<p>I just went to NASS and was wondering what does it take to get an LOA? How early can you find out? I took the June SAT but didn't think I did to well. I want to try it again but I have to wait till October so should I send in the application in August as soon as I can with the first scores and then update them or should i wait to send everything all together. I wanted to take the September ACT also but it isnt offered in Sep in my state so I have to wait for Oct too. any ideas?</p>
<p>also does anyone know the requirements for being eligible for a presidential nomination? haha sorry i have a lot of questions</p>
<p>They usually don't start sending out LOAs until about September. I didn't receive mine until October of last year. To my understanding, there really isn't a "magic formula" that will guarantee one, it's basically up to the discretion of the admissions board and whether or not everything as a whole really stands out. Don't focus as much on LOAs; the vast majority of appointees don't get them and they are not necessary for admission, and definitely don't get down on yourself if you don't get one.</p>
<p>And for a presidential nom, you have to be the child of a POW/MIA, Medal of Honor Recipient, or of someone who retired from the military. Someone correct me if I'm wrong....</p>
<p>I got my LOA in October, but from what I have heard, most LOAs go out in Decemeber and January. That being said, don't bank your appointment on getting an LOA. Yes it was nice to get that letter, but not many candidates get them, so don't worry if you don't get one. And navypilot is right, there isn't any magic formula, if the admissions board sees something they really like, they'll send one out...</p>
<p>I received my LOA mid September. From what I've read/heard, the admissions board starts reviewing applications around the first Thursday in September, and they start making their admissions decisions (for the academic requirements) then. Admissions are rolling, so the sooner you can get everything in, the better. </p>
<p>Even if you don't think your SAT scores were the best, go ahead and send everything. You can always update your application with new scores, new activities etc. I completed my application for 2012 by July 2nd, which I believe helped me in getting an LOA. </p>
<p>LOAs if you can earn one, can be 'appointment savers' I was working through the medical process until May 13th, and without the LOA that I received, I would probably not have an appointment now.</p>
<p>Don't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving what you want (an appointment to USNA!) Go Navy!!!</p>
<p>LOAs are given to the most competitive candidates. The number given out is very small and the overwhelming majority of candidates who receive appointments do NOT receive LOAs. Your goal should be doing your best to get an appointment, and if you get an LOA that's an added bonus.</p>
<p>As for and LOA and medical issues -- no relationship. To the best of my knowledge, if you are otherwise qualified for an appointment and CGO wants to offer you one, but you are still awaiting a medical waiver, the place will be "held" for you until that medical determination is made. </p>
<p>As for Presidential noms -- not related to Medal of Honor or POW status. Here are the requirements per the usna.edu website: </p>
<p>"An unlimited number of presidential nominations are available for children and legally adopted children of career officer and enlisted personnel of the armed forces, active or reserve, including the Coast Guard. A parent in the reserve must be serving as a member of a reserve component and be credited with at least eight full years of service (a minimum of 2880 points) or must be entitled to retired pay except that he or she is not yet sixty years old. Otherwise, the parent must currently be on active duty (other than for training) and have served continuously for at least eight years or have been retired with pay or granted retired or retainer pay. "</p>
<p>The key is that there is an "unlimited number" of noms. They are not competitive -- if you're qualified, you get the nom. Thus, it is imperative that you apply to all other nom sources for which you're eligible.</p>
<p>I think it does help to get presidential or military nominations though, since from, what I've seen, they are the first people to get appointments. But seriously, don't worry about it. Everyone who gets an appointment will enter the same way and have the same opportunities.</p>
<p>Maybe you see them being the first ones getting appointments because they're the first ones nominated. While Presidential's are put out in fall, most congressional noms don't get out until december or january.</p>
<p>I never recieved a LOA, but I did get my offer of appointment in november. My dad retired from the navy so I was able to get a presidential nomination before my transcripts were even sent to the academy. As far as the presidental nomination goes, an unlimited number of them are awarded, but only 100 slots are open for kids with presidential nominations. If you qualify for one, my advice is to finish your application as soon as possible. POWs/MIAs/KIAs children have a different nomination than the presidential open to them, however if their parents did at least 8 years in either active or reserve, I am pretty sure they could apply for both.</p>
<p>Yeah, I never received an LOA, either. I was eligible for a Presidential Nomination, but that did not seal the deal. If you can get one, great, but still go for the other sources as well. In my interviews for other nominations, the people seemed impressed with the Presidential Nomination and also saw it as being competitive and driven to still compete for more nominations to secure the Appointment. Turns out, I think my Appointment was awarded because of a nomination from either my Senator or Congressman (they both called to congratulate me the same week).</p>
<p>Good advice here all around...just be sure to finish your application as early as possible and compete for as many nominations as are available to you.</p>
<p>thanks everyone this really helps!</p>
<p>I got my LOA in December.</p>
<p>And I didn't exactly have the best grades in the world.</p>
<p>I had to go through the CRC.</p>
<p>But I believe it was my leadership that put me at the top.</p>
<p>So don't worry about getting an 80 on a test, they want the whole person, not the brain. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Coltonzors, what leadership positions did you have? Whats CRC?</p>
<p>Character Review Committee</p>
<p>That thread elaborates it more.</p>
<p>I'll PM you the rest, I don't wait to change the subject of this thread to lead off into a resume. Haha.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think it does help to get presidential or military nominations though, since from, what I've seen, they are the first people to get appointments.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Of course you should apply for a Pres nom. However, it's not competitive. Thus, if you are qualified to get one, you will get one. Given that a lot of candidates who apply to SAs are children of military personnel, that's a lot of people getting these noms. And there are only 100 appointments from the President. </p>
<p>All I'm saying is not to rely on only a Pres nom without making an effort to obtain an MOC nom, a VP nom or any others to which you may be entitled. Getting more than one only helps your cause; however, one is enough for many candidates.</p>
<p>Finally, as noted above, the reason people with Pres noms may get their appontments early is that MOCs typically don't make their picks until late Nov - early Jan. Thus, a very highly qualified candidate with only a Pres nom (or someone with an LOA and a Pres nom) may hear earlier than someone who must await an MOC nom. That said, many folks with Pres noms don't hear until March or April.</p>
<p>Our mid, Class of 2010, got her LOA the first week of October of her senior year. The way someone in the know about Admissions explained it to me. There is a point total that ultimately every candidate is judged with - this is everything thrown in, from SAT's to physical fitness, to leadership to high school class rank, to your (if you went NASS Cadre evaluation) to your BGO eval, your sports level of achievement,etc. etc. etc. If your early point totals already have you in the top percentiles even against other candidates - USNA takes a look at you and makes their decision in the first rounds of their Class considerations - and it does begin in late August/early September. Not sure how the Class of 2013's timetable will work, but it will be something in this ballpark. In our case, our daughter's class rank was #1 of 760...and the like. What also helped was that her father is USNA, meaning she is a 'legacy' which adds additional points to the total. It means USNA knows your family 'gets' USNA and your odds of retention as a midshipman, once they have chosen and invested in you, is pretty reliable.</p>
<p>Typically of the 1500 or so offers of Appointment - USNA gives 200 LOA's each year. So you figure the odds. Even with those LOA's not every single person ultimately gets their Appointment - for they don't complete the rest of their application, or they change their minds, or they have a medical DQ.
or they flub their senior year grades, etc.</p>
<p>I posted 2 years back on this list-serve how NOT to get an LOA. I did that simply to explain how difficult it is to receive one. I still have a copy on my own computer - it lists the kind of accomplishments my kiddo had at that point in time....and what the BGO Regional person was commenting back to me about it. Anyone is welcome to email me at: <a href="mailto:nofoolingme2003@yahoo.com">nofoolingme2003@yahoo.com</a> for a copy to read. I won't repost it here.</p>
<p>Good luck in your application!</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>Essentially correct. I can only emphasize that you should not obsess about an LOA. You apply to USNA with what you have in terms of classes taken, class rank, scores, athletics, leadership, etc. A small number of extremely highly qualified candidates may receive an LOA. </p>
<p>You also don't "compete" for an LOA. You compete for an appointment. Getting an LOA simply means that your packet was strong enough that USNA is certain early on that it wants you. The overwhelming majority of candidates who ultimately receive appointments don't get LOAs. I will say that getting your completed packet in early increases your chances of an LOA.</p>
<p>One of the reasons LOAs came about was to help SAs get strong candidates who were being lured by Early Action and/or Early Decision programs of civilian schools. Given that many colleges are now moving away from those plans, I'm not sure what, if any, effect that will have on the number of LOAs.</p>
<p>OK, maybe I'm behind the eight ball a little. What's an LOA and how does it differ from regular acceptance. Thank You!</p>
<p>An LOA is a Letter of Assurance, it tells a candidate that they have been found academically qualified to attend the Academy, and they are guranteed an appointment IF they also receive a nomination are found medically and physically qualified (pass the CFA).</p>