tallbutshort
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2009
- Messages
- 237
A word to the wise: pursue other options as wholeheartedly as you pursue the West Point appointment!
I went to SLS. I loved it. It was seriously one of the best weeks of my life. I got back and I KNEW that's where I'd be going. R-day could not come soon enough. When the LoA came I was ECSTATIC. I live in a relatively uncompetitive district, so I pretty much had it in the bag. I thought about West Point all the time. I didn't want to apply to any other schools, but my mom made me so I applied to a couple UCs and a state school. I mean I was so excited I was literally dreaming about West Point. I got the appointment in late November. I was on cloud 9 for days.
But about two weeks later, doubt started to creep in. Just enough to make me apply to a few other schools. I am SO grateful I did. Because now, three months later, I have declined my appointment. But I didn't turn in the separate applications for merit scholarships or pursue outside scholarships, and now after not qualifying for need-based aid I cannot afford the two really good schools I got into (Vanderbilt and Rice). I'll either be going to state school (cheaper than the UCs, which would be kind of a stretch) or one of the much less prestigious private schools I got into that automatically gave me a merit scholarship. Don't be me! Pursue multiple options WHOLEHEARTEDLY. It sucks to get into a great school and not be able to afford it.
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, ok sucks for that girl, but that won't be me. Yeah, I thought that too. I would have laughed in your face if you told me six months ago that I would decide not to join the Army. I wanted to go to West Point more than anything else I've ever wanted in my entire life. I still really want to go. But I've realized it's not the right thing for me to do for me personally. You're probably thinking you've thought about it plenty and you know it's right for you. Well I thought about it plenty too. And it took a solid three months of thinking about almost nothing other than West Point to go from "hmm i'm not sure" to declining the appointment. I'm sure I haven't convinced you it's possible that you, too, will change your mind, because I know this post wouldn't have convinced me or come anywhere close to it. But PLEASE, do yourself a favor, and actively pursue plan B. And don't obsess about West Point, because a. it's not going to help you if you do go and b. you're going to wish you could have all those hours back if you decide not to go. Actually you'll probably wish you could have all those hours back either way.
But all that said, good luck seeking those appointments! And thanks you SO MUCH to everyone who posts on these forums, the information you provide is greatly appreciated.
I went to SLS. I loved it. It was seriously one of the best weeks of my life. I got back and I KNEW that's where I'd be going. R-day could not come soon enough. When the LoA came I was ECSTATIC. I live in a relatively uncompetitive district, so I pretty much had it in the bag. I thought about West Point all the time. I didn't want to apply to any other schools, but my mom made me so I applied to a couple UCs and a state school. I mean I was so excited I was literally dreaming about West Point. I got the appointment in late November. I was on cloud 9 for days.
But about two weeks later, doubt started to creep in. Just enough to make me apply to a few other schools. I am SO grateful I did. Because now, three months later, I have declined my appointment. But I didn't turn in the separate applications for merit scholarships or pursue outside scholarships, and now after not qualifying for need-based aid I cannot afford the two really good schools I got into (Vanderbilt and Rice). I'll either be going to state school (cheaper than the UCs, which would be kind of a stretch) or one of the much less prestigious private schools I got into that automatically gave me a merit scholarship. Don't be me! Pursue multiple options WHOLEHEARTEDLY. It sucks to get into a great school and not be able to afford it.
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, ok sucks for that girl, but that won't be me. Yeah, I thought that too. I would have laughed in your face if you told me six months ago that I would decide not to join the Army. I wanted to go to West Point more than anything else I've ever wanted in my entire life. I still really want to go. But I've realized it's not the right thing for me to do for me personally. You're probably thinking you've thought about it plenty and you know it's right for you. Well I thought about it plenty too. And it took a solid three months of thinking about almost nothing other than West Point to go from "hmm i'm not sure" to declining the appointment. I'm sure I haven't convinced you it's possible that you, too, will change your mind, because I know this post wouldn't have convinced me or come anywhere close to it. But PLEASE, do yourself a favor, and actively pursue plan B. And don't obsess about West Point, because a. it's not going to help you if you do go and b. you're going to wish you could have all those hours back if you decide not to go. Actually you'll probably wish you could have all those hours back either way.
But all that said, good luck seeking those appointments! And thanks you SO MUCH to everyone who posts on these forums, the information you provide is greatly appreciated.