LOA vs Appointment

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dragonite4858

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Oct 30, 2017
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I was wondering what the difference is between a LOA and an appointment. My rep tells me that a LOA gives would me an assurance and that USMA would hold a spot for me; however, I am still a tad bit confused on how it is different from an appointment. Thanks in advance for the assistance!
 
dragonite4858 said:
I was wondering what the difference is between a LOA and an appointment. My rep tells me that a LOA gives would me an assurance and that USMA would hold a spot for me; however, I am still a tad bit confused on how it is different from an appointment. Thanks in advance for the assistance!
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One is a promise, that as long as certain conditions are fulfilled, you will receive an appointment. The other is the real thing, the invitation to become a member of the class of 202X. You now have a choice of accepting or declining. If you accept, there is pre-reporting administrative stuff and staying healthy and fit, then off you go.

Look at it like this. You go to the new car dealer, and the dream car you have expressed interest in for the last year is sitting right there. The car dealer walks up and tells you he’ll save that car for you if you can get a car loan. Or, you walk up to the same dealer, and he hands you the electronic key fob, congratulates you, and says she’s all yours if you want her.
 
An LOA + a NOM = appointment.

(You also need to meet an conditions stated in your specific LOA, such as passing DODMERB or whatever else is listed.)
 
And if you have an LOA, mentioning it to your Member of Congress (MOC) contact prior to your interview with their nomination board staffers is not a bad idea (assuming that you haven't had all your interviews yet). More than likely - they will already know of the LOA - but sometimes news is slow, especially if you find out you have an LOA on the DoDMERB site before you actually receive the paper copy in snail mail.

What the LOA says is that the Academy likes what they see in your complete application and wants to give you an appointment. If there are caveats or conditions tied to the LOA (there almost always are), then you have to meet those conditions (Pass DodMERB physical, get a MOC nomination, etc) in order to get the appointment.

It's a "breathe easier" moment, but not a true assurance that you will receive an appointment. Odds are in your favor, however!
 
Provided you obtain a Letter of Assurance, as soon as the conditions are met and you have a nomination, does USMA automatically send you an offer (when the paperwork and sorting out is done at admissions, of course), or are you thrown back in with the admissions committee again to wait for it? I understand that this depends on a 3Q as well, as is stated in an LOA when it is received via snail mail or added to your portal. My "Gym Mom" (that's a thing at my school) told me she'd only seen one other LOA to USMA in her extensive wellness and nutrition career and the boy who had received it was given his offer during Winter Break after he was finally medically qualified by DoDMERB. Could someone provide an answer? Thanks ahead of time for the responses! @dragonite, I read your post and everyone else's before typing this up. As you are a fellow cadet candidate to USMA, I hope responses to this question assist you in your process as well.
 
GoArmy2022 said:
Provided you obtain a Letter of Assurance, as soon as the conditions are met and you have a nomination, does USMA automatically send you an offer (when the paperwork and sorting out is done at admissions, of course), or are you thrown back in with the admissions committee again to wait for it? I understand that this depends on a 3Q as well, as is stated in an LOA when it is received via snail mail or added to your portal. My "Gym Mom" (that's a thing at my school) told me she'd only seen one other LOA to USMA in her extensive wellness and nutrition career and the boy who had received it was given his offer during Winter Break after he was finally medically qualified by DoDMERB. Could someone provide an answer? Thanks ahead of time for the responses! @dragonite, I read your post and everyone else's before typing this up. As you are a fellow cadet candidate to USMA, I hope responses to this question assist you in your process as well.
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Once all of the requirements are met and confirmed by your Regional Commander (Medical qualification, Nomination and anything else the LOA specified) then your file goes back to the Admissions Committee for the final review/approval. This may add a week or two depending on the time of the year before you the official appointment.
 
AZWPDad04 said:
GoArmy2022 said:
Provided you obtain a Letter of Assurance, as soon as the conditions are met and you have a nomination, does USMA automatically send you an offer (when the paperwork and sorting out is done at admissions, of course), or are you thrown back in with the admissions committee again to wait for it? I understand that this depends on a 3Q as well, as is stated in an LOA when it is received via snail mail or added to your portal. My "Gym Mom" (that's a thing at my school) told me she'd only seen one other LOA to USMA in her extensive wellness and nutrition career and the boy who had received it was given his offer during Winter Break after he was finally medically qualified by DoDMERB. Could someone provide an answer? Thanks ahead of time for the responses! @dragonite, I read your post and everyone else's before typing this up. As you are a fellow cadet candidate to USMA, I hope responses to this question assist you in your process as well.
Click to expand...
Once all of the requirements are met and confirmed by your Regional Commander (Medical qualification, Nomination and anything else the LOA specified) then your file goes back to the Admissions Committee for the final review/approval. This may add a week or two depending on the time of the year before you the official appointment.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much! I hope this helped you, too, @dragonite! :)
 
Good Morning- It is important to reflect on changes to the admissions process, particularly last year.
In previous years, an LOA and Nom usually meant that your Acceptance/Admissions packet would be quickly in the mail--as early as October.

Last year, candidates received early LOAs...and most were waiting until the 500-candidate bulk mailing in early January for the Admissions packet/Acceptance Letter. (This was flashy and definitely motivated #3 at my house to finish his packet for USMA.)

So, if you have an LOA and have a nom, you might have to wait until whenever USMA starts sending the packets.
 
I remember seeing these types of photos in January 2015 and hoping I would see one of those envelopes in the mailbox soon after for our DS. I remember my DH walked in the house with the mail that day and instantly I knew it was there! Such a happy day!
 
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