Getting Ready for Round Two

Y

You

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2020
Messages
107
Hi everyone! So I probably won't be getting to West Point this year, and I have few questions about my first year in college and what I can do to increase my chances of getting into the class of 2026.

1. I would like to major in aerospace engineering, but I heard with all the online learning engineering students have been having a rough time keeping their GPA up. I really don't want to major in something like underwater basket weaving and have my brain rot, but I also don't want to have a low GPA. Should I keep my major the same, or try something easier?
2. I'll need to find a job to help pay for college if I don't receive an ROTC scholarship, but I plan on going through ROTC with or without the scholarship. Will this be a problem? Will ROTC be more like having a second job than a class?
3. What are some different jobs in the city that any of you have had? I've only worked on a ranch and tutored, so I've never had an "official" job.
4. How will the re-applicant process be different than the first go around? I plan on starting it as soon as it opens, but should I be prepared to go through some extra hoops?
5. What are some things that I can do right now to help me do better next year?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
 
I assume you are starting college in the autumn and therefore I expect we'll be out of the woods on Covid due to the vaccines. College should be far more normal then and online classes should be disappearing.

That said, major in what you're interested in. You'll be miserable majoring in something else.
 
USMA took at look at your grades etc this year and didn't select you.
So you need to improve to give them something new to look at.
1) Study for ACT/SAT to increase that (if you took it)
2) USMA wants to know you could succeed at USMA. Your best chance is to take classes such as you would take the first year of USMA and show them you can succeed. I would definitely not overload on credits though.
3) You will need the discipline to keep up with classes and learn... but use material like Khan Academy or tutors to keep up.
 
I know two students in aerospace engineering. One at RPI and one at USNA. Both have great grades.

Like Kinnem said - major in what you like. That applies to everyone regardless of school.
 
I would also add, make sure you establish a relationship and good rapport with your college professors. Not a suck-up relationship, but a genuine one. They will have to evaluate you for your reapplication process to USMA.

Pick the major that interests you, regardless of where you attend school.
Virtual classes are difficult but find a way. Grit is hard to measure, but something that all SA's are likely looking for. Your first year at any SA will be daunting.
Perseverance, time management, and problem-solving skills will be needed. Hone those skills in your 1st year of college taking classes that mimic what your first-year courses at USMA would be and excel.
 
Also read the re-applicants advice on the USMA website. Also on the stickies here on the SAF.
 
Heatherg21 said:
I would also add, make sure you establish a relationship and good rapport with your college professors. Not a suck-up relationship, but a genuine one. They will have to evaluate you for your reapplication process to USMA.

Pick the major that interests you, regardless of where you attend school.
Virtual classes are difficult but find a way. Grit is hard to measure, but something that all SA's are likely looking for. Your first year at any SA will be daunting.
Perseverance, time management, and problem-solving skills will be needed. Hone those skills in your 1st year of college taking classes that mimic what your first-year courses at USMA would be and excel.
Click to expand...
Although garnering a positive relationship with College Professors sounds like good advice, it's quite a different reality from High School Pre-COVID. I attempted to get my college math professor this application cycle to do my evaluation, and he denied me. USMA kept the SOE from the previous application for me, so hopefully, OP shouldn't have to worry about getting new evaluations.


My college professor was quite straightforward when he said "I don't know enough about you, and I won't with the limited time we have." So OP here might just have to bank on the fact he will have to use his High School Resources for the second time around if need be, which in hindsight, looks as though you haven't grown much as an applicant. But the alternative is a cookie-cutter response from a professor who only sees you on Zoom calls and grades your work.
 
Jhenry904 said:
Although garnering a positive relationship with College Professors sounds like good advice, it's quite a different reality from High School Pre-COVID. I attempted to get my college math professor this application cycle to do my evaluation, and he denied me. USMA kept the SOE from the previous application for me, so hopefully, OP shouldn't have to worry about getting new evaluations.


My college professor was quite straightforward when he said "I don't know enough about you, and I won't with the limited time we have." So OP here might just have to bank on the fact he will have to use his High School Resources for the second time around if need be, which in hindsight, looks as though you haven't grown much as an applicant. But the alternative is a cookie-cutter response from a professor who only sees you on Zoom calls and grades your work.
Click to expand...
So just to double check, re-applicants are allowed to keep the old evaluations? Are they given the option of asking a college professor for one? I tend to get along more with my college professor than with my high school teachers, even over Zoom, so I'd like to have that option if it's available.

(Also, I'm a female 😂)
 
You said:
So just to double check, re-applicants are allowed to keep the old evaluations? Are they given the option of asking a college professor for one? I tend to get along more with my college professor than with my high school teachers, even over Zoom, so I'd like to have that option if it's available.

(Also, I'm a female 😂)
Click to expand...
For me, at least the SOEs stayed in my portal when I opened it to reapply, so I presume the same will happen to you. On the portal, you have the option to add additional SOEs, so I imagine that is where you will add College Professors if you wish.
 
  • Like
Reactions: You
The above is good insight and counsel. Make sure you confirm with individual admissions counselor who is an approved evaluator.
 
  • Like
Reactions: You
My DS is a 3rd time reapplicant and is a sophomore in college. His 4 high school SOE’s carried over from high school and are still on his portal. He added 2 more required SOE’s from freshman year of college and has 6 of his portal. He just sent requests for 2 more from this past semester, he was instructed to do so by WP earlier this semester. He is hoping the professors comply. Since it was all virtual learning and DS never actually met the professor I can see where there may be problems. I would think WP would understand and adjust on the fly...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top