<p>You all sound like you've got some experience with this. I have a 4.0+ GPA, do two sports, NHS, French HS, latin HS, Model UN, and I'm an intern on two political campaigns. I also have a job. Does this sound good enough for West Point, and/or what can I do to help my chances? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Are you a junior or a senior?</p>
<p>test scores?</p>
<p>leadership credentials? team captain? officer of any clubs?</p>
<p>As a parent of a former USMA cadet, I can speak to this. Your 4.0 gpa isn't as important as are your SAT/ACT scores. It is good to have a strong grade point average, but that is only part of the package. Also, what type of leadership experience do you have? You see, what the admissions committee is looking for is a "whole person" that has experience in many things, not just excelled in one area. What do others think of you? What would your teachers say about you when you're not around to hear? Are you the type of person someone would follow into battle or would they more likely shoot you in the back if they had the chance? Can you see what I'm getting at here? Your life has to be about other people, not yourself. What kind of service do you offer, not how marvelous you are and West Point would surely appreiciate your "uniqueness". Let me tell you, they won't care one bit about how good and wonderful you are. Everyone at West Point was the best in their hometown, so when you show up and start boasting (not that you would, we're talking hypothetically here) about your many accomplishments, everyone is going to say "So what? I did that and won the Junior Olympics when I was eleven" or some similar comment. Try to see what you can do in the way of serving others, because that is what being an Army officer is all about. And that is the only reason to attend the military academy, to become an Army officer.</p>
<p>Speaking of serving others, what is a good number for community service hours?</p>
<p>I don't think there is a magical number to shoot for. Tell them what you did and how you showed leadership doing it.</p>
<p>You have no chance.</p>
<p>Just kidding. They sent me a LOA as soon as they got my SATs (730 V, 710 M) which is kind of high compared to a lot of guys here. I had barely any community service. When I applied, only 20 hours. I had 75 when I graduated, but that wasn't on my app. [Note I meet guys on a regular basis who ate 1500 plus...so its not THAT good.]</p>
<p>When you get here, don't tell your Beast cadre you SATs. They will mess with you if they are too high...And just so you know, this place really sucks. I love it here, but you will learn to embrace the suck if you come here:)</p>
<p>It's a bad idea to brag at a service academy! Chances are that someone has topped or tied whatever you've done. </p>
<p>SAs do suck, but there is lot of really good things too. It's about attitude, priorites, and willpower-that's what it takes to thrive at an SA.</p>
<p>junior. and I'm not trying to brag, I'm just trying to get a feel for what is needed. I'm a captain on my soccer team, am a student government rep, and will be president of Model UN next year. thanks to NHS I'll have over 100 service hours when I graduate. good enough?</p>
<p>junior. and I'm not trying to brag, I'm just trying to get a feel for what is needed. I'm a captain on my soccer team, am a student government rep, and will be president of Model UN next year. thanks to NHS I'll have over 100 service hours when I graduate. good enough? thanks a lot, especially to "majmattmason"</p>
<p>junior. and I'm not trying to brag, I'm just trying to get a feel for what is needed. I'm a captain on my soccer team, am a student government rep, and will be president of Model UN next year. thanks to NHS I'll have over 100 service hours when I graduate. good enough? thanks a lot, especially to "majmattmason"</p>
<p>Brian71490,</p>
<p>Have you taken the PSAT or SAT yet? What were your scores? What is your current GPA? West Point uses a whole candidate score for each applicant of which 60% is academic ability, 30% is leadership potential and 10% physical aptitude. They will distill all of your activities, achievements and such to determine if you're "good enough". Look online to see what the admissions page at usma.edu says. It's straightforward and honest about what you need. Looks like you're on the right track. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Brian -</p>
<p>Register for the summer seminar program (online at the website). Apply as soon as applications are mailed. Go.</p>
<p>It will make you more familiar with WP and could help your chances as well.</p>
<p>Brian,</p>
<p>Class rank is very important too, probably more important than your GPA.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Brian71490
Have several people help you practice for the Army officer interview as well as for the group interview for your nomination, both of which will occur next fall.</p>
<p>Leadership outside of team captain - how much can you build on the UN president position? If not much then start taking on other responsibilites, organize events, etc at school and community.<br>
I think, although I may be wrong, WP is going to pull up leadership over SATs/GPA, more so than the other academies. Anyone else agree?
Good Luck</p>
<p>DEFINITELY apply for the summer program. I did it, it was a blast and a great laerning experience, and it also apparently helps your file a bit. They said that about half the people who go to SLS are admitted to USMA. Correlation is not causation, but that's still pretty good.</p>
<p>"I think, although I may be wrong, WP is going to pull up leadership over SATs/GPA, more so than the other academies. Anyone else agree?"</p>
<p>SATs are really important to all of the academies - they can make or break your application.</p>
<p>USMA allocates 30% of the Whole Candidate Score to Leadership, USNA 33%, USAFA 40%, USCGA 40% and USMMA 25%. The leadership score includes the candidate's school evaluation, activities, athletics, and leadership positions.</p>
<p>USMA allocates 60% of the Whole Candidate Score to Academics, USNA 67%, USAFA 60% and USMMA 75%. The academic score includes high school rank (including course difficulty, English SAT and Math SAT). </p>
<p>USMA is the only academy to allocate 10% to the CFA.</p>