Why should I go?

tdreceiver17

5-Year Member
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Feb 4, 2014
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I have recently received an nomination from a HOR member and am very confident I will be accepted to West Point. Even knowing the low acceptance and the competitiveness of getting in, I will be very very surprised if I do not get accepted. That being said, I looked them up but I just wanted to hear some people answering with their own personal opinion. What are the biggest advantages of going to West Point? Please don't try to criticize the question, just answer. Also, please don't answer my question with a question.
 
I am very confused by your post. You make it sound like you are nominated, but didn't ask for the nomination...and you mention looking West Point up, as if you didn't apply. Why should you go? You should not. You should turn it down so that someone who wants this with every fiber of his/her being has a better chance to get in because if you have to be convinced to go, it's not the right place for you. You should go to college at a place that you are excited and passionate to attend. :eek:
 
It's a simple answer actually. You shouldn't ask someone why you should go there, you shouldn't question why you should go there, you need to feel that you want to go there. If you can see yourself there then that's where you belong. Don't sound so cocky about it, 4500 people get noms, and out of those, only 1500 get accepted. Every one of those noms have nearly the same chance as you to get in
 
Well said Mom3boys. There's a way to go about on asking how life at WP is and all of the opportunities it brings, but practically asking someone to tell you why you should go as if you're obligated is a good sign that you shouldn't go. You received a nom which means that your are a smart and talented person. But just because you're nominated doesn't mean that it's a right choice for you, nor does it obligate you to attend the academy. Attending WP is a huge honor that will change the rest of your life. You won't have the normal college experience and go out and party every night, but 30 years down the road you'll know you made a good decision when you have a great life and job that has taken you to places you've never even dreamed of. That being said there are people that go into ROTC that have the same experiences and get to have the college lifestyle. It boils down to what you want to do with your life. Remember that you aren't guaranteed anything. Just because you have a nom and what you think is a competitive file doesn't mean you're going to get in. I hope the best for you, and remember to make the right choice for you, not for anyone else.
 
Don't ask a question

Something about coming on this forum and asking a question and then telling people how to answer your question.
 
Everything...and I do mean everything about your post makes this a very very easy question to answer.. you shouldn't.

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I have recently received an nomination from a HOR member and am very confident I will be accepted to West Point. Even knowing the low acceptance and the competitiveness of getting in, I will be very very surprised if I do not get accepted. That being said, I looked them up but I just wanted to hear some people answering with their own personal opinion. What are the biggest advantages of going to West Point? Please don't try to criticize the question, just answer. Also, please don't answer my question with a question.


Just curious but why are you so sure you will get in? And Why did you apply? I know these are questions but are you asking why my DS picked West Point?
That I would say is between him and WP and to honest I see his answer changing as he grows and develops if and/ or when he gets him . I certainly expect him to be humble.

Biggest advantages:
A great education
A chance to serve your country
Comrades

Maybe you should answer what the disadvantages are? We don't really see any considering we are a military family and there is no greater pride!! I am disappointed in your general overall statement.
 
West Point is for those students who truly want to serve their country and know that they want to be there. I know I am not the only one fighting for an appointment, I realize how competitive it is and what an honor being accepted (for those who are) is. People who go just to go, or just because they can take up the slots of the other competitors who want to be the best army officers in the country. Think hard about this decision and if you do not see yourself committing to this course, thenI would highly advise re-thinking your options.
 
Unfortunately for the Academy, kids like this slip through and actually show up at R day. He might actually be a talented athlete and have the academics to get (dont know his scores) but sounds like his head is not in it.
Do everyone a favor and take a scholarship to some other civilian college, play football and run track, because if you don't want to be an officer in the US Army, period, West Point is not for you. West Point is like no other place in the US.
Maybe a little critical but it burns my chaps when there are only so many slots and they go to kids who really don't want it.

I have recently received an nomination from a HOR member and am very confident I will be accepted to West Point. Even knowing the low acceptance and the competitiveness of getting in, I will be very very surprised if I do not get accepted. That being said, I looked them up but I just wanted to hear some people answering with their own personal opinion. What are the biggest advantages of going to West Point? Please don't try to criticize the question, just answer. Also, please don't answer my question with a question.
 
I agree with what the others above me have said. I have worked for so many years now to get in so that I could go on to serve my country after getting one of the best educations in the world. My dad served for 22 years retired 05 LTC. His father served, his father's father served, and his father's father's father served. This has been such a huge part of my life, and so many others, if your heart, head, and soul aren't in this, please don't rob another person of an appointment who really wants this.
 
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...after getting the best education in the world.

Although I agree with your general sentiment, this line in particular is simply not true. The purely academic quality of a West Point education is not comparable to that at an Ivy League or other top-tier university.
 
Although I agree with your general sentiment, this line in particular is simply not true. The purely academic quality of a West Point education is not comparable to that at an Ivy League or other top-tier university.

I respect your words. Coming from a cadet, I know you have first hand experience, but what I really meant really was ONE of the best. Wrong word choice I suppose. But, when you say that you went to USMA rather than Princeton (a school I have also applied to by the way), or others like it, nobody is going to reply with a disappointed "oh." It is one of the most impressive things to graduate from USMA, and I think second to none overall. So on my part, yeah probably should have said one of the best, but then again, the ivy's are always fighting with each other for #1 anyways, so who really knows! :shake:
 
Education and academics are not synonymous. Is WP the most academically rigorous testing the bounds of academia, probably not in most fields. Are WP grads better educated than Ivies, I'd say on the whole yes because of the mandatory non-tangibles that come to all WP graduates. It is very possible to sit at an Ivy, do nothing but study/memorize/conform and graduate with no relevant experience or unique thought or be able to solve a complex problem without direct supervision and constant guidance.
 
Education and academics are not synonymous. Is WP the most academically rigorous testing the bounds of academia, probably not in most fields. Are WP grads better educated than Ivies, I'd say on the whole yes because of the mandatory non-tangibles that come to all WP graduates. It is very possible to sit at an Ivy, do nothing but study/memorize/conform and graduate with no relevant experience or unique thought or be able to solve a complex problem without direct supervision and constant guidance.

Good point. I stand by what I said now. haha! But seriously 845something, good response.
 
Academic Toughness

Although I agree with your general sentiment, this line in particular is simply not true. The purely academic quality of a West Point education is not comparable to that at an Ivy League or other top-tier university.

I think the Academies are much better at WP than any other school (at least they were when I went there). The professors are top notch and the classes are small. In many Ivy League schools, classes are taught by graduate assistants with hundreds of other students sometimes. The professors have to publish or perish or conduct research. Talking to people who go to the top tier schools is interesting. Many of the conversations revolve around partying, sports, and non essential things. Their classes include "Beyoncé and Politics" and other frivolous subjects.I barely got by at WP. However, I sailed through my two Master's programs at a civilian school.
 
I have recently received an nomination from a HOR member and am very confident I will be accepted to West Point. Even knowing the low acceptance and the competitiveness of getting in, I will be very very surprised if I do not get accepted. That being said, I looked them up but I just wanted to hear some people answering with their own personal opinion. What are the biggest advantages of going to West Point? Please don't try to criticize the question, just answer. Also, please don't answer my question with a question.

West Point will be better than any other school you will attend. Please don't question my answer.

On a serious note, you need to ask a serious question to get serious answers. Since we don't know what you want, we can't tell you with our personal experience/opinion of "advantages of going to West Point."

If your goal is to become a NFL receiver, going to West Point will give you no advantage.
 
Although I agree with your general sentiment, this line in particular is simply not true. The purely academic quality of a West Point education is not comparable to that at an Ivy League or other top-tier university.

It depends, I attended a top-tier university for one year before I attended West Point. Same classes I took, I say no difference in material or instructors but West Point class sizes were smaller and I got more attention for instructors. I am pretty sure that junior and senior level, difference exists (i.e if you are studying 17th century English poetry, I am pretty sure some of the top tier schools are way better than West Point English department), but West Point makes it up by forcing students to take courses they don't want to take:shake:.
 
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