Questions Thread

America's Finest said:
Statics & Dynamics examines the effect of forces acting on particles and rigid bodies. Vector mechanics is used extensively. The first part of the course, Statics, addresses the topics of equilibrium in two and three dimensions, to include distributed loads, trusses, frames, friction, and cables. The second part, Dynamics, begins with the study of kinematics, including translating and rotating reference frames and coriolis acceleration. The final block of the course deals with two dimensional kinetics methods of force-acceleration, work-energy, and impulse-momentum.
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Ah, I am doing this stuff now in Physics.

I also want to do a physics based major, such as EE or Mechanical. What can you tell me or us about what your peers think of these classes?
 
abeastlybeast said:
AF, do you enjoy the classes you take for mechanical engineering?

When I have to choose my major I'm either going for physics (especially since West Point apparently focuses on nuclear) or mechanical engineering.

Do you know any cadets majoring in physics? What do they think of it?
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I won't start taking classes in my major until next semester since I didn't validate any classes. The same goes for the people I know who are majoring in physics. As far as the core Physics class goes, I really enjoy it. The vast majority of cadets hate it though as it has the reputation for being the most difficult core class.

I have a friend who is majoring in Nuclear Engineering and she said that the first few weeks were extremely difficult since they introduced a lot of new concepts she had never dealt with before but after that it got easier and she really enjoys what she is doing.

PS: There is a Physics major and a Nuclear Engineering major.

Szpieg said:
Ah, I am doing this stuff now in Physics.

I also want to do a physics based major, such as EE or Mechanical. What can you tell me or us about what your peers think of these classes?
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Like I said above, the engineering majors have a stigma for being difficult (mostly mech, nuke, and civil). The cadets I have talked to who are actually majoring in these fields say it is a lot of work but they really enjoy it was they get to apply what they learn to real life by going out and building what they learn in the classroom. The engineering departments are also great! (you will learn once you're here that each department has a certain "personality")

Don't let this reputation stop you from choosing the major you want. While it does require some work, the major will be as easy as you enjoy the material you are studying. While most seem to hate classes such as physics or chemistry, there is also a good amount of people who get A's in these classes. I will be able to tell you more about mechanical engineering next semester when I start the classes.
 
West Point's website on about cadet life says, "Cadets are required to purchase a personal computer for academic courses and projects, including a color monitor, central processing unit and a keyboard." Is this just outdated and laptops are fine or are desktop units required? Thanks :)
 
kfacademy said:
West Point's website on about cadet life says, "Cadets are required to purchase a personal computer for academic courses and projects, including a color monitor, central processing unit and a keyboard." Is this just outdated and laptops are fine or are desktop units required? Thanks :)
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You get a laptop, extra monitor, keyboard, printer, external hardrive, and mouse.
 
Are cadets really required to buy them? I thought that computer hardware was supplied automatically. Do cadets pay for the computers through their stipend?
 
abeastlybeast said:
Are cadets really required to buy them? I thought that computer hardware was supplied automatically. Do cadets pay for the computers through their stipend?
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You will pay for the those items ($2,000 if I recall) before coming. You can choose not to pay for it and they will deduct it from your monthly pay instead. Or you can get scholarships to pay it off.
 
America's Finest said:
You will pay for the those items ($2,000 if I recall) before coming. You can choose not to pay for it and they will deduct it from your monthly pay instead. Or you can get scholarships to pay it off.
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Ok thanks for the heads-up, I didn't realize cadets had to pay for that. Are there any other things plebes need to purchase?
 
I am guessing uniforms? There is a list somewhere, but I cannot find it.
 
abeastlybeast said:
Ok thanks for the heads-up, I didn't realize cadets had to pay for that. Are there any other things plebes need to purchase?
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That initial deposit is all you pay. Everything else is issued (paid for by the money you never see). There is also something called a "top-off" which allows you to withdraw money from your cadet account (the one that is used to pay for all your stuff here) if you have over the minimum balance once you are an upperclassman. Basically, you will get those $2,000 back your second year. When we gained access to this most people took out $1,500-$2,500 the day it became available. (had been stored up from Plebe year)
 
The Army puts money into a "cadet account" for you, from which your books and uniforms and such are deducted. I call it monopoly money- I never had it, it's just a number on a computer screen, so I feel like I'm getting it for free:shake:.
 
I understand that the NY Times is no longer delivered to cadet rooms. When did that change and where is it available?
 
edhvoice said:
I understand that the NY Times is no longer delivered to cadet rooms. When did that change and where is it available?
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It was delivered last year so it must have changed this year. I haven't really researched to where I could get an extra copy but I am sure it wouldn't be too difficult.
 
They used to have newspaper dispensers near the hospital when my dad worked there although idk if you would want to walk all the way to Keller and back to the barracks to get a paper all that often.
 
vampsoul said:
The Army puts money into a "cadet account" for you, from which your books and uniforms and such are deducted. I call it monopoly money- I never had it, it's just a number on a computer screen, so I feel like I'm getting it for free:shake:.
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You do know that by your Yuk year, all the remaining money is pulled out and given to you?
 
I'm sure it has been answered at some point on this message board, but I looked and couldn't find it. Is smoking allowed for plebes? I don't smoke cigarettes, but I do smoke cigars and a pipe when I get the chance. And I know a ton of people at the Academy dip.
 
Chockstock said:
You do know that by your Yuk year, all the remaining money is pulled out and given to you?
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Just read through the entire thread. After all those questions, how'd you do?

I do have a question if anybody can help me:

I live about 45 minutes from WP, is the experience much different for someone who lives pretty close? (i.e. off-post, etc.?)
 
I would guess that you would be able to have your family visit you during plebe year to encourage you and to bring you stuff. Also, as a Firstie you might be able to drive home but have to come back that same day (Not too sure about this one). Where do you live? I live in NYC.
 
Szpieg said:
I would guess that you would be able to have your family visit you during plebe year to encourage you and to bring you stuff. Also, as a Firstie you might be able to drive home but have to come back that same day (Not too sure about this one). Where do you live? I live in NYC.
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Westchester County. NYC will prob be nice because from what I've read it's relatively easy for cadets to get there.
 
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