<p>A month ago I felt like I was in a cave without a light, trying to help my son find his way to West Point. I am very grateful that I stumbled upon this site. We've learned a lot by reading the threads. Thank you!</p>
<p>My son applied to WP and received a nomination from our MOC. He realizes that he sits on the bubble as far as being accepted. He heard from his admissions officer once - the email said you have a 50/50 chance of getting in. Are you interested in a great back up plan to WP via an AOG scholarship? My son said yes. </p>
<p>I have two questions. The first is about the National Wait list. Could someone explain this to me? If you are not on the list then are your chances slim? Finally, does anyone know when he would hear about the AOG scholarship?</p>
<p>If you go to this link: <a href="http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/educators/faqs.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/educators/faqs.html</a>
and scroll down a bit you will see some information about the national waiting list. I found this on our local parents club website. After you read it you will see that it is hard to know if your son will get off the list. Hang in there because a year ago I was in the same place you are. My son was officially offered an AOG scholarship the first week of April 2006. He did not get his medical waiver approved until mid-March and they could not offer him the AOG scholarship until that was cleared. If your son has no medical issues outstanding he may receive his offer soon. My son did not get off the waiting list and is currently at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) as an AOG sponsored prep. If you have any other questions about the AOG scholarship you can post them here or send me a private message. </p>
<p>On college confidential there is also “FWDAD” who has an AOG son at Marion Military Institute in Alabama. He can give you feedback on that school if you are interested.</p>
<p>WAMom68 beat me to the punch. My son is an AOG scholar at Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. My son got involved in the West Point process late and was held up because of medical issues until sometime in late March, I think. Like your son he was put on the National Wait List and told that he had a shoot at the class of 2010. I do not think anyone told him that he had a fifty/fifty chance or any percentage chance. He was told that he could be taken off the National Wait List anytime up to the day before R-Day. Last year the Admissions Office's yield was very high and more cadet candidates accepted offers of admission than expected and few if any came off of the National Wait List, or so we were told, after mid to late April. The Admissions Office did offer my son an AOG scholarship and our MALO was really excited. I was a little worried that if my son said yes that it would hurt his chances of a regular appointment. We were told that it would not and I believe my son's MALO. As you get closer to May 1 ask your MALO how many kids have accepted appointments and what number your son is on the National Wait List. That might give you some idea of whether he might get pulled off the National Wait List, but it varies considerably from year to year.</p>
<p>The AOG scholarship is the next best thing to getting into West Point, because while not a guarantee of admission, it dramatically changes the odds in the candidates favor. My son has already received his Appointment and is eagerly awaiting July 2nd. Marion is not West Point. It is located in rural Alabama on a campus that in great part was built prior to the Civil War. Some of its buildings are tired and could use some modernization. It just became part of the Alabama junior college system and the Stae is putting money into the school so that should improve. The teachers at Marion are great and take a keen interest in each students success. My son regularly goes to eat at their homes, out to lunch and to church with his teachers. The kids in the SAP Program (Service Academy Program) are great kids that all have a similar goal...to get into a Service Academy. The AOG scholarship kids take classes with each other and all take the same classes. The upside of the program is that my son has a better foundation to enter West Point than a kid right out of high school. He is used to a military atmosphere, physical training in the early mornings and living in spartan surroundings. </p>
<p>In short, an AOG Scholarship is a means to an end: West Point. My son will tell you that it is/was worth it. We couldn't be happier with Marion. If you want your son to talk to my son, send a private message and I can set them up. I can also arrange for a Marion teacher or the West Point coordinator to give you a call. There are a number of Marion kids that monitor this site and they may want to add to what I have said.</p>
<p>Take heart, the chances of a candidate on the NWL receiving an offer of appointment are better than 50/50. Historically, about 65-70% of fully qualified candidates receive an offer of appointment. </p>
<p>If you read the link, you know that the NWL is reserved for fully qualified candidates that are not the top candidates in their MOC's districts. The candidates are ranked on the NWL by their Whole Candidate Scores (an objective measuring tool used by USMA and other academies to quantify the candidate's academic, physical and leadership qualifications).</p>
<p>A certain number of candidates will be offered appointments based on their rank on the NWL ( I believe that is 150). However, lower ranked candidates can get offers if the candidate in their MOC declines their offer of appointment. For example, if a candidate from a given MOC district with an offer in hand declines his/her offer, the next highest ranked candidate in that MOC district will receive an offer, even though that candidate is not the highest ranked candidate on the NWL. While that may not seem fair, the USMA appointment system is structured to ensure a geographic allocation of appointments.</p>
<p>I appreciate both of your repsonses so much. My son has NOT been put on the National Wait List. I didn't know what it was and started to wonder if there was another layer in the process that (one more time) we didn't know about. I was just as surprised when we heard about the AOG. </p>
<p>The email from the admissions officers didn't say there's a 50/50 shot at getting in, it said "you may or may not get accepted". That's fuzzy! (I'm trying to be positive that's where 50/50 came from.) I guess this boils down to, "I need to get my big girl panties on and wait this out!". </p>
<p>I'm very curious about Marion. I'll get in touch. Thanks for the info!</p>
<p>there are alot of fuzzy things to the west point admissions. At least as an outsider, on the inside it probably all makes sense.</p>
<p>My son was a HS graduate in 2005, went to NMMI as an AOG prep, and is a plebe this year. Without a doubt it was the best thing that could happen to him. Do you get the pizzazz of saying you are off to West Point while a HS senior, but in the real, grown up world after HS, it really pays off. I would just second comments above, next best thing... means to an end etc.</p>
<p>I would suggest you say ..yes I am very interested in AOG, being from Ga, MArion is the obvious choice. </p>
<p>As to timing, this wont be comforting my S received his AOG appt. in June --after HS graduation , he had all but given up ... on WP..</p>
<p>Also I so agree, as I started this process, finding CC helped so much.. also subsribe to the prosepctive net.. i got a great letter on the AOG, when I asked off of that....</p>
<p>one other comment ,, if S is REALLY committed, and doesnt get admitted, you might consider one of many 'self-prep' options. One example, a kid from Calif. was at NMMi, without AOG sponsorship, and was offered in Dec USMAPS, so he didnt come back in spring... so his path to USMA. One semester NMMI, one semester off, one year USMAPS then West Point</p>
<p>Hang in there, there's nothing too bad. A 50% chance is still a chance. Keep decent contact with your Regional Commander. Give maybe a week between correspondences since this is a very busy time for them. Ask if there is anything missing or that you could improve on meanwhile. </p>
<p>I lost my (reserved) appointment (contingent on finishing additional medical tests) last year for a foul up in my medical paperwork and had already withdrawn from Navy.</p>
<p>ROTC also isn't a bad option and if you go- do the Ranger Challenge. It's very good preparation and they do a lot of rucking (carrying rather heavy loads in a very large sack known affectionately as The Big Green Tick).</p>
<p>Like I said, at least you have a chance. 50% is better than 0% and it's not that bad. Relax. You got this far and USMA is pretty generous with the outright rejection letters.</p>
<p>Not sure about "big girl panties" but it's not over until the fat lady sings. And, remember, the Department of Defense has announced that it's going to increase the size of the Army. This means more officers and larger classes at WP.</p>
<p>My son, who's now a yuk, didn't hear until MID-MAY. He was already into ROTC at a West Coast college and we'd already sent in the deposit for academics and housing. (his roommates are probably still wondering where he is - and we still get invited to parent barbeques). My son was asked by his WP admissions officer to think about one of the prep programs but my son wasn't interested.</p>
<p>And so much for WP admissions - my son's in the top 20 academically and overall and made a Varsity Team as a walk-on.</p>
<p>If an angel had whispered in my ear when my son was in 9th grade and said "Your son wants to go into the Army. Bigger yet…he wants to go to USMA. He will earn an ROTC scholarship too". At the time I wouldn’t have believed it. </p>
<p>Now – words can’t express how proud I am of him. He has grown into a remarkable person. This is HIS dream to serve in the Army and go to USMA. So if an AOG scholarship is his path to USMA - then so be it.</p>
<p>One thing - he hasn’t been in contact with his Regional Commander. Are you all in regular contact with yours?? </p>
<p>Also, my sons’ ultimate goal is Special Forces. I wish I'd been as focused as he is – it’s commendable. I’m looking for some insight - anyone??</p>
<p>My son was in pretty regular contact with his RC and he spoke two or three times a week with his MALO, who was/is a great source of information. </p>
<p>Also remember that every class is different and that because last year's class (the Class of 2010) had a higher than expected yield rate that the Admissions Office may be going a little slower in handing out appointments this year.</p>
<p>Skybirdsmom,
What you said about your son sounds alot like mine. </p>
<p>I pretty much knew my son would be in the Army, he loved everything military related since he was a tiny boy, but never expected his desire to go to USMA (surprise #1 for me). When he went to his first informational meeting for West Point I went with him. Prior to that meeting I knew very little about the place so I learned alot. After the meeting I asked my son if he really wanted to go to West Point and he said he did. I asked why, he told me he wanted to make the Army his career (surprise #2) and that he felt West Point would make him the best officer and best leader he could be. After that conversation I was 100% behind him and did whatever I could to help him with the process. His back up plan was an ROTC scholarship to an in-state college. I was very proud of him when he earned that 4-year scholarship. After he was offered the AOG scholarship I was just as proud as if he had gotten a direct admit to USMA. Now my son is doing very well at NMMI. He has his complaints about the place but is doing what he needs to do to reach his ultimate goal. In the long run, the year at NMMI will help him when he gets to West Point. I have heard from many former preps and parents of preps that the extra year was a great asset.</p>
<p>As far as contact with ther Regional Commander, if I remember correctly, last year my son emailed or spoke to him occasionally but not every week. Before his file was complete it seemed like they communicated more often. </p>
<p>Last thing - make sure you update the WP admissions office as to any additional accomplishments of your son. My son finally earned his Eagle Scout badge in April and I think it made a difference. Maybe your guidance office can tell you whether your son is up for any year end honors, etc.</p>
<p>Someone cleverly said on this site before that West Point is not a great place to be in, but is a great place to be from. That might apply to Marion and NMMI as well.</p>