Any advice?

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Sep 18, 2010
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I am currently a junior at Waukesha South High School and want to attend the United States Military Academy. I have been in both track and cross-country for three years and by senior year I plan to make it four, getting my varsity letters. This is also my second year for both Academic Decathlon and Future Business Leaders of America. I am part of my school's National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I am also part of my school's WWII research group and we will soon interview local WWII veterans. For volunteer work I have worked so far at helping at a retirement home and have helped paint a fence at a local cemetery. I also volunteer at a local VA on Sundays and also do community service with FBLA and my church; where I also am an usher at my church. My cumulative gpa is about a 3.7 and last quarter my gpa was 4.18 . My classes are Hon. Algebra II, Accounting, Leadership, Spanish IV, AP English, AP Econ, Strength and Fitness, and Chemistry this year. Finally, I plan to take the Army Reserve split option program next summer into next year. I am military history buff, from Hannibal's tactics at the battle of Cannae to General Schwarzkopf's "Hail Mary" flanking attack in the Gulf War. I also have entered in many writing contests, and have been published in the Cold War Times. I also am a finalist in stageoflife.com's writing contest. I plan to take the ACT in February. What would you advise me to be doing right now to help me get into West Point? I appreciate greatly any help you can give me. Thanks. GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!

Respectfully,
D.J. Schaefer
 
if you want to add more to your plate and learn great military leadership skills, join Civil Air Patrol (www.gocivilairpatrol.com).
but it sounds like you've got a great file going. some advice:
apply for Summer Leaders Seminar! it will show you a great deal about USMA that only a personal experiance can bring.
Also, apply for all the Academies' Summer Seminars. Even though I'm strictly Army, I went to Navy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned alot about Naval traditions and I came out with alot of respect for Navy, which is critical in today's joint environment.
Keep all the great things going, and shoot for leadership positions. maybe organize community service projects, be a leader in AWANAs, that sort of thing.
Start your application as early as possible! you'll need academic evaluations from your math, science, and English teachers. you might want to give them a heads up about that so they'll be prepared to get it done fast for you. Also, don't skimp on your essays. Even though I've heard that if you have good grades and ACT, admissions won't look to closely at your essays (which I guess is how I got in), you should still shoot for excellence...though it sounds like you have that part covered :)
Also, don't apply only to USMA, have all your bases covered...It sounds like you're a shoe-in for an AROTC scholarship. You have more quals than me, and I got both AROTC and an Appointment to USMA.
Remember, your primary reason for going to USMA should be to serve in the military.
Good Luck!
 
I would add...

... another reason to apply for SLS is, even if you don't get in, this effectively opens your file with admissions.

... take a look at the most recent class profile at http://www.usma.edu/class/2014/profile.asp. This will give you an idea on how you stack up with respect to test scores, gpa, class rank, others.

... think about taking the SAT in addition to the ACT. Consider taking one/both multiple times. WP will evaluate your file based on your best score.

... don't overlook the CFA (Candidate Fitness Assessment). Practice. It's 10% of your candidate score.
 
if you want to add more to your plate and learn great military leadership skills, join Civil Air Patrol (www.gocivilairpatrol.com).
but it sounds like you've got a great file going. some advice:
apply for Summer Leaders Seminar! it will show you a great deal about USMA that only a personal experiance can bring.
Also, apply for all the Academies' Summer Seminars. Even though I'm strictly Army, I went to Navy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned alot about Naval traditions and I came out with alot of respect for Navy, which is critical in today's joint environment.
Keep all the great things going, and shoot for leadership positions. maybe organize community service projects, be a leader in AWANAs, that sort of thing.
Start your application as early as possible! you'll need academic evaluations from your math, science, and English teachers. you might want to give them a heads up about that so they'll be prepared to get it done fast for you. Also, don't skimp on your essays. Even though I've heard that if you have good grades and ACT, admissions won't look to closely at your essays (which I guess is how I got in), you should still shoot for excellence...though it sounds like you have that part covered :)
Also, don't apply only to USMA, have all your bases covered...It sounds like you're a shoe-in for an AROTC scholarship. You have more quals than me, and I got both AROTC and an Appointment to USMA.
Remember, your primary reason for going to USMA should be to serve in the military.
Good Luck!

Great advice (especially about Civil Air Patrol :thumb:). I am an Air Force kind of guy, but Army is my #2 option.
You may want a little more leadership, although it isn’t a major red flag or anything, that is where CAP comes in as Condor mentioned.
There was recently a thread about Civil Air Patrol(CAP) you should go through it. Condor, and I both participate in it and you could PM either of us about it, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, nor would I. BTW Condor, I may end up being the junior rifle for the color guard. The person who was supposed to be the junior rifle wasn’t at the last practice and I got to learn it. They let me bring home a parade rifle to practice, gotta love new toys!:shake:
 
Ahh jeez the USMA forum is being invaded by C.A.P. :shake:

I would just say keep going for the best; leadership opportunities, high grades, etc.
 
USAR

The best way, in my opinion, which is a back door way into USMA is to be enlisted in the Army Reserve, Active, or ANG. They allow around 140 spots for active and reserve/National Guard but never fill them all. The Split-Op program allowing you to enlist in the Army Reserve or National Guard is awesome. The standards for actual admission are reduced and the nomination is from your company commander. Really the back door way in that not too many people realize they can do. And then you skip AIT the next summer because you go to West Point. Plus you get paid to go to basic and have a part time job senior year, going to drill one weekend a month.
 
The best way, in my opinion, which is a back door way into USMA is to be enlisted in the Army Reserve, Active, or ANG. They allow around 140 spots for active and reserve/National Guard but never fill them all. The Split-Op program allowing you to enlist in the Army Reserve or National Guard is awesome. The standards for actual admission are reduced and the nomination is from your company commander. Really the back door way in that not too many people realize they can do. And then you skip AIT the next summer because you go to West Point. Plus you get paid to go to basic and have a part time job senior year, going to drill one weekend a month.

There was a thread about this I don’t know how long ago, a few weeks or a few months, I forgot. But if I remember correctly it isn’t as easy as it sounds (at all).
 
The search function came up with this thread from a couple of months ago on the National Guard Split-Option program:

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=14869

Not quite the one I was thinking about but it kind of has the same idea. The one I though about the OP said it was the best way to go and ruffled feathers and a debate came next.

Also, freedomtruck, what exactly do you do in Boys State? I heard about it a lot of times, and seems interesting, but haven’t gotten many first hand descriptions of it. This forum isn’t flooded with people who are constantly recomending it :yllol:
 
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Yeah, I looked into split training quite a bit from that, and my good friend is the recruiter, it is possible but probably a terrible idea.

Just do all the things everyone suggests, it's difficult but possible, boys state, SLS, CAP, work on grades, leadership positions etc.
 
I went to Keystone Boys State. It's a weeklong leadership camp designed to replicate a state government. There are cities w/ a mayor, council members, committees. Next, there are counties with judges and commissioners. Finally, there is the state legislature with the senate and house w/ pro temp and speaker of the house. Elections are held for higher level positions such as state justices, governor, attorney general. You basically make laws in your cities and bring them forth through the state legislature. The intention is to supplement government classes found in highschool while also providing numerous leadership opportunities.
 
Just googled to real quick. Too bad my school year isn’t over when it happens:thumbdown:
 
I missed the last two days of Junior year to attend USAFA Summer Seminar and Boys State was right after that.
I would highly recommend you make arrangements to, essentially, finish your Junior year "early," so you can miss the last few days for Boys State.
 
I missed the last two days of Junior year to attend USAFA Summer Seminar and Boys State was right after that.
I would highly recommend you make arrangements to, essentially, finish your Junior year "early," so you can miss the last few days for Boys State.

I’m a sophomore, and I JUST read the part that says you need to be a junior :shake: Opps. I have enough this summer anyway. I am applying for a CAP NCSA (PJOC, or honor guard), I may do the Norwich University Future Leader Camp, and I am going on a community service trip in Peru for the vast majority of August :eek: I am still figuring everything out so I don’t overbook myself, but I want to fill my summer, because I am not a fan of just sitting doing nothing every day.
 
hey, futureAFA, good luck getting into PJOC! let me know how it goes. If I wasn't reporting to USMA this summer I would apply to PJOC and Hawk Mountain.
Back to Boys State, even if you don't think learning about government would be any fun, don't worry. It is! (of course I'm a poli sci geek). especially at Boys State. you get to hang out with guys from all around the state, do military drill, sports...its not just boring politics. plus the elections are alot of fun too.
 
I’m not huge on US politics, my philosophy is that there are infinite ways to run a country successfully, and the government definitely is not consciously trying to do harm, so why not just let them do what they have spent years studying? I don’t criticize them much, it’s not worth wasting time complaining. Anyway I am in my class council so it will probably be fun for me next year. Is PJOC hard to get into? I hope not! I am only a C/Amn if it is hard for most people to get into then chances are I won’t, I’ll try anyway!

BTW, I think I would rather be at USMA this summer than PJOC! Congrats on being appointed:thumb:
 
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