<p>Ah, well, Thanksgiving comes near and then it's a sprint to TEE Week. I can't believe my first semester here is almost over.</p>
<p>Candidates are visiting and coming around more and more often. Every day I when walk to practice, I walk by the reception area where I had my first West Point Admissions briefing. It's still an incredible feeling to remember myself sitting in those seats and now walking by the empty chairs every day. </p>
<p>I hope all the 2013 applications are going well! If I remember correctly, most nomination deadlines were about two weeks ago, so good luck with that step. Earlier this semester I escorted one Candidate for an evening; it was a walk down memory lane to hear him talking about being a bundle of nerves over the nomination process. </p>
<p>Anyhow, if anyone has any questions about Plebe life, Academy life, or Academics, feel free to ask. If not, have a happy Thanksgiving and pray for your Cadet! And if you don't have one, pray for them all. Thayer weeks are sandwiched around Thanksgiving and TEE's are right around the corner :)</p>
<p>Hooyamicah, do you remember you candidate interview with your MALO? I have mine tomorrow and I am really nervous about it. I have slightly higher than the mean SAT/ACT score for admission and tons of leadership but I am afraid I am a borderline candidate. I believe that this interview might have a significant influence on my application and I would do absolutely anything to go to West Point. I already have a nomination and I am DODMERB qualified. If you can remember any questions that your MALO asked that would be a great help. Also, was it really formal?</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>By the way...do you like it at WP? Does it suck as much as everyone says?</p>
<p>I had a unique MALO interview. He was on my MOC Interview Board. Afterwards he shook my hand, gave me his card, and told me that that interview served as our MALO interview. So, as for specific MALO questions/advice, I can't really help you that much.</p>
<p>I do like it here at WP. I guess I'm coming from a little different background than <em>most</em> people here, but I really enjoy it for the most part. Plebe life does get rather annoying and you do get overloaded with Thayer weeks, school, random BS, and military stuff, but just keep everything in perspective. This needs to be something YOU want to do, but if you just keep your eye on the goal, it's not bad at all. Really, it all depends on your perspective. You can come in expecting to be given the keys to life or you can come in here looking for opportunities to make the most of your time here. If you come in expecting to be inculcated with wisdom and leadership skills right away, you're in for a big, disappointing surprise that will make you hate life and by cynical and complain non-stop. This place isn't perfect; there are lots of opportunities, but it's up to you to make it into the experience you want it to be. If you come in with the right mindset (looking to exploit all your opportunities), you'll be fine. This place gives you so many opportunities...where else are you going to get to have lunch and personally discuss the Walter Reed situation with the Surgeon General, meet General Abizaid and shake his hand while you discuss the evolving insurgency, and rub elbows and have daily conversations with Colonels and Majors and Special Forces and seasoned veterans? </p>
<p>Don't expect to be given the secret to leadership and success as soon as you walk in the door (trust me, people struggle with this revelation). Expect to be given opportunities and then plan on taking them. If you do it and keep your eyes on the goal, the pesky Plebe stuff (and Academy life in general) is really superfluous and peripheral.</p>