Fees for Plebes?

I've read on another thread that 2009 Plebes had to pay a $2,000 non-refundable fee. Is this correct? Will this be something that 2010 Plebes will pay as well? If so, what does the fee cover?

In a nutshell, Cadets are provided with a "free education and room and board". They must pay for everything else - uniforms, computer, newspaper subscription (which they will never see), books, football tickets, club sports, intramurals, and other "mandatory fun". All of these are "issued" items.
On R-day and throughout Beast, your New Cadet will be issued thousands of dollars worth of items. For instance, the ugly gray bathrobe will cost them about $63.00.
So they are in debt until they get paid.
The academy fronts them a "loan" - no interest - of over $5000 to cover issued items. A certain amount is deducted from their pay each month to pay off this loan and held in a Cadet Account.
Don't get caught up in all the details of how this works and don't even try and understand it.
USMA requests that each New Cadet deposit money - 2009 was $2000 but 2008 it was $2900 - into their cadet account to defray the cost of issued items and reduce the amount of money they will owe toward their loan.

Any New Cadet who can't afford the $2000 "entrance fee" works it out through the treasurer's office. They just deduct more from the check each month to pay it off.

Yes, it's true. It's for the items they give us.

So, is it better for them to be prepared and contribute the $2000 than to NOT have it?

Yes - they will have more spending money. Keep in mind that any scholarships they win that do not specifically say can be used for tuition can be applied to their cadet account.
Also, note that the Academy will pay for transportation to West Point. Transportation home for breaks is on the cadet.

America's Finest said:

Yes, it's true. It's for the items they give us.

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Issued. Not "give".

OK - but now wait a minute, what do you mean about the "scholarships" they win? Is this something different than just getting the nomination and acceptance and "making the cut"? This is the first that I've heard about any kind of scholarships. Needless to say, this is all new to me and I'm trying to learn everything I can to help my DS out. Thank you for your knoweldge and sharing it with me and others!

WP2014parent said:

OK - but now wait a minute, what do you mean about the "scholarships" they win? Is this something different than just getting the nomination and acceptance and "making the cut"? This is the first that I've heard about any kind of scholarships. Needless to say, this is all new to me and I'm trying to learn everything I can to help my DS out. Thank you for your knoweldge and sharing it with me and others!

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You can get scholarships by writting essays and stuff and use that money to help pay for expenses. They are not connected to West Point and most cadets don't do this since West Point is free. I got a $1,000 scholarship (the only one I found with the deadline in May) and am using it for visiting home and school supplies. They just can't be scholarships limited to tuition.

^
Right. A lot of High schools and community organizations offer scholarships. You son can and should apply even though West Point offers a "full scholarship" but understand some have restrictions.

Silly me. I hadn't even really thought about that. But you are right. I'm sure he'll apply for all that he can, even those for a Plan B. On another thread, I read the importance of Plan B, up to the point of deposits on dorms, etc.
Yes, I'll make sure DS applies for pretty much everything out there! There's nothing wrong with "free money" for education. I'm all for that! Thank you for your help.

WP2014parent said:

Silly me. I hadn't even really thought about that. But you are right. I'm sure he'll apply for all that he can, even those for a Plan B. On another thread, I read the importance of Plan B, up to the point of deposits on dorms, etc.
Yes, I'll make sure DS applies for pretty much everything out there! There's nothing wrong with "free money" for education. I'm all for that! Thank you for your help.

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Don't force your child to do anything they don't want to do. Encourage them and tell them about all the benefits, but make it their decision to pursue scholarships and anything else. I know I am not a parent and obviously don't know all the emotions parents have when watching their children grow up, but I am speaking from the POV of a person who has gone through and beat the system. I was more stressed out about applying for other colleges and scholarships in order to make my dad happy than I was about applying for USMA.

So again. I strongly recommend advising and telling your children about the benefits of applying for scholarships, but don't force them to do it.

(I do advise that they should always have Plan B and even Plan C colleges lined up just in case they do not get in on the first try.)

We did not pay the deposit in 2008 and it was deducted from my cadets pay each month. Half way thru the year a former grad made a contibution to WP to be used to pay those deposits that could not be paid by cadets. My son was one who was chosen so this year he is recieving his full pay. When we called the treasurers office I was told that around 2/3 of each class choose not to pay the deposit up front and have it deducted from thier pay.

djfrro said:

We did not pay the deposit in 2008 and it was deducted from my cadets pay each month. Half way thru the year a former grad made a contibution to WP to be used to pay those deposits that could not be paid by cadets. My son was one who was chosen so this year he is recieving his full pay. When we called the treasurers office I was told that around 2/3 of each class choose not to pay the deposit up front and have it deducted from thier pay.

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Wow, that many? I thought most paid up front. What's the pay if you have it deducted?

I was like $60.00 a month, but like I said it worked out for him because it got paid. It was tight his plebe year but all is good now.

$60.00 deducted from whatever his pay was.