What are some tips to get into West Point?

S

SCtoir

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Apr 5, 2024
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11
I'm planning on trying out for the wrestling team and other sports such as swimming.

Any tips on what else I should do to get into West Point?
Like the classes I should take, the extracurricular, etc.

(For reference, I'm in the 9th grade.)
 
Academics: Keep grades up, get a relatively high SAT/ACT

Sports: trying out for those sports are good, pick one or two and stick with it for the next three years

ECs: heavy emphasis on leadership (Scouting, JROTC, student council/NHS, etc) and definitely make sure to do Boys State

You’re only a freshman right now. Definitely a good thing to already be planning, but ease into it - you have time. Figure out not only what would be good for West Point but also what you are passionate about, and hopefully your passions happen to align with what would be good for West Point.
 
Please spend time reviewing the previous posts on this topic available through the Service Academy Forum. Please also review the USMA webpages. Plan to attend an USMA Admissions brief, they are virtual and offered frequently--you can find the next availability on Instagram or Facebook. Best wishes.
 
usmausmausmausma said:
Academics: Keep grades up, get a relatively high SAT/ACT

Sports: trying out for those sports are good, pick one or two and stick with it for the next three years

ECs: heavy emphasis on leadership (Scouting, JROTC, student council/NHS, etc) and definitely make sure to do Boys State

You’re only a freshman right now. Definitely a good thing to already be planning, but ease into it - you have time. Figure out not only what would be good for West Point but also what you are passionate about, and hopefully your passions happen to align with what would be good for West Point.
Click to expand...
Thanks man! I'll make sure to try and follow these.
 
Go to/apply to SLE. You get your CFA and interview completed there. You get to form a relationship with the person who interviews you. My interview at SLE was deeper and felt more real and less stressful than my interviews for Air Force and Navy. My Blue and Gold officer reached out after finding out I chose West Point and said he was super impressed with my interview and was disappointed I didn't choose Navy, so it wasn't necessarily one outcome will be better. I just feel like the interview is deeper and your interviewer has a better sense of who you are as a person which for me I thought was an asset.
 
wp120 said:
Go to/apply to SLE. You get your CFA and interview completed there. You get to form a relationship with the person who interviews you. My interview at SLE was deeper and felt more real and less stressful than my interviews for Air Force and Navy. My Blue and Gold officer reached out after finding out I chose West Point and said he was super impressed with my interview and was disappointed I didn't choose Navy, so it wasn't necessarily one outcome will be better. I just feel like the interview is deeper and your interviewer has a better sense of who you are as a person which for me I thought was an asset.
Click to expand...
Sorry, but I don't know what SLE is. Explain please? Thanks.
 
SCtoir said:
Sorry, but I don't know what SLE is. Explain please? Thanks.
Click to expand...
It is West Point's Summer Leadership Experience in June. The application closes today. I don't know if it is already closed but I would encourage anyone to apply.
 
wp120 said:
It is West Point's Summer Leadership Experience in June. The application closes today. I don't know if it is already closed but I would encourage anyone to apply.
Click to expand...
Thanks dude. I'll give it a shot!
 
Make excellence a habit in every area of your life. Do your best in school, in sports, and your other ECAs. If you do this, there's almost no way you don't get in. I know it's easier said than done, but it's not that hard. A few examples below.

Academics: Strive to get the best grade possible in every class. This means doing extra studying, etc., but also, it means understanding what your teachers are actually looking for, and building relationships with them. If you do this, they're more likely to help you when you need it. Relationships with teachers also help when they fill out your school official evaluations and letters of recommendation for nominations.

Sports: Work hard in and out of practice. Lifting weights is crucial (especially if you do wrestling).

ECAs: Achieve in the organization and be dedicated. This is fulfilling and worthy in itself, but also helps specifically during the application process. If you work hard at the lower levels, this increases your chance of gaining a leadership position later.
 
SCtoir said:
I'm planning on trying out for the wrestling team and other sports such as swimming.

Any tips on what else I should do to get into West Point?
Like the classes I should take, the extracurricular, etc.

(For reference, I'm in the 9th grade.)
Click to expand...
Get familiar with the acronyms, there are many…..
Search SAF for past threads on the information you seek. There is a ton of great information already posted about almost any question you could think of asking. Having said that don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are starting the admissions process earlier than most. Use it to your advantage!

From the pinned post at the top of this forum you can get started on learning about the information you asked for. Here is an excerpt from there

I'm a Freshman/Sophomore and I want to go West Point:
First:
- make sure that West Point/Army is what you want. Learn all you can about West Point and the Army
- do this by reading books, watching videos, youtube and series/movies about West Point
- talk to grads and your MALO/FFR

After that:
- go to http://admissions.usma.edu/. Devour this site. Click on the 'Start Young' tab to the left. You can sign up to be on the mailing list off of this page.
- make a day visit to West Point. Go to: http://admissions.usma.edu/ and follow instructions to schedule a day visit.
- prepare yourself for the PSAT. If you do well enough - West Point will start contacting you via snail mail.
- keep your grades up. Class rank is important!
- here is the profile of the Class of 2016: http://www.usma.edu/classes/SiteAssets/SitePages/2016/Profile2016.pdf. It will give you a good idea of the scores of that class and what you need to be aiming for. IOW - these are the stats of those that West Point accepted for 2016.
- take the hardest classes you can take and make an A or B in
- make sure that in High School, you take 4 years of math (including Trig and Pre-Cal), 4 years of English, 4 years of science (including 2 years of lab science), 1 year of US history, 2 years of foreign language. Geography, economics, government and a basic computing class are recommended as well.
- you will need recommendations from your math, English and chemistry or physics teachers, so get to know these teachers !
- excel in your sport(s). Strive towards being Captain of team sports. Contact team sports are rated higher than individual sports.
- stay involved in extracurriculars
- don't join every club in your school because you think it will look good on your application. It won't. Find clubs/causes that you enjoy and are passionate about and assume leadership positions in those clubs/causes.
- start working on your resume. Keep an accounting of everything that you have earned or done. When you are a Senior, you may have forgetten about an award you got or an activity that you were involved with while in the 9th grade.
- call your Representative's office and find out when they are having their All-Academy Day. This is a very informational meeting where all of the academies will have representatives for you to talk to and answer your questions. Usually, the Representative will speak about the nomination process.
 
shock-n-awe said:
Get familiar with the acronyms, there are many…..
Search SAF for past threads on the information you seek. There is a ton of great information already posted about almost any question you could think of asking. Having said that don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are starting the admissions process earlier than most. Use it to your advantage!

From the pinned post at the top of this forum you can get started on learning about the information you asked for. Here is an excerpt from there

I'm a Freshman/Sophomore and I want to go West Point:
First:
- make sure that West Point/Army is what you want. Learn all you can about West Point and the Army
- do this by reading books, watching videos, youtube and series/movies about West Point
- talk to grads and your MALO/FFR

After that:
- go to http://admissions.usma.edu/. Devour this site. Click on the 'Start Young' tab to the left. You can sign up to be on the mailing list off of this page.
- make a day visit to West Point. Go to: http://admissions.usma.edu/ and follow instructions to schedule a day visit.
- prepare yourself for the PSAT. If you do well enough - West Point will start contacting you via snail mail.
- keep your grades up. Class rank is important!
- here is the profile of the Class of 2016: http://www.usma.edu/classes/SiteAssets/SitePages/2016/Profile2016.pdf. It will give you a good idea of the scores of that class and what you need to be aiming for. IOW - these are the stats of those that West Point accepted for 2016.
- take the hardest classes you can take and make an A or B in
- make sure that in High School, you take 4 years of math (including Trig and Pre-Cal), 4 years of English, 4 years of science (including 2 years of lab science), 1 year of US history, 2 years of foreign language. Geography, economics, government and a basic computing class are recommended as well.
- you will need recommendations from your math, English and chemistry or physics teachers, so get to know these teachers !
- excel in your sport(s). Strive towards being Captain of team sports. Contact team sports are rated higher than individual sports.
- stay involved in extracurriculars
- don't join every club in your school because you think it will look good on your application. It won't. Find clubs/causes that you enjoy and are passionate about and assume leadership positions in those clubs/causes.
- start working on your resume. Keep an accounting of everything that you have earned or done. When you are a Senior, you may have forgetten about an award you got or an activity that you were involved with while in the 9th grade.
- call your Representative's office and find out when they are having their All-Academy Day. This is a very informational meeting where all of the academies will have representatives for you to talk to and answer your questions. Usually, the Representative will speak about the nomination process.
Click to expand...
Thanks man!
 
wp120 said:
Go to/apply to SLE. You get your CFA and interview completed there. You get to form a relationship with the person who interviews you. My interview at SLE was deeper and felt more real and less stressful than my interviews for Air Force and Navy. My Blue and Gold officer reached out after finding out I chose West Point and said he was super impressed with my interview and was disappointed I didn't choose Navy, so it wasn't necessarily one outcome will be better. I just feel like the interview is deeper and your interviewer has a better sense of who you are as a person which for me I thought was an asset.
Click to expand...
@SCtoir you can apply for SLE on February 1st of your Junior year of high school. That is the day you will open your candidate portal.
 
ThomasJ said:
Make excellence a habit in every area of your life. Do your best in school, in sports, and your other ECAs. If you do this, there's almost no way you don't get in. I know it's easier said than done, but it's not that hard. A few examples below.

Academics: Strive to get the best grade possible in every class. This means doing extra studying, etc., but also, it means understanding what your teachers are actually looking for, and building relationships with them. If you do this, they're more likely to help you when you need it. Relationships with teachers also help when they fill out your school official evaluations and letters of recommendation for nominations.

Sports: Work hard in and out of practice. Lifting weights is crucial (especially if you do wrestling).

ECAs: Achieve in the organization and be dedicated. This is fulfilling and worthy in itself, but also helps specifically during the application process. If you work hard at the lower levels, this increases your chance of gaining a leadership position later.
Click to expand...
@ThomasJ I know you are appointed but there's so much for this young person to do before they get to the point of possibly being accepted. Guidance is key with no promises. Be careful making sweeping statements now that you are in.
 
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