Nominations for recruited athletes

crimsondude · 09-14-2009, 01:54 PM

I have been told that recruited athletes do not have to get a nomination. Is this true?

USNA'02 · 09-14-2009, 07:56 PM

To the best of my knowledge that "gouge" you've heard is incorrect. By law, an applicant MUST receive an official nomination to be considered for an official offer of appointment.

there are some things that may be a little different for recruited athletes b/c of NCAA rules.

Hopefully, another BGO can confirm my statement.

tomhls123 · 09-14-2009, 10:20 PM

Not true!

You have to have a nomination. In fact, a kid from my school last year was recruited to west point for tennis in march. He had to pull some serious strings to get a nomination.

Whistle Pig · 09-15-2009, 07:55 AM

Do you mean that WP had to pull some strings? A subtle, important difference. One implies the candidate could impact and control the nomination process in March and beyond.

beachmom · 09-15-2009, 08:08 AM

Recruited athletes still need a nomination. DD was recruited, but still had to go through the process of applying for a nomination. I don't know if the coaches have any sway with the nominators, but the athletes still have to clear that hurdle.

JustAMomOf4 · 09-15-2009, 08:22 AM

Technically - an appointment can be had without a nomination but .......

All recruited athletes need to seek a nomination. Hopefully the coaches are conveying this information.
However - If a recruited athlete does NOT win a nomination from their MOC or any other source, there is the possibility of the Superintendent's nomination. There are up to 50 of these available each year.

I know of two current midshipmen, both recruited athletes, from two different states in two different years who applied for and failed to receive a nomination from their MOC. They were both well qualified academically. One received an academic LOA and the other received an athletic LOA. There was indeed some stress involved in the process as the appointments were delayed. Both are varsity athletes in their chosen sport.

In the case of a late applicant, the academy may ask the candidate to appeal to their MOC if the deadline has passed. In some cases the academy admissions department may also make an appeal to the MOC. The final decision rests with the MOC and the academy can't tell him/her whom to nominate.

crimsondude · 09-15-2009, 08:43 AM

Thanks to all for your response. I thought the info I had been told about athletes not needing a nomination was probably wrong, but just wanted to verify.

JustAMomOf4 · 09-15-2009, 09:20 AM

^
hopefully that was not conveyed by the coach.

Whistle Pig · 09-15-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

One received an academic LOA and the other received an athletic LOA.

This raises a question I don't recall being addressed. Are there different "types" of LOA's?

If so, what are they, specifically. How do candidates know which LOA type they've received? Do they require different follow-up?

usna09mom · 09-15-2009, 11:25 PM

Clearly, one offered an LOA is either a gifted athlete eligible for athletic scholarships at other colleges, or a highly qualified candidate with requisite attributes.

mumsyto3 · 09-15-2009, 11:51 PM

In answer to Whistle Pig's questions above:

I can only speak for my son's LoA. My understanding is that an LoA is an LoA. They are contingent upon satisfactory completion of various conditions, i.e. Nomination, Medical Qualification, BGO interview, and Required Application Documents. In my son's case his LoA is contingent upon obtaining a nomination. He is not a recruited athlete.

Whistle Pig · 09-16-2009, 07:26 AM

My understanding is as you've noted mumsy, and that's why I asked for clarification. I've never heard of specific types of LOAs until here. I'm suspiscious that these are but assumptions and thus incorrect. As with any and all candidates, the LOA recipients must be admissable at the Academy and presumed desirable at other institutions.

JustAMomOf4 · 09-16-2009, 08:50 AM

What is commonly called an "athletic" LOA is one offered to a blue chip recruited athlete. They are offered through admissions via the athletic department and can be offered very early in the process (sometimes in the junior year - *gasp*).

mumsyto3 · 09-16-2009, 09:16 AM

I preface my comments by saying I'm just a parent and have no inside information about any of this. But I suspect that this "athletic" LoA may be given out earlier than perhaps other LoAs for the purpose of recruiting 'blue chip" athletes, but I assume the LoA is the same as the one my son received and will have the same contingencies attached. I suspect the letter wouldn't necessarily identify it as an "athletic" LoA but obviously those who receive it would know why they were getting it. There are multiple criteria for why one would receive a "non-athletic" LoA. (One LoA may be given to someone who doesn't have the highest GPA/test scores but has tons of leadership/ECs/non-recruiting athletics, etc. One LoA may be given to someone who has awesome GPA/test scores, great BGO interview, etc.). These LoAs aren't going to be marked differently. I believe an LoA is an LoA. In the end, all the contingencies will have to be fulfilled. The recruited athletes will have to fulfill the same requirements of DodMERB, nominations, etc.

This is just IMHO!

xchefmike · 09-24-2009, 08:46 PM

The last several posts have no basis in facts and may be misleading. There is no such thing as an athletic LOA. Please refrain from opinion. Everything you need to know is available from the USNA website, your BGO and your admissions department. Athletes have to make the same standards and go through the same process as everyone else.