Some questions..

Fengawr

5-Year Member
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Feb 16, 2011
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Hello! I've been doing some research regarding USMA, and I have a few questions.

Say two kids have the same grades, same test scores, same sports and such. But one of those kids has a part-time job while the other may be president or vice-president of a certain club. What would they look higher of? The kid with the part-time job or the kid involved in a certain club?

Living a long ways a way (Oregon), do I pay for the flight to WP if I get accepted? Or do they pay for it? (I am just curious on this one, considering basically everything is free)

I know that it is required to get congressional nominations for the application at West Point. How hard is it to get nominated?

That is all the questions I have for now. Thanks!
 
Direct comparisons with other candidates is pretty hard because of the geographical requirements for the make up of any of the service academies. What may be competitive in Wyoming may not as competitive in another state such as California to get a nomination. You need a nomination in order to be considered for admission and is one of the great limiting factors. Honestly though, my opinion is don't compare yourself to other people, kind of something on general principle I try not to do as the real competition is with yourself. Are you doing the best you could possibly? There are always areas you can improve, and if you take care of what you need to, generally you end up where you should be. That said, admissions at WP takes into the whole person when looking at candidates. Everything people do including working is taken into account.

As for your second question, there's an option to request a government travel package that will fly you in the day before R-day and have lodging for you. You can also be reimbursed for travel and lodging the night before R-day if you decide to travel without taking the travel package (although this is at government rates by my understanding so you may not be fully reimbursed when it comes to flights. I would check with someone who has more details on that if you're really that curious; my mom and I are planning on just driving, but we are in MA which is a lot closer than Oregon)

For your third question, that ties back to the whole geographical makeup of the class. Some areas are more competitive than others while some areas have hardly any applicants. Then there are the service connected nominations which like for the presidential nomination if you qualify, you will automatically receive, but then you are fighting for a spot in a limited number of slots alloted to that nominating source. Its great that you're thinking about this now; just do your best and you'll give yourself the best shot possible at getting an appointment which is the only thing in your control.
 
Thank you! How do the congressional nominations work? Would I email whoever I am able to get nominated by just saying that I want to get nominated? How does that process work out?
 
Thank you! How do the congressional nominations work? Would I email whoever I am able to get nominated by just saying that I want to get nominated? How does that process work out?

You would need to contact them through phone, email, etc. (check your congressman/woman's website) and personally request for the service academy nomination application. They will give you more information on it and send you an application packet. (I don't know if yours will be an online application or handwritten; mine was handwritten) I don't know what the system is over there, but it should be similar.
 
You would need to contact them through phone, email, etc. (check your congressman/woman's website) and personally request for the service academy nomination application. They will give you more information on it and send you an application packet. (I don't know if yours will be an online application or handwritten; mine was handwritten) I don't know what the system is over there, but it should be similar.

Okay.. So I see there is an application. I did not know that.
 
When going to West Point, is there that many breaks? Like I know that you get some days off for thanksgiving, christmas and such. But I read somewhere that there isn't that many days off in the summer. Is this true? And if it is true, why?
 
When going to West Point, is there that many breaks? Like I know that you get some days off for thanksgiving, christmas and such. But I read somewhere that there isn't that many days off in the summer. Is this true? And if it is true, why?

You are allowed 14-30 days of leave in the Summer. This is due to the Suimmer graduation requirements such as CFT after Plebe year.
 
Quoted from the West Point website:

The Military Program begins on your first day at West Point. Most military training takes place during the summer, with new cadets undergoing Cadet Basic Training - or Beast Barracks - the first year, followed by Cadet Field Training at nearby Camp Buckner the second year. Cadets spend their third and fourth summers serving in active Army units around the world; attending advanced training courses such as airborne, air assault or northern warfare; or training the first and second year cadets as members of the leadership cadre.
 
Wow! That is awesome, I have never known that. Makes me want to go there even more..
 
Can you bring a computer or laptop from home to West Point? I saw on some post that you have the option of buying a computer package. Is that the only way to have a computer?

Considering all West Point cadets live there for basically all four years. Is there much stealing that goes on?
 
Hello! I've been doing some research regarding USMA, and I have a few questions.

Say two kids have the same grades, same test scores, same sports and such. But one of those kids has a part-time job while the other may be president or vice-president of a certain club. What would they look higher of? The kid with the part-time job or the kid involved in a certain club?
It depends on the district, it depends on why the person has the job, and it depends on the club.

Living a long ways a way (Oregon), do I pay for the flight to WP if I get accepted? Or do they pay for it? (I am just curious on this one, considering basically everything is free)
There is an option to have USMA pay for the flight if you want.


I know that it is required to get congressional nominations for the application at West Point. How hard is it to get nominated?
It depends on where you're from. There's more competition in areas where the populations are larger.

In all honesty, your perceived difficulty won't be much. The process is the same for everyone. What will matter most is how you present yourself, not just when applying, but in general. A life of dedication to excellence and general adherence to a high standard of living from an early age tends to make for a great applicant.




Can you bring a computer or laptop from home to West Point?
Yes.

I saw on some post that you have the option of buying a computer package. Is that the only way to have a computer?
You will be issued a computer during re-orgy week when you get to West Point. Whether you bring your own or not is up to you.

Considering all West Point cadets live there for basically all four years. Is there much stealing that goes on?


Stealing is against the honor code. That being said, in general stealing isn't tolerated and those who do are punished severely.

Does it happen often? I've only been here a year and from my experience it doesn't. There's nothing to steal really. Everyone has the same stuff (because we're all issued the same stuff) and anything else that's not clothing probably counts as a high value item and will (or should) be locked up in a trunk or lockbox.

In my nearly one year here I haven't seen or even heard of anyone stealing.
 
Wow thank you TheKnight. Although I am only a sophomore, I hope to maintain my grades (Currently a 4.0). I want to try to go to the Summer Leader Seminar, but it might conflict with my high school finals, which wouldn't be good. This forum good inspiration and help towards my goals to become in a military. Thank you!
 
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