So I just got the letter....

T

TacKLed

5-Year Member
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The letter that said that I am admitted to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) once I get cleared at DoDMERB. What I want to know is the procedure, if it is known, on how they select candidates for USMAPS. I was specifically allocated to USMAPS instead of USMA back in November because my Math SAT wasn't up to par and I had to retake it, for which I did. Well, I did get a 26 on the ACT so I guess they took that but still.

I was almost certain that I would have to go to plan B and go the college ROTC route because after seeing all these captains of the football team with 4.0 GPAs and 32 ACT scores that have all these extracurricular activities that got rejected, I thought I was surely gone.

So how do they determine if people are getting to go into the prep school there? Is there different criteria that they chose from then the USMA selection?

Also, how is the actually first day like? Is it like the traditional R-Day that the cadets go through on their first day or will it be different somehow since I have to there for 9 months before my actual Plebe year?


(I would have posted this on the USMAPS forums but that place is a ghost town.)
 
I guess I was too long winded? Here are the questions I have:

- What are the variables for selection tha USMAPS uses that is different?
- How will my R-Day be different from other cadets?
 
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I think that I can help with the first question.

To be offered USMAPS - you have to be medically and physically qualified BUT academically 'disqualified'.

To be considered for USMAPS you need be a 'risk' in either Math or English.
What that means is (for USMAPS):
SAT - risk is below 500 in Math or English
ACT - risk is 20 or below in any subsection

If you want to go to West Point, take this offer!
You will get an offer to West Point next year if you do well at USMAPS.

Congratulations !! There are only 246 USMAPS slots.
West Point wants you but thinks that you need some Math or English remediation in order to be successful at West Point.

This is a gift! :thumb:
 
TacKLed said:
I guess I was too long winded? Here are the questions I have:

- What are the variables for selection tha USMAPS uses that is different?
- How will my R-Day be different from other cadets?
Click to expand...

From what I've heard... TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT: I'm just a candidate!

- To get admitted to USMAPS, amongst other requirements, one must be physically and medically qualified, but NOT ACADEMICALLY qualified. In other words, a more "academically qualified" student might be over-qualified to attend USMAPS but not qualified enough to attend USMA.

- During SLS, a couple of USMAPS attendees said that USMA's R-Day was a breeze compared to USMAPS. An example? They were trying to make fellow prepsters trip during the marches. "BEAST was actually fun for us", or something like that.



EDIT: buff was faster...
Anyways, 1 year of USMAPS counts toward your retirement (but not your 8-year obligation after USMA). You will get a service-connected nomination when you apply to the USMA during USMAPS.
 
Thanks for the info, Bill and Buff. I plan on going once I get medically cleared and I did have trouble in Math. I did awesome in the reading because I'm an avid writer. The 246 is really interesting and I am glad to have the privilege of being one of those 246. Once you do USMAPS do you automatically get in if you did well?
 
Congradulations!!
Buff 81 (as always) gave you a great answer.
Basically, WP wants you (they see something special in you) but does not think you are ready for Plebe year academics. My strong advice - take the Prep school.
Many of the people at the Prep school are recruited atheletic people who are not fully academically qualified and soldiers that have been out of HS a while and need some more academic training.
Nothing is 100% but almost everyone at the Prep school gets in.
 
"They" say that when you are at the prep school, "the appointment is yours to lose."
 
BigNick said:
Nothing is 100% but almost everyone at the Prep school gets in.
Click to expand...

Per recent briefing this is not the case this year and is a distinct sea change based on the Army reduction in force. The context of the comment was that behaviors previously tolerated resulted in not receiving offers this year.

Again- clear message "Less tolerance for screwing up". Academically, physically, behaviorally.

Re: MAPS vs BEAST- clear consensus from cadets is that prepsters have it rougher at USMAPS, and normally sail through BEAST. DS has a prepster as roommate now, and had one in BEAST. Big win as a plebe to have a prepster roommate, they know the routine, how to walk the line. And have an unofficial network of information that is faster/more accurate than chain of command much of the time!
 
hawk said:
Per recent briefing this is not the case this year and is a distinct sea change based on the Army reduction in force. The context of the comment was that behaviors previously tolerated resulted in not receiving offers this year.

Again- clear message "Less tolerance for screwing up". Academically, physically, behaviorally.

Re: MAPS vs BEAST- clear consensus from cadets is that prepsters have it rougher at USMAPS, and normally sail through BEAST. DS has a prepster as roommate now, and had one in BEAST. Big win as a plebe to have a prepster roommate, they know the routine, how to walk the line. And have an unofficial network of information that is faster/more accurate than chain of command much of the time!
Click to expand...

Just to be clear:
Prepsters are not getting appointments because they screwed up, failed or did not want one. It's not because of any RIF.

CC's can go to USMAPS with the full confidence that if they do well in their coursework and perform well physically and militarily - including conduct they will receive an appointment.

mom3boys is spot on - the appointment is their's to lose.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Just to be clear:
Prepsters are not getting appointments because they screwed up, failed or did not want one. It's not because of any RIF.

snip...

mom3boys is spot on - the appointment is their's to lose.
Click to expand...

Not sure what part of my comment implied otherwise: Behaviors previously tolerated resulted in not receiving offers this year.

Again- clear message "Less tolerance for screwing up". Academically, physically, behaviorally.

We are hearing this same message from multiple USMA directions that RIF is driving tighter standards across the board, and this includes USMAPS appointments. And other changes, some we'll see next academic year around certain programs, curriculum, etc.

This is not just the normal pendulum swing with a new Comm, though that can certainly magnify things as well.

I'll leave other observations about admissions policy to COL McDonald and her team and won't try to represent them.
 
Nope - standards are the same. Not tighter. Very well could be fewer second chances but a second chance is just that - you violated the standards.

Keep the standards and the appointment is yours - RIF or no RIF. Fully qualified prepsters are not being denied appointments due to RIF.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Nope - standards are the same. Not tighter. Very well could be fewer second chances but a second chance is just that - you violated the standards.

Keep the standards and the appointment is yours - RIF or no RIF. Fully qualified prepsters are not being denied appointments due to RIF.
Click to expand...

And your source for this info is....?
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Nope - standards are the same. Not tighter. Very well could be fewer second chances but a second chance is just that - you violated the standards.
Click to expand...

You may be right in the sense they are not adding new regs... (Wait, what about the alcohol policy....not a reg, but..)

But if fewer 2nd and 3rd chances are allowed, it's effectively a tighter standard.

But your point is valid I think, don't screw up, do well academically and you should be in good shape as a prepster.

I'm not going to micro-analyze COL McDonalds informal comments as a policy change, not my role, interest or desire.
 
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If being under 500 SAT Math and English is considered a risk and sent to MAPS,

what happens if somebody scores around 520 SAT but doesn't get accepted to USMA??? Could they still attend MAPS??
 
As the parent of a current prepster I can say that this year there were more CCs who found out very late (as in this week) that they would not be receiving appointments. Something changed this year because we were all told at RDay what has been said above - the appointments are theirs to lose. But we were also told that prepsters were never denied admission - those who left chose to leave. Semantics I know, but it is just like the "quit or be fired". The prepsters who were denied this week did not quit, they were fired.

At no time did any of the parents believe that their CCs would be learning for the first time, one week before graduation, that they would not receive an appointment. Needless to say, it's been a stressful week at USMAPS.

P.S. My son accepted his appointment to the Class of 2016 one month ago.
 
2016 CA Mom said:
As the parent of a current prepster I can say that this year there were more CCs who found out very late (as in this week) that they would not be receiving appointments. Something changed this year because we were all told at RDay what has been said above - the appointments are theirs to lose.

Snip

At no time did any of the parents believe that their CCs would be learning for the first time, one week before graduation, that they would not receive an appointment. Needless to say, it's been a stressful week at USMAPS.
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Very sorry to hear this, but it's very much in alignment with the tone we heard. Maybe not policy change, maybe it's just bad decisions by CC's. But the net effect is the same.

I'm not going to debate this with other posters, as 1) Not my job, 2) in a briefing situation I may have misinterpreted. 3) It's the internet, there are always experts spouting off facts which may or may not be accurate. It's a line we walk on the forum here.

But most importantly, it won't change anything. So even if I heard & quoted accurately, cadets & candidates inclined to risk things still will.

I do know what I heard from a context perspective multiple times, and was my takeaway: It's going to be harder to get in USMA, for many reasons. And cadets who take their eye off the ball for any reason will have a harder time staying in.

Here's the odd thing, most of the cadets I know are OK with the stricter environment and standards. I am sorry for the surprised families, however.

All of this pales in comparison to news tonight, it appears we may have lost a recent grad. I'm very sad, this hits close to home
 
Okay I have a few questions. My son is reapplying for his thrid time. I give him credit as he did all they told him to do last year and then some and was waitlisted and then received a QNS. He is baffled as are his ROTC leaders another ROTC kid was admitted with much lower everything then my son.
So first my son would like to sit with his regional admissions person and ask what is reallyu up with his file. Is there a way he can arrange this?
Second how does minority really play a role other things as we have found out. My son is part native Americain on his deceased fathers side he says he is going to use it this round. Prior he felt he should not get admitted for what happened hundreds of years ago but if admittied it should be for his hard work.
Thanks so much !!!
 
I thought I might update some people on my situation since I made the thread.

Since then, I had to get medical waivers for two things which I luckily got and am now qualified and the actually paper that will allow me to accept my admission to USMAPS was sent today so I should get it by Thursday and I will hopefully be officially in the USMAPS Class of 2013 by Friday.

Thanks to everyone that has been of help on shedding light on USMAPS in this thread. R-Day is July 23rd so I have some time to up my cardio haha.
 
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