USNA 2025 Waiting and....Waiting

[OldRetSWO]

Also my by understanding is that one cannot get a waiver before receiving the "competitive" status by USNA

Admissions does not list or tell you that you're "competitive", it is an internal category that narrows as the class fills out. Obviously, when there are few spots left, there are not going to be very many people that they consider competitive for those spots.

 

[justdoit19]

I’ve noticed this too, @MidCakePa. And it is Strange this cycle. But it’s VERY important for upcoming classes to not fixate on this!!

Think about it ....early on in the process, there are more pieces potentially missing (a nom. Clearing medical. Those are pretty common ones) simply due to the earlier in the process nature of outstanding pieces necessary for an appointment. And a SA sees them as a candidate they want...for whatever reason. So the extend an offer, an LOA, contingent upon clearing whatever pieces are missing. So these people, at THIS point in the process, may or may not still be trying to clear their items. Perhaps they haven’t received a nom. Perhaps USNA is working through their medical/waiver process.

That is an example of where someone could be at this point, as a LOA holder.

But throughout this whole time, regular (non-LOA) appointments are offered. And THESE (non-LOA holders) are the VAST majority of USNA appointments.

In parallel, especially this late in the process (as medical has had a chance to work through...state nom’s slates have been submitted since that deadline), appointments are offered that may need a condition met (my older son technically was in this category....he received an appointment, but they needed a special form for him before it could become official.....he had a conditional offer of appointment. Semantics as far as a conditional offer, and a LOA. Really!! They are, in essence, the same thing!!).

At this late time in the process, there most likely will not be “LOA’s” extended. New this year, and perhaps the source of the confusion a bit, is the way USNA is handling the DODMERB piece, at least later in the process (it used To be once you hit 50 pct of your app, DODMERB was triggered. Automatically). This year, it’s different. At this point, no DODMERB unless considered competitive for an appointment (which, BTW, is DIFFERENT THAN A COMPETITIVE CANDIDATE....it means somone they are looking at, in that point in time, as a potential for the appointment). As I understand it all through emails and trainings through USNA.

At this point, there are candidates with LOA’s who still have xxx element to meet. There are candidates who haven’t even had medical yet. There are candidates on the WL. And until you are told NO by USNA, no matter what category you are in, you haven’t been told NO by USNA. Some LOA holders won’t have their xxx cleared. Some will.

BUT THE LOA IS NOT WHAT GETS YOU THE APPOINTMENT, in and of itself.

 

[OldRetSWO]

but I am curious how often the board is meeting and how many additional appointments they have to award?

The Admissions Board is only part of the process and many things happen outside of it. The board really only
looks at the candidate's records to try to figure out who they think can do well at USNA. Things like Candidate slates, diversity
and other finding Noms are done by other Admissions folks, NOT the Admissions Board. Those other Admissions folks are working
on this every day while the Admissions Board itself all have full time jobs within USNA including both the Academic and Military sides..

 

[Lynn3194]

I’m we still haven’t heard anything is it NAPS or nothing?

Just got off the live chat where someone asked the same question, and this is what the USNA admissions rep stated if your portal states your application is still under review... "If you have not received word yet it means that you are still in consideration for any programs to include NAPS/foundation. Please ensure you are checking your inbox as well as your spam folder." -- LT Daniel Schmerber

Just saw further clarification in response to another similar question. The rep stated..."not all appointments have gone out yet. If you have not been notified at this time you are still in consideration for USNA, NAPS, and foundation."

 

[CGQMforlife]

If by LOA you mean “letter of assurance,” this post is not accurate!

One can be deemed competitive and/or have a waiver requested without an LOA. An LOA is a conditional offer that guarantees appointment once the recipient fulfills some aspect of the application. That could be one of the 3 Qs (academics, medical, CFA) or some other fairly mundane or strange request (the case for my DD).

There have been a lot of posts lately stating something akin to the above excerpt, i.e. that an LOA is necessary to be deemed competitive and/or receive a medical waiver. Either the long-standing definition of LOA has mysteriously changed. Or a new term has been introduced that resembles a current one. Or folks are confused or misled. Or people are making things up, whether intentionally or not. Weird.

 

[CGQMforlife]

Probably a little of all of the above.

 

[Colorado_2025]

Just got off the live chat where someone asked the same question, and this is what the USNA admissions rep stated if your portal states your application is still under review... "If you have not received word yet it means that you are still in consideration for any programs to include NAPS/foundation. Please ensure you are checking your inbox as well as your spam folder." -- LT Daniel Schmerber

Just saw further clarification in response to another similar question. The rep stated..."not all appointments have gone out yet. If you have not been notified at this time you are still in consideration for USNA, NAPS, and foundation."

Sounds similar to what I heard. Fingers crossed we all get good news this week!

 

[teamluke]

USNA Admissions

As the undergraduate college of our countrys naval service the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence character and compassion in the US Navy and Marine Corps

www.usna.edu

Chat is open 10-11 AM ET and 2-3 PM ET Monday-Friday accessible by chatbox on the right of the webpage.

Today was my first time signing into the live USNA Admissions Chat. It was great! I found out my application has been reviewed. Keeping the FAITH! Fly NAVY!

 

[CGQMforlife]

Today was my first time signing into the live USNA Admissions Chat. It was great! I found out my application has been reviewed. Keeping the FAITH! Fly NAVY!

One step closer!

 

[NextGen89x2]

Do you mean a Letter of Assurance (not Appointment) or a Conditional Appointment, which are very close in nature and essentially accomplish the same thing. The Conditional actually makes the offer, on condition everything is satisfactorily met.

It’s minutiae, but we don’t want the 2026ers reading this to think they have to get an LOA from the get-go or they are dead in the water.

I read the initial question of who else is waiting only for a medical waiver to be directed to those who already have an admission decision, which I guess could be either an LOA or conditional appointment. That's the boat my DS is in, waiting only for the waiver. Well, waiting for the waiver and subsequent appointment. It's hard to be patient.

That was what I meant by the original question - have conditional appointment or LOA (whichever), have been through original medical process, been disqualified, put under waiver review, and now waiting for waiver decision. If waiver decision yes, then assume appointment is on its way, given wording of said letter! And yes - so hard to be patient. I think my DS checked the portal at least 20 times over the weekend and I didn't have the heart to tell him it almost for sure wouldn't change on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[teamluke]

Some of you may know this already, but I found it interesting. I asked if your MOC is notified if you receive a NAPS or Foundation offer. The answer on the USNA Live Chat was "NO." You do not need a Nomination for NAPS or Foundation, so the MOC isn't involved with notifying you. I knew you didn't need a Nom for those, but I wasn't sure if your MOC would contact you regarding NAPS/Foundation. Well, now we know! Keeping the FAITH! Fly NAVY!

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Well, found out that my son is still valid in the system from the chat, so still "in the running." The LT gave an email address to inquire further about my son's LOA, so something was sent. We'll see if any more information is provided, or if it is still just hurry up and wait.

 

[gespinoza]

Well, found out that my son is still valid in the system from the chat, so still "in the running." The LT gave an email address to inquire further about my son's LOA, so something was sent. We'll see if any more information is provided, or if it is still just hurry up and wait.

Did your son know about the LOA?

 

[txfwindian]

Well, found out that my son is still valid in the system from the chat, so still "in the running." The LT gave an email address to inquire further about my son's LOA, so something was sent. We'll see if any more information is provided, or if it is still just hurry up and wait.

I remember you DS has an LOA but no nom. Would you be able to provide that email address in PM to me. I can pass that to DD ( she has an loa but no nom).

 

[FortunateSon]

My portal still says that USNA has not received my medical exam even though I completed my exam several months ago. I also have not received a TWE which means I am still in the running. Is anyone on the same boat as me? That their medical exam has not been received and they have not received a TWE.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

You will only be competitive for a waiver once you have received a LOA from the academy, that is when you are deemed "competitive" for waiver review.

asically the process is 1. Become appointed 2. Push for waiver 3. Waiver clears 4. Officially appointed by both DOD and USNA --> you cannot do anything with a waiver unless you already have received a LOA for academy

Absolutely, 100% False Information .... many things wrong here.
1) You don't need an LOA to be considered for a waiver.
2) Become Appointed...is actually the last step in the process. (Actually you get an Offer of Appointment; up to the Candidate to accept or not).
3) There is no push for waiver ..and you in most cases, you aren't competing to for the waiver...

If you are qualified for Admission, USNA may consider a waiver --some conditions simply aren't waiverable, some are..and in some cases, the number of waivers may be limited.

 

[CL-Red]

My portal still says that USNA has not received my medical exam even though I completed my exam several months ago. I also have not received a TWE which means I am still in the running. Is anyone on the same boat as me? That their medical exam has not been received and they have not received a TWE.

Yep! I've gone back and forth with medical multiple times and USNA is only requesting the medical once they deem us as competitive for an application. I applied to both USNA and USAFA and USAFA requested right away but USNA has not yet. Living on a prayer and staying alive!

 

[OldRetSWO]

My portal still says that USNA has not received my medical exam even though I completed my exam several months ago. I also have not received a TWE which means I am still in the running. Is anyone on the same boat as me? That their medical exam has not been received and they have not received a TWE.

Your portal is NOT ground truth. It has been pointed out many times on many threads that the portal system is not perfect. If USNA has told you that they have your medical but the portal says no, the portal is most likely in error.
If the only thing you're going on is the portal, ask admissions either in chat or via email if your medical has been received. If they say they have it then the portal does not matter. They're busy, I do not expect them to be correcting that kind of thing at this stage of the game

 

[hbtw2011]

Your portal is NOT ground truth. It has been pointed out many times on many threads that the portal system is not perfect. If USNA has told you that they have your medical but the portal says no, the portal is most likely in error.
If the only thing you're going on is the portal, ask admissions either in chat or via email if your medical has been received. If they say they have it then the portal does not matter. They're busy, I do not expect them to be correcting that kind of thing at this stage of the game

Agree the portal definitely is not the final word. DDs medical has not shown up in her portal yet she has an LOA since December and has been asked for AMI for a waiver specifically for USNA. She emailed admissions several months ago and they assured her the USNA medical has seen her file. My very basic understanding is that medical only 100% shows complete in the portal once you have an appointment or an appointment is in the works.

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Did your son know about the LOA?

Yes. He received a hardcopy in the mail the day after Thanksgiving. He even told all the nomination interview teams that he had received one. Still didn't get a nom.