Current cadet, ask me questions!

Rhiwalton

Rhiwalton

Class of 2024
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Messages
22
Hello! I am currently a plebe at USMA. I checked the service academy forums very often throughout my application process looking for answers, so I now want to return the favor. If you have any questions, please ask and I will try my best to answer them. When asking your questions, note that this year at the academy and my CBT experience differ greatly from previous years.
 
1. What do you think separated your application from others and earned you an appointment?
2. Any nomination interview tips?

Thanks!
 
1. In general when do you start doing nomination interviews, when do you hear about if you were nominated, and do they tell you if you were the principal nomination
2. Do you think things will be back to normal next year
 
fordpitts12 said:
1. What do you think separated your application from others and earned you an appointment?
2. Any nomination interview tips?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

1. I think what helped me the most was my character. Throughout my application, I tried my best to show who I was and the ways West Point would help me grow as a leader. Leadership was the reason I chose West Point. I stayed humble throughout the application, where I believe lots of people see it as an opportunity to 'flex' all of their achievements. My best advice is to show them why you want to attend, how that relates to you as a future officer, and humbly show them why you deserve to be at West Point. This can speak volumes to your character and show them more of who you are.

2. As cliche as it sounds, be yourself. I went into the interview that got me my nomination and straight up told them I did not have an answer to a political question. Acknowledge you may not have all the answers but be confident in knowing why you belong at West point. Truthfully, they want to see how well you converse and if you are socially capable enough to be a strong leader.

Hope this helps! :)
 
carterg21316 said:
1. In general when do you start doing nomination interviews, when do you hear about if you were nominated, and do they tell you if you were the principal nomination
2. Do you think things will be back to normal next year
Click to expand...
Each elected official is free to choose their process, nomination ranking method and how/when they inform their candidates.

I personally think things may be “better,” but I really don’t know what that looks like. Since there is nothing I can do about it, I don’t spend much energy on thinking about it.

Good luck! (And well done on using the correct spelling of “principal” in this context.)
 
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carterg21316 said:
1. In general when do you start doing nomination interviews, when do you hear about if you were nominated, and do they tell you if you were the principal nomination
2. Do you think things will be back to normal next year
Click to expand...

1. I did my nomination interviews in early December and heard back from my congresswoman in late January. My congresswoman told me over the phone that I got the principal nomination (WA-08), but I have heard some do not tell the nominee they just let the academy know who their principal is. I checked my portal every day and saw that I had a couple of nominations on there, but no one had informed me of the type or from whom, so I waited. Then a week later I got a phone call.

2. My classmates and I discuss this every day, we have no idea. The upperclassmen constantly reassure us that this is not the typical academy life and it will be better when things are back to normal. We do not even know the plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas break yet, and that is not too far from now. My personal opinion is no. I think out of precaution and to keep cadets at the academy, we will continue to wear masks and have restrictions here until the rest of America and other colleges are back to normal.
 
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Stay strong! what you are going through right now is definitely not what the normal academy summer/life is like. I feel so sorry for the class of 2020 who lost the rest of their Firstie year. Hopefully things go back to normal soon for you all!
 
Rhiwalton said:
Hello! I am currently a plebe at USMA. I checked the service academy forums very often throughout my application process looking for answers, so I now want to return the favor. If you have any questions, please ask and I will try my best to answer them. When asking your questions, note that this year at the academy and my CBT experience differ greatly from previous years.
Click to expand...
Post your CFA stats plz
 
Thank you for doing this! If you don't mind me asking, what were your ACT/SAT scores?
 
Rhiwalton said:
Hello! I am currently a plebe at USMA. I checked the service academy forums very often throughout my application process looking for answers, so I now want to return the favor. If you have any questions, please ask and I will try my best to answer them. When asking your questions, note that this year at the academy and my CBT experience differ greatly from previous years.
Click to expand...

What did you get on the SAT, and what did most of your peers get? Posters here tell you to look at the averages which are extremely misleading, considering a large amount of the class is made up of recruited athletes, prepsters, and enlisted personnel.
 
My daughter applied last year, received a nomination but sadly did not receive an appointment. So she is in the process of reapplying to USMA. Her high school academics and leadership are very strong and has great test scores. She received a LOE and has already been cleared medically. But she is struggling with the CFA.
Any advice you can share with me to give to her to encourage her and build her CFA confidence up?
 
ArmybornArmyproud said:
My daughter applied last year, received a nomination but sadly did not receive an appointment. So she is in the process of reapplying to USMA. Her high school academics and leadership are very strong and has great test scores. She received a LOE and has already been cleared medically. But she is struggling with the CFA.
Any advice you can share with me to give to her to encourage her and build her CFA confidence up?
Click to expand...

She sounds like a strong candidate for sure! The CFA is just something they take into account along with the whole candidate's profile. The main goal is to pass it, even if that takes a few tries. Even if she maximizes nothing or barely meets what appear to be minimums (not set), that is good enough. My recommendation is to take REAL practice CFAs twice a month or so until she passes one or gets a score she wants. Have a parent grade and grade to standard. In between tests be sure to practice skills that she struggles more with and less on what she's good at. Retest, evaluate, and keep working hard, it will pay off! Also if it helps motivate, as a female you want to be physically fit enough and comfortable leading a platoon that may be full of males, that is how I think about it! Hope to see her here next year!
 
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skr002 said:
Advice for high school freshman?
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I got in touch with my FFR during my freshman year of high school and e-mailed them questions and made sure they got to know who I was. Then when it came time to apply 2 years later, they were able to speak well of me and they are super helpful when you have questions in my opinion! Also, check out the USMA website and read what they have on prospective students, I stuck to that in high school!
 
Rhiwalton said:
1. I did my nomination interviews in early December and heard back from my congresswoman in late January. My congresswoman told me over the phone that I got the principal nomination (WA-08), but I have heard some do not tell the nominee they just let the academy know who their principal is. I checked my portal every day and saw that I had a couple of nominations on there, but no one had informed me of the type or from whom, so I waited. Then a week later I got a phone call.

2. My classmates and I discuss this every day, we have no idea. The upperclassmen constantly reassure us that this is not the typical academy life and it will be better when things are back to normal. We do not even know the plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas break yet, and that is not too far from now. My personal opinion is no. I think out of precaution and to keep cadets at the academy, we will continue to wear masks and have restrictions here until the rest of America and other colleges are back to normal.
Click to expand...
I'm currently applying for a WA-08 nomination, any specific tips? Would you say that this area is competitive?
 
Rhiwalton said:
I got in touch with my FFR during my freshman year of high school and e-mailed them questions and made sure they got to know who I was.
Click to expand...
How did you introduce yourself, in a more formal way or informal (relaxed) way?
And I searched my area for FFRs and it says there are no active FFRs, do you know what I should do then?
 
My high school is super tiny and only has one sport: archery. Will this put me at a disadvantage?
 
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