LOA

Dr. Strange Love said:
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This is Classical Signal Detection — Predictive Analytics — Machine Learning .... type of problem. It is the standard Precision vs. Recall accuracy in any learning model ..... Perfection is not possible, nor is it desired, because every system process is inherently Stochastic in nature, and we do our best to work with the noise that is ever present in everything .... including Malformed ambiguous SAT questions.

700 is about the “Hinge-Point” in the Precision/Recall curve for both SAT math and verbal sections. Half of the questions that were missed getting to this plateau hinge point in the curve are mostly flip-a-coin questions that were not well written, and can go more than 2 possible ways.

With this in mind, a test taker should practice and know before hand what their Benchmark or basis is before taking even the 1st Official test. Practice tests and Kahn revealed that our daughter needed no additional practice on the SAT verbal. She was already at that plateau of 700. I worked with her on the Math section for about 2 months before she took her 1st test, identifying mostly strategy issues and the way she approached certain problems ... like quickly Doodle-Graphing linear inequalities as opposed to more time consuming substitution or factor elimination techniques .... Adding more Tools to her Math problem solving toolbox helped her tremendously.

Conclusion .... 700+ Math/Verbal scores are very good scores .... and if they are on gotten on the same day in the same sitting (no superscore), it is that much better, because it really is a Marathon.

Anything at 750 and above is really wasted effort as far as the Statistics go, because you start working in the Noise region of the Stochastic problem.
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I am sitting on Schrodinger’s cat’s box, pondering this.
 
Dr. Strange Love said:
.Conclusion .... 700+ Math/Verbal scores are very good scores .... and if they are on gotten on the same day in the same sitting (no superscore), it is that much better, because it really is a Marathon.

Anything at 750 and above is really wasted effort as far as the Statistics go, because you start working in the Noise region of the Stochastic problem.
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Practicing/studying prior to the first test or studying after and achieving the best score a candidate is capable of is irrelevant to the SA or college. The final score or super score (if they super score) is all they care about, not how many times you may have taken the tests.
DS took his first ACT test early and before he had taken Calculus. His GC suggested he wait to take the test, but there was no harm in taking his first test knowing he could continue to prepare and test again later to increase his score.
I don’t care to debate the relevance of the test, what point the score becomes luck over knowledge, or any other aspects about standardized tests. This is simply the system candidates have to deal with. My only point was to play the game you need to know the rules. The SA and college rules typically allow super scoring as well as multiple test taking. It is in every candidates best interest to submit the best possible test score to the SA or college. Many candidates will take the tests multiple times as well as study and take practice tests to maximize their scores to be most competitive they can be. That is controlling what you can control.
An SAT score above 750 may be what’s needed to boost a candidate’s WCS above the competition to gain an appointment.
Just sayin, It is a competition, and every point counts!
 
I would think the variable missing is the actual WCS score. Does a 1550 give more WCS points than a 1500?

And could the applicant spend that additional time raising more WCS points in say leadership, where she could be lacking?

My son weighed going for “perfection”. He decided against it. In the end, I do not think it would have improved his resume.
 
So a candidate can “max out” points in WCS subsections ie..leadership. It has been reported here on these forums by people in the know that there have been candidates WCS so close as to need a tie breaker. Perfection will likely never be reached, I simply advocate to submit the best possible application and leave nothing on the table. If a candidate is satisfied with every submission on their application, that is all they can control as long is it was their best effort. The rest is out of their hands, but they know it was their best effort.
If all things are equal between the top two candidates competing for one appointment, the only difference being one of them scored 1500 and the other a 1550, would it matter?
 
I guess my only response is there is no right answer. There are variables that we don’t know ... competition, WCS scoring, each candidates individual situation, class rank, etc.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not disagreeing with you - I am sure there are cases where it could matter and the applicants should retake.
 
My son received his LOA (just learned today that is what it is called) the day after Thanksgiving. He is having his last interview for a nomination on Friday, and it is the only one he picked for his USNA app. The other two he asked for the USAFA.

He was offered it with only a 1250 SAT, and a 3.9/4.0 unweighted GPA, and 4.6 weighted GPA. I believe there are a lot of other factors involved then just raw scores!

Hell, 25 years ago, I go into NAPS as an active duty servicemen with a 3.3 and an 1190 for the SAT (old scoring). ;)
 
shock-n-awe said:
Practicing/studying prior to the first test or studying after and achieving the best score a candidate is capable of is irrelevant to the SA or college. The final score or super score (if they super score) is all they care about, not how many times you may have taken the tests.
DS took his first ACT test early and before he had taken Calculus. His GC suggested he wait to take the test, but there was no harm in taking his first test knowing he could continue to prepare and test again later to increase his score.
I don’t care to debate the relevance of the test, what point the score becomes luck over knowledge, or any other aspects about standardized tests. This is simply the system candidates have to deal with. My only point was to play the game you need to know the rules. The SA and college rules typically allow super scoring as well as multiple test taking. It is in every candidates best interest to submit the best possible test score to the SA or college. Many candidates will take the tests multiple times as well as study and take practice tests to maximize their scores to be most competitive they can be. That is controlling what you can control.
An SAT score above 750 may be what’s needed to boost a candidate’s WCS above the competition to gain an appointment.
Just sayin, It is a competition, and every point counts!
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Interesting conversation, but maybe in 2020 it's not a level playing field as to access to exams, and I wonder if this will have any impact although I doubt it. DD signed up for 6+ different test dates this year - some in locations far, far away just to try and mind you we live in a populated area so in theory lots of opportunities - and all of them were canceled due to covid. Had her school not made available a special test date in mid-Oct with plenty of covid protocols, she wouldn't have any score at all. In any event, at least she got one shot. And, haven't seen any exam fees refunded from College Board, which is a bummer.:(
 
TigerMomNot said:
Interesting conversation, but maybe in 2020 it's not a level playing field as to access to exams, and I wonder if this will have any impact although I doubt it. DD signed up for 6+ different test dates this year - some in locations far, far away just to try and mind you we live in a populated area so in theory lots of opportunities - and all of them were canceled due to covid. Had her school not made available a special test date in mid-Oct with plenty of covid protocols, she wouldn't have any score at all. In any event, at least she got one shot. And, haven't seen any exam fees refunded from College Board, which is a bummer.:(
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my DD had 5 SAT tests canceled, some were refunded on my credit card and I had to call College board on 2 of them that did not auto refund - they are refunding all the canceled tests so make sure to call - my daughter also thank goodness got to take the SAT at school in mid October too - she was very thankful for that opportunity
 
Bit of a specific question here, but I'm overseas, and if I got a LOA, how would I know? Mail takes weeks, minimum, to come through.
 
Moonmonkey1000 said:
Bit of a specific question here, but I'm overseas, and if I got a LOA, how would I know? Mail takes weeks, minimum, to come through.
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that is an excellent question because my DD still has not received her LOA in the snail mail - and it was mailed a month ago and we are in the US - do you have a BGO officer? He/She will know bc it shows up in their system this is how my DD found out. The BGO called her to congratulate her! She has since received a copy by email from her admissions counselor. She still has no notification on her portal either that she has an LOA.
 
USNAhopeful2025 said:
that is an excellent question because my DD still has not received her LOA in the snail mail - and it was mailed a month ago and we are in the US - do you have a BGO officer? He/She will know bc it shows up in their system this is how my DD found out. The BGO called her to congratulate her! She has since received a copy by email from her admissions counselor. She still has no notification on her portal either that she has an LOA.
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Thank you for the advice, and congratulations to your DD! I reached out to my BGO, and am awaiting his reply.
 
hbtw2011 said:
DD had her LOA show up today in her portal. No notification from any other source. She just happened to log in and see it. There was an icon that looks like this. Clicked on it and LOA dated today was attached.
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Congratulations to your DD. Quick heads up... If not already done so, save that thing as a .pdf and maybe print. My DS received his two weeks ago and within three days it disappeared. Admissions counselor could not see the actual document but did have a record of an LOA on his side, pending nomination (which had been sent weeks earlier). They are still working through some bugs in the new system. All worked out as DS then was offered an appointment a few days later. Best of luck.
 
Thanks for the info! I snapped a picture and printed it just in case. Her BGO didn't even know yet! We have had issues with the new system already... her nomination was sent in Nov 24th and is still not showing up. It appeared in USAFA portal in less than 24 hours. We have emailed admissions to be sure its showing there. Whew what a ride!
 
Hopeful2025 said:
I receieved a call from my congressional staffer today informing me that I had actually recieved an LOA from USNA on November 13th. However, I do not see anything on my portal. For those who have recieved LOAs, are you able to see your LOA and where?

Thanks
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yesterday my DD's LOA showed up in her portal!!! it was mailed to her on November 17th - the snail mail has still not arrived - just updating all on the timing so others will know.
 
hbtw2011 said:
DD had her LOA show up today in her portal. No notification from any other source. She just happened to log in and see it. There was an icon that looks like this. Clicked on it and LOA dated today was attached.
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Same here- logged in this morning and LOA was in my portal! My congressman's office called me this afternoon w/ nomination!! Now just waiting on final medical status.
 
DS scored 1520 on the SAT's, GPA 4.7, and has a very strong resume with EC's and strong CFA scores. He's been granted a nom for both the USAFA and USNA, along with a LOA from USAFA and USCGA. However, USNA remains his first choice. He's heard nothing from USNA, though, so is an LOA at this point impossible? We're in Virginia, and I understand VA is a very competitive state for USNA. I also heard that there have been some complications with the admissions process in VA, but I don't know that for sure. Anyone have any insight?
 
An LOA is not impossible ... threads on here show they issue them after now.
 
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