Is it possible for me to get into West Point?

GregMilitary

5-Year Member
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Jul 18, 2011
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23
I am a junior in high school and for 3 years now i strongly consider doing everything in my power to get accepted into the greatest military academy in the world. Overall, i am a 3.8 GPA student and in the SATs, which i haven't taken yet; in 1-10 grading scale, i should get 8.5 in math and some 7.5 in the rest.
I am trilingual, i know how to speak English, Russian, Armenian, and i am learning Spanish now as the fourth language. In my sophmore year, i successfully found the only Geopolitics Club in our district and am the president of the club for 2 years now. Also, i am a PAC (Principal's Advisory Council) Leader, where i lead and give advice to the incoming freshmen. Aside from my club, i am in the Scholastic Bowl team, Bike Club, Engineering Club and i didn't just sign up in these, i am really into them. I am a member of th CSF (California Scholarship Federation) for 4 semesters now. In the past couple of years, i volunteered more than 100 hours altogether in a school and library. In my lifetime, outside of school i've gone to many sports: swimming, karate, soccer, and tennis. This summer, i go to a gym every day to physically fit. I am interested in chess, physics and military strategy, i take some 3-4 hours a day on these at least.
At school, people know me as a good leader, but also strict. They don't look at me from the academic and physical point of view. They look at me as "whole" person and different from the rest, most of whom talk about games all the time.
I want to go to West Point and become an officer in the US Army because for couple of years now i think that's where i see my career and i am ready to make any sacrifices because of my love of this country.
 
Greg, I'm a candidate, so don't take my word as an accurate one.

Anyway, you seem to be doing well - leadership-wise. Keep up the good work!

What is your class rank? Also, do you have varsity letters? That's a big one as far as I am concerned.

The breakdown of the Whole Candidate Score (WCS) - the score system which grants you admissions to WP by placement on the National Waiting List - is the following:

30% = Class Rank (there seems to be something different if the score is super-competitive... but I don't know how that works or if this is true at all).
30% = Standardized Test scores (Superscored -- highest scores for subsections are considered).
10% = Teacher Evaluations (SOEs)
10% = Leadership in ECs
10% = Leadership in Athletics
10% = CFA score

Hope this helps somehow. :thumb: Good luck and Godspeed!
 
Thanks Very Much!

Well, out of 300 students i am the 40th. I didn't get a varsity letter, but i am working on taking the task next year. So, thank you again and i hope to see you at West Point. May i see your resume also?
 
Sure.

I have a SAT score of 660 Math, 620 English.

ACT is a 31 Composite (31 Math, 35 English, 28 Reading, 30 Science, 30 Eng+Writing Comp).

I am working on those scores... But my next test dates are quite a few months from now (I am currently residing in Brazil, which makes me an overseas (not international) candidate).

I have currently the 2nd highest G.P.A. at my school out of 166 I believe.

We don't have varsity letters in my school, so I got a recommendation letter from my P.E. teacher and coach about leadership and skills in sports, hopefully that will help me somehow. I played Volleyball for a few years and Team Handball for 2 years (this game is simply too awesome - I am a goalkeeper).

I did slightly above average on everything in the CFA during SLS (dude... if you CAN go to SLS, GO! You apply December of your Junior year), except for the mile run, which was about 6 seconds below average. (Dude, PRACTICE FOR THE BB THROW!!!!!)

For ECs, I have created a social program to teach janitors at my school how to use computer programs; I was elected thrice (does anyone use that word? lol) as Class Representative (highest position of authority a student can be elected for in my school); I am Secretary of Social Work for a school group. These would be the backbones of my leadership. I am also creating a Model U.N. group at my school.

Unfortunately, I am not a good person to compare when it comes to ECs, because I reside overseas (I had to create these 2 projects so I would have some demonstrated leadership!). But there are quite a few candidates, just ask around! I can give you a few forum names of candidates for USMA Class of 2016 if you wanna talk to them.
 
Greg, I am guessing from your language skills - which are valuable - that you are either not U.S. born or are a first generation American. Are you a citizen?
All else sounds like you're on the right track -- keep up the good work!
 
Great

Well, i think your chances are 99%, well, if you are both academically and physically fit, then they won't even look at EC's because that already will tell them that your qualities fit in the "whole" person theory. But i heard you can only take the CSF in senior, that's what USNA employee told me.
 
The breakdown of the Whole Candidate Score (WCS) - the score system which grants you admissions to WP by placement on the National Waiting List - is the following:
The WCS is used to rank all candidates, not just those on the NWL.

30% = Class Rank (there seems to be something different if the score is super-competitive... but I don't know how that works or if this is true at all).

Not sure I quite understand this statement. Could you clarify?
 
Well, i think your chances are 99%, well, if you are both academically and physically fit, then they won't even look at EC's because that already will tell them that your qualities fit in the "whole" person theory.

At West Point....
ECs are most definitely looked at.
As BillSL stated earlier, ECs account for 10% of your WCS.

But i heard you can only take the CSF in senior, that's what USNA employee told me.

Wow - I must be having a bad night.
I'm not clear on what you are saying here either. :scratch:
Be careful in assuming what applies for USNA, applies for USMA.
 
Well, i just remember one of their employees was saying you can take it only at your senior year. But my friend says he already took it, but i assume he is a junior. I want to know who's right.
 
The WCS is used to rank all candidates, not just those on the NWL.

I understand everyone gets WCS. That makes all candidates that are tripple-Q'ed to get a rank (aka National Waiting List). At least that's what I got from these forums and around the Internet.



Not sure I quite understand this statement. Could you clarify?

There were a few situations I've seen around her that students with high GPAs have a low class rank because the school is super-competitive. It normally boiled down to talking to your MALO/FFR and see how would they take that competitiveness into account... I actually only put that statement (which you put in bold) so that, if anyone reads this, is a really good student, but the class rank is not stellar, don't get discouraged.

I could be wrong - that's why I said it ("hey... there might be some way to account for your school's competitiveness"), but said that I was not sure if that was true at all.

And I tried addressing that lack of accuracy on my first sentence :thumb:

Am I awfully mistaken about the admissions process?
 
Well, i just remember one of their employees was saying you can take it only at your senior year. But my friend says he already took it, but i assume he is a junior. I want to know who's right.

What is CSF?

If it is CFA... you can only take it as you are a rising/Senior Year (or SLS) because that's when you have the file to report your CFA score.


Well, i think your chances are 99%, well, if you are both academically and physically fit, then they won't even look at EC's because that already will tell them that your qualities fit in the "whole" person theory. But i heard you can only take the CSF in senior, that's what USNA employee told me.

That is not entirely accurate. How can you tell the "whole" person by not looking at ECs?
 
GregMilitary-
I assume that you mean the CFA (Candidate Fitness Assessment).
You can take that at SLS or if you do not attend SLS, then you can take it once you are deemed a competitive candidate which at the earliest is during the summer before your Senior year.
SLS is open only to rising Seniors and takes place during the summer before your Senior year.
 
I understand everyone gets WCS. That makes all candidates that are tripple-Q'ed to get a rank (aka National Waiting List). At least that's what I got from these forums and around the Internet.

Candidates put on the NWL are fully qualified WITH a nomination. You can only be on the NWL once you have a nomination but not selected to fill a slot. They are then ranked on the NWL according to WCS.


There were a few situations I've seen around her that students with high GPAs have a low class rank because the school is super-competitive. It normally boiled down to talking to your MALO/FFR and see how would they take that competitiveness into account... I actually only put that statement (which you put in bold) so that, if anyone reads this, is a really good student, but the class rank is not stellar, don't get discouraged.

I could be wrong - that's why I said it ("hey... there might be some way to account for your school's competitiveness"), but said that I was not sure if that was true at all.

And I tried addressing that lack of accuracy on my first sentence :thumb:

Am I awfully mistaken about the admissions process?

You said "score is super-competitive" not "school is super-competitive" - that's where my confusion stemmed from.
As far as class rank v GPA - the school profile will indicate how competitive a school is and the RC will adjust your class rank if your school is deemed competitive.
 
Candidates put on the NWL are fully qualified WITH a nomination. You can only be on the NWL once you have a nomination but not selected to fill a slot. They are then ranked on the NWL according to WCS.

Oh that's what I meant! Forgot 3Q'ed did not include nomination.



You said "score is super-competitive" not "school is super-competitive" - that's where my confusion stemmed from.

Ohh. Hah. Did not notice that. Sorry 'bout that.
 
I think the most important question's answer i don't know. How do i start my application process? I know it will take time for you to answer, but please. I thought i have to put everything together and send them once and for all, but it comes out i am wrong.
 
Greg,

You will fill in your pre-candidate questionnaire (just a form with some questions) on December of this year (you said you are a rising Junior, right?). You will need PSAT, SAT or ACT scores (the official report can be sent later, however).

After filling it in, you will apply to SLS. DON'T FORGET TO APPLY TO SLS.

(Someone will have to confirm this step:) Send in your SAT/ACT scores as soon as possible.

When your SSK (Seconds-Step Kit) opens, that's when the real application starts. Make sure to fill it in as soon as possible, specially by sending in your HS Transcripts (all the 6 semesters) and Official SAT/ACT score reports.

You will put the e-mail of a Chemistry/Physics, Math and English teacher so they will receive a form in their e-mail (SOE), which they will fill in.

You will also have to put the contact information of your High School transcripts official (whoever handles the transcripts in your school) and someone who can verify your Extra-Curricular activities (such as a counselor) - you will fill in a form called C.A.R. (Candidate Activities Record), in which you will list all your EC participations.

You will fill in a form providing information such as father's and mother's names, if you have ever broken a law, etc.

You will write 3 candidate statements.

You will receive a mail from DoDMERB. You will have to attend a few medical exams to make sure you are medically qualified. Else, there are some remedial steps I believe, but someone will have to elaborate on this.

And, at the meantime, you will be sending your nomination application to your District Congressman, 2 Senators and Vice-President, besides any other source you are available to compete for (namely, a Presidential nomination). I think the applications normally require a couple of letters of recommendation, HS Transcripts, Extracurricular activities report (which one you have done, etc)... But it varies from MOC to MOC, so this is not a rule.

Something along these lines.
 
Check out all of the "stickies" at the top of the USMA forum page. Not only is there an admissions timeline from MAJ Belmont, but buff81 has compiled a high school year-by-year outline that tells you the kind of things you should be doing. There is also a handy acronym list so you know what people are talking about when they mention LOA, SLS, CFT, etc.
 
You might notice in another thread a discussion about getting transcripts. All the schools are closed right now so no one can get a hold of their counselors (who must verify your candidate activities record) or their registrars (who will send the transcripts). That's why I strongly recommend talking to them before school gets out and getting their personal email that they will check over the summer.

Do the same for your chem/physics, math, and english teachers (can they be from any subject other than those? no. Can they be from any year in high school? yes.)
 
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