<p>Hello, I've been always interested in attending West Point. I have some concerns about what I should do NOW in my Sophomore year for applying into WP.
Currently, I'm pretty strong in Academics with about a 95 - 97 overall average with all my classes being Honors.
For Athletics, I was in Track last year and I plan to continue it for 3 more years and maybe do Cross Country for 2 years.<br>
Leadership programs are kind of my only fault. I'm in the GIFTED program and going to apply for NHS in the Spring.
I did not yet take the SATs.</p>
<p>My questions:
1. Would a 95 average with all Honors and AP be enough?
2. Would they look at my Senior year classes? (All my AP classes will be then)
3. What kind of leadership / community programs should I join?
4. Would I need to hold an office for the above?
5. Should I try to get nominations now?</p>
<p>Extra Info:
I'm 15 years old, PA resident, and born in Russia (1st generation) but not YET a citizen. </p>
<p>First, go talk to your HS guidance counselor and ask to how to find out who your West Point field force liaison officer is and how to get in touch with them. Then, help them guide you. You may be able to find that out from the USMA website too. The reason is you will need to work on that citizenship issue pronto to get it resolved before your junior/senior year when the summer leadership seminar becomes available and your formal application process starts.</p>
<p>The other thing is to read some of the older posts and threads here -- there is a wealth of information and much of what you ask, has already been asked! And, answered! ;)</p>
<p>Well I did speak to my guidance counselor about meeting someone from West Point.
She just printed out papers from the website on scheduling visits and about the SLS program. Also, she told me it would be best if I went to West Point myself and speak to them.
Hopefully, I'll find out about my liaison officer from the site. Citizenship will be taken care of before I'm 16.</p>
<p>I will look at other threads, but is there anything specific that I should do urgently?</p>
<p>Class profiles do not change significantly and can give you a good idea of what successful candidates need to achieve to gain admission.</p>
<p>A candidate I recently mentored received his appointment last November and will be entering with the Class of 2013. He downloaded a WP class profile as a HS freshman, posted it on his bedroom wall, and modeled his HS activities IAW the profile. It paid off. </p>
<p>Well, my class rank is about 30 - 40 out of 450.</p>
<p>My classes:</p>
<p>Honors English 9
Honors English 10
Honors English 11 (future)
AP English 12 (future)</p>
<p>Algebra 1 (No Honors in 8th grade)
Honors Geometry
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Functions (future)
AP Calculus AB (future)
AP Calculus BC (future)</p>
<p>Earth Science (No Honors available)
Honors Biology
Honors Chemistry
Honors Physics (future)
Honors Chemistry 2 (future)
AP Biology (future)
AP Physics (future)</p>
<p>American Cultures 1 (No Honors in 8th grade)
Honors World Cultures
Honors American Cultures 2
Honors American Issues (future)
AP American History (future)</p>
<p>French 1
French 2
French 3 (future)
French 4 (future)
AP French 5 (future)</p>
<p>Gym</p>
<p>I'm doing very good in school, so those classes are not out of my reach.</p>
<p>I just had a school physical for Track and my blood pressure came out to be 135/80.
Would this affect my chances in the West Point medical exam?
An attractive woman measured pressure earlier, and it came to a higher pressure.
The 135/80 was just from some guy, so no nervousness. ;)
They also said something about "Type 1 Hypertensive". </p>
<p>My advice is to study for the PSAT. If you are strong academically, a great PSAT score could qualify you as a National Merit Scholar (always looks good on a resume). A good PSAT score will also help with your SLS application if you apply (applications will open in December of your Junior year). Study for and take the ACT and SAT at least twice. </p>
<p>If you can, work towards being captain of one of your sports teams - this will demonstrate leadership. Get involved in a school club or student government and run for a leadership position as soon as you are eligible. It is not about the number of activities you participate in - rather it is about taking the lead in a select few activities.</p>
<p>Well, probably I can be a Track Captain during Senior year as it's a tri-captaincy.<br>
I'll try for a position in NHS when I am in it.
I'm not really interested in SGA, but how about Leo Club?</p>
<p>And is leadership being just president or could it include treasurer and secretary?
I'm really interested in being a peer tutor too; is it leadership?</p>
<p>Language skills have to be a plus in our future officers. My son wanted to take Arabic or Mandarin in HS but they were not offered. He took 4 years of Spanish, including an AP class so that he could converse with any Hispanic members of his platoon. I noticed in the course guide that there are 19-20 sections of Arabic offered at West Point.</p>
<p>Your test scores are very good-what the heck happened that Freshman year? Did you fall in love?</p>
<p>What scores?
Would being fluent in Russian and 5 years of French help my chances as an extra plus?
Eventhough I was born in Russia and still a Russian citizen I only know a little bit of the language, but I'm fast at learning it.</p>
<p>So, now you have a list of a few things you need to do. I'll add a couple items.
1) Begin to find out what you'll have to do to become a citizen as this is a primary requirement before receiving an appointment. Do not underestimate this.
2) Prep for the PSAT (as already mentioned). You'll take this exam during the fall of your junior year and the scores are requested for your SLS application - if you choose to apply to SLS.
3) If your guidance counselor couldn't help you, ask if she can refer you to somebody who can. Perhaps a former student who attended WP? Perhaps she may be able to ask some of her colleagues at other schools about local Admissions volunteers with whom you can connect.
4) If you're running track and cross country, make sure you run during the off season also. You can compete in races all year long. This will help you improve your speeds and perform better during the HS seasons. Set a goal of making State. Yes, it's tough, but without the goal, it probably won't happen.
5) You may want to consider cross training with swimming and/or biking.<br>
6) Read what you can about West Point and the Army. There's an active thread here about military books that you might find interesting.
7) Look for great ROTC programs at other colleges that might be of interest. (Everyone needs a backup plan.)
8) Learn about the different possible opportunities available in the Army. Be able to articulate just why you want to be an Army Officer. And if you discover that you're really just interested in WP for some reason, but not actually being in the Army, be glad that you learned something important about yourself.
9) Watch "Surviving West Point", a National Geographic series available on dvd.
10) Have fun doing this research. Needless to say, some tasks are more important than others.
11) Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!!</p>
<p>Thank you for your response.
Do you think if I complete this list then I will have a good chance?</p>
<p>-All Honors classes throughout
-AP English, AP Calculus AB & BC, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Biology, AP American History, and AP French (All Senior year)
-Four years of Track with 1 or 2 varsity letters
-Track tri-captain Senior year
-Two years of Cross Country
-Two years of Leo Club with a leadership position Senior year
-National Honor Society with a leadership position Senior year
-GIFTED Program
-Three years of being a Peer Support Tutor
-Top 5% Class rank
-Good ACT/SAT scores</p>
<p>I am not stating that I will achieve everything, but this is just a list of goals.</p>
<p>I also have the same question with my goals:
-All Gifted Courses for Core Classes throughout(except Honors Bio in 9th, classes going to take over summer so can take more electives during school year, and APs)
-AP Human Geo, AP World His, AP Eng Lang and AP Eng Lit, AP US His, AP Macroeconomics, AP Am. Gov’t., AP Calc, AP Stat, AP Physics B & C, AP Chem (classes) and AP Psych & AP Spanish (self-study/online course)
-Letter in Track, Football, JROTC (participating all 4 years in all those)
-Possibly Captain in either Track of Football (longshot)
-Cadet Officer JROTC
-Extracurriculars: FCA, NHS, TSA, Beta Club(having leadership positions in each)
-Top 5% class rank, stellar ACT/SAT scores, 4.0+ GPA
-Honor Grad (cumlative GPA 90% or better senior year), Academic Letter & Pin
-Governor’s Honor Program (GA specific), Boy’s State/Nation, National Student Leadership Conference or Student Leadership University
-Participate Short-Term Missions at church
-Class Officer (either 10,11,or 12 grade)</p>
<p>Note: not all goals but ones can think of at moment…</p>
<p>Put forth the effort in school to learn and learn to love learning, because you will be doing it for a long time. All the things you learn in school prepare you for a rigorous lifestyle and mentally demanding situations. So, the academic goals are good and worthwhile, but I have some things I would like to invite you to do in preparation, being on the inside.</p>
<p>1.) Excel physically. If you’re looking for a way to stand out and do well here at the Academy and in the Army, start getting your body into shape. You will instantly gain more respect if you display the self-discipline and competence that is indicated by physical prowess. It will aid you in your career and is good for your health. Join and commit to your cross-country or triathlon team to get into running shape. If you’re doing track, make sure you’re running medium and long distances. Get involved with Krav Maga. I spent 3 years learning Krav Maga before I came here and it has proven invaluable. I’ve never seen a more effective self-defense system and it will also trim and tone your body. I would not recommend any serious lifting programs prior to arriving here. Rather, learn how to use weights and be knowledgeable, but spend more time in cross-fit activities or “functional fitness” methods. Lifting is another tool to train, but should be secondary to the others. </p>
<p>2.) In order to really set yourself up for success and polish up your application, start a club. Don’t just join one and follow the same old method. Think of something you like to do, and start a club to do that with other people. Now you’re the founder AND president of a club. By doing this, you demonstrate initiative and self-confidence. You’ll learn a great deal about leading people, managing funds, working schedules, and dealing with bureaucracy; all of which are vital skills in today’s world. As an example, when I was in high school, I created a board gaming club, which I titled “The Military History and Strategy Club”, a high school ultimate frisbee league, and a beach volleyball group/club. This not only looks good on your application, but it was fun and it taught me a lot. I had to learn how to deal with all manner of people, obtain funds, manage said funs, create schedules and be flexible with them, and, most importantly, mediate conflict. Pick something you love to do, find others who feel the same way, and create something new. It’s a worthwhile experience, I assure you.</p>