Didn't Get It.

USMA - I'm on my way!

USMA - I'm on my way!

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Messages
55
I received the dreaded QNS letter today and I'm now going full force on my Plan B. West Point was my dream school since sixth grade and I'm definitely not giving up now. I'll be reapplying for the Class of 2017. So for any of those who've been in a similar situation, which kinds of classes should I focus on in college? Sports? Leadership? I realize that it's going to be much harder now that I'm back at the bottom of the totem-pole so to speak, so how do I prove myself? I will be doing AROTC, and I have my fingers crossed for the 4-year scholarship. (I still have yet to hear back from USAFA and USNA, but still... I'm biased towards West Point.)

Thanks in advance!
And for all of those who've made it in, Congrats! :smile:
 
As far as courses, you should try to mimic the plebe year courses at USMA... or so I've read on other threads.
 
I have read that admissions officers can tell you where you were lacking. I suggest contacting your RC.
 
Hey there,

I was QNS last year, and you are not at the bottom of the totem pole believe me. QNS means that you just missed the mark. When you start college next year, I would recommend that you give ROTC a try, and take classes that you would have taken at west point. The best thing you can do for yourself is do well in these classes and ROTC. If you have extra time, I would recommend trying for another extracurricular activity that interests you. This could be a club sport or a community service oriented thing.

You aren't at the bottom of the totem pole, you just missed the cutoff that's all. Just do well at college, and you should have an easier time getting in next year. Also, make sure you finish your application early, and retake the ACT/SAT if you can.

Best of luck
 
Don't feel too bummed!

13,000 applicants did apply for 1200 or so spots.

I will also be reapplying for 2017. I will happily take the chance to develop at a civilian college while participating in ROTC.

Definitely try to excel in academics/extracurriculars/athletics/leadership. College academics are extremely important (mimic Plebe classes). ROTC is great as well.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Honestly, I'm not as bummed out as I thought I would be... in fact I'm almost looking forward to doing ROTC for a year at a civilian college because come next year (if I do get in) I, along with many others who are reapplying, coming from ROTC or USMAPS, or coming in straight from the Regular Army, will have a much greater understanding than those coming in right out of high school.

As for the reapplying part, I have a few more questions:

1) On Monday I'm going to call my RC to check where my weaknesses were, and have my file re-instated for the c/o 2017. Does anyone know what will be left over from my 2016 application, if anything?

2) What about DoDMERB?... I thought I heard that there was a simple form to fill out and send in rather than having to get all of the examinations done again.

3) In my opinion my essays were very solid and effectively conveyed how I felt about the Army. If the essay topics are the same for the c/o 2017 application can I re-use my 2016 ones, or is best to rewrite them?

I'll admit I wasn't the fastest when it came to getting my file done last go-around (finished in December) - not gonna let that happen again!

Many thanks!
 
1) I believe the things that are left over are the high school SOE's and transcripts. I don't remember if the CAR is left over and you can just update it.

2) DoDMERB is good for two years. You should notify them if anything has changed medically/physically though. I'm not sure how it carries over but there should be some form or something sent out.

3) I would at least revise them, since it has been sometime since you've written them and I'm sure you've changed since then.

I'm in the same boat as you. I couldn't finish until December for personal reasons.
 
I admire your perseverance!

Don't give up, if USMA is what you really want. But if another SA offers you an appointment, I recommend you keep an open mind.

Most people know it took Patton 5 years to graduate from West Point, which is why his statute is near the library at USMA. But you may not know much about GEN Matthew Ridgway. Although his father was a USMA grad, the first time he applied to USMA, he wasn't accepted. Apparently, his math test scores were too low. Did he give up? NO! He studied and worked to improve his test score and tried again. His positivity and his work ethic paid off, not just for the year he was reapplying, but for his entire career. I love Ridgway's story because he was already setting the example for others, even as a young man just out of HS. He stood at the same fork in the road where you now stand.

Good luck to you! Follow your dreams, and don't ever give up!

Proud Mom of USAFA Candidate
USMA Class of 1983
 
3) Re-use your essay? No
Revise your essay? No
Re-write your essay? Yes

Your essay should still come from your heart but trust me the perspective of an 18 year old college adult will be a lot different than a 17 year old HS kid.
Also, you are not applying for WP in 2017, you are reapplying.
Both of those facts put you at a different level than the majority of applicants, who are first time applicants from high school. That is an advantage so make sure you properly use that advantage.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

Will being in the ROTC category and the reapplying category hurt my chances when reaplying? I mean, doesn't West Point have quotas stating that roughly this amount of the incoming class comes from ROTC and this amount comes from those who are repaying - or is it a level playing field?
 
USMA said:
Thanks for the feedback.

Will being in the ROTC category and the reapplying category hurt my chances when reaplying? I mean, doesn't West Point have quotas stating that roughly this amount of the incoming class comes from ROTC and this amount comes from those who are repaying - or is it a level playing field?
Click to expand...

Double check info on the web on nominating sources. I think the quotas for ROTC you have in mind are for ROTC as a nominating source. If your nomination is from your MOC then I don't believe those quotas come into play.
 
Check out the sticky post on reapplying in the Navy section.
 
Jacobryan10 said:
Hey there,

I was QNS last year, and you are not at the bottom of the totem pole believe me. QNS means that you just missed the mark. When you start college next year, I would recommend that you give ROTC a try, and take classes that you would have taken at west point. The best thing you can do for yourself is do well in these classes and ROTC. If you have extra time, I would recommend trying for another extracurricular activity that interests you. This could be a club sport or a community service oriented thing.

You aren't at the bottom of the totem pole, you just missed the cutoff that's all. Just do well at college, and you should have an easier time getting in next year. Also, make sure you finish your application early, and retake the ACT/SAT if you can.

Best of luck
Click to expand...
The part you leave off, which I think is significant, is that you reapplied this year and were APPOINTED!!
 
Some bad news:
I just personally heard a talk from the Superintendent of West Point two days ago. He said the decision had been made to reduce the number of people in the Class of 2016 to about 1050 people. Originally, the goal was about 1150 people. The Class of 2015 was about 1250 people. This means that only a few people will get activated from the NWL. He said the class of 2016 was almost filled.
However, several dozen people who have offers will turn them down. Several others will have their offers revoked because of bad last semester grades, getting into trouble with the police, have wrecks and get hurt etc., so a few dozen slots will open over the next few weeks.
 
Just curious, but because of the drastic cuts to the Class of 2016, roughly 100 less than what was previously assumed, does this mean West Point has met their goal of bringing the Corps back down to size of about 4,400 cadets? And does this mean that the Class of 2017 will be a somewhat 'regular' class size of about 1150 cadets?
 
BigNick said:
Several others will have their offers revoked because of bad last semester grades, getting into trouble with the police, have wrecks and get hurt etc., so a few dozen slots will open over the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

STOP!!!! You're freaking me out!!!

bubblewrapbubblewrapbubblewrap...
 
USMA2016- that is just a fact of life - it happens to a few people EVERY year. Just finish-up High School strong and stay out of trouble.
 
Here are the facts according to the Sup. The size of WP by law is about 4,400 total Cadets. During the war years the Army and Congress allowed WP to be at about 4,600 - 200 over the authorized. The initial plan was to have about 1150 this year and about 1150 next year to get back to the 4,400.
Two things that made things change:
1. More budget cuts
2. Very low attrition rates at WP for the Class of 2015 and 2014.
Now the 200 person cut has been done in one year. 2016 will be about 1050 people. Next year should be about 4,400 devided by 4 or about 1100 plus attrition of another 50 or so. My guess is that 1100 to 1150 will be the size of the Class of 2017. However, there are many variables that could change this number in the next year.
 
BigNick said:
Several others will have their offers revoked because of bad last semester grades, getting into trouble with the police, have wrecks and get hurt etc., so a few dozen slots will open over the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

Who is next in line for these slots? For example if someone from my district who accepted their appointment has his/her offer revoked would it go to the person who is next in line at my district or would it go to the person next in line on the National Waiting List?
 
Complicated question. If the person losing or rejecting their appointment was the "Vacancy winner" from a Congressman, the next in line from that Congressman’s District would be next. However, if the person had a Presidential or service-connected appointment, then the vacancy would be filled from that category. If the person had a NWL slot the next person on the NWL would get an offer. HOWEVER---
One thing to keep in mind- there are MANY variables in this process so the answers to these question are usually correct - but exceptions are made.
 
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