Preparing for West Point

<p>This year will be my last year of middle school and even though I am so young, I MUST be accepted into West Point! How should I prepare? I am currently taking all honors classes, high-school credit language and earth science. In high school I will be attending a school that specializes in technology, again all honors classes. By the time I graduate highschool I would also have completed 2 languages (Spanish and Latin). I currently play many sports too. I am also female if that varies. Any tips to how i can strive to be a future West Point student? Like extracurricular activities and possibly military summer camps?</p>

<p>I’m applying for the class of 2016. Your freshman year of high school, get involved in everything you like. For my application, I wish I could put down something for band or chorus, but I never had the time. Also, I babysit literally every weekend, but the application asks for a job, so if you have time, ask a local store (drug store, supermarket, food place) if they are hiring. Even if it is a summer job, it is still good experience. Be in shape this summer if you are doing a fall sport. It makes getting varsity letters that much easier to obtain.
Don’t stress taking x amount of APs by junior year. Just take honors and maybe one or two your sophomore year but do well in these classes. Work hard in school like everyone says to, but also focus on your gpa. You don’t need to calculate it every night before bed, but GPA determines class rank, not your letter grades.
Sign up for the PSAT/PACT the first chance you get. I took the SAT fall of my sophomore year on a whim and bombed it with a 1560. This gave me time to raise the grade over 500 points instead of having to worry about getting in with this lousy score. I wish I did the same with the ACT because I only took it twice and my score is not where it should be.
Join the debate team if you have one. I only timed varsity sophomore and junior year but still got varsity letters (pretty good deal). I also started a club junior year and made it very successful.
Become friendly with a math, chem/physics, and english teacher. The worse thing you can do for yourself is to make enemies with your chem teacher then have to ask her for a reccommendation because you won’t be taking physics until senior year. That happened to my friend, and the letter will obviously have a negative effect.
I went to SLS (West Point’s Summer program for incoming hs seniors), but don’t worry if you don’t get in. A ton of people I know who go to West Point now did not have the SAT/ACT scores for SLS but still got into the school. GIRLS STATE IS SO IMPORTANT! If it is merit based at your school and you don’t get in, write to a nearby American Legion post and explain that you want to attend USMA and they will most likely support you. Don’t worry about either of these camps now though because you still have a while (until winter of your junior year to apply).
“Like” West Point’s admission page on Facebook, it will inspire you.
Read “Absolutely American” and “Tough as Nails.” The first one is about a group of students who went to West Point in 2000, right before 9/11, and the other is about a women’s story as she graduated in the 1980s as the second class to accept females.
Contact your Field Force Representative. His/her name can be found on the admissions website for your local area and this person will guide you through the process.
Why do you want to attend West Point? Have a good answer and memorize it. You will be asked!</p>

<p>Great response! Thank you for sharing.</p>