Qualified Letter, what does it mean exactly?

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Oct 13, 2015
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Hello everyone!

Today, I received a new letter from USMA, titled "Candidate File Qualified." The content of the letter is the following:

"We have received all your application information and the Admissions Committee has qualified your file. West Point has eliminated rolling admissions for this cycle. As such, all qualified applicants are placed on a National Waiting List until appointments are made. Most appointments will be tendered between 26 February and 1 May 2017.You have demonstrated strong initiative and diligence in completing your file. Although qualified, you are still competing for admission and should continue to update your record with significant achievements in academic, leadership, and extracurricular and athletic activities. Do not forget to include standardized test scores or updated transcripts from your most recently completed academic semester. We will continue to add achievements to your file through the end of February 2017.Although most offers of admission will be tendered before 1 May 2017, final selection from the waiting list may be made only a few days before the class enters.Thank you for your continuing interest in West Point. Go Army!"

Two months before, I had received a LOE, so does this recent letter have anything to do with it? Is this the 3Q letter everyone is talking about? Oh and also, I already have a congressional nomination (my congress member doesn't rank nor give principal nominations).

Thank you very much in advance!
TheAspiringWon
 
Hello everyone!

Today, I received a new letter from USMA, titled "Candidate File Qualified." The content of the letter is the following:

"We have received all your application information and the Admissions Committee has qualified your file. West Point has eliminated rolling admissions for this cycle. As such, all qualified applicants are placed on a National Waiting List until appointments are made. Most appointments will be tendered between 26 February and 1 May 2017.You have demonstrated strong initiative and diligence in completing your file. Although qualified, you are still competing for admission and should continue to update your record with significant achievements in academic, leadership, and extracurricular and athletic activities. Do not forget to include standardized test scores or updated transcripts from your most recently completed academic semester. We will continue to add achievements to your file through the end of February 2017.Although most offers of admission will be tendered before 1 May 2017, final selection from the waiting list may be made only a few days before the class enters.Thank you for your continuing interest in West Point. Go Army!"

Two months before, I had received a LOE, so does this recent letter have anything to do with it? Is this the 3Q letter everyone is talking about? Oh and also, I already have a congressional nomination (my congress member doesn't rank nor give principal nominations).

Thank you very much in advance!
TheAspiringWon
It means precisely what it says; you are one of the approximately 2500 who are academically, physically, and medically qualified and in possession of a nomination. From that 2500, roughly 1,400 will be offered appointment and 1,200-1,300 will accept the appointment and become the USMA Class of 2021. Congratulations and best of luck to you going forward.
 
So this letter means that you have been in front of the admission and they have deemed you qualified. Since it sounds like you have a nomination from a Congressman who submitted a non-ranked slate, you will wait until the application deadline at the end of February. Once the deadline passes, you are compared to the other individuals on your MOCs slate. The individual with the highest WCS will be offered an appointment. All other individuals from the slate are still on the NWL and will compete for the remaining open spots a few weeks later. They take about 150 off the list.

The LOE has little bearing now as it was an encouragement to complete your packet because you had a strong file. While your file may be strong, there is no way to know the other candidates you are competing against. Make sure you add any additional activities or awards since you can improve your score until the end of February.

The waiting is the hardest part. I have a DD doing this a second time around after having an LOE the first try.
 
So this letter means that you have been in front of the admission and they have deemed you qualified. Since it sounds like you have a nomination from a Congressman who submitted a non-ranked slate, you will wait until the application deadline at the end of February. Once the deadline passes, you are compared to the other individuals on your MOCs slate. The individual with the highest WCS will be offered an appointment. All other individuals from the slate are still on the NWL and will compete for the remaining open spots a few weeks later. They take about 150 off the list.

The LOE has little bearing now as it was an encouragement to complete your packet because you had a strong file. While your file may be strong, there is no way to know the other candidates you are competing against. Make sure you add any additional activities or awards since you can improve your score until the end of February.

The waiting is the hardest part. I have a DD doing this a second time around after having an LOE the first try.
If a LOE is meaningless in terms of admission and is only encouragement to finish file why would they issue one to a candidate with a complete file?
 
I didn't say that it was meaningless. I said that it has little bearing right now. He received it two months ago and everyone's file has changed since then. He is qualified and will compete against the other individuals on the slate. It is a good place to be. If you read the letter, it says that you are a strong candidate, admissions wants you to complete your file and authorizes an overnight visit. You may be confusing an LOE with and LOA. An LOA is an assurance that you will receive an appointment if you meet certain things. My DD received her LOE in September and got the similar 3Q letter in February last year.

I have first hand experience how a candidate can get an LOE and not get an offer of appointment. You can PM if you want to know the details.
 
I didn't say that it was meaningless. I said that it has little bearing right now. He received it two months ago and everyone's file has changed since then. He is qualified and will compete against the other individuals on the slate. It is a good place to be. If you read the letter, it says that you are a strong candidate, admissions wants you to complete your file and authorizes an overnight visit. You may be confusing an LOE with and LOA. An LOA is an assurance that you will receive an appointment if you meet certain things. My DD received her LOE in September and got the similar 3Q letter in February last year.

I have first hand experience how a candidate can get an LOE and not get an offer of appointment. You can PM if you want to know the details.
Sent you a PM
 
So this letter means that you have been in front of the admission and they have deemed you qualified. Since it sounds like you have a nomination from a Congressman who submitted a non-ranked slate, you will wait until the application deadline at the end of February. Once the deadline passes, you are compared to the other individuals on your MOCs slate. The individual with the highest WCS will be offered an appointment. All other individuals from the slate are still on the NWL and will compete for the remaining open spots a few weeks later. They take about 150 off the list.

The LOE has little bearing now as it was an encouragement to complete your packet because you had a strong file. While your file may be strong, there is no way to know the other candidates you are competing against. Make sure you add any additional activities or awards since you can improve your score until the end of February.

The waiting is the hardest part. I have a DD doing this a second time around after having an LOE the first try.

I just would like to say thank you very much for your extremely informational reply. I will PM you, should a question arise. Thank you again!
 
I received the same letter, however I am a principal nominee. Is it normal that I have been placed on the NWL even though I am a qualified principal nominee?
 
I received the same letter, however I am a principal nominee. Is it normal that I have been placed on the NWL even though I am a qualified principal nominee?
I am in the same situation as you. I am a principal nominee and have received a qualified letter but not an appointment. Hopefully we hear back soon!
 
My DD has not received yet the 3Q letter, however, last week she received an email from the RC stating that basing from her competitive nomination, she got a shot for appointment and that her file is good to go after review for completion and qualification. RC further said that he should know more by 28 FEB. Does this mean a 3Q? Please shed some light on this, thanks.
 
All applications must be completed by 28 Feb. At that point they can begin finalizing MOC slates.
 
I received the same letter, however I am a principal nominee. Is it normal that I have been placed on the NWL even though I am a qualified principal nominee?
Everyone who is 3Q with a nomination goes on the NWL.
 
Yes, I was on the NWL for about a month until I got my acceptance letter from USMA around this time last year. Best of luck to everyone!
 
Hello everyone!

Today, I received a new letter from USMA, titled "Candidate File Qualified." The content of the letter is the following:

"We have received all your application information and the Admissions Committee has qualified your file. West Point has eliminated rolling admissions for this cycle. As such, all qualified applicants are placed on a National Waiting List until appointments are made. Most appointments will be tendered between 26 February and 1 May 2017.You have demonstrated strong initiative and diligence in completing your file. Although qualified, you are still competing for admission and should continue to update your record with significant achievements in academic, leadership, and extracurricular and athletic activities. Do not forget to include standardized test scores or updated transcripts from your most recently completed academic semester. We will continue to add achievements to your file through the end of February 2017.Although most offers of admission will be tendered before 1 May 2017, final selection from the waiting list may be made only a few days before the class enters.Thank you for your continuing interest in West Point. Go Army!"

Two months before, I had received a LOE, so does this recent letter have anything to do with it? Is this the 3Q letter everyone is talking about? Oh and also, I already have a congressional nomination (my congress member doesn't rank nor give principal nominations).

Thank you very much in advance!
TheAspiringWon
Boychak ?
 
My DD has not received yet the 3Q letter, however, last week she received an email from the RC stating that basing from her competitive nomination, she got a shot for appointment and that her file is good to go after review for completion and qualification. RC further said that he should know more by 28 FEB. Does this mean a 3Q? Please shed some light on this, thanks.
She is not 3Q'd yet. Having a file qualified is a process that takes place once a candidate's file is complete. It involves her file being reviewed by her RC, then by a member of the admissions committee, and the last check by another RC. These 3 checks can take a couple of weeks.
 
DD just got the 3Q Letter this evening. I'm just wondering if this is a good sign.
 
It means she is still in the running if she has a nomination. No more, no less. If she has a nomination she MAY receive an appointment but there is no guarantee.
 
DD got 2, Presidential and Congressional. Hurry up and wait is no joke and it's not over yet...whew!
 
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It means she is still in the running if she has a nomination. No more, no less. If she has a nomination she MAY receive an appointment but there is no guarantee.
BTW, kinnem, what's the usual percentage with 3Q+Nom for appointment with the current trend you're seeing?
 
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