Currently a Female Plebe at USMA - Ask Me Anything

Thanks for sharing insight. So why did you chose USMA over USNA? What were your reasons if you feel ok to share, it must have been a tough decision to make for you.
 
Hi! I understand if you can’t answer this because of the amount of questions you’ve received or if you’ve already answered this...

How many miles could you consecutively run before USMA?

I want to know what my running goal should be prior to entering. (Right now I’m accepted to USCGA, but I’m still hoping to get into USMA and the others.) I want to have a specific goal, like 10 miles in X amount of time.

Thank you!
 
usmagirl118 said:
Thanks for sharing insight. So why did you chose USMA over USNA? What were your reasons if you feel ok to share, it must have been a tough decision to make for you.
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Hello!

Actually, the choice between USMA and USNA was not a particularly tough one for me. I had the opportunity to visit both campuses multiple times, and I liked what I found at USMA more than what USNA was offering. What had the most influence, I think, in deciding between the two academies, was the services after. I heavily considered USNA initially, but after some soul-searching, I realized that I didn’t want to be in the Navy, not necessarily just the Naval Academy. This is not because I have anything against the Naval Academy or the Navy, it was just that the jobs offered to me after graduation did not appeal to me as much as the branches that the Army has available. So it was much more of a long-term, job-conscious choice more than a choice in schools. I want to make the military my career, so considering the long-term was much more important to me. I want to go Military Intelligence - they have more spots for that at USMA than at USNA (though they are still slimmer chances than other branches). With the likelihood that I do not get into MI, I still like the other branches and jobs that I could have at USMA better than I do at USNA. It just all came down to job preference for me more than anything else, and that’s what I encourage anyone who’s torn between the two to do: consider the job you want to get into, and all of the other possible backups!

I hope this helps, and good luck!
 
OHunts said:
Hi! I understand if you can’t answer this because of the amount of questions you’ve received or if you’ve already answered this...

How many miles could you consecutively run before USMA?

I want to know what my running goal should be prior to entering. (Right now I’m accepted to USCGA, but I’m still hoping to get into USMA and the others.) I want to have a specific goal, like 10 miles in X amount of time.

Thank you!
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Honestly, I could run 10+ miles consecutively, but they were pretty slow (10-11 minute miles). That was more of an endurance thing than anything. The best advice I can give you is to run and run a lot, and vary the distance and the intensity! At every service academy, you will be asked to run at varying levels, speeds, and distances, so trying to prepare yourself for everything will help you a lot!

I hope this answers your questions, congratulations on USCGA, and good luck for all the others!
 
usmacadet2024 said:
What had the most influence, I think, in deciding between the two academies, was the services after. I heavily considered USNA initially, but after some soul-searching, I realized that I didn’t want to be in the Navy, not necessarily just the Naval Academy.
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What a mature and insightful approach. For lurking candidates — current and future — heed this approach. The SA is but four years in what could become a 24+ year journey. A long and rewarding career (military and otherwise) is usually obtained via post-college roles, not the college itself. @usmacadet2024 was wise to choose based on what comes after graduation. Candidates should think not only of their preferred role, but which ones they’d choose should #1 not work out. The needs of the service will always prevail, so buying fully into the mission and potential roles is more critical than campus life.
 
usmacadet2024 said:
Honestly, I could run 10+ miles consecutively, but they were pretty slow (10-11 minute miles). That was more of an endurance thing than anything. The best advice I can give you is to run and run a lot, and vary the distance and the intensity! At every service academy, you will be asked to run at varying levels, speeds, and distances, so trying to prepare yourself for everything will help you a lot!

I hope this answers your questions, congratulations on USCGA, and good luck for all the others!
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Thank you so much! I’ll make sure to work on it. :)
 
How have you counseled peers who are struggling and doubting their choice to attend? If you’ve struggled, what’s been helpful to you? Thank you.
 
prospective2019 said:
Anything you wish your upperclassman-peers would do to support you more? I try to mentor the female plebes I know the best I can... but I know some things may fall through the cracks.
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First, thank you for such an awesome question! It’s really awesome to hear from the upperclassman on here :)

Honestly, just being willing to lend an ear can be a really, really big deal. I had a great team leader for AY2021-1, and one of his biggest strengths was just being willing to listen and not offer an opinion - just being understanding and empathetic can go a long way. For me, personally, another really big thing is being reminded as to WHY I chose to go to West Point. All of us have reasons, whether they’re having a career in the Army or getting the West Point degree or becoming successful after the Army, but sometimes when it gets hard we lose sight of that. Sometimes it’s nice to reminded in a way that doesn’t feel like it’s being shoved down our throats (ie the “you chose to be here” reminder). When I was having a really rough go of it, my roommates would often remind me of my goals - I want to graduate and go MI, so just being reminded that every hard thing that I’m doing is setting me up for success, that would really help. All of this, additionally, ties in to getting to know as best as you can. Just knowing some little things about us, or being willing to give us a smile in the hallways REALLY goes a long way. I know we greet all the upperclassmen, but I cannot even begin to describe what a huge impact it has on us when you say something nice back to us, or even smile and say ”hello!” It’s a great mood booster, and myself and my roommates have often come back to our room talking about it after it happens.

I hope this answers your question okay, and thank you again!
 
HikerMom said:
How have you counseled peers who are struggling and doubting their choice to attend? If you’ve struggled, what’s been helpful to you? Thank you.
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Hello!

For me personally, the best way that I go about it is reminding people of why they’re at USMA. I tried to get to know my fellow plebes as best as I could, given all of the crazy circumstances, and when people are struggling in their choices to attend, it’s best to remind them of why they’re there in the first place. For me, for example, there are a few things. I want to major in Russian, and West Point has one of the best Russian programs in the country. The Department of Foreign Language is unmatched, so that‘s one thing I can use to remind myself. Another is that I really do want to have a career in the United States Army as an MI officer - West Point is the best place I could go to set myself up for long-term success. Being reminded of these things really, really helps me through when I’m having a hard day. It helps to get to know why someone wants to be at West Point to provide support for them as best as you can. Additionally, just being willing to listen when someone just has a hard, crappy day (of which there can be many at West Point) and being willing to be empathetic to whatever struggles they are having. This can go hand-in-hand with being reminded as to why they want to be there - let them vent it out, talk about their day, and just listen, then offer the little boost of “you ARE here for a reason, even if that reason is hard to see right now.” It can help to end on a little bit more positive note, and can even refocus me on the important things.

I hope this helped to answer your question!
 
A quick simple question here. Thank you in advance.
How many personal belongs did you bring to the school? Laptop, cell phone, iPad, cosmetic, favorite clothes/running shoes, etc..
 
fnpony said:
A quick simple question here. Thank you in advance.
How many personal belongs did you bring to the school? Laptop, cell phone, iPad, cosmetic, favorite clothes/running shoes, etc..
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OP will have better insights for you, but appointees are given a list of what to bring. Many report in with what they are wearing, required paperwork and a mobile phone and charger in a gallon baggie. Lean and mean is the way to go, because you have to haul stuff around that first day. Almost everything you need is issued. Later, when the academic year starts after summer training, you figure out what you’re allowed to have, what makes sense to have. Things get better each year. Cosmetics are likely to be the last thing on your mind and to have time for during summer training. Everyone is sweaty, dirty, smelly and definitely not date night ready. And no one cares. Again, later, you will figure out what is the cultural norm, what you have time for, what makes sense.

USNA mids don’t get civilian clothes privileges their plebe year. I don’t know what USMA does, but expect it is similar.
 
Sorry my question was too broad and thank you for the info. We will check the list before raising more related questions.
 
fnpony said:
Sorry my question was too broad and thank you for the info. We will check the list before raising more related questions.
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Absolutely no need to say sorry! Regular readers here get a kick out of the annual “USMA boot thread” resurgence. You’ll also see threads about what watch is best.

If you browse the USMA forum from March-June each year going back a few years, or use the Search tool, you’ll find many threads on what to bring, what to wear on reporting day, running shoes, laptop (it’s an issued package), best mobile phone provider reception, tech, hair for women, medications Rx and OTC, banking, personal feminine supplies, etc.
 
usmacadet2024 said:
Hey guys! I'm a female plebe (class of 2024) here at West Point, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about the academy, how to get in, and what it's like here! I also participate in club athletics, so I can answer any questions about those, and my roommate is a DI athlete (Corps Squad) so I can probably help you out with those, too.
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Hi! I know I'm a little late to this post, but I have been trying to find someplace to ask questions for a couple of weeks. I am currently a freshman in high school and was wondering what are some ways that I could boost my chances of getting appointed into West Point? Also, are there any classes that I could take in preparation for life at the academy? Do you have any advice as to how to train in preparation for the CFA?
 
Do you have any advice for candidates who might not get a chance to visit the academies before making a decision to attend due to COVID? I feel like it is such a big decision that would be hard to make without visiting even once.
 
tweety_bird said:
Do you have any advice for candidates who might not get a chance to visit the academies before making a decision to attend due to COVID? I feel like it is such a big decision that would be hard to make without visiting even once.
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I don't have any advice per se other then this: candidates have made this decision for almost 2 centuries, and many of them never stepped foot on an academy yard prior to IDay. Prior to Covid, many candidates didn't have the means or opportunity to tour all of their prospective college options. With the internet access you really can get a virtual feel for them. While being able to tour might have solidified a decision for a candidate, you really can only deal with what is in your control at this time.
 
fnpony said:
A quick simple question here. Thank you in advance.
How many personal belongs did you bring to the school? Laptop, cell phone, iPad, cosmetic, favorite clothes/running shoes, etc..
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Hi!

To answer your question, I think it depends on what you’re talking about! When it comes to reporting for Beast, I didn’t bring TOO many personal items, but there are a few things that can be super important! I brought nice sunscreen, baby powder, and prickly-heat powder, along with my own deodorant and some other personal hygiene products! I would also recommend bringing your own underwear, since some issued items just SUCK! I just brought what I was wearing, since civilian clothes aren’t allowed your first year at West Point other than in some VERY specific and occasional instances. I brought an older, broken-in pair of running shoes, and then had my mom send me one newer pair and then just a comfy, clean pair I could wear with my PT uniform when I didn’t plan on working out. I brought my cell phone and charger, along with a gallon bag to put it all in while you’re at summer training.

For school, I did have my mom send me what I like In terms of makeup, and she also sent me my iPad, since I take notes on it. I don’t put a ton of makeup on at West Point, but I didn’t before I came, either. It’s all about what you like to do! If makeup is something you like, it is allowed within certain regulations, so I say go for it!

I hope this answers your questions okay, and good luck!
 
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