What to do now?

[EagleScout13]

What are all of us class of 2017 candidates who just sent in summer seminar applications supposed to do until June when we receive a candidate kit? I know good grades, ACT/SAT, extra-curricular, CFA practice, but is there anything we can do until then to complete our file?

 

[kinnem]

Pursue. Leadership positions. Start lining up recommendations. Find out what the process is for your MOCs. Start visiting other colleges as part of preparing plans B - Z. Explore other ways to commission. Good luck.

 

[will60633]

I highly recommend getting your letters of rec/TE's in line. When the candidate kit opens up, you will have to have your English, Math, and Physics/Chemistry teacher fill out a teacher evaluation. The best thing to do is to get teacher contact info so that in the middle of summer vacation when the kit goes live, you have a way of contacting your teachers to have them fill out the evaluations ASAP. Also, have a way to submit a transcript. These are typically the two things that stump candidates: it's the summer, school is closed, the portal just opened, and they can't get WP the things they need. Get it in line now.

 

[nuensis]

Get your teacher recommendations before the summer vacation begins. You'll beat the fall rush, when the rest of your senior class starts college applications. Make sure you grab your teachers' contact information, so you can keep in touch through the summer break.

NASS acceptees are all official candidates. The candidate information system will open right after NASS ends. Get the application done as soon as possible; if you already have teacher recommendations in, you'll be able to finish the online portions before August starts.

Rolling admissions means the earlier you have your application in, the easier it is for you and the better your chances of receiving something awesome like an LOA or early appointment. Get the online application done as soon as humanly possible, knock out the BGO interview, knock out the CFA at NASS (train up before you leave!), start preparing packages for your nominating sources, and you'll be done with the application well before the first review board meets in September, and it will probably pay off very well.

At the very least, you won't have to deal with the tedious USNA application along with school.

I suggest you do the same for any other college or program that opens their application in the summer (Citadel, Norwich, ROTC). It definitely saves a lot of stress to take care of everything without having to worry about homework, tests, or sports.

 

[Dixieland]

Make smart decisions in your personal life. Do not let alcohol and drugs derail your hopes and dreams. Stay away from people and situations that can cause legal troubles that West Point will see when you present them with a copy of your police record once you receive your appointment.

I agree with the others....visit other colleges and formulate a solid backup plan. Find out about an ROTC scholarship.

 

[A'sMom]

Great advice from everyone here. My DS's biggest hold-up was getting his letters of recommendations. We ran into a lot of little snags that we never imagined would happen. Like, his favorite teacher retiring (and the school would not give us her telephone number, but contacted her for us and then she called us). Teachers not getting their emails from USMA. For some reason, I think the HS computers were inadvertently blocking them, so then we had to get their home email addresses. Just little things like that which can back you up an extra week or so. And you don't want that to happen because time is of the essence when you are wanting you get your file completed. My suggestion is to get back-up emails from your teachers before school lets out for the summer - just in case!

 

[MemberLG]

A suggestion,

get in touch with your MALO or local liaison officer. They might not do anything with you now, as too early for an interview, but can give you additional advice and get a favorable impression of you.

 

[Packer]

You can line up these "letters of recommendations" but you can't get them. They will be in an online format sent from the academy for the teachers whose e-mail you provide to fill out.

 

[A'sMom]

There are "two sets" of Letters of recommendations. There are the ones that USMA will email to three of your teachers which, as mentioned above, you will never see. Then there are the Letters of recommendation (written on paper) that you will be sending along with your packets to you Senators and Congressman for your nomination. I highly suggest that you get those completed before your senior years begins. There will be much to do and no one is ever in as much a hurry to write the letter as you are in getting it in your hand.

 

[Hooah1775]

Great advice from all regarding the Letters of Recommendation and agree that it is good to start thinking about Teacher Rec's now and have alternate emails, etc. Sometimes USMA email goes into a "JUNK" or "SPAM" folder due to security protection at some schools.

I also wanted to expand on Letters of Recommendation for your Members of Congress (MOC's).

As you may realize from reading through SA Forum, organization is key in managing this process and it might be helpful to make a spreadsheet with list of all MOC's(Congressman and Senators, VP-see below) with their specific requirements for the Letters of Recommendation. Go to each web site and make sure you carefully read who they each want to write a Letter of Recommendation. Most web sites have the applciation that you can download and even if it is last years, they typically don't change too much (unless there is a new MOC due election yr,etc.). Also, you may want to contact and introduce yourself to the Service Academy Coordinators and find out if the MOC is hosting an Academy Day. These are great events for meeting current Cadets and USMA grads along with MOC's and their staff.

NOTE: VP Nomination will also request Letters of Recommendation, but these are sent directly to your RC at USMA. So, you will want those who are writing letters to also address one letter to the VP. "Applicants must complete the online nomination application during the application period of March 1 to January 31 preceding the year of entrance to the academies. The Office of the Vice President will not accept paper."
applications.http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden/academy-nominations/

I would also encourage you to work with you H.S. Counselor regarding Boys State and also find your local American Legion Post and meet with the Commander to express your interest in attending Boys State. Different Posts and H.S.'s manage this process differently -- just be sure you know how it is done in your area.

Finally, I would encourage you to seek current USMA graduates in your area and let them know you are interested. Listen and learn from them. Perhaps there is a West Point Society in your city/town that would help or even connect through the American Legion Post, etc.

Hope this helps!!