Portal / LOR

[wmap]

Good evening, morning, etc.

I received acceptance into NASS Session 3 and I'm ready to begin asking my teaches for LORs. However, I'm slightly confused on this process because isn't there a portal that they have and send their LOR directly to the SA? How do they get a hold of this? Am I supposed to have login information for my own portal, now that NASS registration has been given? Thanks.

 

[Capt MJ]

Good evening, morning, etc.

I received acceptance into NASS Session 3 and I'm ready to begin asking my teaches for LORs. However, I'm slightly confused on this process because isn't there a portal that they have and send their LOR directly to the SA? How do they get a hold of this? Am I supposed to have login information for my own portal, now that NASS registration has been given? Thanks.

Once you are given access to your portal, you will be supplying specific teachers’ contact info. They will receive an email with a link to an evaluation form with prompts. It’s not a LOR, though there is space for comments to be pasted in. They fill out the form and submit.

School Official's Evaluation of Candidate

School Official's Evaluation of Candidate page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Sun Jun 01 20:13:00 EDT 2025.

www.usna.edu

 

[AimHighMom]

LORs and SOEs are two separate things. The post above explains how the teachers will turn in SOEs laster this summer.

 

[Alchemist]

Once you are given access to your portal, you will be supplying specific teachers’ contact info. They will receive an email with a link to an evaluation form with prompts. It’s not a LOR, though there is space for comments to be pasted in. They fill out the form and submit.

School Official's Evaluation of Candidate

School Official's Evaluation of Candidate page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Sun Jun 01 20:13:00 EDT 2025.

www.usna.edu

The CIS Portal usu opens up within the first two weeks of July - you will receive an email notifying you.

As @CaptMJ said, once you input the LORs contact information they will get an automatic email instructing them on what to do and a link where they submit the "letter". No more snail mail. Your counselor will also submit a letter, yes?

In the mean time, work on your CFA skills, find out your school's transcript process, talk to your counselor about the the USNA, and research essay prompts. BTW, asking your teachers now was the right thing to do. Ask for their private emails as most teachers do not use their school emails in the summer. Confirm with them that they will be able to respond in July-August getting your LORs back to the USNA, otherwise they will wait until school starts, delaying your CPR. Using their private emails allows your to remind them, etc.

Finally, now is a good time to work on the MOC nomination applications - they too require LORs and have multiple essays and a deadline in October timeframe. Two senators, one congressman and the VP applications. Presidential, too, if you qualify. Then you can practice for the interviews.

 

[justdoit19]

You will receive access to your candidate portal, at some point. And there you will find all the info you need.

DONT RUSH THIS!!!

You have lots of time, to put forth a BEST package. Early fall submission is ideal. You will have summer to work diligently and intently on your applications. And also time to add tidbits that may pop up early senior year (NOTE: this is USNA app only. Your REP/SEN deadlines could be summer….double check!!).

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Nothing gained from super early submission. In fact, imo, the opposite usually happens as kids get an additional piece they want to add. Or another test score. And they maybe can’t add it.

 

[Navy2025&27]

Good evening, morning, etc.

I received acceptance into NASS Session 3 and I'm ready to begin asking my teaches for LORs. However, I'm slightly confused on this process because isn't there a portal that they have and send their LOR directly to the SA? How do they get a hold of this? Am I supposed to have login information for my own portal, now that NASS registration has been given? Thanks.

Once you provide their contact info in the system, notified the letter writers so they can be on the lookout for the email from the Naval Academy with the link to submit.

 

[Alchemist]

You will receive access to your candidate portal, at some point. And there you will find all the info you need.

DONT RUSH THIS!!!

You have lots of time, to put forth a BEST package. Early fall submission is ideal. You will have summer to work diligently and intently on your applications. And also time to add tidbits that may pop up early senior year (NOTE: this is USNA app only. Your REP/SEN deadlines could be summer….double check!!).

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Nothing gained from super early submission. In fact, imo, the opposite usually happens as kids get an additional piece they want to add. Or another test score. And they maybe can’t add it.

Agree with @justdoit19. Take your time. Check, double check and triple check. Once you submit the app you can't edit it. No gain for early submittal and lots of achievements, awards, experiences happen during your senior fall semester that you want to add. Plus, taking the CFA multiple times is not uncommon and of course trying to improve SAT/ACT scores with the last exams usu beginning of December. Then there is the DODOMERB part which has had delays in the past. Applying to USNA is NOT trivial. My DD learned so much from the process - the most valuable things in one's life require the most work. Outline a schedule, do your research, and keep forging ahead constantly adjusting to changes. My DD submitted December 15th of last year and did just fine. MOC nom came Dec 20th and DODMERB approval came after that. CPR status and wait, wait, and wait some more.

 

[Alchemist]

Once you provide their contact info in the system, notified the letter writers so they can be on the lookout for the email from the Naval Academy with the link to submit.

Good, point. Let the LOR contacts know how the process works - that they will get an email from USNA instructing them with the link, etc. AND, as soon as you submit them thru the CIS portal contact them to give them a heads up.

 

[SnootyHen]

You will not get access to the portal until the middle of May. No one will. Once it's open, you provide names and emails for the various contacts they request and USNA will send them a link with the information needed. It is not a traditional LOR situation. All you can do right now is let the teachers you plan to list know so that they can watch their email. Since it will come over the summer, they may not check as frequently as they would during the school year. In addition to math and English teachers, you will also need someone to verify extra curriculars and transcripts so be sure to include a guidance counselor or dean on your list of people to talk to. You have plenty of time! They will not be looking at your application in May or June so don't worry yet.

 

[wmap]

Agree with @justdoit19. Take your time. Check, double check and triple check. Once you submit the app you can't edit it. No gain for early submittal and lots of achievements, awards, experiences happen during your senior fall semester that you want to add. Plus, taking the CFA multiple times is not uncommon and of course trying to improve SAT/ACT scores with the last exams usu beginning of December. Then there is the DODOMERB part which has had delays in the past. Applying to USNA is NOT trivial. My DD learned so much from the process - the most valuable things in one's life require the most work. Outline a schedule, do your research, and keep forging ahead constantly adjusting to changes. My DD submitted December 15th of last year and did just fine. MOC nom came Dec 20th and DODMERB approval came after that. CPR status and wait, wait, and wait some more.

Great advice.

I thought you were able to edit your app. after submission... is this not true anymore?

 

[Jganor]

The CIS Portal usu opens up within the first two weeks of July - you will receive an email notifying you.

As @CaptMJ said, once you input the LORs contact information they will get an automatic email instructing them on what to do and a link where they submit the "letter". No more snail mail. Your counselor will also submit a letter, yes?

In the mean time, work on your CFA skills, find out your school's transcript process, talk to your counselor about the the USNA, and research essay prompts. BTW, asking your teachers now was the right thing to do. Ask for their private emails as most teachers do not use their school emails in the summer. Confirm with them that they will be able to respond in July-August getting your LORs back to the USNA, otherwise they will wait until school starts, delaying your CPR. Using their private emails allows your to remind them, etc.

Finally, now is a good time to work on the MOC nomination applications - they too require LORs and have multiple essays and a deadline in October timeframe. Two senators, one congressman and the VP applications. Presidential, too, if you qualify. Then you can practice for the interviews.

Emphasis on the transcript process. My son’s guidance counselor didn’t submit it correctly and delayed that aspect for most of last summer. There is a lot to keep track of and professional and courteous follow up will be a required skill.

 

[Alchemist]

Emphasis on the transcript process. My son’s guidance counselor didn’t submit it correctly and delayed that aspect for most of last summer. There is a lot to keep track of and professional and courteous follow up will be a required skill.

We had problems with our counselor, too. Lots of emails and phone calls to straighten things out. You would think by now they know what to do.