<p>after a candidate is accepted, what are some of the required things that they must do.. i've heard conflicting reports of candidates having to get their own background check or the academy doing it....etc...</p>
<p>The academy will send you a background check to then send to your local police department.</p>
<p>What would they do in my case? I have been abroad for 5 years...</p>
<p>After you receive your official appointment, West Point will send out a booklet with detailed instructions on what you, as a candidate, will need to send in or have when you report on R-day. My daughter's (2011) booklet had 14 pages, with the inside back cover having a check list of all the things that will need to be done.</p>
<p>Just to give you an idea, last year (this year may be different) she needed to submit/have/do: </p>
<p>Birth Certificate - Official
Parent Consent Card - if under 18 on or before R-day
Biographical Data
Certificate of Authorization
Uniform Data - sizes
Travel Information
Vision Survey Card
Immunization Record
College/High School Transcript (after graduation)
Make your initial deposit to USMA Treasurer
Open checking account for direct deposit (if you don't have one)
Dental Exam - including panorex and bite-wing xrays (fix any problems)
Police Record Check - both adult and juvenile
Direct Deposit form filled out by bank</p>
<p>Not on the official list, but highly suggested: Apply for your passport</p>
<p>There are a few other things that were needed, like your Social Security card, that most people already have. The above list could be different this year, so don't take this list as being written in stone.</p>
<p>The good thing is that most candidates will have several months to get these things done, if you don't wait until the last minute. </p>
<p>My d and I did a lot of this on her Spring Break. Unfortunately, sometimes when I thought one trip (for instance to the dentist) would take care of it, it took two or three.</p>
<p>The immunization form was interesting, because there were a few vaccinations that were required by WP that she hadn't had/didn't need in our state, so we went to the health dept. for them. Plus, if you've had chicken pox, then you need to have a titer done to prove you've had them. Also, if you don't have an official lab report with your blood type on it, you'll need to have a lab do that, too. (We combined the titer and blood type with one trip to the lab.) So, just for that one form we had 1 trip to Dr., 1 trip to health dept., and 1 trip to lab.</p>
<p>Regarding the background check - you'll need to do this - WP will not do this for you. I don't remember if there's a card to fill out, but I know that our large metropolitan police dept. gave us an official letter that basically said she didn't have an adult record. The juvenile justice dept. (in a different location) then gave us a print out saying the same thing, but we had to pay for that one depending on how many years back we asked for. </p>
<p>Read the instructions carefully - several times. Pay attention to the details.</p>
<p>Make copies of everything you send to WP. (Send in original, 1 copy for files, 1 copy to take on R-day, just in case they didn't get original you'll have it there).</p>
<p>I highly recommend not waiting to the last minute.</p>
<p>And most important - have a good time finishing your senior year! </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Go Army!!! Beat Navy!!!</p>
<p>Seriously, have fun. As a current plebe I can not stress how important it is to get good memories now. I'm not saying you won't get any good memories here... but I wish I did more things when I was back home. Make sure you're decently fit... but I would much rather of had more time to have fun than workout time.</p>
<p>Mike</p>
<p>Hoo-ah USMA011</p>
<p>Wanted to <em>bump</em> this thread for those of you who have received your appointments or anticipating receiving your appointment, and are waiting for the next step.</p>