Scholastically Qualified

[kgrmom]

Hi all-

My D got a letter today from USNA and though unfortunately it was not one of the coveted LOA's it did tell her she was "scholastically qualified". I'm just wondering if this is a general letter that is sent out to candidates once they receive all their information. We have had one disaster after another with her high school in getting everything submitted- Murphy's Law to the 10th degree. I think they sent the letter within days of the CFA getting filed.

She's very excited to receive any information as we are also dealing with medical waiver issue. LOA's are the only "letters" I seem to be reading about so is a "SQ" letter of any significance?

Thanks much-
kgrmom

 

[mom3boys]

I think this means they looked at her file...which is a good thing!

 

[Just_A_Mom]

LOA's are the only "letters" I seem to be reading about so is a "SQ" letter of any significance?

Absolutely!! It means she is eligible to compete for an appointment! Great news to get so early in the game!

Do NOT worry about not gettting an LOA - remember an Appointment is the only thing that gets one to I-Day.
The next step is to win a nomination if she hasn't already.

Good luck!

 

[USNA69]

LOA's are the only "letters" I seem to be reading about so is a "SQ" letter of any significance?

Very significant. She has made the "short" list. Approximately 2000 each year are found to be scholastically qualified. Of these 2000, approximately 1500 of the 3Qed ones will be offered appointments.

And yes, JAM is correct. I could be significant that her record was looked at this early in the process.

 

[Rose]

Hello. I also have a question on this subject. My son's application was completed by mid-September and he went to a CVW in October. He attended NASS this past summer and did the CFA there and also resubmitted a second set of results this fall. He has been found medically qualified by DoDMERB. I assume he will be considered academically qualified (He is in the top 4% of his high school class and his ACT scores were 33 on both Math and Verbal.)

He has heard nothing at all from USNA yet. We have read, on this forum and elsewhere, about "triple Q" letters and scholastic qualification letters and are wondering if son should have heard something by now. He is planning to contact his Blue and Gold Officer this week to ask him. We would value the opinion of this forum, too. Thanks.

 

[Aronson]

Rose, I'm in the same situation as your son. I just got my scholastically qualified letter, went to NASS, and am waiting on a nomination. My advice is to call your BGO. I did and he told me i was 3Q'ed. Good luck

 

[mom3boys]

Very significant. She has made the "short" list. Approximately 2000 each year are found to be scholastically qualified. Of these 2000, approximately 1500 of the 3Qed ones will be offered appointments.

So, if I am reading this right, approximately 14,000 apply to USNA and only 2000 are considered academically qualified? It makes me wonder why so many apply that are not qualified, based on the stats posted on the academy website.

 

[kgrmom]

Thanks for the replies- A big boost for her! She has her first (and maybe only interview) with our rep in Dec as we are in upstate NY and I know our odds for Senate nominations are not in our favor. But you never know this may be the year. We are in a highly competitive area so thank you all for the encouragement. Gosh I'm going to wreck by the time the holidays are over- lol.

kgrmom

 

[Soylent]

Very significant. She has made the "short" list. Approximately 2000 each year are found to be scholastically qualified. Of these 2000, approximately 1500 of the 3Qed ones will be offered appointments.

So, if I am reading this right, approximately 14,000 apply to USNA and only 2000 are considered academically qualified? It makes me wonder why so many apply that are not qualified, based on the stats posted on the academy website.

I believe the 14,000 number comes from the number of people who simply fill out the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire. That is definitely believable because the lengthy application process probably weeds out a lot of people.

 

[USNA69]

Very significant. She has made the "short" list. Approximately 2000 each year are found to be scholastically qualified. Of these 2000, approximately 1500 of the 3Qed ones will be offered appointments.

So, if I am reading this right, approximately 14,000 apply to USNA and only 2000 are considered academically qualified? It makes me wonder why so many apply that are not qualified, based on the stats posted on the academy website.

Yep, I can never remember the numbers exactly but, each year, there are around 5000 official candidates, 4000 of which will receive nominations and on the high side of 2000 being scholastically qualified with the low side of 2000 being 3Qed. Many of the 14,000 are pushing the qualed area but some have no clue and will never follow up.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

Class of 2011 - United States Naval Academy:

Applicants and Nominees
Applicants (includes nominees)........................ 12,003
Number of applicants with an
official nomination....................................... 3,827
Nominees qualified scholastically,
medically and in physical aptitude................ 1,893
Offers of admission.......................................... 1,419
Admitted.......................................................... 1,202

To become triple qualified and receive a nomination is really quite a feat. It seems easy but remember some who are scholastically qualified will not be medically qualfied by DoDMERB or receive a waiver and others will not pass the CFA.
Remember we live in a nation of low physical fitness and high obesity - even among teenagers.

Some candidates will recieve a nomination and not be scholastically qualified - these are the group that is offered NAPS or a "Civil Prep" scholarship.
Some scholatically qualified candidates will not receive a nomination - mostly due to living in a very competitive congressional district in a large state.

 

[kgrmom]

Thanks for saying this JAM and USNA69- sometimes reading this board (and others) it feels like "all" these kids all super-stars but actually we are hearing from very, very few when I think about it. Being a Varsity athlete she passed and did pretty well on the CFA without a problem but she did not ace it. Nothing wrong with well-rounded kids- tops in every area I just don't see as necessarily a good thing or a realistic thing for most kids. Sad that physical fitness would keep out so many- especially when you have time to prepare for it.

To become triple qualified and receive a nomination is really quite a feat. It seems easy but remember some who are scholastically qualified will not be medically qualfied by DoDMERB or receive a waiver and others will not pass the CFA.
Remember we live in a nation of low physical fitness and high obesity - even among teenagers.

Some candidates will recieve a nomination and not be scholastically qualified - these are the group that is offered NAPS or a "Civil Prep" scholarship.
Some scholatically qualified candidates will not receive a nomination - mostly due to living in a very competitive congressional district in a large state.

 

[USNA69]

He has heard nothing at all from USNA yet.

USNA does a rolling admissions process. However, most rejections are not addressed until the very end of the cycle. Of course the LOAs and some other strong packages are addressed as soon as the package is completed. Most, however do not hear one way or the other until the very end. In the meantime, the record is either deferred or not presented to the board. Why? Most often it is not stellar and the decision is not being made until all the information presentable can be analyzed; additional SATs, retaken CFAs, mid-year grades, etc. Candidates usually go before the board with between 50,000 and 70,000 whole person points. The board looks at the total package and then assigns RABs (recommendations of the admissions board). The average candidate receives 1600 or so points which are added to the whole point total. Some receive negative points so some obviously receive a lot more than the average. Since everything the candidate has ever accomplished is measured by the whole person point system, these RAB points are more subjective. What is the board's gut feeling as to how this candidate will perform. They look at SAT retakes, CFA retakes, perserverence, the inability to accept "no" as an answer. What have I just stated? That how you act between now and the time in April that the board makes it's final decision may play an important part in whether you are selected. The 10 pt increase in SATs may be worth only a few whole person points but the fact that you took it every available opportunity could be worth 100s of RABs. Same for the CFA. Now is not the time for anyone not SQed to rest on their laurels.

 

[Rose]

USNA69,
Thanks for your reply. I think we had some misconceptions that your post cleared up for us. If I understand you correctly, the applications are reviewed and assigned a whole person score before they even go before the actual review board. Then, the board can add/subtract points as they see fit. Correct?

So, I guess that maybe some applications do not go before the review board at all? If a candidate's application has not gone before the board at this point, should we assume that it is because it is not stellar enough? Are there any other reasons that it may not have gone before the board at this point?

Will a candidate be notified if they have qualified academically and passed (or not) the Fitness Assessment even if their application has not been sent to the board for review?

Thanks for the information. It makes the "long wait" easier to endure.

 

[USNA69]

Yes, the whole person points are assigned and tallied before the package goes before the board. The board adds and subtracts points on a more esoteric level. The accomplishments of the candidates are what they are. The board's sole statement is to either declare the candidate scholastically qualified or not. Therefore, the candidate cannot be SQ unless so declared by the board.

Maybe "not stellar enough" is a bad term. Let's just say that they probably feel that there are opportunities for your son to increase his acceptability; grades, SATs, and CFA being the three which most readily come to mind.

 

[Antoinette]

Good Luck to your daughter, kgrmom! Most who are offered appointments do not have LOAs. I am sending good wishes her way - I hope the interview in December goes well!!!

 

[USNA69]

Sad that physical fitness would keep out so many- especially when you have time to prepare for it.

I think JAM allows the poetic license to get out of hand occassionally. Over the years, I have probably had in excess of 60 scholastically candidates. Every single one became 3Qed. I have never had either a med or a physical disqual. I would imagine, like you say, with the advanced notice that physically disqualified candidates are a rarity.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

I think they disqualify themselves actually - I was thinking of all the brainiac kids I have known over the years - I've had teenagers in the house for 11 years now - who don't have an athletic bone in their body.
I even have one of my own.

I was really trying to make the point that it isn't just brains that gets kids into the academies.

 

[USNA69]

I I was thinking of all the brainiac kids I have known over the years - I've had teenagers in the house for 11 years now - who don't have an athletic bone in their body.
I even have one of my own.

And how many of them had a goal to attend a SA? None, I bet.