<p>Just so you are not discouraged or overwhelmed with our advice(!) there are other students who also start/started on this path early, just as you are. My son decided in 8th grade this was what he wanted. There were times he had to decide just how badly he wanted to continue the process, usually when he hit an occasional snag or disappointment along the way. We were not from a military family, and service academies were all very new to us. </p>
<p>A very positive thing about your early interest is that you have time to make adjustments when you do hit snags in your high school path. You can take the standardized tests multiple times starting as young as you are and have plenty of time for re-takes. You also have time to really plan your high school curriculum and activities so that you maximize your opportunities and interests. Also signing up for the USMA mailings will probably put you ahead on the timeline of a DoDMERB exam in the summer after your jr. yr. before the rush on all the other paperwork begins. The DoDMERB process can be slow and tedious and is often the hold-up on admissions for kids who need waivers, so getting the exams done early (the instructions for this will be sent to you if you are a competitive candidate) is a wonderful advantage. </p>
<p>Others have posted wonderful advice about course selection, activities, etc., and we are all here to support your desires and decisions. We just don't want to see you jump the gun on worrying about the admissions <em>details</em> now, as that will all fall into place in due time in three years or so. (I promise!)</p>
<p>I really encourage you to attend the informational meetings held by your local USMA liaison officer (cards are mailed out by USMA once you sign up on their mailing list). We went to 3 of them, son's sophomore and junior years. Many of our questions about preparational coursework, grades, activities, test scores, medical concerns, etc. were addressed in the presentation, but there was also some one-on-one time to ask individual questions to help son prepare for admissions. These were usually held over USMA breaks, so a cadet was on hand to answer the prospective cadets questions (out of earshot of parents, even!). </p>
<p>Keep sight of your goal, but have fun along the path... the next four years will go more quickly than you think!</p>
<p>thank you all for the helpful information and yes, i did sign up for the mailing list already and had received that pamphlet you get because im not old enough. have not yet gotten anything from a USMA liaison officer. i have heard about the SLS and will sign up when i am eligible. i have visited the "Start Young" page, which provided helpful information and i am trying to shape my HS courses, activities around those recommendations. yeah, that prospective.net will probably be more helpful and i don't really want to sign up yet because i don't really fit into any of their pre-given categories. yeah, im already taking an AP class this year and the rest are all gifted classes except for biology (honors). yes, i am also looking at ROTC as a second option and am finding info about it as well. i have visited the link Ann gave and it had some info as well. i have read the book Absolutely American and am looking for Duty First and other books on WP. you said there were some links on this website and blogs, etc. could you be so kind as to post some. thank you all for helpful insight and answers.</p>
<p>Don't worry about not getting anything from a USMA liason officer yet. You MAY get invited to a USMA Information Session that Anonagron explained. My daughter was invited beginning her sophomore year and they are really helpful.
Following the USMA guidelines for courses will serve you well for entry into other colleges as well as USMA.
Duty First can be ordered from Amazon.com. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Learn about not only West Point but the Army itself. You may want to check out: Army Times for current Army news and for careers check out : Branch</a> Orientation.
If you are on the East Coast - see if you can find an excuse to visit - take a tour with your parents if possible.</p>
<p>Check w/ your senators to see if either holds an "academy day." Ours does that once a year at a school near an Army post. Yours might do that as well.</p>
<p>Good advice, mom3boys. My daughter also found Academy Day to be very helpful. Representatives from all 5 academies were there, and there was time for one-on-one conversation with each of them, in addition to their presentations.</p>
<p>If your senators do not sponsor such a day, check with your Representative. In our state, only the Representatives' offices organize them.</p>
<p>Academy days vary from area to area. In our area the All Academy events are coordinated by the USMA Field Force Admissions Team, with input and help from the other Academies (congressional staff are invited to present). Invitations are sent to school guidance counselors for distribution to interested students and individual mailings are done based on PSAT scores.
Many HS students underestimate the value of good PSAT scores. It is a test worth prepping for...</p>
<p>The last one was in May at Dobbins...you can contact Sen. Isakson's office to get on the mailing list for the next one: Johnny</a> Isakson, United States Senator</p>
<p>2012Cadet, Don't know where you live in Georgia, but Senator Chambliss, Senator Isakson and Rep Marshall are hosting an Academy Day in Warner Robbins at the Museum of Aviation on Saturday the 13th of Septmeber from 1000-1200. It is for all students in Georgia grades 8-12. There will be representatives from the West Point Parents Club of Georgia there to talk to parents, and there will be several USMA 2008 grads who will be driving over from Fort Benning. You can find the information on Senator Chambliss' website at:</p>