<p>I received my LOA over the weekend while I was gone on a speech trip.</p>
<p>Pretty exciting. Now let's see if I can get the DoDMERB waiver worked out...</p>
<p>Nice. Did they send you an LOA after you completed and sent in your application? I'm just curious since people seem to be getting LOAs at different times. Is there an reason why they are doing that.</p>
<p>It depends on the strength of your file and when WP receives all of the info that it needs to make a decision.</p>
<p>I got my LOA before I even got my application mailed to my house...kinda weird, but really exciting. Hooyah, what do you need a medical waiver for?</p>
<p>"I got my LOA before I even got my application mailed to my house...kinda weird"</p>
<p>No not wierd - WP does give out early LOAs based on SATs/ACTs, 6th semester transcripts (which include course difficulty, grades and class rank) and the candidate questionnaire (which includes sport and leadership activities) . Remember that LOAs are conditional and they do check the initial data provided against the completed file. It has been suggested that WP gives out LOAs too liberally. I disagree. The LOA system that WP has was instituted by Cpt. Jones in the early '70s. He is now Col. Jones (Dean/Director of Admissions), and I believe he knows what he is doing…. :) LOAs were first instituted to compete with early decision programs at other top schools.</p>
<p>Mr. Sinister,
They called me about two weeks ago and we talked for a while and was told I would be receiving one. Within a few days I received the application. I haven't turned any of it in (except my science teacher eval), but I got the letter over the weekend.</p>
<p>Anglin,
Sleepwalking. The bane of my existence!</p>
<p>I have an LOA is as well, and i wonder about how many LOA recipients actually are offered admissions. I understand that they are reserving your spot, but you can potentially lose it for being medically disqualified, physically disqualified, or not returning all information in on time. My Congressman has the policy to nominate any candidate with an LOA without competition. And to my knowledge, I am Medically Qualified, as DoDMERB has finished my application and i have not heard anything. It is the physical portion i worry about and also my class load next semester. This semester i was not able to take an English Class, so i am taking 2 next, and my day is so full i dont even have a lunch period. If I end up getting too many B's and my Rank in Class drops will they cut me? The letter said to continue excellence in our classes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Then why make any of them complete those pesky old unnecessary applications? I guess it doesn't matter at all what teacher's think, etc etc etc. I'm sure an abbreviated snapshot view is all they need to do an indepth analysis of the candidate's potential and that this process has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that USMA has the lowest retention rate of the three major academies. My tax dollars at work.</p>
<p>In reality, what it does is keep candidates from making informed decisions. The ratio of those who are accepted at both USMA and another academy who choose the other academy is approximately 3:1. By perhaps elimininating that other application, they are inappropriately capturing these candidates before they have an opportunity to properly evaluate alternatives.</p>
<p>For those People who got LOA, can you just give me basic stat? Your SAT score, rank number and so on.. Thanks</p>
<p>Oh, so for the application, we can turn in the document separately, right? I don't have to send in one packet right?</p>
<p>People who don't know what they are talking about need to go post on the Naval Academy forum.</p>
<p>Inhibitor - a B won't kill you. Just keep working hard and don't get senioritis.</p>
<p>Peteyflow - again - don't worry about an LOA work on the appointment. Come R-day those with LOA's don't stand out any more than those who got their appointments in May.
I believe you can send in those parts of the application as you complete them. You don't have to wait and send it all in at one time - that is why they gave you so many envelopes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There are too many of those over there already.</p>
<p>No need to be bringin' that nonsense over here.</p>
<p>The first step in recovery is to get past the denial stage.</p>
<p>Hmmmm--Im not sure how receiving an early LOA from an academy restricts that candidate's opportunity to evaluate alternatives. Our D received one from WP in mid-July of the year before she entered. The LOA she received from the Naval Academy was received in October. She didn't have to commit to either of them until the following May, which gave her plenty of time to hear from her civilian choices.
Having the lowest retention rate could signal a couple of things (and Im not sure over what time period you are referring to ) but:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>USMA could be more demanding mentally and physically--it certainly appears to be that way just looking at the various discussions that have occured on the AF and Navy sites here on CC regarding restrictions, rules, regs, etc. Thats not a slam, but reflective of what graduates of each of the academies will face in their respective services in the real world.</p></li>
<li><p>The war in Iraq could be a factor </p></li>
</ol>
<p>As far as the 3:1 ratio, I have never seen that kind of stat published so I can't say if that is correct or not. I can only say from personal experience that in our D's case she chose WP over Navy and had received appointments from both.</p>
<p>As far as my 'vitals' go, nothing special...
-I applied to USMA last year but withdrew my application after USNA rejected me. I wanted to try at USNA once more before I committed to USMA.
-No varsity sports...5 intramurals (flag football, volleyball, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis)
-4.0 HS GPA (at the time...now it's 3.9 even though the lowest grade was a 91???)
-Class rank 1/36
-On my college debate team (won gold medal in impromptu speaking at Nationals)
-Received MOC nomination to USNA last year
-ACT 31 math, 34 English...SAT 710 reading and 670 math, I think
ahhh....I think that's about it</p>
<p>In regards to uneducated decisions: I somewhat agree with USNA69. While it SUCKED not knowing for sure until the end last year, and it's nice to be able to tentatively plan ahead this year, I really think early admissions or early offers are detrimental on the whole. Not so much with USxA because we do have until May to decide, but still...
That having been said, I'm not about to accept it unless/until USNA spits me out again. :D</p>
<p>Regarding my previous post, I am crushed to say that I have finally recieved a letter from DoDMERB saying they will not qualify me until my braces come off. My braces are scheduled to come off in MAR 2008, Will USMA still accept me? or do i need to rip them out of my mouth tonight? </p>
<p>ACT- 31 composite
36 math
27 english
32 reading
30 science</p>
<p>practice CFA-64ft b-ball throw
6 pull-ups
9.75 shuttle run
76 crunches
52 push-ups
6:42 mile</p>
<p>USNA69 "By perhaps eliminating that other application, they are inappropriately capturing these candidates before they have an opportunity to properly evaluate alternatives."</p>
<p>You clearly misunderstand the WP LOA process (or mudding the waters for the fun of it??). The "other application" is not eliminated. Candidates with LOAs have 60 days to complete the second step WP application and LOAs are conditional - appointments are not automatic....
In addition as Shogun has pointed out, candidates do not have to accept appointments until May 1 so all other offers can be evaluated. However, the advantage for candidates is that they know early on that WP wants them, and that may help them when they are deciding whether or not to do an early decision application to a civilian school ( a decision which is binding if accepted).</p>
<p>Kids love to be wanted. That initial LOA is treated by them like gold. One cannot deny that it carries more weight than a regular offer in May.</p>
<p>Both USNA and AFA admissions have both made repeated visits to WP admissions to ask them to curtail this practice.</p>
<p>Our D treated BOTH of her LOA's like gold (one in July, one in October). However, until the nomination, physical, and full application is in, neither are they. As far as carrying "more weight" than a regular offer in May, how is that?
The college admissions process is a competitive one, whether a service academy or a civilian school. The highest qualified candidates are ALWAYS going to hear offers first, whether the qualification is based on academics, sports, etc. When two candidates show up for R day in late June or early July no one cares if they received an LOA a year ago or a regular offer of admission in March, but all schools are certainly going to go after the best and brightest they can, as early as they can.</p>