Acceptance without varsity sports

People can make what ever arguments they want and explain why they do not get a varsity letter with all their justifications. However, the reality is that varsity letters and team captains are awarded points in the Whole Candidate Score.
If you want to go to West Point you must be an all-around person. My advice - understand the standards and meet those standards. Otherwise - Plan B.
Part of being a successful Cadet and a successful Army officer is to overcome adversity and perform in less than ideal conditions.
 
These are physically demanding programs so that is one reason why 90+% of those who attend were varsity athletes in high school. You don't suddenly learn how to become an athlete once you are appointed and will be expected to keep up with those who are. That takes dedication/motiviation all throughout high school as you develop workout routines and become physically fit. This is about way more then passing the CFA.

Saying you aren't participating in sports because you didn't get along with the coach sounds more like an excuse regardless of how you rationalize it. Usually most schools have different coaches for various sports, so that by itself will be hard to justify during the admissions process.
 
We are facing the same issue. My #3 son is a band kid. He does marching band August-November. In December, he does indoor drumline competition--which runs til April. There is no time to do a sport and drumline/band. Yes, it's very physical and competitive, but not a sport. It's been suggested if he wanted WP bad enough he'd quit the band. Band gives him leadership and a place to belong. He's doing sport-like activities for fun: rock climbing, ultimate, dart wars...but no varsity sports. His school is huge and very competitive. He will not have a 1400 SAT to replace the sport. He's an Eagle Scout...but again, not an athlete. He had to make a choice about enjoying his HS experience. He's sticking w/ band. He knows if WP is in his future, it will likely be via prep or applying as a college student. His brother (USMA 2012) seems to think his being a legacy will get him in, but that is just not the case.
Life is full of choices; as long as going into this you know what you're up against, you can make an informed choice. For my son, it's not an all-consuming desire to go to USMA...if it were, I think he'd make different choices. For him, at this point (junior), I think it's one of the options he's considering.
 
mom3boys said:
We are facing the same issue. My #3 son is a band kid. He does marching band August-November. In December, he does indoor drumline competition--which runs til April. There is no time to do a sport and drumline/band. Yes, it's very physical and competitive, but not a sport. It's been suggested if he wanted WP bad enough he'd quit the band. Band gives him leadership and a place to belong. He's doing sport-like activities for fun: rock climbing, ultimate, dart wars...but no varsity sports. His school is huge and very competitive. He will not have a 1400 SAT to replace the sport. He's an Eagle Scout...but again, not an athlete. He had to make a choice about enjoying his HS experience. He's sticking w/ band. He knows if WP is in his future, it will likely be via prep or applying as a college student. His brother (USMA 2012) seems to think his being a legacy will get him in, but that is just not the case.
Life is full of choices; as long as going into this you know what you're up against, you can make an informed choice. For my son, it's not an all-consuming desire to go to USMA...if it were, I think he'd make different choices. For him, at this point (junior), I think it's one of the options he's considering.
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Can your son do spring track rather than indoor drumline competition? In reality, he will not be able to continue indoor drumline competition at west point or even most colleges...not to the degree he is doing now. BUT he will continue/start year round sports at any academy. Getting use to 'sports guys', the demands of sports practices, etc. are pros of this. In addition, the dynamics of band kids can be quite different that those of other groups.
We have 1 band kid too and it is incredibly time consumming. Drumline kids are very close to one another and the band as a whole, and those are great relationships. Lots of leadership opportunities in band. BUT it is not at all as physical a Varsity team sport.
Still, I think you son is right to stick with year round band so long as he truly understands what that ramification might mean. Our's did marching in the fall, then bball and track. The few that do sports find the physical demands of marching very, very easy by comparision.
Two other boys in band wanting to go to the academy chose also to work around band. One is actually band president and marches in the fall and does much during the winter, but is on Varsity baseball. The other stopped marching sophmore year and runs cross country, then plays rugby. He only does symphonic band. But, both are dead focused on getting into an academy.
BUT I get how fun, family like and rewarding band is (the trips, the performances, the music...all of it. Our kid traveled overseas with band...not with bball!). Tough to step back if he is in deep and loving it!
S
 
He knows my thoughts on the subject, and he knows the facts. In the process of writing my book (The Mom's Guide to Surviving West Point), I have built relationships with many people on staff and also FFR. His chances of getting in during this uber competitive period are slim--regardless of sports. He is not a naturally gifted athlete like his brother. Doing a sport would be just doing it; there'd be no letter attached, likely. However, he has many positives going for him: during hubs 2 years stint of unemployment, this kids has worked and saved like crazy to pay his own way on a 3 week trip to Germany this summer. He's in the final round of interviews for Governor's Honor School. He has many redeeming qualities, and will figure out what matters to him and choose his path accordingly.
 
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