asgusma
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2020
- Messages
- 30
Hey everyone. I have a tough decision to make very soon about USMA vs. AROTC. There's pros and cons for both, and I honestly don't know which one to pick. I remember first applying to USMA in my junior year and being so excited about the prospect of an appointment and serving my country as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation. Then, I was medically disqualified, and after waiting months and months for a waiver, an appointment seemed distant, so I set my sights on AROTC. I won a 3 year AROTC scholarship at a civilian school, and in addition, I got accepted to an amazing program where I could potentially have a "reserved" spot in a medical school (after my undergrad degree) given I meet the prerequisites for med school, along with great support from the program itself, my peers, and even doctors. This past week, I got a surprise call from a senator congratulating me on a USMA appointment, and needless to say I am so extremely grateful and overjoyed. So now, I'm going to have to make a decision soon, but I just can't seem to choose. The thing I'm most worried about is the academics at West Point. I've always struggled with math, and I know USMA is very math intensive, and I don't want to get into a situation where I won't be able to handle the course load and the math, or encounter the possibility of failing a math class and having to leave USMA, because that would be heartbreaking. Of course, my first inclination is to think that if I want it bad enough, I will work very hard to achieve academic success, specifically in math. On the other hand, I really need to be realistic about if I can handle the course load and the math. Can anyone here offer their experience with the math/calculus courses at west point, and if they were difficult for you, especially if you also struggle with math? Also, does anyone else have any guidance about my overall situation? My decision really depends on my end goals, but my end goals have always been to 1. Serve my country as an Army Officer 2. Serve my community as a doctor and 3. Become the best leader I can be. I don't see why I can't achieve all of those, but I am really not sure which path is going to be the best for that. Thank you all.