<p>You said .........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.....</p>
<p>Hopefully, you also understand that you don't choose Westpoint for the 'social life'???? Just a thought.</p>
<p>I think you need to look into West Point's mission/purpose A LOT deeper. Maybe talk to some cadets/graduates and find out the reasons they attended USMA.
If you attend for the wrong reasons then chances are you will be among those dropping out on r-day or cbt.</p>
<p>"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....."</p>
<p>Well, if you go to West Point you can strike the "social life" part of the equation off your ilst. You won't have one; one less thing to worry about!</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>Let me first say that I don't want this to sound discouraging. I'm playing devil's advocate.</p>
<p>You'll receive an outstanding education at UPenn. If you are a WP and Ivy caliber student, you will ultimately attend one of the Holy Grail schools and receive a terrific college education. You can belong to any number of sports teams, academic organizations, or service clubs in order to develop team and leadership skills. Why West Point? </p>
<p>"Overall atmosphere" will wear thin quickly if your reason is not deeper. I agree with ERich that you may want to speak with alumni and current cadets a bit before deciding. If you don't know any, then try connecting through this website, <a href="http://www.westpointcadets.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.westpointcadets.org/</a> or ask your MALO if there is somebody he/she could recommend. I'd also like to say that your approach probably isn't uncommon. </p>
<p>At 16 or 17 years old, many would not know or be able to articulate exactly what they'd like to be doing this weekend let alone after college. What you're reading in these replies are questions that you can be asking yourself as you go through the Admissions process. Please don't get discouraged by points brought up in the discussions. You're doing the right thing to explore your options.</p>
<p>Have yet to hear you mention anything about 'serving my country', 'duty', 'lifelong dream'........</p>
<p>Even those who dream of going to WP find it a challenge so it certainly isn't something you want to do for the wrong reasons.</p>
<p>It feels like I'm writing an admissions essay on why I want to go to West Point here. I obviously also want to go for the reasons stated by Time2, but a great education is just one (not all) of the reasons I want to go, and I'm definitely up for any challenge. I also know that I won't have much of a social life at West Point along with all the other cadets, so it will be easier to relate to them unlike at a civilian college where not everyone is in ROTC.</p>
<p>xox,</p>
<p>No, we're not asking for yet another essay. ;) We just hadn't seen in your posts that you want to attend West Point for the reasons mentioned by Time2. Every year during Beast or 1st semester of academic year, several cadets drop out because "it's just too military." Or we see students interested in the "free" education. I think we just wanted to hear you say you knew what you were getting into and were doing it for the right reasons.</p>
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<p>Why DO you want to go to West Point? :confused:</p>
<p>Do you want to become an officer in the United States Army? Is that your goal? Because if it is NOT, then you shouldn't continue your pursuit of West Point.</p>
<p>How badly do you want to become an officer in the United States Army?</p>
<p>Apparently, not badly enough to give up a social life for ROTC at a civilian college.</p>
<p>If your goal is to "get a great education with an impressive resume for later in life in the business world", then you should reconsider as well.</p>
<p>Penn is a great school. Party, have a social life, have fun, enjoy college like most young people. Don't burden yourself with 9 years in the military that you don't really want.</p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind. A lot of people get the the false concept that a military officer will only become successful through the academies (over ROTC) If thats the case and you feel too embarassed to say it. You should! ROTC has pulled out more generals and career officers than West Point has. It's just as good, and another career to think about.</p>
<p>"A lot of people get the the false concept that a military officer will only become successful through the academies (over ROTC)."</p>
<p>I didn't realize that so many folks interested in a military officer carreer would be ignorant of this point.</p>
<p>"It's just as good."</p>
<p>Somehow I doubt that's going to be something you can prove. While the final outcome of the officer will ultimately depend on the individual, and what they make of their training, I don't think the availability and quality of training at even the best ROTC programs are going to be "just as good" as that offered at West Point.</p>
<p>That's not, however, saying the same thing as West Point is a better choice for any one individual over an ROTC program. While there will be similarities and shared experiences there will also be many differences between the different programs, and ultimately it becomes a matter of which differences the officer candidate desires over the first four years that will determine which choice is best for her or him.</p>
<p>West Point is continually creating a leader for four straight years, every day. This does not happen at any ROTC program. Even though you will still become a 2nd LT, I can't say that it is the same. I feel that West Point does something special, that no ROTC program can truly replicate.</p>
<p>In confirmation with what Atop has written, my son has told me that most of the lessons in every class at West Point are related back to warfare or leadership in one form or another, whether it's math, chemistry, physics, literature, psychology or whatever. When I queried him to check that he'd meant exactly what I though he'd said he assured me his assessment was accurate and that I hadn't misunderstood the meaning. I don't know why his statement came as a surprise to me (other than I attended exclusively civilian schools); after all it is in keeping with West Point's stated mission of creating leaders, and in particular, military leaders.</p>
<p>At a civilian college the mission is quite a bit different. They're there to create doctors, lawyers, accountants, history professors, etc. The ROTC program, administered as only a fraction of students curriculum, can't possibly make up the balance in the same way West Point can. They simply aren't the same.</p>
<p>I do want to become an United States Army officer, but that is not my sole purpose for wanting to attend West Point. If it was my sole purpose, I could just enlist and work my way up. Although it will be challenging, I know I can handle West Point. "Apparently, not badly enough to give up a social life for ROTC at a civilian college." - Luigi59. There are many reasons why I wouldn't want to do ROTC not just because it would be hard to have a social life, and yes I know I won't have much of a social life at West Point.</p>
<p>Seems to me your story keeps changing. In your very first post on this topic you said:
[quote]
....but west point is my second choice for college
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As I said earlier, I don't think you approach a Military Academy as your 'back-up' plan.</p>
<p>Now you say:
[quote]
I do want to become an United States Army officer but that is not my sole purpose for wanting to attend West Point.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not sure what other 'purpose' will enable you to focus for 4 very challenging years.</p>
<p>From the replies I have read, I take it I am not only one who thinks you have an uphill battle ahead of you. </p>
<p>A lot of very bright, talented and hard working individuals get accepted and don't make it past the FIRST DAY at WP, much less graduate. Success is never guaranteed.</p>
<p>In your lastest post you say:
[quote]
I know I can handle West Point
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Maybe so, but you need to be 110% convinced that this is right for you and even then it won't be 'easy'. I think we are all trying to help you recognize that.</p>
<p>When a prospective candidate to West Point visits the academy for an overnight stay, she or he is paired up with a plebe. The plebes are not treated particularly well at West Point or at any of the other service academies; I won't elaborate on any of the details; any one of a number of former or soon to be current plebes can enlighten you far better than I. </p>
<p>I'm completely guessing here, but I believe it is done this way so that the prospective candidate will be given all of the reasons why going to West Point "s#$% so hard". I was a bit surprised that more than half of the plebes who spoke with my son on his overnight visit tried to talk him out of going to West Point, claiming that anywhere would be a far better choice.</p>
<p>The cadets at West Point sacrifice so much for so long to attend the academy that the administration wants each prospective candidate to enter the program with both eyes wide open. If you don't carry with you some pretty strong motivation to see it through you're going to be toast sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>While much more difficult to pull off, it would probably be highly instructive for some prospective candidates to speak with some of those who have dropped out of beast barracks, and not an inconsiderable number of cadet candidates do drop out. When you speak to the plebes, you're talking with those who's motivation exceeds their desire to seek "saner" accommodations; when you speak with someone who'd dropped out of the program, well, you'll get a slightly different perspective.</p>
<p>Excellent advice. Although probably speaking to both groups gives you a bit better balance!!! Then you can weigh all of the +/- for yourself. Probably not a bad idea to talk to as many cadets as you can.</p>
<p>If you only decide to go there because you saw an ad on TV and thought driving a tank would be 'cool', you probably haven't done enough research.</p>
<p>Just amazing when I read about some who are 'shocked' by the entire Military thing once they start going there.......like they had no idea what they were even signing up for??? Certainly need to do your homework before making that kind of commitment.</p>
<p>Yeah I definitely plan to attend an overnight visit. I did talk to some of the cadets while at SLS, but they were all cows or firsties. I will probably talk to more cadets especially plebes before making my final decision.</p>