Sorry, Scoutpilot was flying.
There sure are a lot of sour grapes in here. Did someone get a letter from West Point that read "Your kid is worthless and you can take this application and cram it in your cramhole?" I didn't think so. So grow up a bit, huh? No one is suggesting your kid is anything but great. He or she just didn't come out on top of the heap. That's not condemnation. Life is a competition and losing teaches us just as much as winning.
While some folks feel like lecturing on leadership, they should note that while loyalty is a leadership trait, so is perseverance. Why someone would be upset at West Point for saying they could try again is beyond me. Maybe you'd prefer to be told to cram it and to never think of USMA again? I guess so.
Of course every parent thinks their kid is the best. I'm sure they're all great, but West Point has a finite number of slots. Just like Harvard or Yale or MIT or Bumschmuck College of Dental Hygiene. Not everyone can get in. It would be nice if every qualified applicant could get in and become a general. It would also be great if my dogs would feed themselves and manage my IRA, but alas we live in the stark, cold world of reality.
Attending West Point is like any other goal. If you want it, go for it. Fight as hard for it as it's worth to you. If you're happy with Plan B, good. USMA fulfilled their mission of choosing the candidates who looked the best. The process has proven its worth for 210 years. Do great candidates get left out? Sure. They do at every top institution. It's the luxury of having a great pool of applicants. Control what you can control...your packet, your patience, and what you do with the outcome.
Let's try to show a little maturity about this subject. Statements like "He will do it with or without West Point-with a school that recognizes his value" are baseless, childish, and make me wonder more than a little about whose pride was hurt more.