LOA?

[3xSA Family]

Agree with the thread and want to add: WP LOAs are a way of saying, "we like what we see so far, and PLEASE GET OFF YOUR XXX AND COMPLETE YOUR FILE!" Nothing guaranteed...

Agree. We have grads from USNA, USCGA, & current USMA cadet. Current HS DS received LOA back in Oct. Met his RC at a local Academy Day here in upstate NY in November. Even showed him the paper LOA. We asked about real purpose and he said that he uses them to "motivate & inspire" top candidates to finish files. Conditional, but no guarantee.

 

[3xSA Family]

Disagree, but our differences probably based on our separate experiences. I am a member of the field force, a district coordinator, and have access to all of my state's candidate files. I probably should not be on this forum, but many of us periodically visit here to try to clarify many misconceptions - although at a high level. Regional Commanders (RCs) use LOAs for various purposes. Intention in my region this year with a new RC was to get them out early for motivation purposes - yes, to extremely qualified candidates who we feel have unusually high Whole Candidate Scores that will bubble up to the top on expected slates. But they are never a guarantee - even after a file is completed. LOAs go out to many candidates without complete files and to many who still have not received a nomination, completed a CFA, or finished with medical. Every year we are astounded by the number of exceptional candidates that wait to the last minute to complete files even after the interview process.

Understand where you are coming from. DS working on being 4th kid through an academy, so we have lots of experience here. Conditional, but no real guarantee as we have been told by our RC back in Nov. Does not matter anyway (not to brag) - DS now a recruited athlete to USMA, just like big brother was to USNA. Agree with you about completing files early - our kids found that doing so well before the holiday break helps create clarity in the spring.

 

[3xSA Family]

My son received an LOA last month and it very clearly states that is contingent upon 1) obtaining a nomination, 2) physical qualification, 3) conditioned academic excellence and 4) completed file.

Agreed, DS in upstate NY got one back in Oct with an incomplete file.

 

[3xSA Family]

Army Vet...as a field force member you are posting incorrect information and it is not helpful given how much incorrect information is already posted here on a regular basis. An LOA is a conditional offer of appointment and DOES guarantee acceptance as long as the candidate is otherwise MINIMALLY qualified academically, physically (CFA) and medically. A Letter Of Assurance (LOA) is exactly as it's stated- you're assured of an appointment if minimally qualified as stated above. What you are describing, and as others have correctly noted, is an LOE, which is nothing more than what it states. NO guarantee but encouraging the candidate to complete his/her file. As a FF member and district coordinator it is crucial that posts are factual.

Whoa - let's get you two back to plebe boxing... Our experience closer to Army Vet. We even showed DS paper LOA to the RC at an Academy Day event. He confirmed - please complete your file, deal is conditional, no guarantees, stay in shape, & don't get hurt.

 

[shock-n-awe]

Whoa - let's get you two back to plebe boxing... Our experience closer to Army Vet. We even showed DS paper LOA to the RC at an Academy Day event. He confirmed - please complete your file, deal is conditional, no guarantees, stay in shape, & don't get hurt.

So an LOA would be the same as an LOE?

LOL

Both letters have a different purpose and have been stated earlier in this thread as to the reasons for their use and what they mean to a candidate who receives one. If anyone needs proof, they can read their own letter if they receive one.
Otherwise forget about it and work for an Appointment, that’s all that really matters in the end!

 

[GoCubbies]

I suppose, in the strictest sense, a LOA is conditional even if you complete an app, have an appointment, and become 3Q.

My DD got a LOA in late August 2018 and she still needed to complete all of her personal statements and SOE from the teachers.

By early October, all the outstanding items were submitted. She also had a nom on file and DODMERB qualified. At that point, she’s guaranteed an appointment.

But what if her teachers (more than one) said in the SOE she wasn’t the type to be successful at USMA. What if they said she just wanted to go for the “free” education? What if they said she was not well-liked by her peers because she has narcissistic tendencies?

What if her personal statements my DD said she really wanted to go to USNA because she inadvertently forgot to switch out USNA with USMA? Or in her personal statement she says she feels she’s good with a rifle from all the practicing of shooting neighbors’ pets as far as 3 properties away through 3 sets of chain link fences?

In other words, she had a lot of skeletons in her closet despite having a stellar academic record, ACT, and CFA.

I suspect she would have had a high chance of not getting an appointment even though she had an LOA and fulfilled all the conditions listed in the letter.

I suppose the above example is an extreme where an LOA didn’t get someone an appointment even with 3Q+nom.

 

[dddad]

In other words an LOA is as close to a sure thing as you can get. No slacking off. Yes, it’s conditional. And, serial killers need not apply. I think you’ve nailed it Go Cubbies, and it made me laugh out loud.

 

[tryingmybest]

Understand where you are coming from. DS working on being 4th kid through an academy, so we have lots of experience here. Conditional, but no real guarantee as we have been told by our RC back in Nov. Does not matter anyway (not to brag) - DS now a recruited athlete to USMA, just like big brother was to USNA. Agree with you about completing files early - our kids found that doing so well before the holiday break helps create clarity in the spring.

Could it be that this early LOA or the different message is because your child is a recruited athlete? My husband shared that while sitting in the waiting area for nomination interviews there were several parents of recruited athletes who said they had early LOAs (early as in summer/early school year). None of them mentioned anything about a LOE, even when another parent waiting mentioned it. They were all LOAs according to the 4-5 parents sitting there in that situation. They were all talking about how those interviews were just a formality and their child was already in. I have since met a few more parents of academy athletes and they knew very early in the school year where their child was headed due to being assured a spot.

We received very different information than you are stating you received and the same message that has been received by so many others on this thread. A LOE arrived here in the early fall. It encouraged finishing the application (one thing left) and invited for a visit. This was after FFR visits/interviews, SLE, recs, test scores, and essays submitted. It said things about being an exceptional candidate and what USMA is looking for. A completely different letter in wording came in last month. This letter is the same or similar to the one posted earlier in this thread. It was certainly an offer of conditional appointment and there was no mistaking the intent. The only thing written in as required was securing a nomination from MOC. It does seem confusing but the LOA letter is very clear and when side by side with the LOE there are differences.

I am wondering if each RC has their own system and if there a different system for athletes and "hooked" students (multiple legacy in the case above) that fulfills some specific need of the academy? I wonder if people mix up the LOE for a LOA and then when talking to RC or others who seem to be "in the know" use the wrong language. It is confusing and to add into the mix that there are tons of people who get in that never get a LOE or LOA. As I understand it, the reality is that until that BFE arrives it is all gray areas. My child has not told anyone about the LOA and is under the impression that the only thing that counts in the offer in the BFE.

 

[MidCakePa]

The LOA is conditional. The SA will make it very clear to the candidate what that condition is. Fulfill that condition — whatever it may be — and the candidate is assured of receiving an offer of appointment. Simple as that. That’s the “assurance” part — do these things and you can be assured...

(And once and for all, there’s a world of difference between an LOA and an LOE — they are not close in what they communicate or promise, no matter how much some people like to equivocate.)

Now, is the LOA a complete and absolute lock? Of course not. If something terribly drastic happens, the SA can of course reverse field. Fail all your 8th semester classes, get busted for DUI, even write a statement that says you’re only interested in a free education. Yes, do any of those things and don’t be surprised if your offer is pulled. But again, “assurance” means...well, “assurance.”