LOA today! HOORAY!

NickMomSince1997

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2014
Messages
53
DD received LOA for USNA today. Only condition is a nom. We are beyond excited (this was his first day of senior year and he just happened to wear his USNA shirt from NASS - before he got home to see the good news). DS not a recruited athlete, and USNA is his first choice by a mile (also applied to USAFA).
 
What a day it must be in your house! We are doing DS DODMERB appts. next week, he meets with his BGO tonight. Congrats to you!
 
BIG CONGRATS! Very early for an LOA from the talk around here. If you don't mind sharing (or PM me) what where the salient features of DS's application that you suspect were the influencing factors in such an early LOA?
 
Thank you, NJROTC-CC! I do not mind sharing. These forums are invaluable for a lot of candidates and parents. DS is captain of cross country and track teams, 34 ACT, 1540 SAT. President Spanish Club, NHS, HOBY, and other misc. volunteering, part-time job 2 years, student mentor, etc. He also went to NASS. Honestly, and not to downplay DS's achievements, but we believe DS's BGO was instrumental in his receiving an LOA. Also, first student from his high school to go to any service academy. P.S.- As an XC Mom, love the quote in your post!
 
@NickMomSince1997 Congrats to your DS and the entire family. No secret it truly is an honor to get an early LOA and the recognition. Now let’s get that Appointment from your Rep/Senators.

I do believe there is a recipe how Admissions grants an LOA although no one here knows what that is including I. Here’s some of my thoughts on the LOA.

Scholar: Top 1-5% of entering Class at the Academy
High ACT/SAT in his/her district 34+ ACT/1550+ SAT
Top 1-3% of graduating Class
High Quality Classes including STEM at competitive HS Program

Leader: Top 1-5% of entering Class
Eagle Scout
Summit Scout
Gold Award
Boys State/Girl State + Leadership
Congressional Gold Award
CDR JROTC/CAP
CPT Varsity/Club Sports
President of Class/Sch Clubs
President of Youth Clubs/Church
Leadership at Part Time Jobs
Leadership in Active Duty

Athlete: Top 1-5%
Varsity Sports Team/Indiv
Competitive Club Sports
Team CPT
County/State
National/Intl/Olympics
Recruited Athlete
CFA Top End/Above Academy Avg

References: Top 1-5%
Athletic Coach
English
Math
Chem/Physics
Principal
Scoutmaster
JROTC CDR
Distinguished VIP

Interview: Top 1-5%
Most impressive and outstanding interview and evaluation from an Alumni/CDR

Personal Statement: Top 1-5%
Most compelling and impressive essays that support his/her past achievements and determinations to serve the Nation through an Appointment at the Academy.

Other Desirable Qualities:
Multilingual - fluent or by studies
Lived abroad for years
Siblings at the Academy
Child of Alumni
Demonstrated Interest in the Military via Participated at Summer Seminar/STEM USNA
Junior Military Programs
Participated at other Academy Summer Seminars
Sought after by other Academies and Top 20 Colleges in the US
Top candidate for ROTC Scholarships and programs
 
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@CrewDad You site other reference sources. Do admissions look for/want other reference sources other than math/english teacher?
 
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@CrewDad. There was a Class of 2023 female candidate in late April & May of this year who had a LOA, had a 1370 SAT I believe ... but the candidate was without a Nomination. The USNA eventually found a Nomination for her, and subsequent Appointment.

So I don’t think sky high SAT is always the secret ingredient. There are kids at NAPS that have higher Board scores than this. I know of one.
.
 
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Yes of course there are exceptions. If a candidate is from a non competitive district or is URM and she he happens to have the highest SAT in their district and if a candidate is a prepster Napster from a sponsored prep military school he she can also get an LOA. But many early LOAs have been issued in Aug-Nov before Noms are awarded. Then more LOAs follow between Jan-May after Noms are awarded to encourage select few competitive candidates to accept Appointments and to allow candidates with multiple Noms to change their decision. Late LOAs that are awarded in April-May are not common but I have seen awarded to candidates who may appear competitive at that time. Competitiveness change over time by different districts.
 
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@ReallyNew. After you have satisfied Admissions required References from English Math Chem/Physics, Athletics Coach, Admissions will take other references and will evaluate. My DS sent far many perhaps too many but the Academies accepted all and did not discourage to send in anymore. My DS attended 2 high schools. These are the Recommendations sent in to SAs. All SAs accepted all recommendations. And non asked for Senior Report Cards as a condition. Nevertheless, we sent in his final Senior Report Card with 8 core classes and 4 APs in his Senior Year with all A’s. He worked hard until the very last day in school despite receiving his LOAs beginning September.

English
AP Calculus
Physics
Speech & Debate
AP US History
AP Economics
AP Psychology
XC/Athletic Coach
Varsity Swim Coach
School Principal and Head Master
Scoutmaster
Army General
U.S. Senator
Congressman
Guidance Counselor School 1
Guidance Counselor School 2

He received stellar report during Summer Seminar and SLE at USAFA and West Point. Both schools gave him assurances during the Summer, and by Boys State and by the Nominating Committee Chair. He was also flown in and summer seminar tuition was at the Expense by the Air Force. He earned his Appointment from a very competitive district in NY. We know of quite a few stellar hopefuls in his district did not get Appointment who later went on to MIT, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. In Nov 2017, DS also won AFROTC T1 and T2, NROTC T3, and AROTC. He accepted the Naval Academy Appointment in the end. After Navy gave DS the Appointment, Navy asked him if he would like to Row for the Navy. He served as a Squad Leader in Summer STEM. He’s now a Youngster and have been on the Dant’s Honor Roll during his Plebe Year.
 
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Congratulations! Exciting time for your daughter and your family. Will be exciting to see others submit when their DS’s/DD’s receive their LOA’s.
 
@NickMomSince1997 Congrats to your DS and the entire family. No secret it truly is an honor to get an early LOA and the recognition. Now let’s get that Appointment from your Rep/Senators.

I do believe there is a recipe how Admissions grants an LOA although no one here knows what that is including I. Here’s some of my thoughts on the LOA.

Scholar: Top 1-5% of entering Class at the Academy
High ACT/SAT in his/her district 34+ ACT/1550+ SAT
Top 1-3% of graduating Class
High Quality Classes including STEM at competitive HS Program

Leader: Top 1-5% of entering Class
Eagle Scout
Summit Scout
Gold Award
Boys State/Girl State + Leadership
Congressional Gold Award
CDR JROTC/CAP
CPT Varsity/Club Sports
President of Class/Sch Clubs
President of Youth Clubs/Church
Leadership at Part Time Jobs
Leadership in Active Duty

Athlete: Top 1-5%
Varsity Sports Team/Indiv
Competitive Club Sports
Team CPT
County/State
National/Intl/Olympics
Recruited Athlete
CFA Top End/Above Academy Avg

References: Top 1-5%
Athletic Coach
English
Math
Chem/Physics
Principal
Scoutmaster
JROTC CDR
Distinguished VIP

Interview: Top 1-5%
Most impressive and outstanding interview and evaluation from an Alumni/CDR

Personal Statement: Top 1-5%
Most compelling and impressive essays that support his/her past achievements and determinations to serve the Nation through an Appointment at the Academy.

Other Desirable Qualities:
Multilingual - fluent or by studies
Lived abroad for years
Siblings at the Academy
Child of Alumni
Demonstrated Interest in the Military via Participated at Summer Seminar/STEM USNA
Junior Military Programs
Participated at other Academy Summer Seminars
Sought after by other Academies and Top 20 Colleges in the US
Top candidate for ROTC Scholarships and programs

You are wrong about the “recipe”, at least insofar as the above metrics are concerned and you are probably wrong about there being a statistical formula at all, at least for the class of 2020. DS is class of 2020 and didn’t look anything like what you describe but had an LOA by Christmas, if memory serves. Trying to figure it out is a fool’s errand and completely unnecessary. Would you like to know the number of times LOAs have been discussed among mids in my experience? ZERO. Once they all get there they have far too much else to worry about. Focus should be on getting an appointment not on who gets LOAs, when or why. Just my two cents. Good luck to all.
 
DD received LOA for USNA today. Only condition is a nom. We are beyond excited (this was his first day of senior year and he just happened to wear his USNA shirt from NASS - before he got home to see the good news). DS not a recruited athlete, and USNA is his first choice by a mile (also applied to USAFA).
Has he already finished the CFA?
 
Yes. Everything was done before August 10. He did CFA at Summer Seminar in July and passed, but wanted a better score so submitted a second one on August 5th. Long wait now (from August 15 to December or even January) for a nomination.
 
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