<p>I was just wondering what the usual stats were for early LOA recipiants. My goal is to get an earyl LOA so I can just concentrate on nominations and not worry as much about everything else. Thanks for the help</p>
<p>you get it if you get it. i mean, there's not really anything you'd do for an LOA that you aren't already doing to try and get an appointment</p>
<p>The key is to get everything in early. Stats that might warrant an LOA in August might put you on the NWL in December.</p>
<p>Here's a tip:</p>
<p>as soon as your transcript is available from the last semester of your junior year send it in to admissions (early summer--like in June). That is assuming it's good :)</p>
<p>They don't officially ask for it then (you probably won't even have the formal application packet yet) but if you've started a file with USMA and you feel you are a STRONG candidate (objectively), it seems to help with getting that "early" LOA.</p>
<p>I am familiar with at least two current cadets who had LOA's over a month before they even received the formal application packet, and they were not recruited athletes, and did not have any type of nomination yet.</p>
<p>what are they mainly looking for in transcripts? GPA, consistency, and no C's or D's? Do they look at every single grade or just the overall Semester grades? I've made a couple B's throughout the years but I've brought it up to an A most of the time for the semester grade. 3.86 GPA and class rank of about top 10/450. So do I have anything to worry about concerning transcripts?</p>
<p>tn48th,</p>
<p>No one here is an expert, but you seem to have a profile similar to others who have received LOA's.</p>
<p>Based on a sample size of about 10 LOA recipients, my observation is that the criteria for early LOA's(non-recruited athlete) are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Academic. SAT/ACT in top 5% nationally along with strong GPA. For SAT that means at least 1300+, ideally 1400+. </p></li>
<li><p>Athletic. Varsity sport for 2+ years.</p></li>
<li><p>Leadership. School or team leadership experience.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Shogun's advice on sending 2nd semester junior year grades is right on. In fact he gave the same advice to our son who received an LOA about a week after sending in his grades in late July.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Who wants a LOA? It was just so much fun waiting out the whole month of february for a letter.</p>
<p>(Just a little bit of sarcasm ;) )</p>
<p>If I got 2 C's and only a 3.2 freshman year but the past two years have gotten 4.2 and 4.6 with all A's will West Point look down on that. My cummulative is 4.0.</p>
<p>barce,</p>
<p>It bears repeating that no one hear really knows how Admissions will react to your application. However, it certainly looks like you've matured and a 4.0 gpa is fabulous. Keep up the good work!</p>
<p>If you do get an early LOA, do you even need to fill out the West Point application. Can you just past the medical and CFA exams get a nomination and be done. Or do you still have to get all the letters of recomendation and write all the essays.</p>
<p>Yes, you still need to complete all of the application requirements (and send in your 7th and 8th semester grades).</p>
<p>I think finishing the application is more a formality after you get an LOA though. Like I got an LOA without my CFA or my essays in October. I think SLS is a huge factor that distinguishes people with LOAs vs people without them.</p>
<p>If the application isn't completed your LOA won't buy you a cup of coffee. Until your appointment is in hand leave nothing to chance. The LOA is contingent upon all the rest of the pieces falling into place (passing DODMERB, getting a nomination, completing and submitting the application by a stated due date, etc). It is not an appointment.</p>
<p>How does admissions look at a C in a class? I have one in French 5 HL, but its also a class thats weighted 1.0 points. It still looks like a C on transcripts but is calculated as a B for GPA. I know to be sure i should get it up, but would a C seriously hinder my chances at acceptance?</p>
<p>Im also looking for an early LOA and was just wondering about my grades ^^</p>
<p>A C or two likely won't hurt anyone - especially if your gpa is strong. Remember it's the Whole Candidate that West Point is reviewing. Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying you can settle for a C. Keep plugging away for the higher grade, but don't overstress over one grade.</p>
<p>I dont know about you guys, but they dont send out each individual grade we ever got in a class, just our transcript which has all of our final grades to date. So if you got a C but got B's the other semester and it averages to a B- or whatever, then thats what will show up I believe. I wouldnt worry about it as long as you are a good candidate. I dont mean to preach, but in 9th grade I had like a 3.2 GPA, then sometime around then decided I wanted to go to West Point and got my GPA to a 3.8 by the end of Junior year and got a LOA. The other thing is if you're worried about your GPA, just really work to do well on your SAT's and they can counterbalance a mediocre GPA.</p>
<p>Mumford- I was the same exact way. During 9th grade I was rather apethetic but then realized that what I did was going to impact me for the rest of my life. The rest is history and I was able to raise my GPA to a 4.0. Are you currently at West Point. And what were your other stats that got you an LOA.</p>
<p>"...but they dont send out each individual grade we ever got in a class, just our transcript which has all of our final grades to date. So if you got a C but got B's the other semester and it averages to a B- or whatever, then thats what will show up I believe."</p>
<p>Grade transcripts in public high schools in our neck of the woods list every class taken from 9th-12th grade and the grade earned for that class. I am not familiar with any grade transcripts that just list the cum gpa without showing classes taken and grades earned. Maybe some private schools....</p>