Letter from the Regional Commander

[BigNick]

I agree 100% that the candidate should do 100% of the talking and communications with all West Point admissions officers and the field force. I would even advise that the candidates ask all of the questions at briefings.

Parents - attend the briefings but keep a VERY LOW profile. The candidate is being evaluated - not the parents. In fact, your active participation HURTS your candidates chances. Like it or not that is the way it works.

[Roadking]

Thanks Big Nick and Art.Perea that is solid advice and it is honestly a problem that I have. You love your DS so much and are so proud that you want the world to know how great he is...LOL I will take this advice to heart and will basically only speak when spoken to! And this will be my policy moving forward through the process, it just makes sense.

[BigNick]

Roadking,

Great. I know it is hard but the WP Admissions people do not want to see a candidate willing to be in the background. They want to see an articulate, intelligent, aggressive, confident, determined, independent, candidate.

One of the things I look for when conducting the official interviews - how much does the candidate want to go to WP. Is it a passion or just checking out a great school. In additon, do the parents want their DS to go to WP more than the candidate wants to go? I see this a few times every year.