state champion. Her USNA LOA included a hand-written note commending her on her performance at NASS.
DD also received her LOA to USCGA in September, where she was recruited for both sports. She chose to attend USCGA for the mission of the Coast Guard, and is happy with her decision.

I think you are being modest also or her BGO has very high standard, I have a low standard. I would consider your daughter as "walk on water candidate."
 
DD received her LOA last September. Her application was complete, the only requirement was a nomination which she received in December. Not a "walk on water" candidate, but very well-rounded: class president, solid SATs/ACTs and class rank, multi-year All-State athlete in two sports, Science Olympiad state champion, drum line state champion. Her USNA LOA included a hand-written note commending her on her performance at NASS.
DD also received her LOA to USCGA in September, where she was recruited for both sports. She chose to attend USCGA for the mission of the Coast Guard, and is happy with her decision.

Interesting comment regarding comments from NASS evaluation. Maybe, just maybe, attendance and performance at NASS can impact your application. I would suggest the same would apply regarding a CVW.
 
Here is a question for the BGO posters. How many get LOAs? I know USAFA is very stingy.

If you say 300, and 16K open a file, you are talking about what statistically? Insanely low, 2% . If it is 150, than it is less than 1% or @8% of the appointees.
 
Pima, USNA does not release those numbers, officially, but if I had to speculate it is probably no more than 200 and probably is even less than that (~150). USNA also has said they are trying to reduce the amount of LOAs. If you do the calculations based off of 200 LOAs and 6000 board reviewed applications (the more favorable number of who complete the applications), that is 3.3%....still really small and with the best case statistics.
 
Thanks. I hope that tells these candidates that an LOA is very rare. IOWS 97% of applicants are not LOA. If you assume 3300 have noms, than you are still at @6% of the candidates that get a nom. will have an LOA in hand.

I get everyone has stellar applications, but this is no longer your little pond (HS), instead you are competing in a lake (national).
 
Pima, you are absolutely right...it is exactly why many of us on here say not to worry about LOAs...can't beat the drum enough!
 
And yet, every year at this time we go through this again.

It reminds me of the definition of insanity. Repeating the same thing over again, but expecting a different result.

I think each SA forum should have a Sticky for LOA. The first post should say: DON'T EXPECT ONE!
The 2nd statement should say: You are not the minority to not get an LOA, but the majority.
3rd statement: Just apply.
 
Here is a question for the BGO posters. How many get LOAs? I know USAFA is very stingy.

If you say 300, and 16K open a file, you are talking about what statistically? Insanely low, 2% . If it is 150, than it is less than 1% or @8% of the appointees.

Statistically if we use the 16K, it is insanely low, but it we use a different number not that low. If we assume USNA is similiar to USMA (bad to assume, but this case there is not too many ways to reinvent the application process/evaluation), USMA for this year at mimum requires official 6th semester transcript and official SAT/ACT scores to be considered for LOA. So how many applicants have submitted their official 6th semester transcript and official SAT/ACT scores by September, October, November?
 
I would think a huge amount. 6th semester means end of junior year. MoCs require those grades. Applying for a ROTC scholarship will require it too.
~ NROTC scholarship board will start to meet late Aug/early Sept.

My DS did not apply to USNA or USMA. He had his 6th semester grades in by June. His AFROTC scholarship application was done by mid Aug. His MoC applications were due by 9/15 and 9/30.

That being said, in the end these posters and lurkers need to understand that the chance for an LOA is low. On top of that when you get to an SA nobody cares that you had an LOA. The slate is wiped clean. Just like they will not care if you were a principal nomination.
 
Interesting comment regarding comments from NASS evaluation. Maybe, just maybe, attendance and performance at NASS can impact your application. I would suggest the same would apply regarding a CVW.

FWIW, DD attended a CVW in the spring of her junior year. The invitation came the day after she applied to NASS. She attended the CVW, and then NASS. The LOA contained a hand-written note referring to her performance and positive evaluation at NASS. It did not contain any reference to her CVW. I am not sure that evaluations are required at CVWs, but evaluations are completed at NASS.

That being said, in the end these posters and lurkers need to understand that the chance for an LOA is low. On top of that when you get to an SA nobody cares that you had an LOA. The slate is wiped clean. Just like they will not care if you were a principal nomination.

True words. No one cares that you have an LOA. DD reported to USCGA being one of less than 25 to receive an LOA. There were no special reporting lines for LOA recipients, no special badge of honor. No one cares who you are or what you have done when you report in. It doesn't matter if you are the first to receive an appointment or the last, that first day you are all on the same level...the absolute bottom.... :)
 
I agree with the above. In addition, no one on here should be telling applicants their 'chance' of getting an LOA. Much like the other 'chance me' threads, none of us work for admissions, so to speculate on such things creates needless anxiety for applicants. NONE of us know the criteria USNA usese to issue LOA's.
 
:rockon: Time2

Look, the old posters here get it. You want some hope. However, the fact is nobody here sits on the board. I can honestly say that in my 7 years here I have seen chance me threads where everyone says you are amazing, only for them to get that TWE. I have seen posters politely say your stats are low, make sure you have plan B, C, D through Z in place, and they get a BFE.
~ Anyone on an admissions board would never respond to any chance me thread. They

You need to understand that a big part of this is charging too. Some poster may come on and say my stats were worse than yours and I got a principal. Sounds great and you feel good. However, that poster may be from North Dakota and you are from CA.

All you can do is submit, and wait.
 
@All Experienced Participants
Thank you all for your input. I guess I should clarify my reason for this thread. It is not a chance me thread. It is not a- I want to desperately get the LOA and how do I get it thread.

This was just a question about on what basis LOAs are offered [and to be more informed about the LOA letters thread] that is all. To summarize my impression based on all the input in this thread -

1) LOA is offered to select few applicants. It looks like it is based on the SAT/ACT scores, class rank and other criteria such as atheletes, URM etc.
2) If you do not get a LOA, it does not mean you are an inferior candidate or you will not get admission to the USAN or any SA.
3) Even if you get a LOA, it does not guarantee 100% admission chances, other factors such as DoDMERB clearance and MOC appointments are still needed.
4) It is unclear as to how much of the application has to be completed for you to be considered for LOA, but it appears atleast all the portions that the candidate has control over should be completed [not necessarily CFA, BGO interview, DoDMERB] such as application, SAT/ACT scores, transcripts and references at the minimum.
5) LOAs are offered on a rolling basis, so it is to your advantage to complete your application as early as possible so you "MAY" be considered for a LOA.
6) Getting a LOA is an assurance and enticement to consider USNA or other SAs.
7) Aim and hope to hear good news in April but if you are lucky you may get the LOA any where from September to March depending on the level of completion of your application.

I think this information will help future applicants and will encourage them to complete their application as early as possible.
:) Hope I got it right, if not please correct me.
Thanks.
 
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