<p>With admissions and the interview coming, I've been thinking a lot about why exactly I want to go to West Point. Obviously, I love my country and I feel that it is my duty to serve it. But more specifically, I can think of no greater tragedy than when a fighting man or woman dies for their cause. I hate watching the news and seeing daily casualty reports across the ticker. So, I guess what I really want is to do what needs to be done for the country, and make sure that the soldiers I'm leading come home. I just feel that West Point will best prepare me for that. Idealistic teenage rant? Maybe. Somehow I don't if I'm saying what I mean to. So, with the prospects, cadets, and alumni here, I was wondering what your motivations are and what you said/will say when asked? Maybe someone can articulate it better than I can.</p>
<p>I'm also wondering if anyone doubts themselves as much as I do. Sometimes I think I've watched Black Hawk Down too much.</p>
<p>Doubting yourself is very dangerous, but I believe it is neccessary to know your limitations. In my experience my greatest failures have not been when I was too "sure" of myself but rather when I was over analytical and afraid I was taking the wrong route. </p>
<p>You need to be sure of yourself. Be resolute and decisive. If you have any qualms about fighting/killing/dieing for your country and wonder whether it is right, you are not alone. This is constantly a concern of Cadets, Officers, and Enlisted men alike. Read some military blogs and you will see their thoughts are very pronounced in this area.</p>
<p>But be sure you are ready for a career in which you have to put something ahead of yourself. And when I say ahead, I mean 12 years ahead. West Point is 12 years of Army (4 years at WP, 5 years active, 3 years reserves). If you don't want that, you REALLY don't want West Point. That should be your primary reason in my opinion.</p>
<p>I'm not going to pretend that I have my entire life planned out, but I think that by very nature I want a career in the military. It just fits me so well. What I mean by the doubting is that while I have some moral motivation for the Army, I'm wondering if I haven't been too bought in by the idealized versions of conflict that I've grown up with. I think about what its means to die for the country and I've decided that it is worth it, but the full gravity of it probably doesn't hit anyone until it is laid out in front of them. </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. Trust me, if I wasn't resolute, I wouldn't be going through the hell that is the admissions process.</p>
<p>Look on the bright side, you have four years at West Point to figure it out.</p>
<p>Trust me, it's not fun to be in Iraq and think every day "*** are we DOING here?" It's not doubting yourself you'll run into but doubting the entire Army, it happens to everyone, you'll just learn to deal with it as you go through it.</p>
<p>I hated that question in interviews. It was asked in every one. The problem with it is if you give the "serve my country and become an officer etc etc", it is the standard response that everyone gives. Unfroutunately it is one of the only responses. Try to find the time in your life when you realized you wanted to go to West Point and use that (its better if its not heavilhy military related because they here that all the time). I used "I was camping at West Point when I was young and met many cadets." Then I said something like I wanted to be like them (physically, mentally, leadership) and the best way to do that was go to West Point and the serving my counrty was an added bonus. I tried to get away from the regular answer.</p>
<p>Another big question that came up alot was do you want to make a career out of the Army. Many people are quick to respond yes but think about it. In 9- 10 years from now will you be thinking the same thing about staying in? We would like to think so but anything could happen. I said something like "I would like to think I am going to stay but if the Army is not meant for me then I will not make a carrer out of it." One interviewer told me after I was done it was one of the better responses he heard.</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>The reason i want to go to West Point? Of course I want to serve my country, do my duty and all of the things that you hear so often, but what really makes me want to join the military is respect. I have the utmost respect for those who go to war and risk their lives so that the citizens back at home don't have to, and because of that respect I cannot allow someone else to go and risk their life while I sit at home. I want to be an officer because I want to lead, and because I think it would make a better career than that of an enlisted man, at least for me. I want to go to West point so that I can recieve the best training in the world to lead my men in the best manner possible, so that they may come home alive and destroy those who want to destroy Americans as efficiently as possible.</p>