A Sad Day!

VonFritz

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
47
I received the news this week that I will not be receiving an appointment to the USMA for 2015. It was a devastating day, to say the least. This is something I desired and planned for for over a year! I do not want sympathy, for I know how competitive this process is, but I am extremely distressed that it took soooo long for me to find out that I am QNS! I am probably like many out there who took this process extremely seriously. I started my application in the beginning of June 2010, challenged myself throughout high school - taking AP course since my sophomore year, playing and lettering in varsity sports (6 letters, awarded captaincy in two sports D1), visited the campus, spent countless hours doing service to both community and church to find out that I missed the cut - so to speak. This is who I am - and I will remain a person who will continue on this path. Using the "College Board" website as a gauge - I was well above the desired SAT ranking, my GPA was a 3.78, 3 nominations and I was 3qd!
I have silently followed the forum for the past 8 months and believe that there are many like me - who for some reason.......? did not make the cut, while others- who were less qualified, will be attending West Point this summer. There appears , to me, a need for a better way a qualifying candidates who will receive an appointment to West Point. There have been several occasions where I have read of candidates boasting of their receiving a LOA and an appointment, soon thereafter, that when further discussion occurs, are good candidates but not top flight candidates!
My apologies to those who see this as "sour grapes", but putting yourself in my shoes and looking at posts from earlier, accepted candidates - who were much less qualified - how would you feel?
To those who will be attending West Point in the class of 2015, my congratulations, and I wish you a safe and satisfying life as an officer in the US Army!
HUUUUAAAH!
 
Though I am not an avid poster in USMA, I can't say I understand your pain since I am not in your position. Though, understand the academies have years of experience. They know what they want, and they have a large pool to choose from. You are obviously a great candidate, and USMA sees that and so do others, so congratulations on making it so far. I, however, disagree with your post, the academy does not give LOA's away like candy. They are well sought after, and very precious to the admissions team. I know you feel as if you are more qualified, I feel as of there were manyore qualified than I.

What I am trying to say, and I know you meant no harm. But, please don't bash those who received appointments that you feel you are more qualified then. You don't know the whole picture, and you don't know what admissions is thinking, none of us do. I wish you the bey of luck in your future endeavors, and am glad to serve in the future with you.

Falcon 15
 
I received the news this week that I will not be receiving an appointment to the USMA for 2015. It was a devastating day, to say the least. This is something I desired and planned for for over a year! I do not want sympathy, for I know how competitive this process is, but I am extremely distressed that it took soooo long for me to find out that I am QNS! I am probably like many out there who took this process extremely seriously. I started my application in the beginning of June 2010, challenged myself throughout high school - taking AP course since my sophomore year, playing and lettering in varsity sports (6 letters, awarded captaincy in two sports D1), visited the campus, spent countless hours doing service to both community and church to find out that I missed the cut - so to speak. This is who I am - and I will remain a person who will continue on this path. Using the "College Board" website as a gauge - I was well above the desired SAT ranking, my GPA was a 3.78, 3 nominations and I was 3qd!
I have silently followed the forum for the past 8 months and believe that there are many like me - who for some reason.......? did not make the cut, while others- who were less qualified, will be attending West Point this summer. There appears , to me, a need for a better way a qualifying candidates who will receive an appointment to West Point. There have been several occasions where I have read of candidates boasting of their receiving a LOA and an appointment, soon thereafter, that when further discussion occurs, are good candidates but not top flight candidates!
My apologies to those who see this as "sour grapes", but putting yourself in my shoes and looking at posts from earlier, accepted candidates - who were much less qualified - how would you feel?
To those who will be attending West Point in the class of 2015, my congratulations, and I wish you a safe and satisfying life as an officer in the US Army!
HUUUUAAAH!

Congress mandates geographic diversity for the Corps of Cadets. This will mean that less qualified candidates will get in over more qualified candidates. While you may feel that this needs to be changed for fairness, it is better for the Army to have the geographic diversity. An Army made up of just people from Texas and Northern Virginia wouldn't be as effective.

You sound like you have a strong file. You should consider applying next year. I have read on here that you should ask to reopen your file and try to get your last semester of transcripts in as soon as available. Good luck.
 
. . .There appears , to me, a need for a better way a qualifying candidates who will receive an appointment to West Point.
. . .

HUUUUAAAH!

So what's your suggestion? I do agree that we need to improve the process somehow, but I am not sure how.

First, I am okay with the 3Q requirement. Although folks might disagree with heavy emphasize on the academic accomplishment, getting accepted is one thing but you have to graduate. I believe academic failure is #1 reason for separation.

Second, how do we differ who is more qualified between two similiar candidates? Is 50 point difference is SAT sufficient, how do we compare class ranking from two different high schools to be fair, is being a team captain for a non-competitive high school sports team as as a team captain for a competitive high school sprots team, how do we gage personality when not all applicants gets interviewed?
 
Though I am not an avid poster in USMA, I can't say I understand your pain since I am not in your position. Though, understand the academies have years of experience. They know what they want, and they have a large pool to choose from. You are obviously a great candidate, and USMA sees that and so do others, so congratulations on making it so far. I, however, disagree with your post, the academy does not give LOA's away like candy. They are well sought after, and very precious to the admissions team. I know you feel as if you are more qualified, I feel as of there were manyore qualified than I.

What I am trying to say, and I know you meant no harm. But, please don't bash those who received appointments that you feel you are more qualified then. You don't know the whole picture, and you don't know what admissions is thinking, none of us do. I wish you the bey of luck in your future endeavors, and am glad to serve in the future with you.

Falcon 15

Agreed. Everyone has the same requirements and admissions weighs everything accordingly. Just because you don't believe they are as qualified as you doesn't mean they aren't. You don't attend their interviews or see the whole picture. Remember, if admitting people into USMA was so easy that you (I'm guessing you are still in high school) can do it based off a few posted stats on some forums, then we wouldn't need a panel of people and such an intricate application system to decide.

Don't give up. Many people make in after trying more than once. :thumb:
 
Second, how do we differ who is more qualified between two similiar candidates? Is 50 point difference is SAT sufficient, how do we compare class ranking from two different high schools to be fair, is being a team captain for a non-competitive high school sports team as as a team captain for a competitive high school sprots team, how do we gage personality when not all applicants gets interviewed?


AFAIK, 30% is Class Rank and Grades (+ school competitiveness), 30% SAT grade, 30% leadership (Teacher Recs, Leadership in Sports and Leadership in other ECs) and 10% CFA.
 
I am just wondering, but how is your leadership potential? You might have spent countless hours working for your community / church, but what was the quality of your extracurriculars like? Also, when did you submit your file? If it was later on in the year, such as January and afterwards, there is a strong chance that the slots you have competed for have been filled. My RC has told me that this year was even more competitive than last year's class, which was supposedly filled with many strong candidates.

I also understand your position! Although my grades were insufficient, everything else about my candidate file shined. I was also devastated when I received a letter of rejection, but since West Point is my dream school, I have the patience to wait a year (or maybe two) until I achieve that dream. Hopefully you can too.
 
there is a lot more to the application than what you look like on paper. I was in your shoes last year, qualified not selected, "knowing" that at least one person who was headed to west point that summer was "less qualified" than me. the problem is that with such a large, competitive pool, there are bound to be people who slip through the cracks- people who would have done well if they had been offered an appointment and people who drop out after accepting their appointment. Its impossible to be perfect. If West Point is something you really, really want, think about doing a prep year. That is what I chose to do, and even though my file on paper may not have improved much, I know that I am much better prepared and more mature than I would have been if I had been offered an appointment.

Remember, the ultimate goal is not an appointment or graduating, its serving as the best army officer you can be. Feel free to PM me with any questions about being a prepster.
 
Comparisions

It is difficult to compare candidiates simply by comparing scores (GPAs,SATs, Class standings etc.). There are three important scores that you do not know
1. Interview Score
2. Three Required Papers (Why I want to go to West Point etc.)
3. Teachers Evaluations
I think most people believe their interview went great, that their papers were first rate and that their teachers gave them rave reviews.
I have been a menber of the Selection Board and I can tell you that these scores vary GREATLY on these three evaluations.In many cases these scores "break ties" between people with similar academic scores.
A controversial statement - I believe that success in "combative sports" (football, wrestling) is better than other sports such as golf, tennis, vollyball etc. No offical will ever admit this but I think it is true.
 
It is difficult to compare candidiates simply by comparing scores (GPAs,SATs, Class standings etc.). There are three important scores that you do not know
1. Interview Score
2. Three Required Papers (Why I want to go to West Point etc.)
3. Teachers Evaluations
I think most people believe their interview went great, that their papers were first rate and that their teachers gave them rave reviews.
I have been a menber of the Selection Board and I can tell you that these scores vary GREATLY on these three evaluations.In many cases these scores "break ties" between people with similar academic scores.
A controversial statement - I believe that success in "combative sports" (football, wrestling) is better than other sports such as golf, tennis, vollyball etc. No offical will ever admit this but I think it is true.

Great post! :thumb:
The only thing that I disagree with you on is that you consider volleyball a non-combative sport. It may not be combative in the traditional physical sense, but if you heard what was spoken and unspoken at the net, you might change your mind! :eek: :wink:

What interview? I never had one

Interviews are not required as there are not enough FF members to interview all candidates.
 
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