Naval Academy LOA?

R

rhaley9

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
16
Hi There!

I really appreciate all of the users who post on this site! It is very helpful and much appreciated!

I am curious as to whether I will be competitive for an LOA for the Naval Academy. I heard they mainly go out to recruited athletes and minorities (I am neither), but I also know they are for the most qualified. I have submitted everything but the BGO interview (scheduled for 8/21) and personal data record but Im not sure what USNA needs to award LOAs. Here are my stats:)

GPA: 3.89U, 4.12W
Class Rank: 22/310
ACT MATH: 33
ACT ENGLISH: 32
Advanced math and Science
AP Chinese, (8 years of classes)
AP Chemistry
Ap Calculus

-National Honor Society
-Honor Roll 3 Years,Principal's List 3 Years
-AP Chinese 5, and Honors Chinese Level 4, International Club, Chinese Class Representative.
-2 years Debate Team, and Debate Class
-Birmingham Unified JV High School Hockey 2 Years, Captain 11th, Assistant Captain 10th
-Seaholm High School Varsity Golf, 1 year, Lettered, one of the top 5 golf teams in Michigan, co captain
-Seaholm High School JV Golf Team 2 Years, captain both years
-6 Years of Birmingham Rangers Travel Hockey-Tier II State Champs
Champion and Medalist (top 3) in various local and state golf tournaments
-Over 170 Hours as a Student coach and skating instructor with Detroit Dragons Youth Hockey Association (Detroit inner city youth). Teaching underprivileged youth how to skate and learn to play hockey. Also organized and ran an equipment drive to help get the kids the various pieces of expensive gear so they can enjoy the game of hockey.
- Referee(ice hockey):2007-present; USA/MAHA Level 3 certification(achieved higher level every year)
- Caddy: 3 Years Birmingham Country Club and Oakland Hills Country Club
- Ice Cream worker: 2010-present; 20 hrs/week in summer - 15hrs during school year
- Janitor: 6 years; clean law office
- International travel: (2008)Field Trip To China with 8th Grade Chinese Class. Visited Shanghai, Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise, Xi An, and Beijing (2009)Paris and Rome
- Father Served in United States Marine Corp, Grandfather served as a United States Army Air Force Pilot, Grandmother served in Coast Guard and other Grandfather served in the United States Army.

CFA SCORES

BB Throw: 62 ft
Pullups: 6
Shuttle Run: 7.8
Pushups:58
Situps:77
Mile Run:7:57

Any insight is much appreciated!! Please let me know of both strengths and weaknesses and chances of LOA consideration

THANKS SO MUCH, HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!
 
I have to tell myself this too,but remember; an appointment is the goal...not an LOA. :) It's a very competitive year, so my best advice is to push yourself harder than ever before...so when all is said and done, you don't think "Darn, if only I got 2 more pushups...or 50 points higher on the SAT)

Looks good to me though! :) good luck!
 
Thanks for bandad and stephanie2012 for your advice!! I do understand that my main goal is an appointment, i was just wondering whether I may be competitive for an LOA or not. As to my CFA scores, when i called my regional director to inform him that my scores were in, he told me that although my scores were not through the roof, they were above average. I know the mile and pullups arent strong, and just in case i am continuing to work out in case I need to retake.

Thanks again to your insight, an if someone could possibly let me know if I will be competitive for an appointment or LOA i would appreciate it.

Have a great day!!!
 
The short answer is none knows. I've never seen a profile of LOA recipients. Only anecdotal examples which do suggest many are made to targeted minority/ethnic group members and athletes. But not exclusively.Skip worrying about LOAs. It's spittin' and peein' upstream and into the wind. Lends a sensation, can end up a mess, and is mostly for show. As has been noted here and elsewhere, many LOAs fail to gain appointments while many non-LOAs do.
 
My Regional director gave me papers when I met, one of which said the first admissions board meeting is Sep 1st. What will they do in the first meeting? Will they simply letting people know they are qualified? Im confused about what they let candidates know after the first meetings. If anyone can weigh in that would be great!!

Have a great day!
 
I might be wrong, but I think this line of question is sorta nuts. Trying to figure out the agenda of the Admissions Board? Where are we going w/ this one? In short, I suspect they'll begin to review applications. Perhaps have some coffee, donuts early on. Maybe send out for lunch or possibly the dean'll order in a sandwich platter with the usual variety of meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, etc. Should be a great gathering of many to come.
 
Whistle Pig said:
The short answer is none knows. I've never seen a profile of LOA recipients. Only anecdotal examples which do suggest many are made to targeted minority/ethnic group members and athletes. But not exclusively.Skip worrying about LOAs. It's spittin' and peein' upstream and into the wind. Lends a sensation, can end up a mess, and is mostly for show. As has been noted here and elsewhere, many LOAs fail to gain appointments while many non-LOAs do.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's accurate to say many LOAs fail to get appointments. Some don't. In fact, it's probably more accurate to say very few LOAs fail to get appointments.
 
Well, I'll not quibble over that. However in a broader sense, my point that none here has ever seen a profile, including numbers of LOAs vs. LOA appointments, is even more edifying. In short truth, we simply do not know. "Many," "Some", and "very few" are all less than measureable and precise, in the end lending maybe some of that pleasant sensation but nothing more.

Think "appointment." Striving for an LOA is like hoping for a big bow and pretty wrapping paper on a big box at Christmas. It's nice, and presumably presents a nice present. But at least occasionally, and maybe more often than that, what ever "occasional" means, it ends up a lump of coal.
 
Just saying that “The NA gave out X LOA’s but only Y attended” is meaningless.

If we assume that LOA's are primarily given to entice those kids who might be considering the NA to stick with the application process as opposed to accepting the early decision at some other college, then I think it fair to say that the only statistic that is important to know (and it's unlikely we ever will know it) is: How many LOA recipients do not receive a nomination? My point being that given their high scholastic performance many will turn down appointments to attend Cornell or MIT. (Forgetting for the moment those that do not pass medical or physical screening or do not complete the application process at all.)

To the OP’s question:

How did your BGO interview go?

Work on your test scores. Yours are fine for an appointment but are still within the 50th percentile (at the top end no doubt but within nevertheless.)

What were your AP test scores? What did your 11th grade math and English teachers say about you? How tough is your HS?

Bottom line: none of us knows what the criteria is for an LOA but like everyone else here has said, your goal is an appointment.
 
osdad said:
Just saying that “The NA gave out X LOA’s but only Y attended” is meaningless.

...

Bottom line: none of us knows what the criteria is for an LOA but like everyone else here has said, your goal is an appointment.
Click to expand...

Of course it's meaningless. But your bottomline isn't, relative to the OP's question. The big picture issue was addressing Memphis' point.

So ... I think we're all on the same page in the end. LOAs are nice window dressing, hopefully useful in lending assurance and encouragement, but beyond the big picture, on a case-by-case examination, totally meaningless beyond an official "atta boy! keep on running!":thumb:

For those like the OP looking for some other meaning, perhaps a "YOU'RE IN!" totally worthless on that question.
 
Osdad,

My BGO interview went great!! He said that he had nothing but good things to say about me in his interview form. Let's put it this way, I live about 15 minutes from my BGO and by the time I was home he had my interview submitted to USNA. He especially had good comments about how I managed my time.

WOW!!! I wasn't expecting anyone to say to work on my test scores. I have taken a couple of times already and I heard that those scores will be very competitive. In fact, I have not seen a website where my ACT math and english ARE in the middle 50%, everywhere I look they are far above them. I understand there is some room for improvement, but is that the best use of my time at this point??

My 11th grade teachers said great things about me in their rec letters!! I was very pleased with their great responses to both the USNA and my MOC's.

I appreciate everyone taking an interest in this thread!!! Im kinda surprised I have this many replies and views!


Have a great day!!!
 
rhaley9 said:
Osdad,

My BGO interview went great!! He said that he had nothing but good things to say about me in his interview form. Let's put it this way, I live about 15 minutes from my BGO and by the time I was home he had my interview submitted to USNA. He especially had good comments about how I managed my time.

WOW!!! I wasn't expecting anyone to say to work on my test scores. I have taken a couple of times already and I heard that those scores will be very competitive. In fact, I have not seen a website where my ACT math and english ARE in the middle 50%, everywhere I look they are far above them. I understand there is some room for improvement, but is that the best use of my time at this point??

My 11th grade teachers said great things about me in their rec letters!! I was very pleased with their great responses to both the USNA and my MOC's.

I appreciate everyone taking an interest in this thread!!! Im kinda surprised I have this many replies and views!


Have a great day!!!
Click to expand...


Fantastic...

I based my comment about your test scores on the Class of 2015 Profile and an estimate that your ACT scores converted to SAT are Math = 730 and English = 700. (I've never seen a conversion table for the individual scores.) No question that these are great scores. But if you notice from the profile they are at the top of the 50th percentile. Which means that 25% of the class scored higher. However, the combination of the two scores may be higher than all but a few candidates. We just don't know. If you're sure they're the best you can do, rest easy. (Again, they are very good) but if there's any doubt in your mind that you can improve them and you have the opportunity then do so.

Good luck. :thumb:
 
osdad said:
Fantastic...

I based my comment about your test scores on the Class of 2015 Profile and an estimate that your ACT scores converted to SAT are Math = 730 and English = 700. (I've never seen a conversion table for the individual scores.) No question that these are great scores. But if you notice from the profile they are at the top of the 50th percentile. Which means that 25% of the class scored higher. However, the combination of the two scores may be higher than all but a few candidates. We just don't know. If you're sure they're the best you can do, rest easy. (Again, they are very good) but if there's any doubt in your mind that you can improve them and you have the opportunity then do so.

Good luck. :thumb:
Click to expand...

My son was told by his BGO that his ACTs were very competitive and they are slightly lower than the OP. The OP's overall academic profile is very strong.
 
Any ideas as to how many completed applications USNA currently has for the class of 2016?
 
rhaley9 - yes your scores are competitive, but ds had better class rank and higher math scores with comparable ECs, classes, GPA (minus the excellent language extras, of course) and no LOA......that being said, he did receive an appointment to the academy. As others have said, the goal is not an LOA but an appointment. IMHO, LOAs seem to be given out for various reasons, so there may not be a "one size fits all" set of qualifications to earn one.
 
Received an email from a BGO in MD. There were 12,195 applicants as of August 15.
 
I'm not sure what OP means, but 12,195 applicants initiated the process and 350 were 100% completed by August 15. I have about four friends from NASS that already have presidential nominations and are 100% completed with their app (not including medical).
 
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