I am currently a Freshman in a rural Highschool that offers little to nothing, unless taking AP courses or Athletics. My question is not if I can earn an admission from what I have, but more so where should I improve myself from where I am to earning the privilege to attend West Point in the next four years. After realizing my intent in 8th grade, i’ve grown almost ecstatically motivated to even try for West Point, but just my current area where I live slightly discourages me.
At this moment, I have a 4.0 GPA,
No Varsity Athletics,
Only one AP course, English.
No clubs as of yet, (I do plan on taking Drama, English, and Key club next year.)
Extracurricular activities are; Drama, Band, and JROTC.
I’ve made myself known within the JROTC, and do plan on taking JCLC closer to the summertime.
Outside of school, I do weight training.
Tl;dr: How can I get from where I am, to a position where I have a chance at achieving West Point?
I’ve had limited discussions with West Pointers, but maybe I have a little wisdom to give here.
My daughter was interested in attending for awhile. The message was that you need to keep working toward your goal and to stay focused. That attitude should not be underestimated. I am telling you this because you seem to have the mindset they were describing.
Other than that, check out their website thoroughly to understand their admissions criteria.
Once you’ve practically memorized those, if you have any questions, then I would contact the admissions office. Think of this contact as a way to begin a dialog with them. Admissions officers tend to track who has contacted them so that as the candidate develops, the Admissions office has a better understanding of that person. You can use this to your advantage.
Start a “dialog” with them via email and those emails will prob. end up in your admissions file. Do this in a non-stalker way, right? Keep it businesslike. Short, to the point, and sweet.
By being familiar with everything on the website BEFORE your first contact, that will help you make a good first impression: you’ve done your research and are prepared.
The contact email might explain to them individual issues you foresee with your application: Your website says that I should provide X on my application. My rural community has limited X, but has Y. Is that acceptable? Or what else would you suggest for someone in my position?
That sort of thing. And always send a quick email of “thanks” when they respond.
Why aren’t you in athletics? Your chances diminish immensely without varsity athletics on your resume. Your school doesn’t offer much according to what you said, but you’re not taking advantage of the things that is does offer. That makes no sense.
Is there a certain requirement for contacting the admission office? (Age, Highschool Class, etc.), and would the dialogue (email) have to be made in-between a parent and whoever is contacted from West Point? I’ve already studied the West Point website thoroughly, but I haven’t found anything regarding this except for Juniors+.
Is there a certain requirement for contacting the admission office? (Age, Highschool Class, etc.), and would the dialogue (email) have to be made in-between a parent and whoever is contacted from West Point? I’ve already studied the West Point website thoroughly, but I haven’t found anything regarding this except for Juniors+.
Hi–You may contact admissions whenever you choose. Again, keep it simple and businesslike. State early in your email what you want from them. “Although I’ve studied the West Point website, I still have a few questions. Would you be able to help me, please?” That sort of thing. Then you can list your questions.
The letter is better if it comes directly from you, as they are looking to admit you not your mom or dad. Feel free to have your mom and dad read it before you send it, though, if you want a second opinion.
I personally have no idea what sports West Point looks for, but cross country seems an excellent choice of sports to me.
Additionally, my lay-person understanding of this process is that it’s helpful if you can get great recommendation letters. No one from West Point told me this, however. You may want to do an internship over a summer for a political leader, in your state capital or even in DC if that’s possible, or look for another internship that pleases you. One way also to get a good letter of recommendation and/or internship is to find and contact West Point graduates in your area and network through them. You can google the name of your state and “west point alumni” and see what you find. I did this for Kansas and found this website-- http://www.westpointsocietygreaterkansascity.org/
Also, you can join linkdin and place the info on your page that you’re interested in attending West Point. See if there are any West Pointers in your area that could talk to you. And would they have internship ideas?
To extend this network, you can say: “Thanks so much for your advice. This was valuable. Is there anyone else that you think I should talk to?” He or she will give you the name of one or two more people. You do the same with them. Your objective is 1) to meet people with like interests (and maintain those contacts as you move through life) and 2) to get advice on your application and 3) perhaps get an internship. Later this will provide a pool for a recommendation.
Remember that before doing anything like this, you should consult with your parents and make sure that they are okay with your choices. Best of luck to you.
One more thing that you can do is to create a blog or facebook page in which you track your progress to West Point. You can post photos of your track meet, note how you’re looking for internships at X state capital, met with General XYZ about how to improve myself for my application, etc. Admissions offices do use google to find out more about applicants. If you provide for them, starting now, a timeline of your progress and journey, this can work in your favor.
Will any or all of these efforts definitely get you in? Nothing is 100% in this world. But being positive, working towards a focused goal steadily, this can only help.
Cross country is a good sport. It is in the second tier of sports that the academies look at in evaluating. Is that the only sport that your school offers? Do they offer track and field? Most people who run cross country in the Fall also run track in the Spring. this helps keep fitness levels up and shows dedication. Multiple sports are always better than one sport, unless you are competing year-round at a state or national level in a single sport.
Regarding letters of recommendation as mentioned above, I would not waste time and effort looking up West Point alumni. They don’t know you and would not be able to speak about you accurately. A good letter of recommendation is from someone who knows you very well, has known you for a long time, and can speak directly about you and how you would be a good candidate. I am not sure about West Point, but for USNA there is not a large opening for letters of recommendation from sources other than your teachers in specific subjects.
Your best focus will be on continuing to excel in academics, athletics, and test scores. Start taking the SAT and ACT now as practice. The more you take the tests, the better you will do on them. I had one candidate take the ACT 8 times starting in 8th grade. He had a 24 in 8th grade and got that up to a 35 by the time he applied. Test scores get noticed more than anything else because it is a level playing field across the entire country. Use that to your advantage.
^^^This goes for USMA as well. Extraneous letters are not recommended and are not considered. Make sure you read the application requirements very, very carefully, fulfill them, and do not deviate from them. You will be judged on how well you follow directions which is a key component of military life.
USMA applicants are ranked based on a Whole Candidate Score (WCS) comprising:
60% Academics
30% Community leadership (athletic activities 10%, extracurricular activities 10%,faculty appraisal score 10%)
10% CFA (Candidate Fitness Assessment)
The FAS (Faculty Appraisal Score) is based on a high school official’s evaluation of your performance and is completed by your English, math, or physics/chemistry teacher. The teacher indicates the degree to which s/he agrees with a number of statements about your demonstrated ability in those areas. There is also a place for your teacher to write about how s/he feels you will perform at a college level in that teacher’s area of expertise.
The nomination process across states/districts may vary somewhat but, even here, you will be asked to provide letters from specific teachers and those who know you extremely well, someone who has watched you develop over the years and who is uniquely qualified to speak to your character and integrity at a level that can only be provided by someone who has watched you mature. Neither your congressional panel nor the academies are looking for impressive names or titles on these letters. Rather, they are looking for what this person can say with deep knowledge and conviction that is impressive about YOU.