<p>I am going to West Point and I do look forward to it but I will miss the freedom I have wanted for so long. I have friends who are going to reguar collges some of which have ROTC scholarships. Many of thos with ROTC scholarships have applied to West point and failed and all of them say always that they have been told that West Point is just a name. They say that I and they will get the same training only they get they get to go to a regualr college and have a life. Is that true is West Point any better than ROTC or is that all just hype?What is recognitiona and advantage comes along with going to this school?</p>
<p>You will know that you went to West Point, and that's what matters. You may regret not going a few years from now when you know you had the opportunity. That said, in 4 years, you and your buddies will recieve the same commission and pay, etc. So, If you want to be in the army, but really don't want to go to West point, than ROTC is just as honorable of an option.</p>
<p>When I had escorted candidates, I always tried to clarify this point with them. West Point is not an assembly line. A cadet is not assembled from standard issue parts to make the exact same caliber of officer. West Point is an environment. It offers you the opportunities to make yourself a better officer, you have to put forth the time and effort though to take advantage of them.</p>
<p>Envee06's explained it very well. I would add that as far as making an officer West Point offers the best opportunities and environment. As far as it being just a name, that sounds quite a bit like sour grapes to me; but what else would they say after they were rejected by the greatest military academy in the world?</p>
<p>If you want the normal college experience don't go to West Point. If you want the most challanging, rigerous, and rewarding experience, go to West Point. I've never once heard a West Point graduate say they wish they had gone to a regular college; I've heard plenty of folks who passed on West Point and ended up being disappointed with the normal college experience express regret they didn't take the opportunity they were given.</p>
<p>But everyone's different and what makes one person happy may be completely horrible for another. Of course you won't know until test it for yourself.</p>
<p>I agree that it sounds like sour grapes. However, your friends will also have an outstanding experience. At West Point you will be immersed in West Point "culture" in a way that other colleges just don't do. You will have:</p>
<p>-good and bad days (and a few lousy days);
-few parties but great camaraderie;
-incredible physical training (sometimes when you really don't want to be bothered);
-strong academics (and classes you never would take in a civilian college);
-breakfast - the most important meal of the day (how many of your friends will miss it by sleeping in?);
-the absolutely coolest laptop;
-opportunities that will be available to you that others can only dream of.</p>
<p>You'll get a lot more. Others may want to add to the list. West Point is much more than just a name. But what a great name!</p>
<p>Alot of the training is somewhat similar. ROTC guys go to the Leaders Training Course and Leadership Development and Assessment Course during some of the their summers, and I would think they basically go over them same stuff. However, West Point has alot more slots to send cadets to Airborne school/Sapper/Air Assault etc. As said, you could just get by and not really have an edge over anyone else, but the opportunities are there and if you take advantage of them your experience will be unparalleled.</p>
<p>MomofTwins hit upon a great point---OPPORTUNITY. Cadets at West Point have opportunities that just aren't going to happen in a regular college ROTC program. As an example, within a 5 month span our cadet will have travelled to a Greek Island for a week, Hawaii for a month, and England for a month. The immersion into the Army culture, 7 days a week is also something you won't get at an ROTC unit. For some that may be a good thing, but that is a big diffference.</p>
<p>"What recognition and advantages come along with going to this school?"</p>
<p>One thing that stands out for me is the attention WP puts on developing the "whole person" with the aim of developing "leaders of character". The opportunities WP offers for self development are exceptional.</p>