LOA's: How soon for application?

academania

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Hello Everyone,
I'm working on getting together my application for the USAFA and I'm wondering, how soon would I have to get it in to have a chance for one of the fall/winter LOA's? I know you have to have an amazing candidate profile to get one but I'm just wondering when the application should be in to have a chance at one. Also, if I take the September 12 ACT would I have time to send in my scores for that ACT and the other one I have taken in time to be considered for an LOA? Thanks,

Academania
 
You have to have an amazing package that you submitted for the pcq. I believe that there are only about 1-2% of the original pcqs that get and LOA. Many of these are recruited athletes. Unless you are out the door amazing don't be snoopy sitting on the mailbox. Amazing without athletic recruitment would be 1450+ SAT(out of 1600), top %, president of NHS, tons of APs, and ECs.

DS had 1390, 4.17 w gpa, ranked in the top 10%., Jump Start (attending comm college), APS, NHS, FHS, National TKD, NYFL, Lifeguard, Habitat for Humanity and no LOA. He received every nom he applied.

LOA's are very rare. What are your actual stats?
 
I have a 4.0 gpa, 4.25 weighted. I'm first in a class of 46 at a highly recognized charter high school. (Top 100 US News and World). I received a 31 on the ACT although I'm taking it again. Cadet Commander of local Civil Air Patrol Squadron with Billy Mitchell Award. Been involved in Mock Trial, Youth Group, School Band, Church Band all 4 years. I have also maintained a part time job for 2 of my high school years. I have a varsity letter in baseball. I have over 300 hours of community service. I have recieved 4s on AP Language, AP Chemistry, and AP World History. This year I'm taking AP Calculus and AP US History.

And just a disclaimer, I by no means consider this LOA material nor do I consider myself better than other applicants. Just wondering when I should submit JUST IN CASE for the chance of the LOA.
 
You want to have everything in in advance of the first selection committee meeting. That way you can be considered in the first meeting, and they also can flag anything that does not look right in your package (i.e. the doctor recorded our son's sitting height wrong). LOAs start coming out right after the first selection meeting. First LOAs were dated Oct. 7 for the Class of 2013.
 
I'm working on getting together my application for the USAFA and I'm wondering, how soon would I have to get it in to have a chance for one of the fall/winter LOA's?
ASAP. You should be working on it right now!
 
I got one in early November. And honestly my stats weren't amazingly awesome. I kind of bombed the PFT, for instance. Good test scores, good grades, but not a whole lot of leadership either. No club presidencies or anything like that. I don't konw, maybe they saw something I didn't. And to be completely honest, as soon as I day rolls around no one cares at all, even yourself, if you got an LOA. There will always be someone who can make a SAMI bed better or shine shoes better or memorize knowledge better or get a better grade in Chem or Calc. LOA's don't really matter at all. They're nice to get, yes, but if you don't get one believe me it's not the end of the world by any means.
 
Excellent post btown. The only advantage an LOA provides is to the applicant who is interested in the academy; but is also interested in some other schools that are competitive. "Usually your privates, ivy league, etc...." An LOA is nothing more than early admissions. As btown mentioned; once you walk into BCT; if you in fact choose the academy; how you got there is totally irrelevant. No one cares. No one is impressed. But if you're applying to harvard, yale, brown, USC, etc...; then getting an LOA, along with other early admissions from those other schools, give you options. Same if you happen to have a presidential nomination or similar, and get an actual appointment the first week of November. It's nice so you can look at your other early admissions and acceptances and have more options. It's difficult to choose purdue that accepted you with early admissions in October/November when you aren't going to find out about the academy until probably March. Many schools who do early admissions want some sort of commitment when you apply early.

And to expound on what btown said about "I" day and BCT, the last thing you want to do is to talk about yourself and your accomplishments. There will be plenty of others who had an LOA or appointment early. There will be plenty of others with the 4.0gpa. Don't talk about your grades. Don't talk about your accolades and accomplishments. DON'T talk about CAP, Boy Scouts, or JrROTC. No one cares. C3C, C2C, and C1C don't care, because you're JUST a C4C. Other C4C don't care, because out of the 1300-1400 who entered BCT, probably 1200-1300 of them are type "A" personalities who also think they they too walked on water. By the time your first year is up; especially once you become a C3C and can look at the new C4C running around with their heads cut off and acting "********"; you'll then realize the reality of the situation. It's not something that someone can tell you and you'll understand. It's one of those situations where you and your bud or budette are sitting around watching TV; a C4C comes up to you and starts rattling off the Sir this, Ma'am that stuff. They leave your presence, and you and your bud/budette look at each other and giggle and think; "Was I Really That ******** Once Too????????" Then it ALL MAKES SENSE.

And this is the same whether it's the academy, enlisted BT, ROTC, or OTS. A normal college has a diversity of different types of people with different personalities. The academies are made up of many of the same types of personalities. Highly motivated individuals. Usually in control of their lives. Put into a situation where they have absolutely NO CONTROL. Then, just like a pimple, they pop. Just about all of them do. Within days, you feel that time has stopped. You measure time by when you eat. If you aren't doing something and resting, you feel that "SOMETHING IS WRONG????" Your brain becomes mush. But it feels right, because EVERYONE ELSE is acting just like you. But again; when you become the C3C and have to interact with the C4C, you'll understand.

So back on track (I have a problem with that); if you're aiming for an LOA, then you need to be getting your application done as fast as possible. Obviously, prior to 1 September is the goal. (Actually Aug 15th to give time for the paperwork to be processed and ensured it's all ready to go prior to the board reviews). But if you can't get it that soon, get it as soon as you can. The sooner you do, the more opportunities you'll find. Best of luck to you. Mike.....
 
just work hard and try to complete your app in august. you shoot for that LOA, don't let other posters get you down. :)
 
I don't think anyone is saying not to shoot for an LOA, its a great accomplisment, but it means nothing on I-day.
 
Wow; 3 days; 9 posts; and I didn't read one post that was a negative towards working towards and hoping for an LOA. I guess I missed something. I went long on the impact after BCT; but I think the general consensus has been; get your app in as soon as possible. If you get the LOA; fantastic. It allows more options on your final choice. If you don't get an LOA; no big deal. 90%+ of those who do get an appointment, won't get an LOA. And once you do get into the academy; how you got there is totally irrelevant. Best of luck. Mike.....
 
On the first afternoon of basic, our room was completely silent. Both of us had been taken out of our comfort zones and been treated like never before. Then our third roomate showed up, and put some confidence (and basic skills) into us. He was a prior enlisted (SSgt) and preppy, and he was very helpful and encouraging
 
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