Applying Independently

J

jerseyboy

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2018
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6
Hi everyone! Right now I'm a junior in high school looking to go to west point, but I have zero support from my parents and that is not likely to change. If anyone has any suggestions for things like R-Day/A-Day, CFA, etc. that would be very appreciated.
 
Best wishes on your journey and thank you for wishing to serve our country.
  • Have you scoured the USMA website and read it "cover to cover?"
  • Be sure to take challenging classes and getting good grades this year.
  • Practice and get the best possible ACT/SAT scores you can.
  • Have you applied for your MOC nominations?
What kind of suggestions are you seeking?
 
+1 to @AROTC-dad. Focus on what you can control: taking the hardest classes your school has to offer, getting great grades, making leadership impact, playing varsity sports, getting to know your teachers, training for the CFA.

To say that you should not worry about R-Day or A-Day is a spectacular understatement. Worry about it after you receive offer of appointment.

Finally, try to empathize with your parents and understand their resistance. As an adult — eventually — the decision to attend USMA is yours alone. But academy and military life is hard enough that you’ll want their support, if you can get it. Best wishes.
 
AROTC-dad said:
Best wishes on your journey and thank you for wishing to serve our country.
  • Have you scoured the USMA website and read it "cover to cover?"
  • Be sure to take challenging classes and getting good grades this year.
  • Practice and get the best possible ACT/SAT scores you can.
  • Have you applied for your MOC nominations?
What kind of suggestions are you seeking?
Click to expand...
1: I have spent the past few months going through the whole website and watching videos from former cadets like Justin Taylor, fantasizing about serving at the highest level.
2: I plan on taking the highest level courses my school offers
3: I’ve taken my sat and scored very well, my act is coming soon and i am confident about it
4: right now I have not applied for it yet, my guidance counselor recommended to wait until January to start doing them

I think a lot of my concern is financially, I am wondering if there are any large upfront costs to attending such as a computer, boots, books, and equipment.
 
MidCakePa said:
+1 to @AROTC-dad. Focus on what you can control: taking the hardest classes your school has to offer, getting great grades, making leadership impact, playing varsity sports, getting to know your teachers, training for the CFA.

To say that you should not worry about R-Day or A-Day is a spectacular understatement. Worry about it after you receive offer of appointment.

Finally, try to empathize with your parents and understand their resistance. As an adult — eventually — the decision to attend USMA is yours alone. But academy and military life is hard enough that you’ll want their support, if you can get it. Best wishes.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your concern, I appreciate the suggestions and will take them as seriously as possible. I am glad to say that I have the full support of my brothers who are older and live near USMA and of my friends. Getting the support of my parents is important to me but if they decide not to support me, I will have others to fall back on
 
No up-front costs that wouldn’t be reimbursed when you arrive. You can literally show up with just the clothes on your back and the military will take it from there.

Except, to quote a cadet I met when dropping my DD off for SLE: “Sir, I don’t recommend that anyone use the issued underwear. It’s not the best.”
 
jerseyboy said:
I think a lot of my concern is financially, I am wondering if there are any large upfront costs to attending such as a computer, boots, books, and equipment.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about expenses. You will receive a stipend paycheck as an active duty academy cadet and then your uniform, laptop and other expenses are deducted from this income.

The following is information from the USMA Treasurer's Office regarding the Cadet Trust Fund:

7. An initial deposit of $2,000 is required from all new incoming Plebe Cadets. This establishes a personal cadet account for each cadet. The $2,000 is used to cover the majority of all items issued to a cadet the day the cadets arrive call “R-Day”. If a cadet decides to leave within the first few weeks at the academy, there are a number of items which cannot be returned, i.e. under garments.

8. Any newly arriving cadet who cannot meet the requirement of the Initial Deposit will have their end of month pay that the cadet receives reduced by $100 until their cadet account is in line with the rest of their class. It is not necessary to inform the Treasurer that the Initial Deposit cannot be met. The Treasurer will automatically take action the second month a cadet get paid to insure their cadet account will be in line with the rest of their class.

9. A cadet receives approximately $8,000 worth of expenses before they start the academic year in August. Since a cadet pays for these expenses and there is not enough deposited in every cadet account, the Treasurer receives a Pay Advance for each cadet of $7,200, which is repaid by the cadet over 24 months at $300 per month.​

Source:
https://www.usma.edu/parents/SiteAssets/TREASURER MISSION WEB PAGE INPUT 2012 (1).pdf
 
Just an FYI about Rday and Aday. Some cadets do not have parents with them at either of these days for a variety of reasons, so you wouldn't be the only cadet without parents (assuming your parents don't change their mind by then). You have gotten good advice here. First focus on applying/acceptance to WP. And Good Luck!!
 
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