Continuing

E

EastRound

West Point Candidate C/o 2026
Joined
Jul 8, 2020
Messages
150
First of all, Merry Christmas to the knowledgeable and great people on this forum.

To get right into it, I wanted to ask for some advice about continuing this cycle’s application.

For this cycle:
Frankly, I am discouraged. I have not received a nomination from any MOC, I have to redo my CFA push ups video, and I have yet to undergo the majority of DODMERB.

I feel like I am wasting my time by applying for this year, as my chances are slim to none. Honestly, this has only added to the stress of balancing work with a difficult course load, sports, and a ton of extracurriculars plus dozens of scholarship applications.

At this point in the process, is it really worth it for me to continue? I want to go to West Point more than anything but this feels like a waste of time that could be spent on other things.

For next cycle:
Should I get DODMERB done this year or is DODMERB only valid for the cycle you are applying?
 
If you “want USMA more than anything,” you will put in the best application you can, and leave it all on the court this cycle.

If you do not get an offer of appointment this year, then you may choose to be a re-applicant next year (significant numbers in each class are college/prep re-applicants), demonstrating grit, determination and perseverance. If you fail to complete your application this year, you will be someone who bailed when the going got tough and your competition kept going.

If you have to execute your alternate plan, and it includes ROTC, then you have another nom source. And, you are still moving positively toward your goal of commissioning as an officer.

If your CFA was a negative factor for you this year, and you don’t get an offer, you have a year to come back and smoke the thing.

I believe DoDMERB exam is good for two years from date of exam.

You have got a lot on your plate. If USMA is your dream, don’t shove it off your plate. Figure it out. It will be the same challenges at USMA and in life as a commissioned officer after that, larger by a factor of ten - so much to do, so little time. Take inventory of how you are spending your time, and be ruthless in prioritizing it. Know the difference between must-do activities snd wanna-do activities.

Let USMA tell you no. Hail Marys do occur - the VP or other nom, a prep offer, who knows.

Unless, of course, you are saying this “out loud” because you are thinking about releasing this dream. That is okay too.
 
Capt MJ said:
If you “want USMA more than anything,” you will put in the best application you can, and leave it all on the court this cycle.

If you do not get an offer of appointment this year, then you may choose to be a re-applicant next year (significant numbers in each class are college/prep re-applicants), demonstrating grit, determination and perseverance. If you fail to complete your application this year, you will be someone who bailed when the going got tough and your competition kept going.

If you have to execute your alternate plan, and it includes ROTC, then you have another nom source. And, you are still moving positively toward your goal of commissioning as an officer.

If your CFA was a negative factor for you this year, and you don’t get an offer, you have a year to come back and smoke the thing.

I believe DoDMERB exam is good for two years from date of exam.

You have got a lot on your plate. If USMA is your dream, don’t shove it off your plate. Figure it out. It will be the same challenges at USMA and in life as a commissioned officer after that, larger by a factor of ten - so much to do, so little time. Take inventory of how you are spending your time, and be ruthless in prioritizing it. Know the difference between must-do activities snd wanna-do activities.

Let USMA tell you no. Hail Marys do occur - the VP or other nom, a prep offer, who knows.

Unless, of course, you are saying this “out loud” because you are thinking about releasing this dream. That is okay too.
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As always, thank you for the informative response.

It might sound silly but this forum is really the only source of support I have for this endeavor. My parents barely speak English and don’t really get why I want to serve and my friends don’t share that interest either.

You are right in saying that I should keep at it. It would be contradictory to want to quit now and still want to join. I think I was just experiencing another moment of doubt, as anyone else I’m sure.

Anyways, thanks for your guidance, I will be sure to take your advice to heart.
 
EastRound said:
It might sound silly but this forum is really the only source of support I have for this endeavor.
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It's not silly at all. Keep at it, man. I've gone through similar periods of doubt all throughout this application process, feeling like the odds are stacked against me and reading some of the forum posts of candidates who are just as jittery as me grounds me a little.

Assuming that you intend to reapply if you don't get in this year, you don't want to spend the next 365 days wondering "what if I'd just finished the application?" That's what keeps me going, at least. Finish your application- at worst, it will give you closure, and at best, you get to go to West Point. I wish you the best in your endeavor.
 
EastRound said:
As always, thank you for the informative response.

It might sound silly but this forum is really the only source of support I have for this endeavor. My parents barely speak English and don’t really get why I want to serve and my friends don’t share that interest either.

You are right in saying that I should keep at it. It would be contradictory to want to quit now and still want to join. I think I was just experiencing another moment of doubt, as anyone else I’m sure.

Anyways, thanks for your guidance, I will be sure to take your advice to heart.
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Hang in there EastRound! Part of the payoff is the grit and determination you are developing, which will be a critical part of your ultimate success both in terms of earning your appointment and in succeeding at USMA when you get there.

It is tough to do this without feeling support. But, there are many people pulling for you and those like you. Merry Christmas.
 
Tons of support here. Sometimes we all just need an “encouraging word”. People here will do that for you. Don’t hesitate to ask.

Completly agree...DONT GIVE UP. @Capt MJ is spot on, as always. My perspective is that of a mom, who would hate to see their own child start something so important, and give up from a moment of frustration. And that’s what I hear in your tone.

Instead of being frustrated...how about looking at this from the perspective of slowly, cautiously preparing for when the appointment may come your way. Often it ISN’T this year, but rather another year of preparing. Like already mentioned. Or, it could come in the form of a prep offer. One just doesn’t know. Especially this year, who we all know is wonky. You just don’t know. BUT any and all efforts put forth, even if they are ‘failing’ efforts (ie:CFA), are helping you ultimately in your journey. Whatever that ends up being. I firmly believe that this process is beneficial, no matter if an appointment is achieved or not.

One thing I do know, is that if you quit now, you will always wonder ‘what if’. Those what-ifs can really nag at you. Especially as an adult. And living life without regrets, doing your best and giving your all, is pretty awesome.

Good luck to you!
 
iguy55 said:
It's not silly at all. Keep at it, man. I've gone through similar periods of doubt all throughout this application process, feeling like the odds are stacked against me and reading some of the forum posts of candidates who are just as jittery as me grounds me a little.

Assuming that you intend to reapply if you don't get in this year, you don't want to spend the next 365 days wondering "what if I'd just finished the application?" That's what keeps me going, at least. Finish your application- at worst, it will give you closure, and at best, you get to go to West Point. I wish you the best in your endeavor.
Click to expand...

Great way to look at it
 
justdoit19 said:
Tons of support here. Sometimes we all just need an “encouraging word”. People here will do that for you. Don’t hesitate to ask.

Completly agree...DONT GIVE UP. @Capt MJ is spot on, as always. My perspective is that of a mom, who would hate to see their own child start something so important, and give up from a moment of frustration. And that’s what I hear in your tone.

Instead of being frustrated...how about looking at this from the perspective of slowly, cautiously preparing for when the appointment may come your way. Often it ISN’T this year, but rather another year of preparing. Like already mentioned. Or, it could come in the form of a prep offer. One just doesn’t know. Especially this year, who we all know is wonky. You just don’t know. BUT any and all efforts put forth, even if they are ‘failing’ efforts (ie:CFA), are helping you ultimately in your journey. Whatever that ends up being. I firmly believe that this process is beneficial, no matter if an appointment is achieved or not.

One thing I do know, is that if you quit now, you will always wonder ‘what if’. Those what-ifs can really nag at you. Especially as an adult. And living life without regrets, doing your best and giving your all, is pretty awesome.

Good luck to you!
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Thank you for the advice :)
 
Applying is a lot of work.
It is easy to say "I probably won't get in, so why bother with all that work."

But if your goal is to serve as an officer realize there are many paths.
ROTC, Service Academy, OTC, etc.

Don't look back and say "What if"... do everything you can to achieve that goal.

And if you don't get in... then you are in shape, you have done well in school, have leadership experience for whatever you end up doing.
 
For next cycle:
Should I get DODMERB done this year or is DODMERB only valid for the cycle you are applying?

So, because this wasn't under DoDMERB, I'm just seeing this now. The DoDMERB exam will be good for 2 years from the date of the exam :wiggle:
 
I agree with posts above. You are almost done. Just give it that last push to finish strong.

My son is in similar circumstances with service academy appplications. He is still trying to work on doing the push-ups video for USMA, too. We are going through the emotional ups and downs roller coaster that goes along with this application process. So just know you are not alone. It is worth it to finish the process.
 
Wahoo Fan said:
I agree with posts above. You are almost done. Just give it that last push to finish strong.

My son is in similar circumstances with service academy appplications. He is still trying to work on doing the push-ups video for USMA, too. We are going through the emotional ups and downs roller coaster that goes along with this application process. So just know you are not alone. It is worth it to finish the process.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Good luck to your son :)
 
Don’t give up.
DD was late to the show first time. Didn’t get an appointment.
Second round she had a great file... and decided to turn down her nomination and enlist.
A few years later she opened up her portal again and updated it. Third time was the charm.
 
Wow, this was like reading my own story... It really sucks being in the boat we're in, especially when you don't really have a good support system. However, the way I see it is that it's your life, no one else's. Do what feels right for you.

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right” - Henry Ford
 
Don’t give up. Keep trying. DS is applying to USNA but also hit similar road blocks. We both had to take a day off for him to get his DODMERB completed - definitely more fun things to do on a day off but it felt good to have the exam behind him. I think he’s probably written a dozen+ in pages, not essays, but pages of essays - when you add plans A-E together. There have been tears - “I just want to be done.” especially when all of his friends are doing a fraction of the work to apply to college. Then he did a test run of his CFA - had some great #s (6min mile, 15 pull-ups, etc) but failed (or close to it) in his sit-ups. The idea of having to train even more for about 3 more wks brought on more tears & defeat. But.... he picked himself up & did it again..... unfortunately much more quickly than planned because we are in a state where everything is closed & the schools were closing their doors again & he needed the pull-up bar/gym close to a track...he dug deep - puking 🤮 3x before the mile run but submitted a much better CFA than the practice run, not knowing if he would get another chance to re-take it (our schools are still closed); then he didn’t get a MoC nom - he thought he was “dead in the water” - boy, lots of tears with that “no”.... but, again, he picked himself up because plans B-E are still pretty cool, only to be surprised by a nom by one of his Senators. Moral of the story: this is a crazy hard process, with so many ups & downs. We still have no idea what plan will come through but I know he won’t regret a “no” from USNA because at least he gave it all he could & left nothing on the table. Hang in there; dig deep; keep that chin up .....
 
Boymomof3 said:
Don’t give up. Keep trying. DS is applying to USNA but also hit similar road blocks. We both had to take a day off for him to get his DODMERB completed - definitely more fun things to do on a day off but it felt good to have the exam behind him. I think he’s probably written a dozen+ in pages, not essays, but pages of essays - when you add plans A-E together. There have been tears - “I just want to be done.” especially when all of his friends are doing a fraction of the work to apply to college. Then he did a test run of his CFA - had some great #s (6min mile, 15 pull-ups, etc) but failed (or close to it) in his sit-ups. The idea of having to train even more for about 3 more wks brought on more tears & defeat. But.... he picked himself up & did it again..... unfortunately much more quickly than planned because we are in a state where everything is closed & the schools were closing their doors again & he needed the pull-up bar/gym close to a track...he dug deep - puking 🤮 3x before the mile run but submitted a much better CFA than the practice run, not knowing if he would get another chance to re-take it (our schools are still closed); then he didn’t get a MoC nom - he thought he was “dead in the water” - boy, lots of tears with that “no”.... but, again, he picked himself up because plans B-E are still pretty cool, only to be surprised by a nom by one of his Senators. Moral of the story: this is a crazy hard process, with so many ups & downs. We still have no idea what plan will come through but I know he won’t regret a “no” from USNA because at least he gave it all he could & left nothing on the table. Hang in there; dig deep; keep that chin up .....
Click to expand...
Grit written all over your kid.
 
.
... just came across this thread. @EastRound is the reason I am a card carrying member of this forum.

I feel all Warm and Fuzzy now .... I am going to do some “Goodness” today.

Thank you @EastRound. And keep doing what you are doing. A stone carver works one chip at a time.
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@EastRound, while it may not feel like you have support, clearly based on this thread you do. And while your parents might not understand the nuances of service via an Academy, I know as a mom, what makes me happiest, is our children doing what they are passionate about, and doing it well. I think it has been mentioned in other threads, but maybe showing your parents some videos about West Point would be beneficial.

For local support, maybe reach out to your local American Legion post. Ours has been very supportive of our son, and they are veterans who understand service and the commitment and sacrifice it requires. I think a mentor who has served could be invaluable to you.

You have plenty of people in your corner who have given you sage advice. Keep your head up. I know this may sound silly, but write your self a few positive affirmation sticky notes. Put them on the bathroom mirror. Inside your school notebooks, in a gym locker, on your bedroom door. Look at them daily and possibly they will help you push through difficult times. This is a daunting process when all of the planets are aligned, shouldering it solo is not ideal, but take it day by day, step by step.

When my DS or DD or students seem daunted by a task or assignment, I always ask them, "how do you eat an elephant?". One bite at a time
(no elephants were harmed in this metaphorical situation).
Good luck to you and keep us posted.
 
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