Application

NamD

Candidate
5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
249
I am beginning my application process for West Point and the SLS. I am currently a junior in High School and i have yet to receive my PSAT score, some varsity letters and team captain promotions.
Will i be able to update the application over time? Or is everything i submit permanent and is not allowed to be edited/updated?
Thank you
Dave
 
I am beginning my application process for West Point and the SLS. I am currently a junior in High School and i have yet to receive my PSAT score, some varsity letters and team captain promotions.
Will i be able to update the application over time? Or is everything i submit permanent and is not allowed to be edited/updated?
Thank you
Dave

Based on my son's experience this year you will be able to update both your SLS application and your official USMA application with significant changes.

Examples of "significant":

- New/improved test scores
- Major achievements (eagle Scout, boy's state, varsity letter, etc)
- Class rank/GPA'

Test score updates occur just by adding USMA to the SAT/ACT college send selection.

Your USMA application will be separate from your SLS application, though some validated information (test scores & gpa/rank) did carry over. So you get the chance to do a major update at that point.

You'll have a "contact USMA" option to send written updates as well.

Note: It's possible and even common for PSAT scores to be not indicative of SAT performance, so it's worth taking the SAT early to help compete for SLS.

No matter what, you should start building a simple resume of bullet points. Accomplishments, core academic stats, list of honor's/AP classes, any AP test scores, etc. You'll use this list repeatedly for academy, nomination, and your backup college applications.

While you'll often have to trim it down, at this point you should list anything you do that might be a differentiator. Pretty much anything besides sleep, homework, and play X-box! :smile: Ex: Church youth group activities & trips, service hours (volunteering), music instruments even if not in band, etc. If you do not have significant athletics with your school you'll want to show other areas of athletic involvement, even if it's hobby related.

Not all applications will have a slot for these items, nor do all schools consider them. But nearly all have a place to add supplemental info.

And no matter what, keep fighting to improve. Don't get selected first try? Find out what you can do to become more competitive. And then do it!

There are multiple success stories on the forum of kids turned down for SLS that made it into USMA. Same for getting into SLS itself, you can be turned down, and then later selected by improving your file.

Never give up! :thumb:
 
Thanks for the encouragement!
I just finished part 1 of the application process. I am very nervous nonetheless haha.
As for the class rank, will I be able to update it? My counselor did not respond to my email and i felt that finishing this application was imperative so I estimated. Would that be ok? It instructed me to "estimate if I did not know".
For the SLS application, I read from these forums that it opens on December 15. What will i need to prepare for for the application? Do they ask questions regarding the application process for SLS? If so, what kind?
Thank you very much.
Dave
 
Back
Top