<p>Hi everyone! I just registered, but have been lurking on this thread for quite some time now. I got a call from my congressman today telling me that I'd gotten an offer of admission to West Point, making my wildest dreams come true :)</p>
<p>I had some advice I wanted, however - to those of you that also got in, or have already in and are/were cadets, what did you do to physically prepare yourself? I already work out regularly: pushups and ab work, combined with running and a weightlifting class in school. What would you recommend I add or focus on? Have there been any workout plans that worked well for any of you? </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your help.</p>
<p>I personally do a lot of dips and pullups along with a regular workout.</p>
<p>I also test myself occasionally on the APFT events, just to see where I am!</p>
<p>Otherwise, I plan to have some fun and not worry too much, but still keep fit!</p>
<p>My oldest son (2008) has his brother (appointed to 2011) doing LOTS of pushups and flutter-kicks in addition to regular workouts and runs. the other thing he suggested is getting a pair of boots as soon as possible and doing some gradually longer marches (just walking), with a ruck sack if possible. He said the ruck changes your posture, rubs in places, and is something that you become familiar with over time. It is not fatal if you don't -- they will start off gradually and work up, but it can sure help if your body is somewhat used to it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Good advice USMA08Mom. Seems like you've been through this before! Our second oldest just passed Selection for SF and over the Christmas break was doing self-imposed ruck runs, complete with 70lb. ruck full of bricks. He and our oldest have been more than willing to help our third with his various exercise activities while he waits to hear from the admissions offices. Ah the joy of having prior service older brothers. Experience is a great teacher.</p>
<p>tall_ruski,</p>
<p>First of all, congratulations on receiving your appointment! It sounds like you'll be accepting it.</p>
<p>If you read through the posts here, you'll find many discussions on physical preparation for Beast. You already received some great ideas - especially doing pushups and flutter kicks. Just make sure you're doing the pushups in the correct way. Depending on where you're from, you may not have any hills. Practice running on hills. It's very different for your body and as you'll learn the hills at West Point only go up. Make sure you are stretching properly, too. By improving your flexibility you'll help prevent some of those common Beast injuries.</p>
<p>Most importantly, enjoy the rest of your senior year. And stick around to encourage some of your future classmates.</p>
<p>Russki! Otlichno shto tu popal, ya toje hatchu poiti v West Point, ti v kokom gorodi?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice guys! I'll look into getting myself a nice pair of boots and taking long walks, that's definitely going to help. MomofTwins, thanks for the hill bit - there's actually a mini-mountain near my home, I'll take a jog up that later.<br>
Oh, and SteslaS - I live in Southern California.</p>
<p>Let me guess, Los Angeles?</p>
<p>Nah, more southern. Orange County. Are you in the area?</p>
<p>na I'm los angeles, I though u were in los angeles because near hollywood is a small mountain which many use for PT</p>
<p>so what were ur stats?</p>
<p>Oh, sorry, I forgot to post those.</p>
<p>3.83 GPA at a top public school (<em>really</em> competitive)
-constantly took AP and Honors classes
2220 SAT (750 CR, 760 Math, 710 Writing)
770 Math Sat II, 710 Bio Sat II
National Merit Semi-Finalist
Principal's Honor Roll 6 straight semesters
Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, act as an assistant instructor
Taking weightlifting in HS
Very active in a Jewish youth group that stresses leadership - held all kinds of positions (secretary, regional secretary, chapter vice-president, president...), planned a few programs and won some awards.<br>
SLS participant</p>
<p>Also, I have a paid internship and am using my wage to pay my own through flight school, which I suppose they liked :).</p>
<p>majmattmason, yep, heading back down a famliar road. My husband helped my oldest son with his preparations, but since he started a year-long deployment in Baghdad on December 2nd my youngest is depending more on his brother. The miracle to me is the willingness to listen that #2 is showing -- although he won't always admit it to his brother. He seems to be blowing him off at the time they are talking, but then will do the suggested things. Isn't is amazing to see someone voluntarily leaving the house with a loaded ruck? Thanksgiving 2005 my son and one of his classmates ran the Atlanta half-marathon in BDU's with 60 lb rucks "for fun". Good luck to all three of yours, SF selection is quite an accomplishment.</p>
<p>tall_ruski - see if you can get a pair of the boots you will be wearing at USMA to do your marches in. If you do not have access to a military base, you can find them at military style surplus stores. Just the light brown standard issue military boot, much different from a hiking boot.</p>