skismuggs
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I don't think that the unused nominations are used to fund the NWL. It has allotted slots assigned to it. Lots of MOC slots get unfilled every year.
In complete disbelief...
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I don't think that the unused nominations are used to fund the NWL. It has allotted slots assigned to it. Lots of MOC slots get unfilled every year.
WPHope2021
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Complete the application. DS is at West Point, but received an offer of appointment to the Air Force Academy last year without a nomination. They "found" him a Vice Presidential nomination. While there is no guarantee, there is certainly hope if you have a strong file and they want you. Good luck!
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Good catch - that is indeed not the way it works.
For all those as yet nom-less whose hearts started beating faster thinking there are ways to get a nom from some discard pile, here’s a FAQ from USMA.edu, last one on the page:
https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/SitePages/FAQ_Admission.aspx
You application looks strong except I didn't see anything in terms of varsity athletics. This happens regularly where kids who have very competitive applications don't get a spot. Less frequently though that they don't get a nomination. In my judgement your best plan, assuming nothing comes through this year, is attending a university for at least next year and take the USMA prescribed class load, then do well in those classes. For certain you should contact your USMA RC and ask him/her to review your file, and offer insight. If you haven't talked to your RC by this point, you should have, because they are very accessible, and offer very candid information about what you need to do, and what your competition looks like.
You will still need to get a nomination. Ask your FFR for guidance. Sometimes they have connections with the MOCs. Either way, if they are willing, they can contact someone and explaine that you fell through the cracks this year, but are deserving.
This is part of life brother, and it isn't the worse thing that could happen. Don't let it get you so down that you lose faith. Let it motivate you. Going to WP as a true freshman is tough. My son was 17 when he went, and I would have loved for him to have had a year of those college classes as a practice run before he got to WP. He was plenty smart enough, but there is a lot to learn besides math and science your first year at an Academy, so knowing the academic material in advance would have been a gigantic boost. My son is doing fine, but he is doing fine in the bottom half of his class. A year of prep would have helped. One of my son's roommates was a re-ap, and he is now a straight A cadet, and won "cadet of the month".
Reapply, do what you can do, get over the disappointment, work with your RC and FFR, and keep moving forward. Once you get that spot it will be all worth the effort.
And lastly, I agree with the others about considering ROTC. It is a fantastic option, and for some, perhaps better than WP. Certainly it is a great alternative, and it doesn't require a nomination. You look to be in a great position to get a scholarship.
You will still need to get a nomination. Ask your FFR for guidance. Sometimes they have connections with the MOCs. Either way, if they are willing, they can contact someone and explaine that you fell through the cracks this year, but are deserving.
This is part of life brother, and it isn't the worse thing that could happen. Don't let it get you so down that you lose faith. Let it motivate you. Going to WP as a true freshman is tough. My son was 17 when he went, and I would have loved for him to have had a year of those college classes as a practice run before he got to WP. He was plenty smart enough, but there is a lot to learn besides math and science your first year at an Academy, so knowing the academic material in advance would have been a gigantic boost. My son is doing fine, but he is doing fine in the bottom half of his class. A year of prep would have helped. One of my son's roommates was a re-ap, and he is now a straight A cadet, and won "cadet of the month".
Reapply, do what you can do, get over the disappointment, work with your RC and FFR, and keep moving forward. Once you get that spot it will be all worth the effort.
And lastly, I agree with the others about considering ROTC. It is a fantastic option, and for some, perhaps better than WP. Certainly it is a great alternative, and it doesn't require a nomination. You look to be in a great position to get a scholarship.
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Don't get down. You can be offered an appointment off of the wait list from now till the day before R day; and yes, like you said, if people drop out, if someone declines, etc. you can be offered an appointment. If it doesn't work out, go to college for a year, and apply again next year. And the next. And the next. You've got ROTC as an option, if you really want to serve. And if you reaaaly want to serve, enlisting is an option too. As a candidate like yourself, if you enlist, you can get a nomination through your commanding officer and go next year (not to say that's a shoe in, there's a chance you'll just have to continue through regular service, but doing things like that offer you some more nomination sources).
And hey, realize that there are plenty of qualified, if not overqualified candidates that don't receive appointment just because there's a limited number of slots. It's not like a regular school. They are mandated by law to only appoint a certain number from each state (grey area here, but you get my gist). It's not like Princeton's gonna cut their admissions from California at the number of congressional districts y'all have. Take pride in the fact that you applied and got this far. And just remember, you don't need to go to West Point to say Go Army! (and Beat Navy
). You've got options. And there's still hope. It ain't a loss if you don't treat like one. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and hold your head high.
I get that it's a let down, and you're gonna feel bad for a bit. Give yourself some grieving time. But don't let it ruin your senior year, go out and have some fun, you'll feel better eventually.
GoArmy2022
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If you are seen as competitive enough by Admissions, they may offer you a slot in USMAPS (or the Academy itself if they decide they want to find you a nomination). A friend of mine thought it was over for him 2 years ago because the only SA he was nominated to was USMMA...he was offered a spot at USMAPS and is a Plebe this year!!!
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Above posts triggered the most important Assets going into West Point and SA: MATURITY, HUMILITY, FOLLOWER, LISTENER. Most Cadets at entry are high achievers in many areas but many still lack these important assets. And that comes with tested time, failures, and new challenges. You will have a very difficult time if you fail to transform and slow cook to become a soldier, sailor, airmen. Once you’re in, get rid of all your inventory of achievements and start fresh. Because I kid you not there is always another kid who’s achieved more than you, who has perfect test scores and perfect Unweighted GPA, who can do more pull ups and who can problem solve faster than you. You’re a good runner, you will find someone who’s faster than you. Dust off your arrogance and empty your feeling of personal betrayal. I don’t see your response from this thread. Take many good advice along the way from this thread and from others. That’s your food. PLEBE is a year of learning how to follow. You do that well, that will set you up to be an extraordinary leader throughout your Military and Civilian career.
Teragram
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If 3Q you cannot get a spot at USMAPS...must be academically disqualified for one of these spots. OP may be eligible for an AOG civil prep appointment as these candidates are 3Q'd and competitive for admission. Your friend who went to USMAPS was most likely 2Q and was therefore offered a spot for a prep year to work on academics.
GoArmy2022
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Ah! I didn’t see him say he was 3Q. My bad!
Teragram
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He didn't state he was 3Q but with his SAT and ACT score it is highly likely (unless writing score or class rank is awful thus disqualifying him). Odds are more an AOG candidate than an USMAPS.
mom3boys
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If WP is really your dream, don't give up. There's a remote chance you could get a Supt nom (not likely, they're for athletes). Also there's a chance for civil prep (take it!). Your best bet is to enroll in a college that has a strong AROTC program (maybe a senior military college like UNG, A&M, etc). Take classes that mimic what you'd have as a plebe. Reapply next year. Next year, you'll have the ROTC nom in addition to anything else you might get. 25% of the incoming class is NOT straight from HS. While this is a setback, it's not the end of the road. As Randy Pausch would say: Walls are put in place to see how badly you want to scale them. Good luck to you.
PS: my DS was not accepted out of HS. He went to a SMC (University of N Georgia), thrived in the corps of cadets, received a ROTC nomination and is currently doing well in his 3rd year at West Point.
PS: my DS was not accepted out of HS. He went to a SMC (University of N Georgia), thrived in the corps of cadets, received a ROTC nomination and is currently doing well in his 3rd year at West Point.
I will mimic what mom3boys said. It’s only the end of the road if you choose it to be. My son did not get a nomination last year directly out of HS. He took AROTC scholarship, focused on keeping his grades high first semester, made the Ranger Challenge Team as a freshman, impressed his superiors and the older cadets, earned an ROTC Nomination and a congressional nomination. While we are in a waiting pattern for appointment, he’s close than he’s ever been to fulfilling his dream of going to WP. As Jimmy V said “Never give up”
It is what it is so I am going to ask what you think is the reason why you didn’t get a nomination? There are many reasons why a well qualified candidate might not get a nomination. A though comeptituon could be a reason, but with stated accomplishments like yours the chance is small. I only asked this question as if your goal is to attend West Point, you need to make sure you are addressing all things.
Enthalpy
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"It is what it is" Bill Belichick.
I would add talk to your Field Force Officer or Liaison officer.
You are deserving of a nomination based on your credentials IMO.
I know they find Appointments for Highly Qualified Candidates, I would have to believe that they would also find nominations for Highly Qualified Candidates also especially in highly competitive districts.
As has been said many times on this forum, have a good plan B and C.
Continue to Apply, I know of a USNA graduate that spent two years at a Community College before getting into the Academy on his third time applying.
USMACadet982734 “Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about.”
― Winston Churchill
There is a ton of advice here and most of it can provide a path for an appointment next year. Keep in mind that their is not one path to being an officer and also being accepted to West Point.
Step one is an honest self-assessment and discussion with your RC AFTER the process is finished later in the year. What could you do to improve your application?
As mentioned, ROTC provides an additional nomination source to compete against. You do not need an ROTC scholarship to join ROTC in college.
Pick a college that will support your intended major, is financially affordable and where you think you will do well. You do not have to attend a Senior Military College if that is not what you want. You have to be happy at that college if it does not work out next year.
You will have to take a challenging schedule that is filled with STEM like you would at USMA. You do not have to exactly copy the "Plebe" schedule if it doesn't work for you. There is no reason to take Calculus 1 or Chemistry I if you have tested out of it. Take Calculus 2 and Chemistry 2. What you cannot do is replace with things like music theory and art history.
The most important thing is to keep being successful and doing the things that made you qualified in high school.
Good Luck
Step one is an honest self-assessment and discussion with your RC AFTER the process is finished later in the year. What could you do to improve your application?
As mentioned, ROTC provides an additional nomination source to compete against. You do not need an ROTC scholarship to join ROTC in college.
Pick a college that will support your intended major, is financially affordable and where you think you will do well. You do not have to attend a Senior Military College if that is not what you want. You have to be happy at that college if it does not work out next year.
You will have to take a challenging schedule that is filled with STEM like you would at USMA. You do not have to exactly copy the "Plebe" schedule if it doesn't work for you. There is no reason to take Calculus 1 or Chemistry I if you have tested out of it. Take Calculus 2 and Chemistry 2. What you cannot do is replace with things like music theory and art history.
The most important thing is to keep being successful and doing the things that made you qualified in high school.
Good Luck
Parent of 4
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Unfortunately the practice of “finding a nomination” is no longer permitted at USMA. That said many of the options laid out in the above posts are wonderful ideas to enhance your candidacy for the class of 2023 if necessary.
Not sure if you're still following this thread.
Did you also apply for the AROTC Scholarship (I hope so), you seem like you would be competitive. As a couple others have commented, there are several paths that will have the same end result of a commission in the Army. The deadline to apply for the AROTC Scholarship is February 4th of this year, this would make you eligible to be reviewed by the final Board starting Mar. 4th. Since it is now Jan, 22nd it would be hard to make that deadline unless you have already started the process.
It was mentioned as well that you do not need a scholarship to start ROTC and there is the possibility you could get a scholarship once you start the program. Starting college and joining ROTC will give you the best shot with a re-application to USMA.
Remember as well to consider what your goals, are they to become an officer in the Army or attend WP, either will result in becoming an officer.
My 2020 is from So Cal and competitive. West Point was his dream since he was 8. He did not get in his first attempt. Had some teachers tell him they did not think he had the academics to survive the academy. Had scholarships and ROTC scholarships, but no prep school offers. Self sponsored to NorthWest Prep and went to local JC. Got the nod for the class of 2020. Now in the top 10% of his class. People in his prep school on the 3, 4, 5th attempt to get in, and some got in. If your dream is WP, don't give up.
UHBlackhawk
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DD was a first time non-select.
Went to a D1 college on part athletic and ROTC scholarship. Reapplied and in addition to Presidential got a Congressional Nom. Came home at Christmas told us she dropped out of college and was enlisting.
That summer after Airborne School she came to visit us at USMA over A-Day. After seeing the parade she asked for a tour of the prep school.
She decided to reapply anticipating that she would go to the prep school. She received a direct appointment (enlisted do not need to get a Congressional Nom).
She is currently a Plebe, is doing very well and has no regrets about the path she took.
Went to a D1 college on part athletic and ROTC scholarship. Reapplied and in addition to Presidential got a Congressional Nom. Came home at Christmas told us she dropped out of college and was enlisting.
That summer after Airborne School she came to visit us at USMA over A-Day. After seeing the parade she asked for a tour of the prep school.
She decided to reapply anticipating that she would go to the prep school. She received a direct appointment (enlisted do not need to get a Congressional Nom).
She is currently a Plebe, is doing very well and has no regrets about the path she took.