Should I be expecting a 3QD Letter from USNA?

505plebe

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Jan 24, 2017
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I applied to both USMA and USNA. I received a 3QD letter from West Point recently. Should I be expecting another from USNA if I am qualified? My BGO told me he would not tell me if I have been accepted or denied in advance of me receiving the information from the school. All responses are appreciated! The suspense is killing me!
 
USNA does not issue 3Q letters nor informs candidates if they are 3Q.
 
If you ask your BGO if you're 3Q, will/can they tell you?
From what my BGO told me, he believes that I am a competitive candidate. I was just wondering if the school would send me a letter notifying me that they believe that too.
 
Admissions tells BGOs not to provide information on status to candidates. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is that Admissions is the official source and has the most current information. BGOs can provide general comments about competitiveness, which is based on their experience. USNA does not send out letters or update the CIS portal to indicate 3Q status. You will know your medical status and your BGO can tell you whether you passed the CFA. Those account for 2/3 items.
 
The class of 2020 and class of 2019 profiles can tell you if you are the third Q.... academics. If you do not fall into the class rank / testing zone listed in those class profiles then you are not.... potential candidates will want to be at or above that posted in the class profile.
 
The class of 2020 and class of 2019 profiles can tell you if you are the third Q.... academics. If you do not fall into the class rank / testing zone listed in those class profiles then you are not.... potential candidates will want to be at or above that posted in the class profile.

Absolutely false. The Admissions Board decides the 3rd Q...looking at a class profile means absolutely nothing when determining this Q (the data is used to help the Admissions Board arrive at a decision, but you can't use it to make your own qualification determination). Also the 3rd Q isn't JUST academics...it is the whole person.

Do not ask your BGO about the Admissions Board qual or your offer status...as USNA1985 stated, the policy is that BGOs can give neither of this information out.
 
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Wondergirl, nothing more gratifying than making a mistake and cause usnabgo08 to draw his sword!

Note: While he wasn't/isn't our BGO, he actually met DD and encouraged her. He works diligently to correct misinformation on SAF!

I stand corrected, Sir!
 
Wondergirl, nothing more gratifying than making a mistake and cause usnabgo08 to draw his sword!

This forum is great for various types of contributions (including opinions), however, misinformation needs to be corrected, otherwise some readers might leave with wrong information (thinking they are 3Q, but not in reality).
FWIW, I don't have a sword to draw (though, I think I might need to procure one soon)!
 
The German one, or the Spanish one, Sir? :D
 
Oh no, I didn't mind the correction.... not at all. And I think the word opinion was a perfect description of what I was saying. No worries! ✌️

Your description actually makes me much happier because DD is an excellent student with great grades and class rank but her SAT/ACT scores were only just above average and not reflective of her ability or performance. Her sports and leadership are top drawer too! So I really, really appreciated the correction.
 
This forum is great for various types of contributions (including opinions), however, misinformation needs to be corrected, otherwise some readers might leave with wrong information (thinking they are 3Q, but not in reality).

+ 1 -- Like anything on the Internet, take what you read with a grain of salt. Those that frequent the forum often can probably recognize those that know what they are talking about. I've been more or less lurking for years, but have found information here helpful in counseling candidates.
 
BGO's and other with practical knowledge regarding admission should (IMHO) never use the term 3Q for USNA applicants. Other academies use and will inform the 3Q status, the USNA does not. So, it is frustrating that every year we see USNA applicants fussing about their 3Q status because the term keeps being brought up and the legend keeps forwarding. I believe the prior class profiles can give applicants a gauge to see if they are on the right track in being well rounded and at their peak performance in those areas. The matrix of grades/academics, class standing, SAT/ACT scores, athletics, leadership, etc is where applicants should focus. Lets stop using the term 3Q to help applicants be less focused on a term and qualifiers they can never know about. USNA doesn't publicly use the term (when communicating to applicants), so it shouldn't be thrown out there for applicants to stress over.
 
Candidates must be qualified: (1) scholastically, (2) medically, and (3) physically (CFA). This is why people with practical knowledge, including BGOs, tend to use the term "triple qualified" or "3Q." Being 3Q is required in order to be appointed. The Admissions Board reviews the candidate's package to determine whether they are scholastically qualified. USNA chooses not to notify candidates of their scholastic status -- that doesn't mean that status doesn't exist or isn't relevant.
 
Candidates must be qualified: (1) scholastically, (2) medically, and (3) physically (CFA). This is why people with practical knowledge, including BGOs, tend to use the term "triple qualified" or "3Q." Being 3Q is required in order to be appointed. The Admissions Board reviews the candidate's package to determine whether they are scholastically qualified. USNA chooses not to notify candidates of their scholastic status -- that doesn't mean that status doesn't exist or isn't relevant.
Of course USNA qualifies candidates (1) scholastically, (2) medically, and (3) physically =3Q. no dispute. However, candidates increasingly have information at their fingertips and are used to getting real-time results. Yes, they will eventually know if they are DodMERB qualified, and CFA qualified; they will not know if they are scholastically qualified until they get an LOA, appointment, or a rejection. Just check these forums and dozens of threads by parents and applications asking, "Am I 3Q? Is my DS/DD 3Q?" No one can say. My point is that outside the walls on USNA, 3Q is not something they will know until they are told by Admissions prior to appointment or rejection. And, some "3Q" applicants are not offered appointments which even confuses them more. By using the term 3Q, applicants and parents seem to think it is something they should know ahead of time, since they keep on asking about it (probably one of the reasons USNA stopped notifying 3Q).... or perhaps it should be explained they will never know until they know.
 
Sadly, many 3Q applicants don't receive appointments and a good number who are 3Q with noms get turndowns.

Unfortunately, the concept/term is "out there" and not mentioning it is like closing the barn door while the horse runs free in the meadow. :)

The fact is that being 3Q is only one step -- a critical one, of course, but only one. I agree that focusing on 3Q can be unhelpful because achieving that status only puts you one step closer to an appointment but is no guarantee of anything. I've no doubt it's frustrating that USNA doesn't provide this information to candidates, but it is what it is. Perhaps greater emphasis should be put on what 3Q actually means on the vast scheme of things . . .
 
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