Am I competitive enough for West Point?

Tristyn Maalouf

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Messages
8
gpa: 4.23
2060 sat (haven't taken act yet)
varsity letters all four years, captain senior year (girls' tennis)
club president, member of 2 clubs and newspaper staff
work part time during school year
applied for SLE but haven't heard anything yet

also, I've been told that if you're not a recruited athlete and/or have family members that have gone to west point or are in the military in general, it is very hard to get in. I am trying to get recruited for tennis but if I don't I'm worried that I won't make it out of the national pool
 
I would say you have a solid chance. It's good that you work. If anything, work on your leadership and definitely take the ACTs. I got a 2010 on the SATs and a 34 on the ACTs, so you could pick up some points there like I did.

I was not accepted to SLE but I am a member of the class of 2019, just for the record.
 
I don't have any military in my family and I am not a recruited athlete, nor an academic genius yet I got in with hard work and determination. You can as well


2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
 
I would say you have a solid chance. It's good that you work. If anything, work on your leadership and definitely take the ACTs. I got a 2010 on the SATs and a 34 on the ACTs, so you could pick up some points there like I did.

I was not accepted to SLE but I am a member of the class of 2019, just for the record.
Thanks for the quick response. I've been hearing from a lot of current cadets that they did not get into sle, seems very competitive. I've also heard what region you live in might play a role in your acceptance which kind of stinks.
 
Well good luck! It's all about getting a primary nomination. If you can do that, you'll be good.

Also if you get your scores up a bit higher, you have a great chance no matter what. West Point doesn't care how many times you test, so test as much times as you need!
 
Don't be discouraged that others in your school are competing for an appointment as well, anything can happen! Last year we had 3 kids at our school all get appointments to USMA.
 
I don't have any military in my family and I am not a recruited athlete, nor an academic genius yet I got in with hard work and determination. You can as well


2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
just curious as to what area(s) you focused on that you think was the key to your appointment
 
just curious as to what area(s) you focused on that you think was the key to your appointment

The 34 on my ACTs.
My scouting experience.
My science Olympiad national medals.


I would say those are the highlights.

Plus, at my senatorial interview, they were really impressed with my interview answers, which I'm sure led to me being their primary.
 
just curious as to what area(s) you focused on that you think was the key to your appointment
I focused on my ACT and took it until I couldn't any more, I sought after team captain and other leadership roles, and I made everything I did perfect as could be; by perfect I mean my essays where typed clear and organized, my nominations packets were sent early and had all the info in a big package together, I practiced my interviews several times, I kept contact with my FFR and RC, to sum up anything I didn't find acceptable (like have a spill on a page needed by the nominations staff). I also made sure to prep for the CFA until I could do far above average in every area. I don't know my key to the appointment as I wasn't expecting one at all, but realized I was competitive and with determination could do it this year or the next or the next. I suggest the book (the name slips my mind) but it was how to prepare and 'survive' which I followed along with the advice of those in this forum. Your FFR will be a great source of info so go to them for any of your needs. Good luck!


2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
 
Well good luck! It's all about getting a primary nomination. If you can do that, you'll be good.

Also if you get your scores up a bit higher, you have a great chance no matter what. West Point doesn't care how many times you test, so test as much times as you need!
It's about getting nominations not just primary nominations. Compete and secure as many nominations as you are eligible to apply for. By doing so, you maximize the number of ways WP can slot you. Many MOC's only do competitive NOMS. Worry about maximizing what you can control. Don't get caught up in statistics. It is more than just a single category hence the term "Whole". Use the Class Profile as a guide, not just an end all.
 
West Point is the Harvard of military schools, even if you have solid scores on standardized testing and participate in a few out of school activities. It is imperative to keep in mind that many people that apply will have similar resumes, half to the majority have a good chance of getting in. No reason to risk your chance at your dream school, wow them in a special way to secure a spot in the class of 2019.
good luck
 
My son is in the class of 2019. He was not a recruited athlete, we do not have any family that went to WP, no military family connection, and his is not super brilliant. He's just an average kid from a very competitive state.
He went to the WP website as a freshman, read what they are looking for and simply aimed for that.

You may want to work on your interview skills in preparation for the interview with your MOC.
 
Admission is highly subjective and depends on who's in your local area and if your competitive enough for national slots.


2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
 
gpa: 4.23
2060 sat (haven't taken act yet)
varsity letters all four years, captain senior year (girls' tennis)
club president, member of 2 clubs and newspaper staff
work part time during school year
applied for SLE but haven't heard anything yet

also, I've been told that if you're not a recruited athlete and/or have family members that have gone to west point or are in the military in general, it is very hard to get in. I am trying to get recruited for tennis but if I don't I'm worried that I won't make it out of the national pool
Simple answer nobody know. Just become the best candidate you can take the ACT and SAT as many times as possible , practice the interviews, get good rev's. The chips will fall as they fall. CONTROL what you can CONTROL. Being a RA or members at WP in the military can help or not. Daughter was one of 1st 5000 offered an Appointment this year and had none of the previous referenced. She only CONTROLLED what she cold CONTROL! So should you. One plus is that you are a woman and that will possibly help. You still need to be competitive or better than the others.
Good luck!
 
just curious as to what area(s) you focused on that you think was the key to your appointment

For West Point, there is something calle whole candidate score. The score is used to determine who gets appointment within a specific competion category. Typically, not all the time, for a Congressional district, the candidate with the highest WCS with a nomination gets the appointment.

WCS is calculated 60% academics, 30% leadership, and 10% physical. It should be obivous that academics carries the most weight and it is about 1/2 SAT/ACT scores and 1/2 class ranking. Competitive candidates are pretty much well rounded, so you have take a holisitic approach. There is no extra credit so if you max out on your leadership, you are not going to get any additional point by doing more leadership activities.
 
To our OP: I most strongly suggest you change your screen name to something with some anonymity. Might I suggest "Steeler Fan," "Bleed Black & Gold," or similar. If you look carefully, while maybe ten people actually "converse" with you here, there are many hundreds of people who will look up your name i n all kinds of social media.

You should try for anonymous, not "I am T.M. from the NORTHEAST and I play womens tennis in high school." Not your smartest move, that.

Don't worry about other kids getting noms and appointments from your school: we had two from the same FAMILY, the same HOMESCHOOL, who each got a nom and appointment.

Get your SAT up.
 
To see if you were accepted into SLE, did you check your candidate Portal Account? That's where it should tell you
 
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