<p>lol... I'm glad you do! Not a problem answering questions. I like helping you guys out. I'm not sure how many extra they're bringing in. They kept saying 500 more, but apparently they say that every year, so I don't know.</p>
<p>I keep hearing there are going to be about 1600 New Cadets this coming summer. That should be interesting, especially if they retain a large number heading into the school year.</p>
<p>Speaking of which, wow, I can't wait for plebe year to be over already! ;)</p>
<p>The hike in plebes makes sense, if you think about it. We are at war (as mrgreenapple can attest to), and more soldiers are going to be needed.</p>
<p>True - I agree. However, I was talking to some firsties over the summer (albeit bitter firsties) who have complained about the 'lack of discipline' in recent years. Perhaps that's just the remnants of the years of hazing finally disappearing entirely, but perhaps they have a point. Wanting more people to graduate for better or for worse will make certain aspects about West Point easier. In my opinion, regardless of that the school can still provide the Army will well-trained LTs, but to others the future classes will be too soft. But, I guess we'll see how that turns out over the course of the next several years. :)</p>
<p>Hmmm...maybe they are bringing in more so that more graduate, but they can weed out more. Like maybe the incoming class will start as 1600, but will graduate around 1000 or something. I hope they don't go making it incredibly easy or something, that's not what I'm going there for.</p>
<p>"I hope they don't go making it incredibly easy or something"
:)
:)
:)
:)</p>
<p>THAT is funny. Really, really, really funny.</p>
<p>Trust me, they aren't bringing in more kids so they can weed them out. Do you know how much MONEY they're going to put into you? I couldn't even believe it until I got here. They say it's a 350,000 dollar education, but it's a heck of a lot more than that.</p>
<p>Good point marines4me, I never thought about that. But wow, what a huge change if they really accept 1600 new cadets, that would be incredible. It sounds like 2010 is going to getting a lot of flak next year!</p>
<p>The size of the Service Academies is determined by Congress. Google the Defense Authorization Bill....</p>
<p>Not to mention space in the barracks, number of instructors, funds for equipment and training...</p>
<p>if your thinking about the academy, just spend a night. this forum has more or less turned into parents bragging about their kids. also, i'm almost positive class rank hasn't come out for plebes. that doesn't come out until the beginning of our yuk year.</p>
<p>In another era, I entered the Air Force Academy in 1974 (year the Vietnam war ended). They were have some of the same recruiting problems that are starting to appear today. My class was one of the largest classes to enter the Academy with 1630, however attrition was a bit more in those days 'cuz we only graduated 981. It is certainly possible to bring in a class that large. I do believe Congress would have to approve the authorized increase in the overall size of Corps of Cadets to allow that to happen.</p>
<p>Homer09
Did someone here say they knew their kid's class rank?</p>
<p>College Dad: From 1630 to 981? Maybe its just me, but that seems like a heck of an drop-out rate (nearly a 40% loss!). What did they do to you guys, make you sleep on nails?!</p>
<p>Actually, 40% attrition rate was not that unusual for that timeframe. I think the philosophy at the time was to really test whether cadets wanted to make the military career during that first year. I think there has been allot of research over the years that shows you can give cadets an excellent training experience without using as much negative motivation along the way. Particular attention has been paid to not causing a large number of cadets to leave during Basic Cadet Training. I think research shows that if you can get them through the first summer, you will have a better chance of keeping them for the entire 4 year experience. The expectations today are to only have around a 25% attrition rate due to the high cost of losing so many candidates.</p>
<p>The kids that have a really high class rank know because their TAC told them. The normal ones of us don't know our rank.</p>
<p>shogun,
i was refering to marines4me when she said she had the number 1 plebe in her company. but she corrected me. i guess they know the ranks, they just don't tell us for a little bit.</p>
<p>so are they going to have a plebe class of 1600 or not? so how many would they have to accept to get 1600 to show up?</p>
<p>We (the cadets) have been told that the class of 2010 will be the biggest class ever to enter USMA. However, it will not be 1600 strong, only about 1300 or so (only about 100 bigger than the previous classes). </p>
<pre><code> WESTPOINTCDT
www.westpointcadet.com
</code></pre>
<p>how do they get 100 more? just give out 100 more LOAs? or give more slots to certain MOCs?</p>
<p>Perhaps they come off the National Waiting List?</p>