SLE decision making process

[mike1979]

Hello

Could someone give an insight on how the decision process works for SLE. My DD applied within minutes after the portal was opened. Filled out application, indicated all the extracurricular activities, which are extensive. No word on whether he got accepted or rejected yet (and I am guessing that he won’t be accepted). At the same time we are witnessing the application deadline being extended, which I can speculate is due to not sufficient number of candidates that require help, support and some degree of assistance being present in the candidates pool. I know that acceptance to SLE doesn’t directly translate into admission in USMA, but it is a bit discouraging to observe how USMA no longer values individuals qualifications and begin to focus on categories that need more handholding to complete the process (hence the extended deadline)

 

[NCA]

I don't think the extension was due to lack of applicants. There were some IT issues early when the portal opened; perhaps the extension is to make up for that. The individual qualification is definitely a factor (gpa, sat/act, ec), but not the only factor. I don't think anyone knows for sure what the "other" factors are precisely.

 

[MidCakePa]

I know that acceptance to SLE doesn’t directly translate into admission in USMA, but it is a bit discouraging to observe how USMA no longer values individuals qualifications and begin to focus on categories that need more handholding to complete the process (hence the extended deadline)

How did you draw this conclusion? Did you learn this directly from USMA? Was there formal, official communication declaring this? Or is it, to use your word, speculation?

The SA summer programs are primarily outreach and awareness levers. Many attendees check all the boxes required for full appointment, and at a high level. Many attendees have less-stelllar credentials but are from underrepresented groups, e.g. geographic areas, socioeconomic background, etc.

I’m not aware of any category that covers candidates who “need more hand-holding to complete the process.” Which is why I’m highly skeptical that it’s part of the acceptance criteria.

 

[99Gold]

SLE is an outreach program. Admissions stated in the SLE information briefing this year that the primary considerations would be academic qualifications and geographic location. It isn't about hand-holding (I agree with @MidCakePa that I've never seen that category discussed) but about expanding the pool of applicants. They want SLE attendees to see what West Point and the Army has to offer and tell their friends about it.

My oldest DS (currently a doolie at USAFA) did not intially get into to SLE. We were not surprised as his father is a grad and we live in a military-dense region. He did get in off the waitlist at the end of April (probably due to SLE being virtual). He was later told by admissions that he was a top candidate in our area and was awarded an appointment to USMA shortly after his MOC nomination was received. His SLE denial had everything to do with his exposure to USMA and not his potential for an appointment.

Your DS may still get invited to SLE but a denial has nothing to do with USMA not valuing his individual qualifications.

 

[mike1979]

How did you draw this conclusion? Did you learn this directly from USMA? Was there formal, official communication declaring this? Or is it, to use your word, speculation?

The SA summer programs are primarily outreach and awareness levers. Many attendees check all the boxes required for full appointment, and at a high level. Many attendees have less-stelllar credentials but are from underrepresented groups, e.g. geographic areas, socioeconomic background, etc.

I’m not aware of any category that covers candidates who “need more hand-holding to complete the process.” Which is why I’m highly skeptical that it’s part of the acceptance criteria.

Two factors that I didn’t mention in this response (in addition to the one mentioned above)

1. There was a comment made by another user in this forum, where SA reached out to him/her regarding incomplete application and asked him/her to fill in the details, I.e check a few boxes. Upon filing out the details the individual got accepted into the SLE program. Congratulations to him/her, of course.

2. I personally created an account where I just put in address and the school. Strictly from the standpoint of understanding what the application looked like, and where all the boxes needed to be checked. None of the scores were put in, and few weeks later I started getting emails that SAT scorers are needed for the SLE consideration. Apparently my blank application was competitive enough to be considered, if i just made up some unverifiable numbers and added them to my test application i probably would’ve been accepted as well.

I don’t buy an extension due to technical difficulties explanation. The website looks like it was never touched since it got created, and hence should be pretty stable. Plus two other academies had similar extensions, and they are using completely different systems.

 

[Texark147]

Hello

Could someone give an insight on how the decision process works for SLE. My DD applied within minutes after the portal was opened. Filled out application, indicated all the extracurricular activities, which are extensive. No word on whether he got accepted or rejected yet (and I am guessing that he won’t be accepted). At the same time we are witnessing the application deadline being extended, which I can speculate is due to not sufficient number of candidates that require help, support and some degree of assistance being present in the candidates pool. I know that acceptance to SLE doesn’t directly translate into admission in USMA, but it is a bit discouraging to observe how USMA no longer values individuals qualifications and begin to focus on categories that need more handholding to complete the process (hence the extended deadline)

I believe it's highly dependent on gpa and standardized test scores. It is an outreach tool, but they are still reaching out to highly qualified applicants. There are also plenty of highly qualified applicants that they just don't have room for. I don't believe the extension was for students having trouble and needing help filling out the app.

 

[Armymom93]

We are still hoping for acceptance to SLE for my DS.(naive maybe? Have all offers been made?)
He also applied as soon as the application opened with what we thought was a pretty competitive resume (ACT, grades, varsity sports, clubs etc…)
He got accepted to the USAFA summer seminar last month and we presume that is an equally competitive program.
Several people on this forum have offered assurances that acceptance to SLE does not correlate to future acceptance to USMA (using their own kids experiences as examples which is very reassuring!)
However I feel your frustration; it would be nice know either way!

 

[USMAZoo98]

Two factors that I didn’t mention in this response (in addition to the one mentioned above)

1. There was a comment made by another user in this forum, where SA reached out to him/her regarding incomplete application and asked him/her to fill in the details, I.e check a few boxes. Upon filing out the details the individual got accepted into the SLE program. Congratulations to him/her, of course.

2. I personally created an account where I just put in address and the school. Strictly from the standpoint of understanding what the application looked like, and where all the boxes needed to be checked. None of the scores were put in, and few weeks later I started getting emails that SAT scorers are needed for the SLE consideration. Apparently my blank application was competitive enough to be considered, if i just made up some unverifiable numbers and added them to my test application i probably would’ve been accepted as well.

I don’t buy an extension due to technical difficulties explanation. The website looks like it was never touched since it got created, and hence should be pretty stable. Plus two other academies had similar extensions, and they are using completely different systems.

Couple of points:

1. I believe all of the material concerning SLE states that the prospective candidate must include a PSAT or SAT or ACT score.
2. Your first point about USMA presumably no longer values individual qualifications is nonsense. This is not a screening process for actual applications to West Point, and SLE has no bearing on appointments to West Point, so they can frankly use whatever arbitrary process they choose.
3. The fact that you felt inclined to create a fake account to probe the system is especially troubling.

I hope your daughter's pursuit of West Point admission is successful. Rest assured, if she does not get into the Academy, it will not be because some lesser qualified candidate got in or because of some grand conspiracy.

 

[mike1979]

Couple of points:

1. I believe all of the material concerning SLE states that the prospective candidate must include a PSAT or SAT or ACT score.
2. Your first point about USMA presumably no longer values individual qualifications is nonsense. This is not a screening process for actual applications to West Point, and SLE has no bearing on appointments to West Point, so they can frankly use whatever arbitrary process they choose.
3. The fact that you felt inclined to create a fake account to probe the system is especially troubling.

I hope your daughter's pursuit of West Point admission is successful. Rest assured, if she does not get into the Academy, it will not be because some lesser qualified candidate got in or because of some grand conspiracy.

The application is not completely intuitive. It doesn’t mention anywhere on the status page not SLE is selected. It also shows incorrectly experience of 0 years for every category selected. There is no way to correct or edit any of the fields. Hence, in the effort to understand how the fields were populated the new application was created. There is no harm in that, since I had also filled out form to withdraw it.

 

[99Gold]

The application is not completely intuitive. It doesn’t mention anywhere on the status page not SLE is selected. It also shows incorrectly experience of 0 years for every category selected. There is no way to correct or edit any of the fields. Hence, in the effort to understand how the fields were populated the new application was created. There is no harm in that, since I had also filled out form to withdraw it.

This is only the first step of the application. Once your ds is accepted as a candidate and the full app opens in June, he will be able to edit the fields and more detail will be required. At that point, it will populate the years of experience for each category. The candidate questionnaire is the SLE application and everyone who is eligible for SLE is being considered. However, SLE is a completely separate and has its own portal. SLE applicants are given a login once they are selected.

Note: Initially there was a button the push if the applicant was interested in SLE. There were some glitches with the button on the first day so they got rid of it. By the time the SLE admissions brief took place, they stated that all eligible questionnaires would be considered for SLE.

 

[Monikat]

@mike1979 I would just have your DS call admissions to figure out if they see the application in their system, to make sure there is no glitch. Maybe they will give your DS a timeframe.

 

[99Gold]

We are still hoping for acceptance to SLE for my DS.(naive maybe? Have all offers been made?)
He also applied as soon as the application opened with what we thought was a pretty competitive resume (ACT, grades, varsity sports, clubs etc…)
He got accepted to the USAFA summer seminar last month and we presume that is an equally competitive program.
Several people on this forum have offered assurances that acceptance to SLE does not correlate to future acceptance to USMA (using their own kids experiences as examples which is very reassuring!)
However I feel your frustration; it would be nice know either way!

You will find out either way. 2 years ago, SLE rejections came out on April 29th.