<p>So the application is finally complete. What is the expected time frame for an LOA if they decide to give one?</p>
<p>That would free up all the time being spent on plans B,C, and D.</p>
<p>emcs</p>
<p>Please keep in mind that the majority of people DO NOT receive an LOA. So, without meaning to sound flip, the answer to your question is who knows? Some people have already gotten them, and some are receiving them. In my experience, having your application "completed" is not generally a factor in the LOA. Further, receiving an LOA should not stop you from pursuing plan B (or C). There are lots of reasons you should have a back up in place. It is not my intention to sound discouraging, but you have to be prepared. With the application finished, next you are looking for nominations, and then hopefully that nice fat envelope that brings the appointment. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>It would help to know which academy you are talking about, as each handle their LOA distributions differently.</p>
<p>And frankly, at this late date in the year, I wouldn't worry about an LOA. Noms and appointments are starting to be decided right around now.</p>
<p>I, too, as a parent, believed that once an LOA or appointment was in hand, we could shelve the efforts for back up plans. Other parents with past experience urged us to press on with all those back up plans, for various reasons. There are some excellent posts on the USNA College Confidential from the past......you might search "back up plans." We were strongly advised to keep those back up plans going, even to pay that dorm deposit at Plan B. Then when I day rolls around, call those other colleges, scholarships that were accepted, etc and say "No thanks." As I said, wide variety of reasons to keep back up plans going...........some kids decide right there at I Day (I am referring to USNA) that this just is not for them. What if they get sick/injured, etc between receiving appointment and I Day? The parents of kids with appointments in hand have a term for it: They wrap those kiddos in "bubble wrap" until they are safely ensconced at whichever academy...... There have even been instances where the kiddo was disqualified when they reported for something missed on DoDMERB, like, say color blindness. If you failed to continue with back up plans, you might be set back a year or semester at another school. If you find the threads on USNA CC, you will see that some parents even keep the back up plans in place until the completion of plebe summer while others say that having a back up plan once they are there makes it too easy to "jump ship!"</p>
<p>My son is eligible for some pretty fantastic scholarships through his 4-H and AQHA involvement. Scholarships that are available only to graduating high school seniors. If he does not get an appt or for some bizarre reason has an appointment and does not get there, the window of opportunity for those is gone. No looking back. So, we will apply for those, apply to back-up school, honors dorm, honors scholarships, etc and fervently hope that we will be calling all of the above the day after I-Day to say "Thanks, but no thanks." </p>
<p>I felt guilty until I spoke with the director of one of the foundations to which we will apply and have a good chance for a generous scholarship. They completely understand and expect such things to happen. The funds might be offered to another applicant or at the least would be awarded the following year. ( A number of kids receive these awards each year, not just one or two.)</p>
<p>So, sharpen your pencil and apply for at least one back up school and all the scholarships you are eligible for! The good thing is that your SA stuff is all in, so you can shift gears to back up plans. It would be a pain to be doing it simultaneously!</p>
<p>Keep in mind that some scholarships can be applied to Service Academies. USNA even applied educational IRA monies to ACE loan.</p>
<p>To answer the original question, its possible to hear about an LOA from USNA as early as October (at least that was our D's case a few years ago). Her app to USNA was complete in early Sept (if I remember correctly) and her LOA came in early Oct.</p>
<p>It is possible to hear about an LOA- some have been issued.
Will repeat that the number of LOAs that get issued are limited.
If you get one, great.
If you don't, hang in- you are still in the running, and will remain so unless you are notified otherwise.
The majority of candidates will hear in March.</p>