Everyone looking out for their own good?

asquared09

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Any insight into what the USMA atmosphere is like with regards to competitiveness?

I've heard many cadets and OGs advising to look out for your peers but also heard about peer evaluations, ostracizing, and prior service cadets acting arrogantly? I suppose my worst fear is reporting on R-day and realizing everyone is only superficially friendly and looking out for their own good. Thank you
 
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I've had no doubts about my classmates. The selfish ones are usually hated. I've made a better group of friends here than I ever did in high school. Most people here are less self centered if anything.
 
The vast majority of cadets are very helpful. Everyone struggles in different areas and you seek help in your weak areas and volunteer time in your strengths. I almost never encountered a situation where a cadet won't help out if asked.
 
Any insight into what the USMA atmosphere is like with regards to competitiveness?

I've heard many cadets and OGs advising to look out for your peers but also heard about peer evaluations, ostracizing, and prior service cadets acting arrogantly? I suppose my worst fear is reporting on R-day and realizing everyone is only superficially friendly and looking out for their own good. Thank you
I would stop wasting the time you have left before R-Day with these worries. Enjoy the rest of the school year and graduation and prioritize time with family and friends. Do the best you can and "cooperate and graduate."
 
Any insight into what the USMA atmosphere is like with regards to competitiveness?

I've heard many cadets and OGs advising to look out for your peers but also heard about peer evaluations, ostracizing, and prior service cadets acting arrogantly? I suppose my worst fear is reporting on R-day and realizing everyone is only superficially friendly and looking out for their own good. Thank you

DS is always talking about "group project this" or "group project that," but it also comes down to working together- leveraging people with different skills continues throughout life. Those who are best at tend to be more successful.

Yes, it's competitive as hell, but you also must carry your own weight. Ultimately you are responsible for your GPA and development. how well you can collaborate or even...um...cough...lead is a pretty darn important piece of the puzzle, wouldn't you agree?

DS speaks about prior service guys mostly with regard to having experience with field training and combat ops, depending upon MOS, of course. When it comes to the academics, it's a pretty level playing field for everyone.
 
I've had no doubts about my classmates. The selfish ones are usually hated. I've made a better group of friends here than I ever did in high school. Most people here are less self centered if anything.

This pretty much nailed my experience. The motto to get through USMA is cooperate and graduate. If you don't fall in line with that, its noticed and you're going to have a much, much harder time. The number of nights that I or someone I knew pulled an all nighter to help out a buddy, went for a run with someone needing some help fitness wise, grabbed a coffee to just chat with someone having a bad day, I can't even count. I'm closer with my best friends from the Academy than I am with my own family.
 
I would stop wasting the time you have left before R-Day with these worries.

I agree. Since you have already accepted your appointment, this really makes no difference at this point. Every college will have a variety of individuals and you will have more in common with some then others, regardless of where you go to college. Just getting an appointment was a competition as well.
 
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