What do they want?

Szpieg

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
273
Alright guys, I have a question to you all concerning admissions.

I have recommendations, documents, and records that I wish for West Point to see. I have a letter from my Assemblyman addressed to West Point and is sealed for them. Should I send it? or give it to my congresswoman. Also, do congressmen/women and/or senators inform West Point about your activities? Like if I go to a second language school every week, but on the app it just says "other extra curricular activities", I feel that the option on the profile is very vague whereas the exact activity holds more weight to it. I emailed them and told them this that I have taken Polish for 11 years, and she said she added my knowledge of the language and i dont know if she wrote that i spent 11 years of weekly studies, not just knowledge of the language.

So what i am trying to say is: should I fax/mail them my report cards, documents, awards, recommendations? or do they not want that?
 
Your MOC will not tell the Academy about your profile. The MOC will simply submit your name if he or she nominates you.
Your counselor will send them your report card.
Use all space available in the application forms to add whatever elaboration you feel necessary
Email the director of admissions of your region and ask about sending in extra letters of recommendation, etc.
 
where on the application forms, I already filled out the questionaire...is it too late to add stuff? I forgot to put in that I coached and stuff...ah i feel stupid
 
Patience, grasshopper....

Adding awards etc. that you should have put in the first time makes it seem as if you did the application thoughtlessly.

Right now, you're probably applying to SLS. From what I know, let the chips fall where they may on this, but contact your MALO for better information - he/she may have better advice.

Sometime over the summer, the portal will open, and you'll have a shot at the real deal. Before you turn that one in, have a resume done. Fit in whatever you can in the limited space for whatever applies (for example, there has been in the past a question where you're asked to describe any particular adversity. You could use that to describe a non-English speaking home, and then segue into your 11 years of Polish school.

Before you hit the button on that one, ask a guidance counselor and your MALO, and a couple of other trusted folks what they think. Get it right the first time. You have a lot to offer; make it show.

You can supplement that one if you need to, but don't make it look like an "oops, I forgot"; make it look like a "Here's what I've done lately".

Wyrazy wspolczucia oraz szczescle!
 
Try making a concise, yet thorough resume, not exceeding the standard page limit. Put everything you have achieved over the years on a well organized piece of paper. Try to be as informative as possible, without sacrificing neatness. (i.e. separate your accolades from your language talents, refrain from using complete sentences, etc.) I'm not sure what exactly they would want or require, but I know that if you can successfully complete and send one of these to your regional director, it will convey a lot about you to the admissions office. Hope this helped, and I wish you the best of luck!
 
so i have one more chance when the potal opens up when? while im at sls?
 
Szpieg, assuming your application so far is only for SLS, take a moment to breath deeply, and relax.

Knowing what you know now, when/if you fill out a full USMA application, DO NOT do it online first. Print out the application, read it carefully, write a resume/ essay, letters to others for recommendations, notify your teachers of your intent to apply (you'll need their recommendations just when they are on vacation over the summer). Write a well worded essay, in complete sentence with good grammar, about yourself, your reasons for applying, ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER (or on the computer). Put it down and walk away, stay strong in school, stay with your ECA's. As the other PO's state, do this carefully and with thought and guidance from others. You don't need to have this submitted in June (but don't wait for next March either!). This can be a critical step (saving your essay on the computer for cut and paste later) when you get an "error, page not loading" message when trying desperately to get your application filled out on line (search these forums for application stories).

Reread your essay in a few weeks. Edit your essay, ask yourself if that's what you really NEEDED to say or just wanted to say. Ask your self if this is really what you want others to think of you, will it tell the same personal story as the friends/teacher/ MOC recommendations? If the application states "in 500 words or less", do it in 500 words or less (the computer can count them for you). As soon as the recipient looks at the length of your essay, they will have already determined if you can follow directions or not.

Put your "ducks in a row" before going in head first. Check and double check what you have against what you need, make a list and check off as you go. Resist providing too much "fluff". After all. the SA's are looking for candidates that can think clearly, not overreact, and are forthright and determined in their actions.

And......good luck!
 
Szpieg, assuming your application so far is only for SLS, take a moment to breath deeply, and relax.

Knowing what you know now, when/if you fill out a full USMA application, DO NOT do it online first. Print out the application, read it carefully, write a resume/ essay, letters to others for recommendations, notify your teachers of your intent to apply (you'll need their recommendations just when they are on vacation over the summer). Write a well worded essay, in complete sentence with good grammar, about yourself, your reasons for applying, ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER (or on the computer). Put it down and walk away, stay strong in school, stay with your ECA's. As the other PO's state, do this carefully and with thought and guidance from others. You don't need to have this submitted in June (but don't wait for next March either!). This can be a critical step (saving your essay on the computer for cut and paste later) when you get an "error, page not loading" message when trying desperately to get your application filled out on line (search these forums for application stories).

Reread your essay in a few weeks. Edit your essay, ask yourself if that's what you really NEEDED to say or just wanted to say. Ask your self if this is really what you want others to think of you, will it tell the same personal story as the friends/teacher/ MOC recommendations? If the application states "in 500 words or less", do it in 500 words or less (the computer can count them for you). As soon as the recipient looks at the length of your essay, they will have already determined if you can follow directions or not.

Put your "ducks in a row" before going in head first. Check and double check what you have against what you need, make a list and check off as you go. Resist providing too much "fluff". After all. the SA's are looking for candidates that can think clearly, not overreact, and are forthright and determined in their actions.

And......good luck!

Alright, so despite the fact that I have already filled out the questionnaire...that is for SLS?...from what i read from your post, is that i will have to basically redo an actual one for the actual school...is that correct? also, i will actually need recommendations and and essay sent to west point?

thanks for your patience guys, this is really stressing me out...
 
if this is stressing you out now, your in for a long 18 months.

RREELLAAXXX!

Get used to the waiting. You'll get a chance to edit your file again in august.
 
whats in august? does your portal open up so that you may add like side notes and stuff?
 
Szpieg - You will have a lot to do to complete the application process for WP as well as any other service academy or civilian college. It will be OK, just take a deep breath and organize your thoughts. Write things down now so that when it comes time to fill out your applications you have written reference material in front of you.

Yes, you will have to submit an essay as part of the application process. This is true for most colleges ... scholarship applications ... nomination applications, etc.

The application process is part of the challenge, if you take charge and meet the challenge then you're on your way to accomplishing your goal.
 
Szpieg

I would recommend that you try and do some reading on the admissions process, as it sounds like you have picked up little bits of info. here and there and are getting yourself totally stressed out. There is a lot of very helpful information on the USMA website. Select "Admissions", then select "Apply", then select "Read Prospectus online" or "Request Prospectus by mail".

My son's first choice was the Naval Academy and he read a very helpful and basic book on the admissions process. There is a USMA version of this book called:
"The West Point Candidate Book: How to Prepare, How to Get In, How to Survive" by Sue Ross

See if it is available from your local library (or ask about an inter-library loan), or you can buy it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/West-Point-Candidate-Book-Prepare/dp/0979794323/ref=pd_sim_b_6

This forum has also been incredibly helpful, but it is good to try and get a basic understanding of the process. The book was an excellent resource for my son and it is also very helpful for parents to read and understand their role in the process.

Also, I know you are only interested in USMA but the USNA section of this forum has an excellent overview of Frequently Asked Questions and many of them apply to all the academies - I think you will find this post by USNA1985 very helpful (she is a USNA BGO which is basically the same role as a USMA MALO):
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=6327

You have completed the Preliminary application - for SLS. Once the portal opens up in the summer, there are numerous different sections that you will need to complete online. You should take plenty of time to read through all the instructions very carefully and you can save as you go. As previously suggested, once you have the topics, it is a good idea to write up your essays in another document and then copy them across when you are sure they are ready to be submitted. Remember to make them unique - you need to stand out as an individual!

Your teachers (English, Math, and Physics/Chemistry) and counselor will need to complete their recommendations for USMA online - there is a specific section on your portal to enter their email addresses. You could send them an email explaining your passion to attend USMA and attach your resume for their reference. Ask what email address you can use for them and let them know it will be an online form that will go directly to them. You can also put in a request for your year end transcipt to be sent to USMA and make sure that you add USMA to your SAT/ACT list of colleges to receive your scores automatically. Some Senators and congressman also request that your scores be sent directly from Collegeboard. Do not underestimate the importance of these scores. This is one area that you do not want to come in right at the average mark. You have the time to study and take the test again until you really feel you will not improve anymore. The admissions process is somewhat of a mystery but you can focus on those things that you can improve on.

The nomination applications seem to vary a little and you should go online to find your 2 senators and congressman's websites. There will be very specific instructions for your nomination applications and you simply need to to follow directions.

It is a long application process and it is important to be as detailed and thorough as possible every step of the way.
Good luck with everything!
 
Your teachers (English, Math, and Physics/Chemistry) and counselor will need to complete their recommendations for USMA online - there is a specific section on your portal to enter their email addresses.

Quick question on my part... Must those teachers be the ones assigned to you for Junior year, or may they be any teacher (in the respective subject area) that has had you during high school?

And no worries szpieg, just take it easy. I believe the others have said all that is needed to be said. Once August comes, after SLS, and the portal opens up more for us prospectives, then is the time to work on your admissions profile and steps towards possible acceptance.

And believe you me, 11 years of Polish is no slight feat, and that will be taken into consideration. Polish is one extremely difficult language to master. :thumb: I would know, my mother and brother are both immigrants from Poland. I'm 16 and STILL have an extremely difficult time speaking and understanding it. (I'll put more time into mastering the language once I'm older and have more opportunities to learn it.)
 
x-impulse-pl- As far as I recall, USMA did not specify which year these teachers should be from. USNA, however, does request 11th grade teachers, so my son just asked those same teachers to do the recommendations for both applications. Think about which teachers will give you the strongest recommendations and especially if you have a large school, your more recent teachers will probably recall your strengths the best, especially if you finish your junior year on a strong note.
 
x-impulse-pl- As far as I recall, USMA did not specify which year these teachers should be from. USNA, however, does request 11th grade teachers, so my son just asked those same teachers to do the recommendations for both applications. Think about which teachers will give you the strongest recommendations and especially if you have a large school, your more recent teachers will probably recall your strengths the best, especially if you finish your junior year on a strong note.

Thank you, that is useful information to know. I will keep that in mind.
 
Back
Top