LOA

[CadetAviator]

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I just checked into my portal and saw it changed to LOA. This means Letter of Acceptance correct?

 

[GoArmy2022]

That's a Letter of Assurance.

USMMA displays these on the portal. Unlike some of the other academies, USMMA also displays on your portal whether your CFA is a pass or fail immediately after evaluation rather than having someone reach out to you if you've failed. All of the academies do things slightly differently even though the application process is similar for each.

An LOA is basically a contingent acceptance, provided you meet medical, physical, and academic standards and obtain a nomination (USCGA is the only Service Academy that the nomination doesn't apply to), and also don't get arrested or let your grades significantly drop, or get injured...

You get the picture. Just get the rest of your package done, keep your grades and physical strength up, and don't do anything stupid!

Congratulations!

 

[CadetAviator]

Outstanding! Thank you for your help!

 

[KPEngineer]

That's a Letter of Assurance.

USMMA displays these on the portal. Unlike some of the other academies, USMMA also displays on your portal whether your CFA is a pass or fail immediately after evaluation rather than having someone reach out to you if you've failed. All of the academies do things slightly differently even though the application process is similar for each.

An LOA is basically a contingent acceptance, provided you meet medical, physical, and academic standards and obtain a nomination (USCGA is the only Service Academy that the nomination doesn't apply to), and also don't get arrested or let your grades significantly drop, or get injured...

You get the picture. Just get the rest of your package done, keep your grades and physical strength up, and don't do anything stupid!

Congratulations!

If it is contingent on obtaining a nomination and meeting medical, physical and academic standards then what exactly is your "acceptance" based on? What else is there besides submitting an application which you obviously already did.

 

[GoArmy2022]

Aside from being given to recruited athletes and diversity students that perform above average within their group, whatever it may be, LOAs can be given to candidates with an exceptional WCS with an "Admissible" status. Sometimes, though, they are given in the summer based on only standardized test scores and sometimes a bit more information...these are what you call recruited scholars.

CadetAviator is in the same boat as I am. I got my LOA to USMA toward the end of October. We most likely got ours because of our WCS, but of course I am not USMA or USMMA Admissions so I don't know definitively what made them decide to award us one.

 

[CadetAviator]

I'm just glad I got a LOA, especially this early in the game. My admissions officer told me that this is especially rare for Pennsylvania since it's one of the top sources of candidates. What probably set me apart was my service in CAP, Search and Rescue, working a heavy amount of hours and a legacy of military service.

 

[CadetAviator]

Does getting an LOA make it a lot easier to receive a nomination? I have updated all three MOC's that I have requested nominations from of this.

 

[GoArmy2022]

Simple answer: yes, provided your interview goes well.

Here's the long wind: Most MOCs (notice I didn't say all) prefer to nominate a candidate that will probably be accepted by the Academy. An LOA indicates that the specific SA is interested in the candidate and that the candidate has an extremely high chance of being offered admission, provided that the candidate does not get injured, arrested, have drugs in his/her system... you get it. This is why in a normal case, getting a nomination with an LOA is easier. However, you still should take the interview seriously because overconfidence can make or break your chances of obtaining a nomination. Dress for the job you want: soldier. Make sure your hair is professional and wear a suit. If you see any kids waiting on an interview, take notice of how they'll look. Probably just like you if you follow those guidelines. My USMA RC told me what I'd call an "interview horror story" about a girl who was so confident she'd get a nomination that she showed up to her MOC interviews in flip flops and and athletics....don't be that candidate. It's useless to say that the girl wasn't nominated. With an LOA and an outstanding interview, it'd be difficult not to add you to the slate.

There are some MOCs that assume an SA will "find" a nomination for a kid with an LOA and therefore will not add them to the slate. Don't sweat it. This is rare. It looks good for an MOC to rack up as many appointments as humanly possible.


Best of luck to you (and go Army)!