<p>You can use most of the following tips in any interview process.</p>
<p>Dress for success!!! If you have a suit, wear it. A jacket, if not. Nothing less than a dress shirt and tie. Ladies should also wear business dress. Wear a dress, or skirt or dress pants and jacket if you have one. Nothing suggestive. No jeans or shorts. Dressing well will give you confidence.
Stand up straight or sit straight. Use Sir or Ma'am when appropriate. Don't fidget. Ladies, if you must cross your legs, cross them at the ankle, not the knee. Take a copy(ies) of your LOA, if you haven't already mailed them one. </p>
<p>The best thing you can do is practice your answers to the most likely questions days in advance (although, don't let it become so practiced that it sounds like you've memorized it). Don't just limit uh's, like's, um's, etc., eliminate them from your speech. Hard to do unless you practice. </p>
<p>Before the interview: Your adrenaline will be flowing, so take a few minutes to clear your mind, think of something calming, take a few deep breaths, even meditate. </p>
<p>During the interview: Don't be afraid to show your winning personality (within limits)! Smile. Introduce yourself again and shake the hands of each of your interviewers. (That will impress them.) Then think about what you're going to say, before you say it. If you mis-speak, take a moment (if you need to) to gather your thoughts and then continue. That will show poise under pressure. Make sure you answer the question that's asked you, don't go off on tangents. It's okay to show some intensity of emotion; meaning - be convincing that going to West Point is/has always been a dream and something that's important to you. If you go blank, calmly ask them to repeat the question. Remember - you won't be the first candidate that's nervous. </p>
<p>Females - wear conservative jewelry, males should not have any jewelry showing. No visible tatoos and rethink the eyebrow, tongue rings.</p>
<p>If you have a resume - update it, review it and bring copies for your interviewers. Most people will be interviewed by a board of 2-4 people. Make sure to bring an extra copy of your resume for yourself - you can refer to it during the interview if you need to. Put it in a nice folder and that will also give you something to hang onto. You may want to bring a pen as well.</p>
<p>While some will ask off the wall questions - most will not be of a political nature. They want to hear about you! Think about how you first heard of West Point and WHY you want to attend.</p>
<p>Oh yeah - if you are interviewing for West Point and they ask make sure you say The United States Military Academy. </p>
<p>Last year my daughter was hammered at her congressional interview - really tough questions and she felt like they didn't believe anything she said. (She felt a little sexism reeking) One of the last questions was "What is your back up plan?" She said she had been offered and accepted a 4 year Army ROTC scholarship. All heads went up and the questioner said - "Oh so you really do want to be in the Army!" She got a nomination.</p>
<p>I have a suit, no tatoos, no peircings, will create a resume, am bringing the LOA in a nice USMA folder, adrenaline will be flowing, need to plan my answers, show poise, should be ready to give specific details, shake everyone's hands, will bring a pen...<br>
I have always struggled with giving concise answers to subjective questions. I end up using um's and sometimes my point gets lost, so the practicing anwers should help alot.<br>
Easy-"What did you get on your ACT?" me:"I took the test twice, sir, the first attempt I scored a 29, the second time I scored a 31" </p>
<p>Hard-"Why do you feel that you are a better candidate than the others applying?" me:"umm.... I believe i am a better candidate because..... ( at this point i am thinking to myself that other candidates are great people too, I really want this, but for every area I succeed in, other candidates most likely succeed in another area, if not the same) uh.... I am an Eagle Scout, and I have had lots of opportunities to lead others, and I have lived the scout oath, which makes me feel much more dedicated to serving my country."
Overall, my answers never come out perfect. I usually end up thinking of other points that may have been stronger afterward. When I come up with some better answers, I'll post them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Easy-"What did you get on your ACT?" me:"I took the test twice, sir, the first attempt I scored a 29, the second time I scored a 31"
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yep - you are right - not concise! All you have to say is that you got a 31. That is the only score the academy cares about! Make yourself look good!</p>
<p>
[quote]
-"Why do you feel that you are a better candidate than the others applying?"
[/quote]
for these type of questions - a little politician is good!
I would mention the high quality of all the candidates you are competing against -a little humility is good here. Keep the conversation positive - no negatives!
then steer the conversation toward yourself. talk about how you stand out. Eagle scout - great! shows leadership. obviously great academics - another plus. athletics? team captain? varsity letters? mention it.</p>
<p>allow the conversation to flow toward the criteria the academy is looking for in a candidate - leadership, scholastic excellence and athletics - most kids are not super duper in all of these but tend to shine in one - focus on that.
Then talk about your goals and why you want to be an Army Officer. show that you know about the commitment you will be making and if you have specific goals mention them as well - such as: "I have wanted to be an officer in the Infantry since ___". stuff like that.</p>
<p>If you don't know the answer then just say you don't know - no harm in that.</p>
<p>Inhibitor:
"Why do you feel that you are a better candidate than the others applying?" Assuming that of the other candidates are fully qualified, this is the statement that caught my eye: "I really want this"
Don't underestimate the power of letting your interviewer know how motivated your are. The difference between success and failure at WP is often determined by the will to succeed. Think of specific examples of things you have done to back up your statements.<br>
Good luck!</p>
<p>Done with the senator's interviews. It was set up with 5 different groups working with different individuals. Each group consisted of 2 interviewers and then they asked questions and took notes. </p>
<p>The first interview consisted of:
Can you tell us a little bit about why you want to attend the Military academy?
I explained that after my counselor told me about West Point, I began to research it and I found that "this is it! this is the college I really want to attend!" It fits my life goals to serve my country, become a good leader, and to recieve and education. Then I talked about how I respect it's rich history and impact on today. </p>
<p>Then they talked about the War on Terror. They said "the death toll is reaching 3800 soldiers. How do you react to this?"
I told them that death is not a light issue for me, and that I realize it's horrible soldiers die serving our country, but then I told them that if called upon I would still defend my country, even if it meant that I were to die.</p>
<p>I should have rephrazed it a bit, to make it more tactful. These are just summaries of what I said. Thank goodness I did not freeze. I was able to focus and not lose my train of thought. I unfortunately did not stop all of the umms and uhhhs. They were subtle, and my interviewers used them too, but I wish I could have erased them. Another thing that I would redo is that when answering, I did not say "sir" or "ma'am" I just went on with my answers. That was bad.... in WI the act of saying "sir" and "ma'am" seems foreign and taboo (Blue State unfortunately).</p>