USMA Class of 2018

I am just curious,

I am going for another shot at West Point right now (at a civilian college) and have a wayyy better perspective on what aspect of my application I need to improve on. I know what I need to do now but at the same time the fact that my original class will be seniors kind of itches the back of my head, should I worry about this?? is there anyone on here that applied to the academy, got appointed and graduated several years behind their original class? Army ROTC program isn't very good at my school so I plan on going to VaTech upon transferring the spring of 2014. Please people, I have already questioned myself if "it is worth going for USMA over again" but being the type of person who hates to quit I just feel too tempted to try again.

There are cadets here in my year goup are five or six years older than the one straight from highschool. Some went to prep school, some one to college for two years, some were prior enlisted, some were both. My room mates "class year" actually graduated in 2010.

It's not an issue. I would actually argue DA (direct admits) are kind of a minority now. I think about 30% get accepted straight from highschool.


Look at my signature for what i think about quiting when something you want is concerned.
If it's important enough to you, you won't give up.
If you really want to be here, why would it matter what others think of your age?

The only "problem" is that you will delay your commissioning if you leave a ROTC program and come here. If you are two years away from a ROTC commission, you still have to complete four years for a commission from USMA.

Other than that, I have not seen any problems come up as a result of not being a direct admit and would say that it is much more of an advantage to be used to being away from home, used to the level of work for college courses, etc.

BigBear said:

The only "problem" is that you will delay your commissioning if you leave a ROTC program and come here. If you are two years away from a ROTC commission, you still have to complete four years for a commission from USMA.

Other than that, I have not seen any problems come up as a result of not being a direct admit and would say that it is much more of an advantage to be used to being away from home, used to the level of work for college courses, etc.

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in regards to the Army ROTC program at my college it only has the lecture portion whereas I would have to travel to another school to get the lab done; basically what really matters.

I also would like to ask, when it comes to nominations is it REALLY politically based?? I know it is off topic but I don't want to start a another thread for this.

gridironkid said:

in regards to the Army ROTC program at my college it only has the lecture portion whereas I would have to travel to another school to get the lab done; basically what really matters.

I also would like to ask, when it comes to nominations is it REALLY politically based?? I know it is off topic but I don't want to start a another thread for this.

Click to expand...

No, they are not "REALLY politically based."

Case in point: A prominent part of my resume was the work I had done with the local branch of the Republican Party, eventually culminating in my internship with Senator Kirk (the GOP senator from IL). However, I received my nomination from Sen. Durbin (Democrat sen. from IL), even though a) My resume had lots of GOP-related activities and b) One of my letters of rec. was from Sen. Kirk.


-TheChicagoan