Enlisting

I need help making a decision. So I am hoping people will give me some insight.



I am currently a high school senior. It is my life goal to be a Army/Marine Corps Officer.

Earlier this year. I was wait listed at West Point(which will probably end up in a rejection).

I got into a couple of good universities, and on May 1st I placed a deposit for one school. I received a full tuition 4-year AROTC scholarship, and a school I placed my deposit for gave me a large scholarship. So I will be able to pay for college with my summer job.

The problem is a part of me really wants to enlist into the Army. I don't enjoy learning. This is not to say I don't do well in school, I just view school a job that I utterly detest. I am looking to do something more meaningful and valuable with my life then go to college.

Do yourself a favor, just go to the AROTC college and try your best. You'll be in the AROTC unit and have plenty of Army activities to keep you busy and happy. Then, start an application (as soon as apps are open) for the Class of 2014 at West Point, chances are you'll have a much better chance at it as many don't receive an appointment their first try. You'll have your first year of college academics to show you're ready, and it will also show how dedicated you are. I forget the exact number for West Point but it's something on the order of 40% get in on their 2nd application.

Running-Is-A-Real-Sport-1 said:

The problem is a part of me really wants to enlist into the Army. I don't enjoy learning. This is not to say I don't do well in school, I just view school a job that I utterly detest. I am looking to do something more meaningful and valuable with my life then go to college.

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I would say that college even w/o can AROTC can easily be very meaningful, valuable, and selfless depending on how you apply that oppurtunity. It also brings up the point that not all people who ship off to West Point are selfless heroes (aka none of them are), its what they decide to do after the academy that determines who they really are.

I totally hear you on the not putting academics at the top of your list, but a lot of that goes on at west point as you know...its in the business of producing competent well learned officers. So, if your goal is to be an officer in the army, i would take the college route whether ROTC and/or possibly reapplying to West Point. If your goal is to be in the Army, enlistment will get you there as well and 'really into' the service 4 years faster.

HM
West Point 2013 appointee (still have beast..)

Take it from a retired Army SFC who was in your same shoes... go to college. I was wait listed (class of 1984) and chose to enlist rather than go to Mississippi State on a track scholarship. I soon found myself too "in love" with the military life that I spent my nights doing college work and correspondence courses, that I never made the decision to get out and finish college or become an officer. Do I regret it? No. But if I had it all to do over again, I would have gone ROTC or re-applied to the Academy.

Praying you make the decision that best utilizes your talent!
Will - SFC Retired

same situation as you with not getting in class of 2013. high school senior. arotc scholarship. also had an appt. to usmma...but really wanted west point. I enlisted and will be attending basic in SC from july-sept. applying to west point class of 2014