what more can I do?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Military Academy - West Point
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<p>I am currently a Junior in High School and have started looking at colleges I may want to attend. However, there is a problem, I don't really want to attend any other schools except West Point. My number one goal at this point is to get into that school at whatever the cost. I have a 3.34 GPA and I'm my class rank is 15/135, both unweighted. I'm a Varsity Athlete in football and baseball. I have recieved all-conference awards at defensive back and second base in both sports along with being a football captain. Probably my largest accomplishment is I have never missed a day of school k-11, ever. Football has always been everything in my life and I would love to play in college. Do you think I could get a scholarship? Between getting ready for football and baseball, the gruling AP/Honors homework, and with part-time work, I really see it difficult to join clubs. I'm gathering my personal info and applying to the SLS this weekend. I'm registered to take the SAT this April and I'm going to sign up for the ACT when it comes around. What else is there for me to do to get the upper hand? Attending West Point is the only thing I want to do, but I am also making a backup plan by looking at schools for criminal justice. Any ideas? I've check the usma.edu site about 20 times reading it over to see what I need and I am aware of the medical and physical tests. Any advice/info on what more I could do would be a great help.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>"Do you think I could get a scholarship?"</p>

<p>There are no scholarships at USMA, </p>

<p>BUT</p>

<p>If you are D1 material in a sport, you may be able to get a LOA. </p>

<p>From what I can see, you need to try to raise your GPA.</p>

3

<p>Well, I would suggest the following:</p>

<p>Things you can do now:</p>

<p>-contact the WP liason in your area to let them know of your interest. The admissions office shoud be able to give you a contact.
-contact the coaches (football or baseball) at WP- by letter- include an athletic CV (resume) with a cover letter.
-stay absolutely "locked on" to your academics and grades. Get the SATs out of the way- plan on taking them at least one more time (Oct of senior year) and use time in the summer to take some practice tests to boost your scores if need be.
-contact your MOC in April/May of Junior year- let them know of your interest- it will get your name on their mailing list- work on those applications over the summer</p>

<p>Things to do over the summer:</p>

<p>-take care of the DoDMERB physical during the summer, and before you start senior year. (they usually start appointments sometime in August)
- start thinking about your personal statement (essay). Look over the WP application and think about how you want to address the questions asked
-have a work out plan for the summer to prep for the CFA
-start putting your athletic CV and activity CV together (if not already done)
-continue with your job over the summer- its a good demonstration of responsibility and accountability; ask your employer for a reference at the end
-try and volunteer in at least one activity in your community or church-an additional leadership activity would be good (coaching for a special olympics program comes to mind, or helping as a coach for a junior football summer league)- but try and add some volunteer work aside from your sports participation and work (at least for over the summer)
-get your "teacher reference" packets together- include a cover letter asking them for a referece, and a personal statement as to why you want to attend USMA. Include your athletic/activity CV in the teacher packets. Try and get these preped before senior year starts, this way you just have to add in the reference paperwork from USMA when that comes.
-summer reading: include "Absolutely American" by David Lipsky- a must read.
-Visit other schools. DO NOT PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. No matter how much you desire USMA- make sure you have some back-up plans in case things don't work out. You can always apply for an ROTC scholarship at a school that offers them, and that still leaves the option of applying to WP the following year if, by chance, you don't get in the first time around. The key is to make sure you have other options available to you, even though West Point is your first choice. Research these choices and visit over the summer.
-BE SURE TO TAKE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEAR- THE REST OF THIS ONE, AND NEXT YEAR- AND YOUR SUMMER- BE SURE TO TAKE THAT TIME FOR YOURSELF!</p>

<p>Hope this helps, and best of luck!</p>

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<p>You've got a really good package, are you in a lot of honors courses? Try to take as many as you can without overloading youself (if you take more than you can handle, you may burn out and that wouldn't help you get in at all). Earlier it was mentioned that you can't get a scholarship to USMA, that is because the school is free in the term of money. However, you pay them back in time. After your 4 years at USMA you will serve Active Duty for 5 years and reserve for three, that is the minimum at least. Don't worry if you can't join clubs, USMA will see you are a busy guy. Especially if you are working. I believe somewhere on the application you can explain that you are working and don't have much time for clubs. Plus, joining clubs now won't help all that much. WP really wants you to focus on certain things and get leadership positions. Being captain of the football team is great. Dbluecap, his grades are unweighted, USMA will take that into account. Hopefully that will put you in a pretty good place. Definitley go for SLS, I went to the USAFA one and loved it, but I am going to end up at USMA so I wish I had gone to SLS. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.</p>

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<p>I would try to raise my GPA if I were you. I have a 3.9 unweighted GPA and haven't heard anything back from USMA. (it could be other factors). I have been accepted to USNA. You can get scholarships to pay for uniforms books and other costs. AT USNA there is a $2200 fee to pay when you enter for your computer and uniforms. (I heard it is $3000 for USMA) According to their website scholarship money can be used. It is a very small amount, but I don't want my mom to have to pay it from her retirement savings. (You also have the option of taking it out of your pay.) But there are tons of scholarships that go unused so you might as well make use of them. Anything over $2200 will go to paying for your ACE loan (thats what it is called at USNA) I believe it is $6000 the gov. loans you when you first go in.</p>

<p>I don't know if anyone said this, but consider the district that you live in. Is it competitvie for academies? My school alone has anywhere from 1-4 people going to academies each year. This could make it harder for you to get in. Remember that you are competing against people in your district and your state for senate noms. If you have a parent in the military apply for a presidential nom asap. I got mine in march.</p>

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<p>you probably should have taken the PSAT, but whatever. Take the SAT as many times as you want to get the score you want. I've taken the SAT I four times and when I get rejected from west point in a month ill probably decide to take it two more times :-P</p>

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<p>I think you have to take the PSAT for the SLS? taffy i took the sat three times and still got a crummy score what are yours if you dont mind me asking?</p>

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<p>when you start talking to people, and they say finish your application early...you better FINISH YOUR APPLICATION EARLY. I'm talking August-September of your senior year. </p>

<p>I was a strong applicant for the class of 2009, but didnt finish my file until January 2005. Had I finished my file earlier (September or October 2004) I would have received an appointment. The admissions guys told me this, so don't screw around and wait like I did. Otherwise, youll be a prep at NMMI like me....try to avoid that...</p>

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<p>IMHO, try taking the ACT as well. It may be a better test for you. After you have the results from both the SAT and ACT you can better decide which to concentrate on trying to make stronger.</p>

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<p>740 math, 640 reading.</p>

<p>if i dont get in ill try to get 800 math, 700 reading, but no promises ;)</p>

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<p>Then taffy, why do you think you will get rejected from West Point with those great scores?</p>

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<p>thank you all for your help, especially navy2010. I have taken the PSAT twice so far and scored in the high 50's and low 60's in math, english, and writing. Someone said I could get a presidential nomination if my father was or is in the military? My father was in the military for a few years during the first gulf war. Could this be to any benifit to me? I'm also questioning on what classes to take next year. I'm currently in my third year of french, should I continue or am I well off because I really don't enjoy the class. Also does anyone reccomend me to take physics and calc? About my GPA,it could use a boost, but it's weighted and I'm in all honors/AP courses. I've talked to kids in my class who are ranked 11th and 13th, but they are both in lower classes then me, so I believe that will go up as well. As to the competion in my district, there isn't much. I believe I'm the only student in my class wishing to attened an academy. I live in Maine and there is a group of about 10 who are good students and the rest just tell stories about how they got drunk, went mudding with their truck, got it stuck, and how it took them all day to get it out with their fourwheeler. Two years ago we had one student graduate and attend the navy academy, and this year one more is trying, so we don't have that much competition. Another question, these past three years I have battled with injuries. Last year in baseball I broke my nose and in football I broke my hand in three places. This year in football I tore a tendon in my finger causing it to not bend. I'm courrently have one hand that is working due to the surgery, but in two months I'll be fully recovered with full mobility. I know WP has very strict medical exam and would any of these injuries dq me? Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions!</p>

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<p>if your dad was career military or retired you can get a nomination. it is automatic if you are academically qualified. there arent any interviews or essays. check out the usma admissions website and look under nominations.
i believe you have to take physics. one recommendation you will be required to submit when u get the application from USMA is a chemistry / physics teacher rec.</p>

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<p>Weed: Definitely go for calculus and physics. Work on getting yourself patched up or DoMERB could quash you. Stay positive and start checking for Presidential, 2 senators and congressional nominations - the more the better! If possible, go down to visit/tour & talk this year and get in touch with the local contacts ASAP so they know you are interested. Since so few from your area attend, they should be thrilled to have someone who is interested and academically qualified. You have time to get all your ducks in a row, smart fellow! Good luck!</p>

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<p>If you don't feel like continuing french, then don't. I went to three, didn't like the teacher for 3-5 and stopped taking it this year. Won't hurt you if your schedule remains strong!</p>

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<p>Physics and calc are a definate yes. Also- while you may have taken chem, consider taking a chemAP class- you will be taking chem again in the first year, and having a good review can go a long way in validating the class or at least making things easier. Take classes that you will enjoy and get good marks in- if that does not include french, then drop it and take an advanced chem instead (along with physics)- tough schedule, but one that will definately help you.</p>

<p>As far as a presidential nom, yes, it can help. The key is that you have a nomination. Still apply to your other sources- local congressman, and both state senators. But some of the pressure should be off. </p>

<p>As far as your finger surgery, get your DoDMERB scheduled and done as soon as they send you the appointment card- this will allow you plenty of time to address any information should they ask for additional stuff. Do not send in any additional info in advance- wait until they ask you, if they even do, and if they do require medical records concerning that injury, send them in promptly. Do not delay, and follow the process they give you- they are very efficient as long as you do things in THEIR sequence....deviations can, and do, result in lost paperwork and having to do it all again- so be patient here, and do what they ask when they ask. The key: schedule that appointment early. Also, doing well on the CFA can also demonstrate that you are "healthy." Hopefully you do not have any residual "hardware" - (metal rods, pins, etc)- unfortunately, they are a disqualifier.</p>

<p>I would agree- getting your application complete and in early is a good thing- if you have good SATs from junior year, then get your app in by Sept 1. If not, and you are waiting to retake the SATs in Oct, then send your app in 2 weeks after that test date- that way, by the time they get your app in order, they will have those SATs for the admissions board to consider. THis is the only reason I would delay an application, and mid-oct is still relatively early.</p>

<p>Don't worry about the competetion in your area- you will have 4+ years of competetion after this whole admissions thing is over- better off spending your time making yourself as competetive as possible- do the best job you can- concentrate on those grades- don't worry about what everyone else is doing, it's what you do that counts.</p>

<p>You have gotten lots of good advice from everyone who has posted- if you follow it, you will be well ahead of the game. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>"Then taffy, why do you think you will get rejected from West Point with those great scores?"</p>

<p>because I'm applying with a 3.4 gpa weighted and no varsity letters.</p>

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<p>I see. Well good luck taffy! Did you get the Feinstein nom?</p>

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<p>not for usma. I got a call from the feinstein lady saying a usmma was mine and i needed to call back so she could have a basic phone interview with me. I have called back like 8 times over the last couple weeks, I have left like 3 or 4 messages, and she still hasnt returned the calls. I find out about Congresswoman Eshoo in a week, I think. I'm pretty confident I got USMA and USMMA nominations from her.</p>

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<p>taffy- i may be a bit late with this post, but hang in there. You have a lot going for you- so have faith- and keep focusing on your grades this year.</p>