In screening candidates, the academies evaluate an individual's high school or college academic record, results of the ACT and SAT tests, recommendations from individuals who are in a position to judge the applicant's character and academic potential, and physical and medical qualifications.
Letters of Assurance are conditional and subject to review throughout the entire application process. Candidates receive Letters of Assurance based upon outstanding ACT/SAT scores early in the process, and other information the candidate has submitted to the Admissions Office.
The mission of the U.S. service academies is to provide instruction and experience to all cadets so that they graduate with the knowledge and character essential to leadership and the motivation to become career officers in the U.S. military.
Letter of Assurance means a communication sent to another party in lieu of a bond or other surety, promising the recipient that the sender will fulfill its contractual obligations.
How does the nomination process work? Every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate can award ten nominations to each of the service academies. Every office has its own process, so contact your Congressperson and Senators.
In order to be entered into competition for a Vice Presidential nomination, applicants must complete the online nomination application during the application period of March 1 to January 31 preceding the year of entrance to the academies. The Office of the Vice President will not accept paper applications.
A Letter of Assurance (LOA) from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) is essentially a provisional acceptance letter, indicating that you will be accepted into the academy pending your completion of certain criteria.
The reason for this is that if the profile he presents on his initial Candidate Questionnaire is substandard, he might be "Screened." This means that West Point will send a letter telling him that West Point feels that his chances for qualifying for the class are not good.