<p>I am currently a sophomore at Brandeis and i have been considering applying to West Point. The past two years, I have opened and then closed two candidate files due to pressure from home to not apply, and uncertainty about whether I really wanted to go. Now that I am going into my second year of college, I have recently been feeling regret for not completing the application process. If i do decide to apply, i would need to become an american citizen, convince my parents to let me go, and push my education back 2 years by starting two years late. However, I am still in love with the idea of going to West Point, and I do not want to be feeling this regret for the rest of my college career. What I really need to know, is if it is worth it to apply considering the fact that I would be half way done with college by the time i entered West Point, and then would have to start over again. Thanks all!</p>
<p>I personally think you should not turn back the clock two years in your education. If you want to commission into the Army (that should be your ultimate goal if wanting to go to WP!), then see if your college allows you to partake in AROTC. I believe there is also a two year scholarship that you can apply for. Or, after you graduate you can apply for OCS (officer candidate school) and that will also allow you to become an officer. If it’s just the thought of West Point you love (not implying that is what you think), then you should not consider applying to the academy.</p>
<p>Thank you for your opinion Ectriso. Would your opinion change if I told you that I am young for my class year, I would enter West Point at the age of 19 only, and that, yes, my ultimate goal is commission into the army??</p>
<p>If thats what you want to do, go for it–there have been a few cadets at West Point who already earned their BA from another 4 year college then chose to apply to West Point and were accepted. They were under 23 years of age at the tme of their reporting as cadets.</p>
<p>You are two years from graduating from college. Why West Point instead of AROTC or OCS? If your goal is to become an officer, then why not pursue the route that will get you to your goal faster? Granted, if you get in to West Point this year then you would actually be an upcoming senior. I am not saying that you should not apply if you really want to. However, in my opinion, turning back the clock three years would not be worth it. You are one year away from a Bachelor’s degree. After West Point you will still only earn a BS even though you have been in college for 7 years. No credits are transferable; all your 3 years will allow you to do is validate courses.</p>
<p>Again, this is all my opinion. If you still want to apply to West Point, then go for it. But consider all of the possibilities you have to become an Army Officer because no matter which route you commission in, you are still going to be the same 2nd LT.</p>
<p>The first issue is that you need to become a United States citizen. I do not know much about the process, but I just looked up some information and from what I read, I think that you need to reside in this country for five years before you can apply to become a citizen. Your best bet will probably be to finish up your degree, become a citizen, then if you still want to be an officer in the military, apply for OCS.</p>
<p>You must be an American citizen prior to your R-Day late June 2012. You cannot enter this year but can open your file for class of 2016. You therefore will be not granted credit for three years of college however, especially if you are taking maths and core science, you will find it invaluable. You must also be under the age of 23 on the R-Day in late June 2012.
Few schools would be worth trading in 3 years of college, assuming you carry on next year, for a very tough probational Beast and then Plebe year. West Point is worth that.
You may wish to keep your access to Brandeis in case the beast experience doesnt work out for you. You should register for ROTC now for West Point is not sufficient unto itself as a goal but only makes sense if you seek to become an officer. That means if you do not want to register for ROTC now you likely are not ready for West Point.</p>