<p>what is the order of things you do during the applications process to USMA?</p>
<p>The "Steps to West Point" link may be helpful:
USMA</a> Admissions: Apply to USMA: Prospectus: Steps to West Point: Steps Home</p>
<p>2012: you are a rising freshman!! Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? The best thing you can do this early is concentrate on your studies, sports, and leadership.</p>
<p>There is absolutely nothing inappropriate in asking about the application process. That is what this forum is about. It doesn't matter how old or young the member is. 2012Cadet was looking for information, not what we thought he should really be focusing on. I am sure he has other adults to go to for that.</p>
<p>trust me, i am thinking about those things, much more than you would think i am about west point. i am looking into different things, and I have already picked my classes (which are all advanced ones, by the way, because my teachers recommended me for them), am going to play football next year (and thinking about other sports to play) and am looking into NHS and beta club and other leadership activities. but there's not much more than that i can do until school starts again and in the meantime i am asking questions about USMA, etc. so that when i do apply, i will be as informed as can be and will do the right things necessary. and of course, i like to think i use the rest of the time to get the most out of my summer and have fun.</p>
<p>so it would be get a nom, fill out CQ, fill out candidate forms, get another nom?,take SAT and /or ACT if you haven't already and submit, DODMERB, CFA, wait...possibly visit USMA.? anything i'm missing in there...</p>
<p>p-piper - wow. I am beginning to see your MO - post a critical message and then scamper away. Why did you not help answer the question then?</p>
<p>2012 Cadet - The link Ann posted is very helpful. If you have not done so already go to the admissions page and register your name. West Point will send you information in the mail as you progress throughout high school with good advice about the process. They will even send information about applying for SLS which is the summer after your junior year.</p>
<p>Basically between the end of your junior year and fall of your senior year is when you will apply. All the steps, application, Dodmerb and nomination application will occur at the same time.<br>
You should take the PSAT in the fall of your junior year, SAT's/ACT's during your junior and senior year. It's ok to take them mulitple times to get your highest score.
You can visit USMA as a candidate in your senior year. Hopefully you will apply for and get a chance to go to SLS then you will visit for a week.</p>
<p>2012Cadet I would recommend you and perhaps your parents joining the forum listed below. Prospective-Net is an excellent venue to learn about the admissions process and to ask other questions regarding West Point. Go to the site to learn how to join. Good luck in your journey.</p>
<p>Prospective</a> Net</p>
<p>PROSPECTIVE-NET - PROSPECTIVE-NET is a net for prospective candidates and their families, subject to moderator approval. The key objective is to allow candidates and their parents to communicate, ask questions, and get answers. It is also intended to allow the candidates to meet one another through e-mail prior to Reception Day.</p>
<p>No Mom of 4...I did not "scamper away". Ann posted a simple, but excellent response. There was no need to respond further until 2012Cadet had further questions.</p>
<p>Ann posted a link that I'm assuming you've already devoured based on your enthusiasm. That does give the basics. In the meantime, I would suggest that you read, read, read. Read anything that interests you. Studies show that the more a student reads the better the best scores and overall school performance. There are some great books out about West Point that will give you more information about what you're getting yourself into. Their titles have been posted numerous times, but let us know if you can't find them.</p>
<p>I'll just caution you a tiny bit. Don't be so enthusiastic that you take your SATs and ACTs too soon. Make sure you have the core courses before you start taking these. </p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>2012Cadet: When you are a junior, aroun Dec or Jan, the application for SLS (Summer Leadership Seminar) will be available. Apply the day it comes out as it fills up fast. The summer after your junior year, you will hopefully attend SLS. Then, you will fill out a preliminary application online. If USMA likes your stats, you will be asked to fill out a complete app...you will likely get instructions via mail w/ user name and password so you can log into the system. This year, WP used paper apps, but I believe it's all going to be online in the future. The app will instruct you what to do, whom to ask for what info, what to send, etc. Also, once you start the process, you will receive info from DoDMeRB about scheduling your medical appt. w/ them. Do this in the summer, as it could be a long process.</p>
<p>Next, visit the websites for all your nomination sources (congressman, senator, VP, ROTC, whatever you qualify for). Those applications are often longer and more detailed than the USMA app. It takes a while to get all the info together for that and most have fall deadlines. Look at samples done by other students for how to submit it professionally. For example, my son put it all together w/ a letter of introduction in a report cover w/ tabs. Each tab contained the required info for that element, i.e. letters of recommendation). You'll want to make photo copies of all of this, too. </p>
<p>After you have heard from your congressmen about whether or not they will interview you, you need to practice interview skills. See if you can get some business people, SA grads, scout people, etc...to convene and give you some practice. The actual interview is usually short, but my son's practice night was nearly 3 hours. </p>
<p>Next, you wait...hopefully not too long...it depends on your MOC. Mine finished his slate early and the appointment was here the day after Thanksgiving. </p>
<p>Next, you start gathering a plethora of information that WP requests of you...shot records, blood type, vision prescription, clothing sizes, bank information, etc...then, you buy your boots and shoes, run every day, and finish strong in your senior year. You show up in June (30th this year), wait in a long line for an hour or so, then take 90 sec. to say good bye....then the real fun begins. </p>
<p>Good luck...sorry I slipped into "mom mode" earlier and gave a typical parental answer....old habits die hard. I still agree w/ my original advice, but am sending you the longer answer in hopes this is what you were searching for. Please know the USMA web site has all this information updated often in case you look for this post in 3.5 years and it's no longer here.
--Mom</p>
<p>p-piper, I, like JAMO4thought that mom3boys advice was a pertinent damper on a very enthusiastic young person and did not warrant your negative critique. On most things, there is more than one viewpoint. It is the melding of these ideas that make this forum valuable. Perhaps a little more tolerance of others is in order.</p>
<p>Probably the best thing you can do now if you are concerned about getting all your ducks in a row is to go to the USMA.edu website and sign up as a prospective student to receive their grade level-appropriate mailings. USMA will add you to their mailing list to receive letters and summer seminar information as well as invitations to informational seminars held by your local laiason officer in your area. The information will be sent out periodically but will not overwhelm prospective students with too many details so that the most important tasks are taken care of on a timely basis, a little at a time. </p>
<p>Start taking ACT and/or SAT tests as soon as you have had enough coursework to cover the majority of the subject tests to get a feel for the tests, then take them as many times as needed until you feel they reflect your abilities.</p>
<p>The winter of your jr. year, (or if you go for a visit to the USMA post) you may fill out a Candidate Questionnaire online. This is basically a pre-application. If you are found to be a competitive candidate based on the CQ, you will be sent information about the Dodmerb medical exam and later a Candidate Kit the fall of your senior year. That will contain all the paperwork needed for the USMA application. </p>
<p>The nomination process will begin spring of jr. year at the earliest, usually after the first of March. You will need to contact your nomination sources, telling them of your desire to be considered as a nominee for your area. These sources will then send you their individual application packets. Be aware, however, that many nominees will not know they have been selected until as late as early February of their sr. year. </p>
<p>It is a long and tedious process, but not so overwhelming that you will miss anything if you are truly dilgent in applying. </p>
<p>(And word of advice from a new cadet: have lots of fun in high school now while you still can. That is not to say don't work hard, but take time out for play, too, or you may hit burnout before you've even started...)</p>
<p>Ha! mom3boys, you beat me to it :( Guess I take too long to type!</p>
<p>Anonagron and USNA69, thanks!
Starting early is good, but I can just see some young people becoming frustrated in their enthusiasm, as there is really nothing to do but do well in school and EC's. My DS started the whole process in Sept. of his senior year...so earlier would have been much less stressful in this house! It all worked out for us, and will for this one as well...all in due time.</p>
<p>The reason I piped up is because, in my anecdotal evidence, you are correct. A lot of the early 'enthusiasts' do burn out. A freshman should be exploring all options. Your original post is pertinent and correct.</p>
<p>My cadet didn't even have a thought about USMA until the summer between her Jr. and Sr. year of HS. The way the thought got planted is another story...involved an argument about schools. She applied in July and had an LOA in August. So obviously she didn't set about to build her HS career around gaining an appointment, but because she is just an involved kid by nature, and a good student, it worked out for her.</p>
<p>Do what you love. Do what interests you. That's the only way to truly make your mark. I would not suggest taking part in an activity simply because it might look good on a resume; you probably won't enjoy it as much, you probably won't do as well as you could, and you might even resent the time the activity takes away from doing what you really want to do.</p>
<p>We never gave much thought to her playing tennis, being in the band, singing, being a peer tutor...these were just what happened to interest her, so these are what she did. Worked out well, but it certainly was not "by design."</p>
<p>My daughter became interested in USMA between her sophomore and junior years. One thing she did right away was go to the library and read everything she could get her hands on re: USMA. That might be a fun way to while away your summer, 2012.</p>
<p>p-piper - let me be clear about this - my issue ( and the 3 other parents who pm'd me) with you is with your tone and demeanor, not necessarily of your message. Parents who have been through and going through this process do not need to be treated like they are a "New Cadet" as you act as though you are the "cadre"'. I suppose your status as the parent of a Firstie should lend some credibility to your remarks but your most recent posts are only critical to those who post without offering any real information. BTW - I would have addressed this in private but you have chose not to receive (nor give) private communication.</p>
<p>Moving right along - I also interpreted the OP's original question as solely about the application process - however I see that the OP does have many questions and is seeking more in depth information.
There is no harm in starting early - in fact the Military Academy encourages it. They like their applicants to be prepared academically and athletically.</p>
<p>Ann's advice was, as it often is, excellent. I suggest you go to this site:
USMA</a> Admissions: Start Young
in the upper right hand corner sign up for the mailing list.
West Point will send you some information appropriate to your grade level and when you are in 11th grade you will get an invitation to apply to SLS.</p>
<p>My own daughter started young - and no she did not participate in activites that would "look good" on the application. She was already heavily involved in athletics and a community organization sponsored by the state police that would go on to give her many leadership opportunities throughout high school.</p>
<p>I am not convinced that prospective.net would be especially helpful this early - I was on it for two years and the vast majority of discussion revolved around the application itself.</p>
<p>So, 2012 - my advice to you is plan your high school courses carefully, doing well. Honors classes and AP, if your school has them are a plus.
Continue to take classes that you enjoy as well - my daughter took band as well as Art and CAD classes.
Do the activities that you enjoy and be involved. If you are athletic that is certainly a plus since 98% of all West Point cadets have earned a varsity letter. If you did sports in middle school don't quit now!</p>
<p>Lastly, look at other schools as well. Explore Army ROTC as well. Enjoy high school!</p>
<p>Certainly, there are procedures to follow, vis-a-vis Ann's great link. </p>
<p>My suggestions for preparation, and for maintaining your enthusiasm, would be to (1) take note of the procedures and what you need to do to adhere to them, (2) follow your leadership opportunities and instincts in high school, (3) keep on top of your academics, and (4) maintain a high level of physical fitness, in sports as well as your personal commitment to being in great shape.</p>
<p>There are also a number of links in this forum, and on the web in general, to books/videos/blogs about West Point that can inspire you to keep motivated. </p>
<p>I do agree, however, that it is important to enjoy your high school years. USMA may be your goal as a young person, but I think you should try to merge your USMA goal with your actual HS experience. As things progress, you may change your mind about where you want your life to go ... or you may not -- just be open to the experience. Going through High School with WP goals in mind will stand you in good stead whether you ultimately go there or not! </p>
<p>Having said that, I do think that many of those who aspire to West Point come by it very young -- I think it's a kind of a calling. You just need to have the self-awareness to experience high school with the understanding that you, yourself, may change during those four years, and be willing to be open to all the experiences, and their influence on you, that you have during that period. Good chance, though, that this is what you want to do ...</p>
<p>Wish you the best ...</p>