<p>Hi, Peteyflow,</p>
<p>My D did this process last year and has received her appointment. She reports July 2nd.</p>
<p>Wanted to let you know that this is a long process, but not that complicated. Once you open your file with WP, there's not a lot you can do. They will send you packets of information/forms throughout the process. Fill them out and send them back as quickly as possible. From what D and I remember, there wasn't much to do last Spring. I think the first packet she got was to have DOD (Dept. of Defense) medical and eye exams done (at no cost to you) and we did that at the beginning of summer.</p>
<p>Now is a good time to concentrate on getting the best ACTs and SATs you can get. Practice does help raise scores. Also, extracurriculars and sports are important, join a team(s) if you aren't already on one. Put together your high school resume. Everybody will want that. Check in with your guidance counselor.</p>
<p>Most of the congresspeople/senators have due dates for their applications, usually after school starts. We're in FL and D's applications weren't due until the end of Sept. or beginning of Oct. Our congressman had an open house for any potential academy applicants in September. What we did was unintentionally go to this open house in her junior year, but it turned out to be a plus, because the congressman's aide was impressed that my D took the initiative to come ask questions (make sure they're intelligent questions) and when my D went to the open house in her senior year they remembered her. You can never get your name and face out there enough, but you do need the grades and test scores, too.</p>
<p>Once the nomination forms are mailed in, you'll receive a date and time to go for an interview(s). My D's were in Nov. and Dec. Practice your answers ahead of time to all the regular questions (why do you want to go to WP, etc.). If they ask a question you didn't prepare for, think before you speak. Be early, dress well (business dress, very conservatively), don't fidget, no gum.</p>
<p>You'll start getting more letters and packets around the beginning of August. Once you've started school you'll need multiplie letters of recommendations and other forms filled out by your teachers/guidance counselor. Get these done as quickly as you can. </p>
<p>Also, keep in shape (running, situps, pushups). Once school starts in Aug. you'll need to do a CFA (Candidate Fitness Assessment). All the information will be in the packet.</p>
<p>You'll have plenty of time to do all this, but get it done as soon as you can. My D was sent a letter of assurance in Dec. saying she had the appointment as long as she got in all her paperwork before the end of Jan. (Also as long as her academics stayed up.) </p>
<p>Make multiple copies of everything - just in case they get lost.</p>
<p>If you haven't been to WP - try to go. We went last summer, because it was convenient. Everything was quiet, so we didn't get that insight, but saw enough for D to know that that is were she wants to go. We bought a book in the bookstore that has been a great resource, "The West Point Candidate Book", by William L. Smallwood. There are orientations during the school year you can go for. Once you're awarded an appointment you can do an overnight orientation, but until then I think you can do one that's a half-day.</p>
<p>I hope this gives you a little more information on what to expect. Just ask if you have any more questions. There's a lot to the process, so I may have forgotten something.</p>
<p>Good Luck to you!</p>