So I'm actually seriously considering applying to West Point...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Military Academy - West Point
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Needless to say, I know absolutely NOTHING about West Point besides its pretty much the top U.S. Military Academy. Yes, Forbes did bring my attention to the benefits of West Point, however, I think the rankings they use are totally BS. =P</p>

<p>Anyway, here are some questions that I have.</p>

<ol>
<li> Tuition is covered. But when you graduate you have a mandatory 5 years of service in the Armed Forces and 3 years in the Reserves? Correct?</li>
<li> When you graduate, you're already a certain rank in the army...what is it? And like, how high is it? (just curious).</li>
<li> Do normal guys who do not come from army backgrounds or have any wish of actually serving in combat in the Armed Forces apply to West Point?</li>
<li> So...if you attend West Point, bye bye Grad School/Med School for a few years?</li>
</ol>

<p>Ok, so a little bit about me?
I think my grades are good enough to get me into West Point.</p>

<p>GPA Unweighted: 3.92/4.0
ACT: 32 (twice XD)
Most rigorous classes at my school
Dual Enrolled at a local Community College</p>

<p>I have pretty good ECs. Run track, play piano (10+ years), clubs, youth group leader blah blah blah but yea they should be enough. I am also an avid volunteer around the community.</p>

<p>Thing is, I plan on attending Medical School and becoming a doctor or some sort, hopefully a cardiologist. So how exactly would that work if I went to W.P.?</p>

<p>Thanks very much guys!
Hopeful to learn more about this school.</p>

2

<p>sure you are competitive but considering that you virtually know next to nothing about west point, i’m going to assume that you just want wp for the prestige and free tuition. I think most people will agree with me that wp is not for you if that is all that you care about.</p>

3

<p>Whoa! Hold on Cs12345. Not necessarily. You don’t know anything about the OP. Could be he would make a fine Army officer.</p>

<p>Heplayer92, first I suggest you devour the West Point website, here:
[United</a> States Military Academy at West Point](<a href=“http://www.westpoint.edu/]United”>http://www.westpoint.edu/)
Especially the admissions section:
[USMA</a> Admissions: Home](<a href=“http://admissions.usma.edu/]USMA”>http://admissions.usma.edu/)</p>

<p>to answer your questions:

  1. Correct - your commitment will total 8 years, normally 5 years AD and 3 reserves. Attending grad school or med school on the Army’s dime extends this commitment.
  2. 2nd LT.
  3. yes. keep in mind that while not every cadet will branch into combat arms, the Army considered every job a combat job. Even transportation can be dangerous.
    Regardless of your career goals each cadet will undergo combat training. You will learn to shoot a gun.
  4. Not necessarily. There is a program to produce Army physicians. You could go to med school and then become an Army doctor. Your commitment to the Army will be extended significantly. The pre-med option does exist and you should discuss this with your Liason officer or Regional commander.</p>

<p>Peruse the web site, open a file if you wish and come back with questions. Good Luck in whatever direction you choose.</p>

4

<p>"I know absolutely NOTHING about West Point "</p>

<p>This may be helpful: [USMA</a> Admissions: FAQs: About West Point](<a href=“http://admissions.usma.edu/FAQs/faqs_wp.cfm]USMA”>http://admissions.usma.edu/FAQs/faqs_wp.cfm)</p>

<p>Q: What is the United States Military Academy?
The United States Military Academy, founded on March 16, 1802, is a college that educates, trains and inspires the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country. Each graduate has the essential attributes for professional growth throughout a career as a US Army officer and offer lifetime of service to the nation. West Point graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned second lieutenants in the United States Army.</p>

<p>Q: Where is West Point located?
West Point is located approximately 50 miles north of New York City in the picturesque Hudson Valley. There are 16,000 acres of land, a portion of which played an instrumental role during the Revolutionary War. General George Washington considered West Point one of the most important positions on the continent. The high ground above a narrow “s” curve in the Hudson River enabled the Continental Army to control river traffic. The British could have split the colonies in two if they had gained control of this land.</p>

<p>Q: Why is there a Military Academy?
Following the Revolutionary War, our nation recognized the need to have Americans, with a strong sense of democratic values, trained in the technical arts of war and in engineering. As our nation grew and matured, the need to inspire and train young Americans to serve as Army officers has endured. West Point’s treasured motto “Duty, Honor, Country” embodies these ideals. West Point will always provide this nation the future leaders throughout the 21st century.</p>

<p>Q: How does West Point fulfill its mission?
West Point carries out its mission of developing future leaders through three integrated and complementary programs of academic, military, and physical development. Each of these programs is rooted in the principles of ethical-moral development. Every cadet is a leader. From selection based on demonstrated potential, through four years as a cadet, leadership development is a total process of preparing young people for their career roles as Army officers.</p>

<p>Q: Who attends the U.S. Military Academy?
Men and women who are 17 but not yet 23 years old on July 1 of the year admitted may attend the Academy. Cadets come from every state and territory of our country. The Corps of Cadets numbers approximately 4,000. You must meet certain basic requirements specified by public law. You must be a U.S. citizen at the time of enrollment, be unmarried, and not be pregnant or have an obligation to provide support to a dependent. You must receive a nomination from an authorized source to be considered for an appointment. You will be evaluated in the areas of academics, leadership potential and physical aptitude.</p>

<p>Q: What is the Cadet Honor Code all about?
Cadets learn about and prepare for the ethical demands of officership by living under the dictates of an Honor Code. The code states: “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” Its purpose is to foster a commitment to moral-ethical excellence and an insight into the more comprehensive military professional ethic. The exact origin of the Honor Code is unclear, but it may have evolved from the code of chivalry embraced by the Officer Corps when the Military Academy was established. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, the Father of the Military Academy, and General Douglas MacArthur, helped make the code an essential vehicle for the development of character. The Honor Code demands and expects all members of the Corps of Cadets to conduct themselves with absolute integrity, both in word and deed. Cadets accept this obligation freely and with great pride.</p>

<p>Q: Why should I consider West Point?
You should consider West Point as a college option if you wish to serve your country as an officer and leader in the U.S. Army. If you do, you will share a strong sense of purpose, pride, and satisfaction that comes from meaningful service to others.</p>

<p>Q: How long must I serve in the Army?
You must serve at least five years of active duty and three years in a Reserve Component, a total of eight years, after you graduate. The active duty obligation is the nation’s return on a West Point graduate’s fully-funded, four-year college education that is valued in excess of $225,000.</p>

<p>Q: USMA Mission
The West Point mission is to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.</p>

5

<p>FYI - </p>

<p>The acceptance rate at West Point (and Annapolis) is around 8-10%! Your stats, while nice, are not exactly slam dunk material. My son has similiar numbers and was accepted at five major colleges - however, he was not offered an appointment to either Naval Academy (even with a Congressional Nomination) or West Point. He did receive an ROTC offer and will be starting college in a few weeks but he has also reapplied to both Academies because that is his dream…</p>

<p>You need to look very carefully into all of the admissions info - there is far more than just have a decent GPA and some ECs (blah, blah blah as you referred to it). You must be deemed fully qualified, pass a physical, score well on a CFA, receive a nomination (which is also a highly competitive process) and then…you still may not get offered an appointment!</p>

<p>If you are entering your senior year, you are totally under the gun and will need to start the ball rolling immediately…if you are just going into your junior year you have a little bit of time (but not much) to do some research and figure out if this is really an option for you. If your motives are questionable (ie "I don’t have any desire to be in the military but I want a ‘free’ education, that will come through in an interview) you may not want to proceed.</p>

<p>I’m not trying to be negative but I think you may be a bit overconfident at this point!</p>

<p>Best wishes in whatever you decide…</p>

6

<p>that’s why i said “assume”. op can correct me if i am mistaken but seriously the op even admitted that he/she wants to apply after seeing the forbes rankings…</p>

7

<p>“Do normal guys who do not… have any wish of actually serving in combat in the Armed Forces apply to West Point?”</p>

<p>West Point’s mission is to train cadets to be officers in the United States Army. I don’t believe there is any way to be certain that you will not be required to serve in combat. </p>

<p>Branch selection is a several step process, and the final results are determined according to Class Rank and Army regulations. The Department of Army Branching Policy is determined by the needs of the Army. Only 2% of the Class may choose Medical School. </p>

<p>[West</a> Point Parents Net - Branch Night](<a href=“http://www.west-point.org/parent/wpp-net/content/view/41/25/]West”>http://www.west-point.org/parent/wpp-net/content/view/41/25/)</p>

8

<p>Cs12345, thank you for that statement. I was wondering if I seemed like that type of person to others. Now I realize that what you said is pretty true as of right now. That is why I’m here asking and trying to learn more about W.P.</p>

<p>You are probably enrolled at W.P. right now? Could you tell me a little bit about your experiences and such?</p>

<p>I can tell you flat out right now that I am scared to join and serve in the Army in combat as a soldier. Words cannot express my gratitude for the brave U.S. soldiers serving us right now. I have no idea what I would do or how I would survive if I was in their position.</p>

<p>Yes, W.P. is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world, and yes, it is free admission. Of course, those do draw me and I am sure, thousands of other applicants to the school. I guess if I wanted to fight in the Army and get free tuition to any college, I could just go to another respectable school and go fight. </p>

<p>Honestly, I haven’t given W.P. much thought until my cousin recently enrolled in the military as a Radio Operator, at least, that’s what he plans to do. So is it fair to say that the people who want to go to W.P./at W.P. seek mainly to become high ranking officers in the U.S. Army, serve in Combat and later serve as government officials/commissioned officers? I know I sound a little naive there, but does that basically sum up the students at W.P.? I also read the FAQs, thank you Ann for providing those =)</p>

<p>Like I said Momathome, I have no idea what kind of people get into West Point. I have heard that many “not so smart” people get in simply because they get recommended by high-ranking officials in our gov. etc. Don’t get me wrong, you have to be intelligent to be a student at W.P., but I did not realize their students are as smart as, per say, students bound for HYP. I hope that doesn’t offend anybody, but now I know.</p>

<p>And yes Ann, you do bring up a good point. I have also heard that commissioned officers do not personally fight, but only command the troops? I don’t think I would enjoy doing that either. I hope this doesn’t sound wimpy, or maybe its the good Christian boy kicking in, but I don’t think I could ever have the courage to take another person’s life. I would be the one trying to bring the person who just got shot to dress the wound and such. But hey, 2% is good enough for me =D</p>

<p>Again, I want to thank you guys for taking the time to educate me on this topic. I find it very interesting and informative!! By the way, criticize me all you want =P, I find it very constructive!</p>

9

<p>"I have heard that many “not so smart” people get in simply because they get recommended by high-ranking officials in our gov. etc. "
Not true. Read the admissions page for info on what the appointment process entails.</p>

10

<p>I’m not enrolled at wp. I’m a rising senior and am basically waiting for a decision. like I said i was just assuming and you have every right to apply to wp. my comment should have little bearing on your decision; I was just putting it out there that wp is going to be brutal for someone that has little to no interest in the army.</p>

11

<p>

That is a rather important thing.</p>

<p>Military officers (except chaplains and doctors) are expected to be able to kill, should it be neccessary. Does that mean they will kill? No, but the possibility exists. If you went to WP, you would need to square that with your personal beliefs. (Most people have reservations about killing, but it is something you need to figure out for yourself.)</p>

<p>If you want to be an Army doctor, there are several great ways to do so. West Point probably isn’t the best one. (It is a possibility, but the chances are low to begin with.) </p>

<p>If you are interested in becomming a military doctor, your best bets are
Health Professionals Scholarship Program or USUHS School of Medicine.</p>

12

<p>Heplayer,</p>

<p>You’re doing exactly the right thing to begin researching. West Point is proud of the Forbes ranking and I expect that many high school students who had not considered a military career will be investigating the service academy option. Many will not even have heard of West Point before.</p>

<p>As others have said, devour the website. Look through the archives here to find book titles that will help you to determine if this is a good option for you. Get a copy of the National Geographic series “Surviving West Point”. It’s just a bit dated, but still very informative. Contact your members of Congress to let them know you’d like to apply for a nomination. Look at their websites to find out their process. (It’s urban legend that you have to know somebody. It’s a competitive process, but depending on where you live and how many applications are received, you could have an excellent chance.) Begin by filling out the application. Find out who your local Admissions rep is and make contact. It’s the best way to get “real” answers to some of your questions.</p>

<p>Come back to us with other questions. And keep us posted.</p>

13

<p>“I can tell you flat out right now that I am scared to join and serve in the Army in combat as a soldier.”</p>

<p>“I have also heard that commissioned officers do not personally fight, but only command the troops? I don’t think I would enjoy doing that either.”</p>

<p>Heplayer92: You have a lot of researching and soul searching to do…</p>

<p>If you determine that the “free education and prestige” are your main motivating factors please do not apply. To succeed at West Point you have to want the end goal. This is not a “try it and see if you like it kind of school” - it is tough even for those who really want to be there.</p>

<p>However, if you decide you want to serve as an officer in the US Army (find out exactly what that entails) and the “free education and prestige” are an added bonus then pursue your application. You owe that dedication to those you will be leading in the future.</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>

14

<p>Oooo Ann I need soul-searching now too? Ayyy I thought college-searching was rough enough =P</p>

<p>Anyway, I just want to thank you all for your constructive criticism and responses. I know you put time into these so I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate them- I really do. </p>

<p>I just thought I’d give it a shot and just try to learn more. Now I have, and I do realize that my naive little dream of becoming a W.P. graduate is not worth striving for. I’ve been thinking and have come to the conclusion that I really do not want, as a career, what many many W.P. graduates choose to do.</p>

<p>Yes, prestige and free-tuition drew me to learn more about this, but I never said those were the reasons that I will be applying. I am not applying. Although those benefits are really nice, I cannot picture myself as an Army Officer or a soldier. </p>

<p>I really want to help people through the field of Medicine. Thanks Raimius specifically for that bit about a career as an Army Physician. </p>

<p>In conclusion, I want to thank you all again. You have made this very informative for me!<br>
Good luck to you all, and I wish you all the best! (especially on your application to W.P. cs12345).</p>

15

<p>i feel like i drove you away from wanting to apply to wp. that’s not what i meant from my posts. if wp does seem like something interesting than look into it and even apply even if you are still feeling iffy. don’t change your mind just because of what I, a random poster on cc, said to you.</p>

16

<p>"Oooo Ann I need soul-searching now too? "</p>

<p>Please don’t take that as an insult. I think every recent candidate who applies and accepts an appointment to West Point does some level of soul searching. It is a time of war and a big commitment for any young person to make. That being said, cadets have 2 years to determine whether Army life is really for them, before they are committed to serve.</p>

<p>“I do realize that my naive little dream of becoming a W.P. graduate is not worth striving for.”
Only you can make that decision. If it is a true dream of yours to become a West Point graduate, a few challenges from anonymous posters should not dissuade you. The intent is rather to get you thinking about what you really want.</p>

<p>“I’ve been thinking and have come to the conclusion that I really do not want, as a career, what many many W.P. graduates choose to do.”
That is a very important conclusion if you have all of the information you need to make that determination.</p>

<p>Good luck with your pursuit of a medical career, and whatever path takes you there.</p>

17

<p>Ann you are too wise =P</p>

<p>Thank you for your words of wisdom.</p>

18

<p>Heplayer 92 – Whoa there!</p>

<p>I absolutely have to tell you that anyone who would ask this question …
“Do normal guys who do not come from army backgrounds or have any wish of actually serving in combat in the Armed Forces apply to West Point?”
has absolutely no idea of what West Point is. </p>

<p>Exactly what do you think is ‘abnormal’ about guys/gals from Army background or not who wish to serve in the Armed Forces?</p>

19

<p>I already mentioned that in my first post that I had no idea what West Point was until my cousin enrolled in the army. Dumb question I guess, hah</p>