I'm a Cow at USMA, AMA (Ask Me Anything)

[TPIAD]

Do you recommend getting the PC package they offer? Also, would you recommend purchasing an iPad from USMA, or brining our own? Thank you!

I would recommend it. I didn't go with it, I had my own computer equipment that I had sent up after I arrived. If they let you bring your ipad, do it, that way the Treasurer won't do mysterious things to your monthly pay. I personally never use my purchased ipad. Luckily I bought the cheapest available option. Most classes don't use it, and then there are some that push it heavily. When I did use my Ipad I was using it to surf social media instead of paying attention. Rumor is that the Ipads might be contributing factor as to why 2018 and 2019 have had so much difficulty with academics.

 

[TPIAD]

I'm not sure if anyone has asked this yet but where are you from and who did you receive noms from?

Edit:

I also want to say thank you for doing this AMA. The information I've learned from your responses to everyone's questions has been very eye-opening and I hope you can do this again. Maybe as a firstie?

I got my nomination from my congressman.

I don't want to post too much identifiable information just because you never know who could be reading these and in the off chance they don't support my opinions I'd rather not get dragged into someone's office.

 

[murfthesurf]

Is Chick-fil-A ever brought in and served for free for some events at USMA ?

If not, why not?

 

[TPIAD]

Is Chick-fil-A ever brought in and served for free for some events at USMA ?

If not, why not?

It's certainly never happened for me. I don't think there is a Chick-fil-A for quite some distance. West Point is tucked away in the woods pretty far from just about everything. The closest place for normal chain restaurants would be central valley and that's a 20min drive.

 

[USCG Master]

Thank you for spending time with us. My DD is trying for the USCG Academy.

 

[FloridaToUSMA2021]

How did you find the time to continue doing this AMA after last night?

 

[EVDfootball]

Since you play football, did you walk on or were you recruited? Also what does it take based on you viewpoint to walk on?

 

[Brosama]

Hello all,

I'm a cow at West Point right now. As expected, I'm spending this lovely Friday night in my room prepping my gear for some training in the morning. I ran across these forums and since it's been a number of years since I applied I'd figure I could answer some questions. I remember how stressed I was to come, and now, having been here for years, I've seen behind the curtain. Ask me anything, any topic, and I'll be happy to answer.

A little about me:
Mechanical Engineering Major
Direct Admit
Stats: 2100 SAT, 30% in HS class, Eagle Scout, and Varsity FB Player (O Line)
I was not in class leadership or NHS

a

Hello all,

I'm a cow at West Point right now. As expected, I'm spending this lovely Friday night in my room prepping my gear for some training in the morning. I ran across these forums and since it's been a number of years since I applied I'd figure I could answer some questions. I remember how stressed I was to come, and now, having been here for years, I've seen behind the curtain. Ask me anything, any topic, and I'll be happy to answer.

A little about me:
Mechanical Engineering Major
Direct Admit
Stats: 2100 SAT, 30% in HS class, Eagle Scout, and Varsity FB Player (O Line)
I was not in class leadership or NHS

Do you know anything about majoring in economics? How hard is it compared to other majors at West Point? Also, any specific bugle notes that would be good to learn before CBT?

 

[Brosama]

Hello all,

I'm a cow at West Point right now. As expected, I'm spending this lovely Friday night in my room prepping my gear for some training in the morning. I ran across these forums and since it's been a number of years since I applied I'd figure I could answer some questions. I remember how stressed I was to come, and now, having been here for years, I've seen behind the curtain. Ask me anything, any topic, and I'll be happy to answer.

A little about me:
Mechanical Engineering Major
Direct Admit
Stats: 2100 SAT, 30% in HS class, Eagle Scout, and Varsity FB Player (O Line)
I was not in class leadership or NHS

Dude I'm playing sprint football next year, what's with everyone hating on corps squads??

 

[mom3boys]

It's certainly never happened for me. I don't think there is a Chick-fil-A for quite some distance. West Point is tucked away in the woods pretty far from just about everything. The closest place for normal chain restaurants would be central valley and that's a 20min drive.

Just a butting in fyi: company meals can be anything. My son's company did have a chick fil a delivery. Also, for our tailgate next year, we are looking at doing chick fil a instead of BBQ. You don't have to quit CFA cold turkey. =)

 

[TPIAD]

How did you find the time to continue doing this AMA after last night?

Well after my training finished I had nothing left to do. I don't have much work this upcoming week so I chilled in my room watching netflix and hey might as well stick around. I would hate to leave unanswered questions. West Point likes to hype how much time we don't have, when really we have more then plenty.

 

[TPIAD]

Since you play football, did you walk on or were you recruited? Also what does it take based on you viewpoint to walk on?

I played football in HS. I was asked if I wanted to be considered to play for USMA and declined because I was tired of the sport by that point. I started playing when I was 8 and didn't feel like continuing. Walking on is possible, they host tryouts every year but it will be extremely hard since they recruit so many athletes they probably don't have many openings to fill.

 

[TPIAD]

a


Do you know anything about majoring in economics? How hard is it compared to other majors at West Point? Also, any specific bugle notes that would be good to learn before CBT?

Economics isn't too bad, tough, but it will set you up well for life. I would say economics is probably easier then majoring in say physics or math. I know I personally respect them a ton because econ takes work.

Don't worry about knowledge at all. Spend your remaining time at home having fun (safely). You'll be much happier if you go into CBT with stories of you and your boys/girls doing fun/crazy stuff then if you had studied all summer.

 

[EVDfootball]

I played football in HS. I was asked if I wanted to be considered to play for USMA and declined because I was tired of the sport by that point. I started playing when I was 8 and didn't feel like continuing. Walking on is possible, they host tryouts every year but it will be extremely hard since they recruit so many athletes they probably don't have many openings to fill.

Thanks for response. In the mandatory time for athletics what do you do?

 

[TPIAD]

Dude I'm playing sprint football next year, what's with everyone hating on corps squads??

If you're sprint you'll be fine. Generally everyone likes and supports swifties.

The hate on corps squad is mixed. Some cadets feel like they have it easy since they get out of training or drill. However, having friends were on the football team or on other corps squad teams, people are really ignorant of how long and hard they practice. Days here can be long and tiring, and then corps squaders have to go practice whereas I usually go pass out in bed until dinner. The hate is from a vocal minority who simply can't see how much their peers are actually working. Most cadets are really supportive.

Plus like I said, sprint is one of the most supported teams here. I don't think I've ever heard someone openly bad mouth the team (plus they win a ton too).

 

[TPIAD]

Just a butting in fyi: company meals can be anything. My son's company did have a chick fil a delivery. Also, for our tailgate next year, we are looking at doing chick fil a instead of BBQ. You don't have to quit CFA cold turkey. =)

Yes this is true, I was the activities NCO for my company. You can eat anything, but CFA was a bit far for my taste. We usually cooked out or bought food from Central Valley/Peekskill.

 

[TPIAD]

Thanks for response. In the mandatory time for athletics what do you do?

I haven't done one sport more than a couple times. I've done soccer, frisbee, grappling, basketball, and flickerball. For me it is less what sport it is and more who I'm playing with. We could be playing underwater basket weaving but if I'm out there with my friends I'll enjoy it. I liked soccer a lot, even though I'm garbage. Basketball was fun because it was close. Frisbee and flickerball sucked, in my opinion, since so many people took it way too seriously. They had custom gear and were really aggressive/disrespectful out there on the field. I love competition, but when you start to bad mouth my team it goes too far.

 

[Felix Rosa]

I'm pretty sure this question gets asked a lot trough the years: how do I mannage if I want to play more than one sport/join more than one club? eg. Small units tactics team/paintball or the Combatives team (MMA)/ parachute team maybe even wrestling or snowboarding? I feel that I can soak up so much knowledge at the academy so I don't really want to do only one thing. I've been around many combat sports and I love them, but I also want to learn awesome skills like SUT's and that type of stuff so that I can start to develope my arsenal for my dream MOS (18A)

Sorry if the question's a mush (had a long night, lol) basically, hopw can I mannage to join many different clubs at my time at the academy? I want the full experience, but I know that many teams host try-outs, so people who specifically want that team will probablly make the cut as opposed to someone who just wants to stick around for a while for the experience.

 

[ChiTown]

I opted out and left immediately. While I certainly think there is room for improvement, after two tests, a full day of class, and a mandatory brief beforehand I had been busy with something from 7 to at that point 730pm. I hadn't either, neither had my friend, and we both promptly left. In my humble opinion, it was timed poorly. All of 1st reg was released from a brief at 1800 the earliest, some stayed to watch a basketball tournament hosted by the reg which lasted until 1900. Many of us were going from one event to the other and I know for me at least, I was and am tired out of my mind from a rough week and just needed some time off before the fun continues tomorrow sometime around 5.

I opted out and left immediately. While I certainly think there is room for improvement, after two tests, a full day of class, and a mandatory brief beforehand I had been busy with something from 7 to at that point 730pm. I hadn't either, neither had my friend, and we both promptly left. In my humble opinion, it was timed poorly. All of 1st reg was released from a brief at 1800 the earliest, some stayed to watch a basketball tournament hosted by the reg which lasted until 1900. Many of us were going from one event to the other and I know for me at least, I was and am tired out of my mind from a rough week and just needed some time off before the fun continues tomorrow sometime around 5.

How were you able to *opt* out of the survey? It was mandatory. I know several Cadets who lost their leave over it.

 

[civic29]

The only mandatory part was showing up