LOA Received! How do I view it?

[2026JK]

Hey! Congrats on the LOA. I received mine a few weeks ago, you'll receive a letter in the mail stating what you need to complete to receive an appointment. Also, do everything that you don't have done in the "my progress" tab.

Is there a "standard" of how much of one's application packet needs to be completed prior to being considered for an LOA? Most of my "my progress" tabs are done, but I just had my BGO interview this past weekend so that's not recorded yet. Just wondering at what point I might be considered for an LOA.

 

[Capt MJ]

Is there a "standard" of how much of one's application packet needs to be completed prior to being considered for an LOA? Most of my "my progress" tabs are done, but I just had my BGO interview this past weekend so that's not recorded yet. Just wondering at what point I might be considered for an LOA.

At any point. No standard that is outwardly visible. The SAs use these in any way they wish, at any time, for any reason, in any number, they deem appropriate to meet class-building goals. In one sense, as Admissions starts reviewing data coming in from candidates, they evaluate all for LOAs.

Your goal is the appointment. The majority of USNA midshipmen never received an LOA. As is often said around here on SAF, the LOA is a unicorn. If one happens to wander into your portal, rejoice, but don’t spend any energy looking for one or trying to hunt one down. And, do not spend any time wondering why another candidate got one, and you didn’t, and you know you have a better X score or Y attribute. You don’t see the totality of their application. Focus on what you can control.

Invest your energy in submitting the best application you can, tending your alternate plans, enjoying your last year of HS and family and friends. After all, if you get your wish, you only have a bit over 8 months left at home. After that, you visit for at least the next 9 years or more.

 

[Heatherg21]

It’s not actually greedy…obtaining more nominations allows admissions to be more flexible and could allow someone who didn’t receive a MOC nomination, but only a POTUS one to be appointed. This assumes your DS gets another nomination, as well. Where the nomination is charged to can change throughout the cycle. For example, admissions might issue an appointment based on a POTUS, but then if a MOC nomination is received later on, they could charge it to that.

Agreed. Perfect example. Our son received a principal nomination from Senator McSally. Shocked when we got the call from the other Senator who was charged with his appointment. They shuffle pieces on the board as they need to in order to build the class they need. Apply for all.

 

[Heatherg21]

Is there a "standard" of how much of one's application packet needs to be completed prior to being considered for an LOA? Most of my "my progress" tabs are done, but I just had my BGO interview this past weekend so that's not recorded yet. Just wondering at what point I might be considered for an LOA.

I will be the bad guy here and say stop thinking about or hoping for an LOA. The majority of appointees never see one. They are the purple unicorn and something often chased but not often found.
Seek the end goal. An appointment. Complete the best package you can and settle in for the long haul. The rodeo is real and the roller coaster is no joke. If you receive an appointment the level of waiting and not knowing is exponentially increased.

 

[Dadx4]

I would offer a slightly different approach on LOAs. I say HOPE as much as you want that you will get one! With an LOA in mind, applicants are more likely to get their application done sooner and stay motivated! Keep updating your application as you excel in your senior year! If the LOA comes (at any time), outstanding! If not, you are in a great position because you continued to work hard in pursuit of your dream. Keep your eye on the ultimate goal: an appointment. An LOA is exciting..HOPE for the unicorn, but by all means do not lose HOPE if one doesn't appear!

 

[LMcclain]

At any point. No standard that is outwardly visible. The SAs use these in any way they wish, at any time, for any reason, in any number, they deem appropriate to meet class-building goals. In one sense, as Admissions starts reviewing data coming in from candidates, they evaluate all for LOAs.

Your goal is the appointment. The majority of USNA midshipmen never received an LOA. As is often said around here on SAF, the LOA is a unicorn. If one happens to wander into your portal, rejoice, but don’t spend any energy looking for one or trying to hunt one down. And, do not spend any time wondering why another candidate got one, and you didn’t, and you know you have a better X score or Y attribute. You don’t see the totality of their application. Focus on what you can control.

Invest your energy in submitting the best application you can, tending your alternate plans, enjoying your last year of HS and family and friends. After all, if you get your wish, you only have a bit over 8 months left at home. After that, you visit for at least the next 9 years or more.

You last paragraph hits home with me. My DS said he was about 4 weeks into plebe summer, during a particularly rough week, when he realized that he would never live at home again. For some reason we had never talked about this before he left and it had not occurred to him. He said it took him down for a bit, and he took his roommate down with him. I think they all must realize this at some point but it may be better to go through the realization before you are in the middle of plebe summer

 

[george44]

You last paragraph hits home with me. My DS said he was about 4 weeks into plebe summer, during a particularly rough week, when he realized that he would never live at home again. For some reason we had never talked about this before he left and it had not occurred to him. He said it took him down for a bit, and he took his roommate down with him. I think they all must realize this at some point but it may be better to go through the realization before you are in the middle of plebe summer

my DS left a 17 year old, ten days after graduating from zooming high school from anywhere (bed/beach/gym) in so cal ... and now he's living his completely opposite plebe life in MD!
Definitely should make the best of this last year of HS with family and friends or wherever you are at!
edit to say I miss him a lot and if I think he won't live at home again I will feel down too!

 

[IronmanDaremo]

And as I've said in too many threads. Getting the LOA is still not an appointment. My son got his LOA the day after Thanksgiving last year. By April 30th, he still had not met the nomination criteria of the LOA (even with telling the nomination sources that he received the LOA, he still did not get a nomination from them). So, the end result is that the admissions team tried to see if they could find a nomination source for him, but could not.

Boom. TWE and no appointment. Trying again this year as a college re-applicant.

Treat closing out the requirements on the LOA just like you are trying to get your application completed. Once you have the appointment, then celebrate.