<p>Hi. I am going to be a senior, and I'm applying to the class of 2012, but west point is my second choice for college. If I get accepted into west point but decline and instead go to a civilian college for a year, can I still apply for the class of 2013? If so, will west point hold me declining admission for 2012 against me in determining whether I get accepted into the class of 2013? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think if you get accepted, they will take you later without having to go through too much trouble.</p>
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...west point is my second choice for college. If I get accepted into west point but decline and instead go to a civilian college for a year, can I still apply for the class of 2013?
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<p>I don't understand why you would decline an appointment in 2012 to accept an appointment in 2013. If you get into your 1st choice "civilian college", why would you re-apply to your "second choice" (WP)? Would you then drop out of your 1st choice civilian college to accept another WP appointment?</p>
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If so, will west point hold me declining admission for 2012 against me in determining whether I get accepted into the class of 2013? Thanks!
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<p>I don't know for sure, but I would think that an admissions officer wouldn't be too keen about offering a slot to to someone who has already rejected one offer of appointment.</p>
<p>That is some BS if admissions lets you do that. If you're unsure about West Point or the military, do ROTC.</p>
<p>"I think if you get accepted, they will take you later without having to go through too much trouble."</p>
<p>I think I would be very surprised if this were a true statement. Do you have any doccumentation or experience with which to back this up?</p>
<p>Well, my first choice is UPenn and if I'm accepted there I'm going but I'm saying if I don't like the civilian college scene, I would want to go to second choice (west point). I went to SLS and a lot of the cadre I met said they went to civilian colleges before coming to west point. Plus if I am still qualified to enter the class of 2013, I don't see why me previously declining should be that big of an issue.</p>
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I went to SLS and a lot of the cadre I met said they went to civilian colleges before coming to west point.
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<p>How many of them declined an appointment to WP before going to "civilian college"?</p>
<p>My guess is "none". </p>
<p>I would guess that the only reason they attended civilian college in the first place was because they didn't get an appointment to WP at that time.</p>
<p>Trying to get an appointment, not getting one, and attending civilian college before trying again is one thing; declining an appointment and then asking for another one the next year is something else.</p>
<p>As I said, I don't know for sure, but I would think that they would have an issue with something like that.</p>
<p>Ah ha! Well, most likely the only reason they went to a civilian college first is because they did not get an appointment to West Point on the first try.</p>
<p>Since a Congressional (or other)Nomination is required - what makes you think your member of congress would give you another nomination if you turn USMA down on the first try? You would have some explaining to do.
Applying to USMA (or any service academy) is NOT like applying to any other school.
Now is the time to get your head on straight and set some priorities. Find out what it is about West Point that you like and how badly you want to go there.</p>
<p>I would explain the sitution, and if I'm more qualified than my congressional rep's other candidates, he/she has no reason not to give me a nomination. I would start off at the same level as all the 2013 candidates. I do not expect or want "special treatment" just because I was accepted the previous year. Also, if I do not get accepted into UPenn then I definitely want to go to west point. I am not unsure of whether or not west point is right for me, it's just that I think UPenn might be better, so I rather go to UPenn for a year. If I like it great I'll stay, but if I don't than I would want to go to my second choice (west point).</p>
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...he/she has no reason not to give me a nomination.
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<p>Other than the fact that he/she gave you one last year which you threw away. :rolleyes:</p>
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..it's just that I think UPenn might be better, so I rather go to UPenn for a year. If I like it great I'll stay, but if I don't than I would want to go to my second choice (west point).
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<p>You should apply to Penn this year, and if you get in and don't like it after a year, apply to West Point for 2013.</p>
<p>"if I'm more qualified than my congressional rep's other candidates, he/she has no reason not to give me a nomination."</p>
<p>"Other than the fact that he/she gave you one last year which you threw away."</p>
<p>And the other 10 candidates who are similarly qualified and want your slot and are sure they want in.</p>
<p>Like queenbee says, the message here is know what you want because you might not get another shot at West Point. And also like qb says, applying to a service academy isn't like applying to any other school because the service academies arn't like any other schools; and therein lies their attraction if you like that sort of thing.</p>
<p>Would you plan on participating in ROTC at UPenn?</p>
<p>I don't think you can have it both ways.</p>
<p>You said "if I don't like the civilian college scene" after a year then I will go to Westpoint, does that also mean if you 'try' Westpoint for a year and don't like it you would go someplace else?</p>
<p>As rigorous as the Academies sound from everything I have read and experienced, if you tell anyone during an interview that Westpoint is your 'second' choice, I would not be surprised to find you don't get appointed.</p>
<p>Not sure it is a good idea to approach going to ANY Military Academy as a 'back-up' plan.</p>
<p>Assuming that your aim at UPenn is the Wharton School of Business, a degree from West Point and the leadership acquired in the Army looks damn good in the business world too.</p>
<p>"You should apply to Penn this year, and if you get in and don't like it after a year, apply to West Point for 2013." - Luigi59
^ That's what I plan to do, but I won't know if I'm accepted into Penn until March and if I'm not, it will be too late to apply to West Point.</p>
<p>To momoftwins: No, I would not do ROTC at Penn. In regards to the army, it's either West Point or nothing.</p>
<p>To Soylent: I'm going to major in business, and I agree with you that a degree from West Point looks really good in the business world.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>^^^^^you said........."I'm going to major in business, and ... a degree from West Point looks really good in the business world."</p>
<p>Not sure that using WestPoint as a means of rounding out your resume should be your main motivation for going there.</p>
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<p>What is your motivation to go to West Point? </p>
<p>Is it to get a great education, or to become an Army Officer? </p>
<p>:confused:</p>
<p>xox,</p>
<p>I think you'll find some strong opinions here regarding the West Point or nothing decision. Attendance at West Point is 1 of 3 ways to earn your commission as an officer in the U.S. Army. If you aren't interested enough in the career option to pursue ROTC, then it's possible you wouldn't be very happy at West Point. </p>
<p>UPenn is highly competitive. Since you're interested in business, I'd like to suggest that you also consider other colleges which also have a very strong undergraduate program as your backup. As somebody who has recruited Wharton graduates for years, I would also like to point out that you will receive many career options after graduation. When you graduate from West Point, you'll also have many options - all of them in the Army. Just think long and hard about what you may want to do after graduation. A service academy is a tough experience - even when it's a dream come true. </p>
<p>As an aside, our MALO attended UPenn and participated in the ROTC program. She said it was an incredible leadership experience and led to marvelous career opportunities in the Army.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>When I said a degree from West Point looks great in the business world, I was agreeing with a statement. A great education isn't my only motivation for wanting to go to West Point. I really like just the overall atmosphere at West Point especially the physical and teamwork aspect. The reason I wouldn't do ROTC is because I personally don't think I could balance school, sports, and a social life along with ROTC at a cilivian college because a civilian college doesn't revolve around the military while West Point obviously does.</p>
<p>Although ROTC and West Point will have you end up in the same sheet of music in the army world, West Point will be more vigorous than most rotc programs. Things just go by so fast over there.</p>