<p>Can a candidate in college receive an LOA?</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t see why not.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think so…at least for a first year student. They want to see how you perform in a college setting (which means 1st semester grades). LOA’s are typically given from August to December (during the 1st semester). Since most nominations are in by January (dealine is 30JAN) there is no point in sending LOA’s out.</p>
<p>Yes, a college candidate can get a LOA. I’m a freshman at Michigan Tech and received a Letter of Assurance on March 3, 2006; the remaining requirement was having to complete my CFA after a broken collarbone back in January.</p>
<p>Last week my Congressman called to say that my Appointment would be sent out this week. It should be here by the start of April.</p>
<p>So yes, although very late compared to other candidates, a college candidate can get a LOA.</p>
<p>Congrats on your appointment, tjm787!</p>
<p>Vice my previous post. I guess you can. Essentially it seems like the LOA one gets is just as good as getting the QQQ letter. I think in tjm787’s case, since USNA did not recognize him as “physically” qualified (due to the injury in Jan), he received an LOA pending the outcome of the CFA, which he passed (of course). </p>
<p>A QQQ letter means that ALL qualifications of admisison have been met (scholastic, medical, and physical), a nomination is not required. IT DOES NOT MEAN A CANDIDATE WILL RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT!</p>
<p>A LOA letter means that a candidate has at, minimum, been scholastically qualified, but it means that either the CFA, and/or medical portion has not been recognized as completed/passed. In other words, USNA does not recognize that all of the requirements have been met (at least one may be missing). </p>
<p>For you college candidates wondering when you might hear:
I got my QQQ letter on 25 Feb 2004.
Received appointment letter on 5 March 2004.</p>
<p>A companymate of mine, who also attended college the same year I did, got her appointment at the end of March/early April.</p>
<p>The thing is, if you are healthy and in shape and you get an LOA you are in. If you are triple qualified that does not necessarily mean you’re in.</p>
<p>healthy, in shape, LOA, and a NOMINATION…that’s what we were all sweating about before New Year!</p>
<p>death<em>by</em>happiness, agreed!</p>
<p>However, with college candidates, if you are QQQ’d you are basically getting an appointment, even though the QQQ letter says it does not garauntee it (its a generic letter). I believe the only reason tjm787 got an LOA is because his merits were exceptional but he was not QQQ’d (at the time the letter was sent)…USNA did not have any other way of offerring an appointment to him and they wanted him (there are no other/intermediate letters to send)! If tjm787 had taken the CFA before the letter was sent, he would not have been sent an LOA, rather a QQQ letter, followed by an appointment.</p>
<p>USNA would not send a QQQ letter to a college student and then a rejection letter; the board, at the point where college students are reviewed in the admission cycle, knows pretty much how much spots they can allow for college candidates, therefore they will not take too many more than they can hold. That doesn’t mean there might be a few who are QQQ and then turned down, but the majority, say 95%, of college candidates will be appointed.</p>
<p>With HS’ers, a QQQ letter DOES NOT garauntee an appointment, even if one has met all the requirements.</p>
<p>My CO during one of my training evolutions last summer was a regional director in admissions who explained the college side of the admission process to me (I asked, since I was a college student and was interested to see how the 2nd cycle worked).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m a mom, not a candidate, so don’t completely understand the difference between a QQQ and LOA . My son recieved LOA last week, but never got a QQQ, he does have a nomination. We are still hoping/praying for a medical waiver to go through. He is supposed to go to CVW April 7,8.</p>
<p>Welcome to the club anxious mom. I’m right there with you, (actually my daughter is - it just seems like it’s me personally!) waiting on Academy medical to clear my daughter. To the best of my knowledge QQQ is triple qualified, meaning scholastically, medically, and nomination in-place. Having a LOA means the Academy “wants” you but, one of the above Q’s is incomplete, as with my daughter.</p>
<p>She received her LOA in December, three noms but still have medical waiver pending.</p>
<p>Keep in close contact with your Regional Director. Make sure they’re aware of desire to attend.</p>
<p>Did he by chance attend Summer Seminar? From the gleaning done on this site, it appears the evaluation given by their squad leader during SS goes into their addmissions file.</p>
<p>Keep the faith, you are not alone by any means.</p>
<p>anxious mom,</p>
<p>You either get an LOA or QQQ letter, not both.</p>
<p>All,
I take back the QQQ qualification: it’s scholastically, physically, and nomination as wvdad said. I just re-read the letter…your medical status could still be pending. However, doesn’t change the situation with tjm787.</p>
<p>yes, he did go to summer seminar.
When he got home, we asked him how he liked it and the voice inflection said it all, “I can SO see myself there!!!”. </p>
<p>The previous post made it sound like it was better to have an LOA than a QQQ letter - Is one better than another?</p>
<p>I keep wanting my son to get another opinion for his foot, or to contact someone at USNA, but he wants to play strickly by the book that says not to contacat them or send anything that is not asked for. I think I am more anxious that he is! </p>
<p>It wouldn’t be so frustrating if it were a BIG medical problem, but when you KNOW it is something that can be easily remedied before June it’s hard to take.</p>
<p>The third “Q” in triple Q’d is for Physical aptitude (PAO), not for nomination.</p>
<p>LOA’s are issued based on Scholastic quals only and have nothing to do with the other 2 Q’s, except that an LOA is really pointless if you already have everything done (triple Q’d and Nomination). So LOA’s are issued to let you know they want you, but you have to finish your part to actually get an appointment out of it.</p>
<p>Thanks Dad2B’2010. Sorry anxious mom, I was close. Dad2B’2010, my daughter’s Regional Director said that her LOA put her at the top of the food chain concerning her waiver. Any truth to the statement?</p>
<p>And anixous mom, I know what you mean about what seems to be an “insignificant” obstacle. But like my daughter getting an “all clear” from outside medical professional, it is ENTIRELY up to the Acedemy to pick and chose.</p>
<p>Top of the “waiver” food chain yes. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait and see how the other LOA’s (who do not need waivers) compete with your daughter’s.</p>
<p>Considering the minor (in my opinion, anyway) type of medical waiver required in your daughter’s case, I would hope she is in very good position at this juncture. So, I think your Regional Director’s assesment is certainly valid. The regional director has power with the board because he is the one who feeds the files to the board. Having that person cheering for you is SIGNIFICANT and not to be taken lightly (IMHO).</p>
<p>Hang in there! It is still early actually.</p>
<p>Oh, and my last post should have PAE or CFA, not PAO (public affairs officer…what the heck???). ;)</p>
<p>Thank you for the insight. I have also been told that NASS squad leader’s place an evaluation in admissions file that can carry significant weight in final determination?</p>
<p>If so, this should only help her cause?</p>
<p>QQQ means qualified scholastically, medically and physically (CFA). One still needs a nomination. Even though one is QQQ and has a nomination, there is no guarantee of an appointment. Check out the profile for the classof '09. Some 1800 were QQQ with nominations, and only 1500 were offered appointments.</p>
<p>Those with LOA are assurred an appointment providing that they meet all qualifications including a nomination. LOA candidates can still be denied appointments if they do not meet all criteria, including medical. Despite what has been printed here, ALL LOA candidates need a nomination. Recognize, however, that there are other sources of nominations besides those from MOC, President, Vice-President, Sec Nav and Supe.</p>
<p>These nominations are not “invented” or “imaginary” or “fake”. It is a difficult waiting process at this point, especially when civilian colleges are pressuring for an answer, multiple offers are on the table, and there is no word from USNA.</p>
<p>I wish you all the best in this journey.
CM</p>
<p>Does anyone know the exact wording of the first paragraph of an LOA? </p>
<p>Thanks, y’all. Now I’m off to the hospital to get a broken arm set (another kid.)</p>
<p>"Does anyone know the exact wording of the first paragraph of an LOA? "</p>
<p>My son just received his on Saturday. First paragraph reads:</p>
<p>Congratulations! We are pleased to announce that the Admissions Board has found you scholastically qualified for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 2011. You are guaranteed an offer of appointment when your remaining admissions requirements have been completed. You should be proud of your outstanding accomplishments, as you have earned the opportunity to join one of the country’s premier officer training programs. As the undergraduate college of the Navy and Marine Corps, the Naval Academy will prepare you to become a leader in the Naval Service and provide an experience unmatched by any other college or university.</p>
<p>As long as you are medically qualified and receive a nomination then you are in.</p>