USMA Admission How to get in?

bri11

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
4
Hi,
I am a freshman and have wanted to go to West Point for about a year now. I was wondering though how qualified I am. I have straight As, take honors classes, and am a member of the Key Club, and track team. I was a tenderfoot in the scouts. I know everyone says to do team sports, but I am not really good at anything but track. Also, what other clubs should I join to show leadership. I just need some help to know what to do, because I know I am under-qualified. Is there anything that can make up for lack of a team sport? THanks in advance. I really appreciate any help.
 
Hi,
I am a freshman and have wanted to go to West Point for about a year now. I was wondering though how qualified I am. I have straight As, take honors classes, and am a member of the Key Club, and track team. I was a tenderfoot in the scouts. I know everyone says to do team sports, but I am not really good at anything but track. Also, what other clubs should I join to show leadership. I just need some help to know what to do, because I know I am under-qualified. Is there anything that can make up for lack of a team sport? THanks in advance. I really appreciate any help.

Hi bri11,

I don't mean to offend, but I believe it's a bit soon to be asking if you're qualified as a Freshman. (I'm going to sound like a hypocrite here), but no one can really give you a 100% answer if you're qualified for admissions, so asking for your qualifications isn't the best way to tackle this subject.

"Also, what other clubs should I join to show leadership."
Personally, I think the admissions site has the best advice for this. Join what you enjoy! If you enjoy it, you'll most likely stick to it. The admissions likes to see continuity (so long as it isn't a straight F's sort of continuity) and chances are you'll progress naturally as a leader.

On the flip side, since you're a freshman, I recommend you jump into some clubs/programs just to get your feet wet.
For example, I joined JROTC my freshman year to get out of PE, and now I'm the Battalion Commander. I found a natural joy in it; you just never know!

Two specific activities I can recommend for West Point, though, are NHS and Boy's/Girl's State. It's not necessarily a make/break activity, but it's another checked box. Although, leadership positions in these (as with any other activity) can make it more than just a checked box.

Anyone please correct me if I'm giving misleading information!
 
Hi,
I am a freshman and have wanted to go to West Point for about a year now. I was wondering though how qualified I am. I have straight As, take honors classes, and am a member of the Key Club, and track team. I was a tenderfoot in the scouts. I know everyone says to do team sports, but I am not really good at anything but track. Also, what other clubs should I join to show leadership. I just need some help to know what to do, because I know I am under-qualified. Is there anything that can make up for lack of a team sport? THanks in advance. I really appreciate any help.

I agree with most of Littlepenguino's comments with the exception of just jumping into clubs to get your feet wet.

Key Club is an excellent service organization and should give you opportunities to show leadership while benefiting your community. You might work on leading projects there and perhaps eventually being President of the club.

Second, track IS a sport. It's even a team sport. Yup, it ain't football but they are looking for leadership and athletics. You can still show leadership on the field by becoming captain, or co-captain of the track team. Your right.. it's not a tightly integrated team sport but you're still showing athleticism and hopefully leadership.

Look at Boy's state as earlier suggested. For some reason, based on nothing at all, I think you'll enjoy it. Be yourself and do the things you enjoy that will enhance your resume. Do not do things just to put a check in a box.

Excel academically.

Everybody needs to find their own route to the academy building on their own strengths. You sound to me like you know yours. At the same time be willing to expand your horizons... you might find you're capable of more than you think... and if you don't you will definitely learn that you are more capable than you think in the military. Be you, just be you with an exclamation point!
 
I agree with Littlepenguino....too early to say if you are qualified. Yes, you are on the right track, but who knows, for all we know, in the next couple of years you could potentially get straight F's, so then that would all change.

What clubs should you join? Ones you enjoy. Quality > Quantity. A few clubs with leadership positions are a lot better than being in 25 that you are just a member in.

Apply to SLS come junior year. Take AP classes or IB, do well.

No, you are not under qualified because you are only a freshman and haven't even finished the school year yet. At this time last year I was potentially "under qualified" too because I hadn't done a sport yet. I run outdoor track, it doesn't start until late February/early March, so I hadn't had a sport on my resume yet, but that didn't mean under-qualified, because I hadn't had to time to do everything. It takes time.

You don't HAVE to do a team sport (and really, track isn't an individual sport, think of the relay's, that is totally and completely teamwork). I suggest XC in the fall though, because it's a great way to keep in shape for track, and vice versa. Try and letter in them too (Varsity). They just suggest a team sport. I'm sure there's plenty of people who've gotten in who didn't have something like basketball or football.

Also, look at the sticky's. Very helpful.

Good luck! :thumb:
 
Though it is too early to say if you are qualified, it's the best time for you, I know you feel like there isn't much you can do but honestly, you can do more than most older candidates, you already know what you want to do so mold your high school resume to fit what the academies are looking for.
 
Hi,
I am a freshman and have wanted to go to West Point for about a year now. I was wondering though how qualified I am. I have straight As, take honors classes, and am a member of the Key Club, and track team. I was a tenderfoot in the scouts. I know everyone says to do team sports, but I am not really good at anything but track. Also, what other clubs should I join to show leadership. I just need some help to know what to do, because I know I am under-qualified. Is there anything that can make up for lack of a team sport? THanks in advance. I really appreciate any help.

Do you have an interest in serving as an officer in the United States Army?
 
Thanks for the help guys and yes, Dixieland, that is my interest.
 
bri11,
Don't know how I overlooked this but one thing you should do is read all the stickies at the top of this forum. There is a lot of good info there. Also, go here: http://www.usma.edu/admissions/SitePages/Pros_Cadets.aspx. On the right hand side of the page is advise for various high school class years. Get familiar with that material. Good luck!
 
thanks man that helps a lot! lol stupid question but what exactly are "stickies"?
 
The threads that are "stuck" to the top of the USMA page. They are the ones that are on the first half of the page.
 
work hard to earn your eagles scout before second semester your senior year. it counts a lot in the admissions process.
 
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