West Point

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

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>This is my very first post on college confidential. I have been on this site numerous times but today I went and took the initiative to go on and create account. The main purpose of this account is for me to ask question and get very familiar with all the ins and outs of getting into West Point. I have done extensive research about West Point, but it is always nice to hear advice from primary sources that have or are going through the process. I have a lot of questions regarding West Point that I will try to spread out over time. Some of my main concerns include: getting in, getting the nomination by a congressmen, the prep school, and playing football at West Point.</p>

<p>Some background info on myself: I am a highschool junior, male, age 16 who plays varsity football. I am in a very good physical state, my mile time is strong, and so is my sit ups, pull ups, push ups, etc. I am not worried about the physical aspect of getting in to the academy. As far as medically, I am in a healthy state. The only flaw I have is I am flat footed! but it has not held me back from anything and my doctor said that it shouldn't prevent me from getting into the school. I am pretty involved in my community and school, I am in the FBLA, Mock trial, I do habitat for humanity, I have a job at a steak house, I am lifeguard certified, I volunteer at my ambulance, raise money for cancer research, and participate in a teach to learn program. Now as far as my grades go I have about an 88.5 (unweighted) average, with that's said I am in a pretty respected highschool and I am in all ap and honor classes. My SAT is yet to be taken, but I am currently enrolled in a highly regarded prep course and I plan on scoring around at least a 1900. As far as personality goes I consider myself ambitious, determined, well spoken, but lazy at times as my GPA reflects that. As far as it seems, my gpa is the only flaw I posses in getting into the academy. I am very much on top of things when it comes to applications and deadlines and requirements when it comes to West Point, as I do pretty much whatever it takes to get in. I applied for the Summer Seminar program on the third day applications open. Also, my dad is a staff Sargent in the Marine corp and served in Iraq a few years back; I don't know if this can help me get into the academy. I know my overall GPA does not match up against other candidates in the best way but I am confident that with a strong score on my SAT, a good resume, physical well being, detirmination, and a high regard amongst my community that I can successfully achieve my dream of going to West Point.</p>

<p>With all that said, is there any advice any of you have to offer to me? Any advice will be taken and appreciated. I have many other questions regarding west point but have decided to make my first post and open door to any advice that anyone has to offer for me in a laid back discussion. </p>

<p>I thank everyone for taking the time to read my post or offer me advice. This is the start of a very long road to achieving my dream of attending West Point. I will do whatever it takes and I am open to what ever you guys have to say to me. I will be posting here frequently because I have many questions regarding West Point. Thank you so much!</p>

<p>-James
FutureCadet42</p>

2

<p>Hi James; I’m also an applicant for the class of 2019.</p>

<p>-West Point cares far more about class rank than GPA.
-A lot of applicants have family members who were/are in the military; it won’t effect your admissions status, but it can/will open up more places to apply for a nomination.
-Being flat footed isn’t an issue unless it causes foot pain (I have a low arch, so I’ve read up about it)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the comments, CE527M…unfortunately, my high school does not provide class ranks. If I had to imagine, I am probably in the 50-75 top students amongst my 215 student graduating class. Not the best but I consider myself well-rounded and don’t only have my grades to show for it.</p>

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<p>I believe USMA will then either calculate your rank for you or just place more emphasis on your test scores.</p>

<p>What other questions do you have?</p>

<p>Also, check this site out: [United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/]United”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/).</p>

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<p>@FutureCadet42</p>

<p>I’m a current applicant for the class of 2014. I would just like to add on to what CES527M said. </p>

<p>-I’m flat-footed myself and while I was doing all the necessary medical stuff it didn’t hold me back in any way. You will be good to go.
-Your GPA is just fine. It is about a 3.5 unweighted. You will be fine in that aspect. Consider this: if the average GPA of a West Point applicant is 3.7. That means for every person that has a 4.0, there is somebody admitted with a 3.4. Your are well within range my friend, and you have plenty of time to improve your GPA. Fear not.
-My advice is to continue to prepare for the standardized testing, specifically the math. One of the liaisons I talked to emphasized that West Point likes you to have around a 650 in math on the SAT.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thank you, Mcr9612. Yes hopefully my GPA will not hold me back. I went out to breakfast the other day with a cadet at West Point who is on the lacrosse team who went to my highschool. He told me not to worry about my grades and there a lot of people in my range that get in. I am hoping that my SAT scores can make up for some lost ground. I am confident that I will have a very strong SAT score and I am actually aiming for a perfect 800 on math, I scored in the top 20% of the country on the PSAT math part. Thanks for your help and good luck to you as well!</p>

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<p>Thanks again for your help CE527M. My biggest concern that is hard to research inline is alternative ways of getting into the academy. Say I don’t get accepted from the get go, I plan on doing anything I can to get in. I will either go to a civilian college for a year get my marks up and then try again, or I really hope I at least qualify for the prep school. </p>

<p>What do you know about the prep school? How do you get in? Is it mainly for athletes? Once your in are you grunted a spot in the academy as long as you do everything your supposed to?</p>

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<p>It’s mostly for athletes and enlisted soldiers. It’s offered to people by admissions, so you can’t apply directly to USMAPS. I’m pretty sure an appointment is pretty much a guaranteed thing so long as you meet the requirements.</p>

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<p>Great initiative. Now go join the service academy forums. You won’t regret it.</p>

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<p>@FutureCadet42</p>

<p>Do not accept any advice which assures you that you can get in with what you already have. Okay?!</p>

<p>You need to get a little paranoid, and super ambitious, plus worried that unless you are the best then you won’t get in. When you play football, you don’t try to just barely make a tackle do you? No, you try to flatten the guy! Right?!</p>

<p>So, go flatten this process. Start studying for your classes like your life depends on it. No, USMA is not going to look kindly on somebody with a B+ average but a nearly perfect SAT. They will, as you said yourself, believe that you are academically lazy. And they do NOT like that! USMA would prefer that your SAT be, say, 1800 but that you are a straight A student who studies his tail off and is the starting quarterback too. That is what they want. Give it to them if you can.</p>

<p>Avoid the prep school. Better to go ROTC (with a scholarship – apply for it), and try again for West Point during your freshman year. The prep school is not going to teach you anything that a year at a good civilian college won’t.</p>

<p>Also, is it an Army commission that you want or just West Point? If you want an Army commission, then not only is an ROTC scholarship an alternative, but so is the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Yes, you can commission into any branch of the military, including Coast Guard, through USMMA. And it is a lot easier to get into than any of the other service academies. You can request that your Senators and congressman nominate you to both West Point and USMMA.</p>