To those who have been offered admission

GMRobertson

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5-Year Member
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Oct 6, 2008
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First congratulations - it was a long road to get to this point.

But there is something you have to keep in front of you now, at all times.

Being offered admission means you likely are in a social setting at your school with other high achievers - many of your friends are off to great colleges.

For those attending these colleges and in this final term of high school, most are now experiencing a massive release of pressure. They are final term seniors in high school with their college already decided upon and they have been admitted. For them, high school is basically over and school work now is only per functionary. You also do not have the pressure to maintain the superb grades you achieved to gain admission to West Point - but you do not have the leeway that your friends now enjoy. You cannot have your grades slip.

But there is another issue of great importance.

As the pressure comes off, your friends will party. The drinking law in all states is 21. All states have severe laws now for DUI. All states have laws for under age UIs in a car with someone committing a DUI. Arranging a party has serious laws if drinking occurs, especially if some attend who are sophomores and juniors in high school. All seniors that I have known feel strongly they have a razor sharp understanding of the police in their community. But always they don't have a clue as to the intent and methods of the local police. And almost all of your friends will drink underage. It is almost a given. This will result invariably with some of your friends or a friend arrested. But to them this will not be catastrophe for they will likely go on as planned to the college of their choice. Your friends who run into such problems will be upset and cause great problems to themselves, it will be a problem, but life will go on for them as planned. So almost al your friends will weigh the risk and see no serious risk or harm with the beers and drinking that will occur - and I am not even discussing the binge drinking for you are by definition with a a group of friends who are terrific people.

But now you do not have the ability to survive any of the above. You now cannot risk any transgression and now must apply zero tolerance.

In almost all cases above, if arrested - even for a misdemeanor - you stand the risk of or will have your offer of admission to West Point withdrawn. Know that.

Your admission to West Point is now your most valuable possession and should be defended at all costs. By accepting admission, or if you likely will accept admission, you have already made a serious choice which has made you distinct from your friends in terms of the zero tolerance you are now under versus almost all of your friends new found freedom and intense relief from the pressure of school.

This is a very tough row to hoe now for you as your friends are not at all under the same pressure, and an intense desire to bond and finish the year in traditional fellowship will build.

Defend your admission status.
 
Great advice!

Thanks for the sage advice. As a parent of an appointee, how do you decide if you want to go to USMA or USNA? My son went to SLS at West Point and loved it and Candidate visit at USNA and loved that too. He is soul searching! Any advice? Thanks a lot!
 
Every year there are tragic events as seemingly trivial social events result in loss of admission.

Jeesh, I cannot answer that question. One thing that might help is go and visit and go through the process of what it involves to enlist with the local Army and Navy recruiter. Talk and listen carefully to the peety officers - often chiefs - or the very experienced NCOs. This si what it is all about, leading men and women in the end. It is the role as an officer in a specific service which should be the driver, get an opinion as to which service seems most comfortable for a career and then go to the service academy for the service decided upon, no matter whether the school impresses more or less versus the other school. Try and get visits to posts or ships. Look to the service not the school.

This would also help as if a career in army is the decided path but he likes Annapolis more - maybe the ROTC is the right path.

The decission should be on what service he wishes to serve in and to be an officer and not the merits of the service academy on comparison to another.

They are both supreb schools and in the end, as far as the college experience goes, he cannot go wrong with either. But he might find he made a serious mistake which could be uncovered now by not looking at the specific service as a career.
 
Outstanding post, GMRobertson! I remember there were quite a few panicky threads started in the spring last year when appointees ran into trouble with the law for various infractions. Many of the new appointees do not realize that they will provide West Point with a report from all of the law enforcement agencies in their area. You don't want to mess up in school, run afoul of the law, or get hurt between now and R-Day. It's time for parents to "bubble wrap" you!
 
Thanks for the sage advice. As a parent of an appointee, how do you decide if you want to go to USMA or USNA? My son went to SLS at West Point and loved it and Candidate visit at USNA and loved that too. He is soul searching! Any advice? Thanks a lot!

This a question that only your son can answer, and it has to be his decision. As a parent you have to reserve judgement a bit and that is hard. The real question though, at least from my daughter, was what she wanted to do after graduation. When she really began to think about what she wanted to do with her life she began to realize pretty quickly that USMA would be the best fit for her. She just couldn't see herself in command of a ship or on long tours at sea. Now, she does have an uncle who is a USNA grad and still active Navy after 25 years. His advice during this process was very helpful. Even he admitted, after talking to her many times, that USMA and the Army was just a better fit for her in how she envisioned herself in leadership roles.

I wish you and your son the very best of luck.
 
Every year there are tragic events as seemingly trivial social events result in loss of admission.

This is NOT hypothetical.
In June 2009, a young man in my county had an appointment to the Air Force Academy. He received many accolades and was recognized at his schools awards assembly and received a standing ovation for his achievement at graduation. His mom works at the high school and she and the whole staff were so proud of him.

A couple of days after graduation he was at a party. He left with some friends and promptly drove his car into a tree. Fortunately, no one was physically injured.
The police arrived and he failed a breathalyzer which in PA if you are under 21 is .02.

As quickly as that car went into that tree he lost his appointment. His AF career vanished due to poor judgment at a graduation party.
 
Also, beware of the "senior prank"...what students view as a harmless prank school officials can view as vandalism and trespassing.
 
Great advice! My area has not given out nominations yet, so I'm still waiting to know if I've got into West Point. I plan on continuing to stay clear of drinking, drugs, parties, and pranks. I do find it a bit disheartening that West Point offered a candidate admission who had a MIP (minor in possession charge). They are an excellent student with stellar test scores, but it makes me disappointed somewhat. Of course, I am sure that they are not planning on being so "understanding" in MOST situations, and I will steer clear of that anyway.
 
Great advice! My area has not given out nominations yet, so I'm still waiting to know if I've got into West Point. I plan on continuing to stay clear of drinking, drugs, parties, and pranks. I do find it a bit disheartening that West Point offered a candidate admission who had a MIP (minor in possession charge). They are an excellent student with stellar test scores, but it makes me disappointed somewhat. Of course, I am sure that they are not planning on being so "understanding" in MOST situations, and I will steer clear of that anyway.

People make mistakes. Sometimes a single mistake could teach you a lesson most of your peers haven't learned. That charge could have been a reality check that put him/her back on track. I don't know the details but if admissions offered an appointment then I'd like to think that they had a reason to. :wink:
 
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