Do I still have time

USMACandidate

5-Year Member
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Jul 22, 2010
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Hey guys, I am currently a sophomore. I recently applied to National Honor Society and was unfortunetly not accepted. This disappointed me alot. It gave me the idea that I dont have enough time to build up my resume to gain admission into West point. Do you think I still have enough time and does West Point still look at the things you do while a senior? If so, please give some advise. Thanks
 
You still have time. Most of my resume was influenced by my junior year. Work hard in academics and don't let your grades drop. Grades are the most important factor, as well as learning to manage time to fit in extracurriculars and sports.
 
If you are a sophomore, you still have a lot of time between now and the end of your junior year. Make sure to do well in sports, do well in school, and raise your class rank. Also, even though you didn't get in to the National Honors Society, there are still other leadership things you can do over the next two years. Try to go to Boys State. Its a lot of fun:thumb: After visiting West Point, Senior Military colleges, and a lot of liberal arts schools, I have felt that all schools like Boys State. Make sure you really push yourself, and do well on ACT's (or SAT's if you like those).
 
I have the same story.

Last year when I was a sophomore, I applied to National Honor Society and didn't make it (I had an almost blank resume). This year as a junior, I will be inducted into NHS next week.

You still have plenty of time. Keep going for high opportunities.
 
Don't worry about NHS. My son's high school doesn't even allow sophomores or juniors to be in NHS. Only seniors.
 
You have a lot of time!!!

- If you have not already, you should look at the 'Start Young' section on the USMA website: http://admissions.usma.edu/startyoung.cfm
This gives you guidelines on what you should be doing through you high school years to prepare to apply.
There is also a box in the upper right of that page where you can sign up to be on West Point's mailing list.

- Consider applying to SLS next year. The application opens up in December of your Junior year.

- When the time comes to take your ACT/SAT, prepare well for it. Take a prep class. Buy a book about ACT/SAT. Standardized test scores bear more weight than your GPA.
Take BOTH tests as you may do better on one than the other. Take both tests as many times as you can. West Point superscores ( they take the best score for each subsection every time you take it) so there is no penalty to taking it multiple times.

- Take the hardest classes that you can take and make an 'A' or 'B' in.

- Yes, West Point looks at your Senior grades/activities. The application will probably open up in June after your Junior year (that date fluctuates). You can continually update your file until the application date closes, which is at the end of February of your Senior year.

- West Point looks for well rounded applicants. Prepare academically, but also excel athletically and hone your leadership skills.

Good Luck!
 
Leadership help

I'm a freshmen with great grades that I feel confident in and a state of physically fitness I feel confident I can massly improve on fairly easily but I'm having trouble on the leadership part of the essay. Although I'm on a lacrosse team, I have doubts of getting to be team captain senior year to put on my resume for applying. Not to mention I got rejected getting into ASB. What's my best bet in getting into a leadership role that will help me get in?
 
I'm a freshmen with great grades that I feel confident in and a state of physically fitness I feel confident I can massly improve on fairly easily but I'm having trouble on the leadership part of the essay. Although I'm on a lacrosse team, I have doubts of getting to be team captain senior year to put on my resume for applying. Not to mention I got rejected getting into ASB. What's my best bet in getting into a leadership role that will help me get in?

I don't see how, as a freshman, you can see into the future and already know that you won't make captain as a senior. Hey, people graduate, kids leave the team, etc.,....you have as good a chance as anyone. A defeatist attitude won't get you that captain's job and certainly won't help you at West Point.

Surely there are tons of clubs at your school that you might be interested in. Once you join, run for an office.

Our city has a youth council that kids can apply to be on that is a great opportunity. Volunteer at your local hospital in their youth program.

Look for leadership opportunities that are outside of school also. My cadet's leadership positions were through his youth group at church and the positions he held at Boys' State.

I guess my point is-----leadership isn't limited to school. You need to look "outside the box" sometimes.
 
Start your own community service organization. That way you are the leader, organizer, planner, and as things develop you are training others and in a leadership role.Just an idea.
 
Sorry to seem like a doubter but I know a good rule when things are hard and your at your limit, you dig in deeper and keep going. That's what I need to do.

Thanks
 
Sorry to seem like a doubter but I know a good rule when things are hard and your at your limit, you dig in deeper and keep going. That's what I need to do.

Thanks

It's what you will be expected to do everyday at West Point, beginning with Beast. There is definitely no time to whine and feel sorry for yourself!

Why not share your West Point goal with your guidance counselor and enlist his/her aid in working toward it? They often know of neat opportunities for service or leadership and could point you in the right direction. My cadet found his guidance counselor to be a wonderful ally in his pursuit of West Point. Your guidance counselor will also provide a statement to West Point as part of your application later on.
 
Just to add on, if you can find your MALO he/she can help you a little bit too. I met mine early sophomore year and we talk a little bit.
 
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