My grades are pretty average, 3.4 gpa and an SAT score of 1150. I know that does not work in my advantage. I have a couple extracurricular activities. I do however have a decent amount of service hours, and I am an Eagle Scout. I am in very good athletic condition. I know this school is a big commitment. My dad is a graduate of the school, I know my grades are not that good, but do I have a reasonable chance? It’s not that big of a deal either way.
Thank you
No one can chance anyone for a service academy due to the vagaries of the nomination process. Should you apply? Only if you have a burning desire to be an army officer. There is no other reason. And, if you want to be an officer in the army, you can do that through ROTC at a civilian college as well. West Point is a tough row to hoe, but West Point and ROTC commission the same 2nd LTs. In the end, there is no difference. You just need to decide what you want your college experience to be. If you do apply to West Point, make sure you are also apply to several civilian colleges/ROTC as plan B as there is no guarantee of appointment to West Point for anyone.
@ChoatieMom - It may be different now, but when I graduated there were a few differences between USMA grads and ROTC. Agreed, they are both commissioned 2LT. But, we were commissioned in the Regular Army and ROTC was a Reserve Commission. An officer with a Reserve commission has to apply for Regular Army at some point later. My experience is that a USMA grad has a higher probability of being a strong and effective leader. That said, totally agree that the “chance me” of this forum is irrelevant.
You might want to consider USMMA (Kings Point). It is a little less known then West Point but still a US Service Academy. Also, if that is the type of college experience that you are looking for, also look at some of the other similar military schools or schools with a strong Cord of Cadets Program - VMI, Maine Maritime, SUNY Maritime, Citadel, VTech, Texas A&M.
Your ECs won’t make up for those grades and test scores.
BLUF: Do NOT attend the USMA. West Point is insufficient in enabling your future aspirations. Your inspiration, spirit, and dreams will end here.
I was accepted to and attended West Point for 1 year. I left on my own will, in good terms, and was in the top 10% of my class. About half way through my first year I realized what a pathetic school this place is. The education is absent due to the lack of qualified instructors, students are bred to be selfish “snobs”, and all potential is squandered. The honor code this school stands by is a complete joke. I have never seen more lying, more cheating, and more stealing in any other school than here. I have countless examples of unwarranted expulsions, sexual assault cases, and rampant depression affiliated with the USMA. Leaving was one of the best decisions of my life. I was one of the fortunate few who were brave enough and smart enough to leave and pursue a better future. I still became an Army officer through ROTC, attained a real education at a civilian university, and am now a medical student at one of the nation’s most prestigious medical schools. Furthermore, the Army has paid for it all so don’t think that West Point is your only free option.
Jimmy G: Seems like you had a bad experience at West Point. I’m glad you found a path more to your liking.
However, many others can post an opposite experience. Our kind, considerate, unselfish, non-snobby son is finishing his junior year at West Point and has not experienced what you describe, so I would caution anyone reading here that YMMV. Fortunately, the government allows appointees to leave a service academy with no obligation, service or financial, prior to the first day of junior year so that students like Jimmy G have ample opportunity to decide whether or not an academy or the military is for them. No one benefits from unhappy officers.
One thing to consider is that you’re still a 2nd Lieutenant like everyone else when you graduate. If you like the military school atmosphere, you could always go to Texas A&M and join the Corp of Cadets. The military stuff only happens in the mornings, evenings and weekends. They pretty much leave you alone during class and study time. There’s also the Citidel, Virginia Tech, and VMI.
If you really feel that it’s not a big deal either way, please re-examine your motivation to apply. Nobody should ever go to one of the academies unless they REALLY want to be there. Don’t do it because your parent did. It is an incredibly rewarding experience but there are other ways to be an Army officer, and yes, the academics are killer.