Please give me some feedback

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sanandreasfreak

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Apr 20, 2009
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24
Hello guys,
my name is Louis Phlips and I got a letter in the mail last week stating that, "high demand for the seminar prevents us from hosting you this year". I have to mention however that I had to submit my ACT scores 2 weeks past the due date for the SLS, since I got my first ACT scores about 2 weeks too late.

Upon receiving the letter of West Point, my parents, who do not want me to attend USMA, told me that I should focus on a civilian college, since USMA is to dangerous and probably not interested into taking me as a candidate. I do not agree with them and wanted to ask people who have more experience as I do if I should still apply to the academy, with my current profile (which my parents think is not what admissions is looking for).

-Nationality: Belgian, American
-Born 1992 in Michigan, but moved to Germany at the age of 1. In Germany, I attended kindergarten and elementary school, which was run by the Belgian military. At the age of 11 I went to a German middle school. In September 2007 my dad was transferred for his job again, this time back to Michigan, and so I had to go to an American high school, without being able to hardly speak any English at all, and I arrived in the fall of sophomore year. Here, in Michigan, I currently attend the International Academy, a very competitive high school (ranked 6th in US news’ America’s best high schools). Students attending the International Academy are required to earn both the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma as well as a normal high school diploma.
-My current GPA is 3.6, and I took my first ACT test in March, getting a composite score of 26
-I can fluently communicate in German, Dutch/Flemish, English and French
- I started to fence in Germany in 2005 and still do today, but I do not have any varsity letters or similar, since those or unknown in Europe. I additionally work out at the local gym twice per week and am going to play on my home high school's football team next semester.
-As far as leadership goes, I am Publication Editor-in-Chief for my high school's newspaper, officer of the German Student Association and member of the German Honor Society.
-Medical condition: I did have asthma when I was about 11 years old, but have not had any asthma-related problems over the past years. I also wear glasses

This is basically my profile, and I really hope that I can get some feedback whether to apply or not and if there is something I can do to improve?
 
You should always apply. It's always worth a shot.

Have you tested yourself physically? You should take the APFT do find out where you stand now.

You also didn't mention the advanced classes you have taken. And do you plan on taking the SAT?
 
I haven't yet taken the APFT, but I am training for it. Also, since I go to an IB school, all my classes are IB classes, equivalent to an AP class. As far as the SAT goes, I haven't planned on taking it, because I heard that the ACT is easier and I have been practicing a lot for the next ACT in June
 
I remember getting that letter last year. I thought it was over for me, but fear not. It is not the end for you.

The fact that your school is very competitive will help you a lot. I had the same asthma issue too but that can be overcome if you really want to do this. USMA is pretty good about understanding different circumstances so I think you will be alright. My GPA and ACTs were about the same as yours. I got my appointment in January and I'm going to be joining the class of 2013.

Don't worry too much about your parents.(It is actually better that they aren't pushing you to do this.) This has to be something you commit to 100%. They will most likely support you if you show them that you are focused on doing this. Good Luck to you.
 
I would try and take the SAT because I did a lot better on the SAT. It just depends on what your academic strengths are. You will never know unless you try it.
 
@FightOnToVictory
When it can help I will try to take it. What exactly do you mean with the same asthma issue, and how did you solve it?
 
I had childhood asthma. As long as you aren't taking any medicine for it after your 13th birthday you are fine. But if you were (in my case I was taking preventative drugs even though i had never really had an asthma attack, i just had some of the symptoms) Then you will have to go through DoDMERB, The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board, and try to get a Waiver from the Academy you want to go to. They might have to put you through some tests but If you are active in any kind of sports and your asthma does not bother you then you should be alright.
 
aite, thanks. That is already a big relief. It would be stupid to apply and get everything done, and then suddenly hear that asthma prevents one from joining. Btw, are there any limits concerning wearing glasses?
 
Most people score higher in the ACT but you should still take the SAT. It helps to have both.

What are you getting on your APFT practices?
 
You need to work on your preliminary application. Once you are an official candidate, you will receive information about the required physical. It is a long process and since you had asthma as a child, you might take longer to get approved. You should start the process soon..by summer. Your parents will have to go along for some of this (you will need them to sign some medical forms). Also, you should see if this summer they will go on a visit to USMA with you. It helps feel better once you've seen the place. Good luck to you! This is a great site to gain help and understanding!
 
okay thanks guys. So i assume that i still have a chance of getting in?
Oh, what would be a good ACT score to attend West Point? Like 30?
 
Yes, 30 or 31 would be ideal.

And getting your parents on your side is also very important. Even after receiving an appointment your parent/guardian will need to fill out a consent form. (assuming you are under 18 such as myself)

Visiting the campus will help alot. It is breathtaking there. I honestly did not want to leave after visiting for my overnight. I was also asked how my parents felt about my decision during my MOC interviews.
 
@ America's finest

okay, thanks a lot for helping me out. Amazing, one question in this forum and I have the feeling that I still have a reasonable chance of getting in the academy.
As far as my parents are concerned, however they don't want me to go to USMA, they still support me and my decisions.

I hope you are still there if I get some more questions another time
 
America's Finest said:
Yes, 30 or 31 would be ideal.

And getting your parents on your side is also very important. Even after receiving an appointment your parent/guardian will need to fill out a consent form. (assuming you are under 18 such as myself)

Visiting the campus will help alot. It is breathtaking there. I honestly did not want to leave after visiting for my overnight. I was also asked how my parents felt about my decision during my MOC interviews.
Click to expand...

Your parents only have to fill that form out if you are not going to be 18 by July 1, 2009 (as seen on the candidate log-in page.


sanandreasfreak something I think a lot of people forgot to ask was if you are still a U.S. citizen even though you were living in Germany (or was it Belgium?) for most your life.

Other than that I think you have a pretty good initial package, my suggestion is for you to get involved as a volunteer with a non-profit organization in your area or even try to organize some type of service event within your German club or just something for your high school. Something that really helped me on my application (and appointment to USMA) was the fact that I was involved in not only service activities with my Boy Scout troop, but all of the volunteering opportunities that I participate in outside of Scouting.

So keep up the good work! Push yourself with your grades, studying for the SAT and ACT, volunteering in you school and community, and never ever giving up.
 
Born 1992 in Michigan,
Click to expand...
Still a US citizen. No worries there.

A few comments for sanadreasfreak:
West Point looks for a student who best fulfills the scholar/leader/athlete model. They use a scoring system that encompass all three components.
There is technicall no "minimum" ACT or SAT score. They will look at your scores in conjunction with your high school transcripts and determine if you are qualified.

Here is the link for the ACT profile for the class of 2012:
http://www.westpoint.edu/Class/2012/profile.asp

If you take the ACT test they will look at all 4 subject scores. The writing score is mandatory so don't forget to take the test with writing.

Your high school transcript should consist of challenging coursework in all the core subjects. Ideally, you also should make sure you have 4 years of Math and at least pre-Calc if not Calculus, and 3-4 years of a lab science including Chemistry.

The other components of the application are your leadership and athletics. Leadership are the activities that you do, the extent of your involvement and the position of responsibility you have.

Athletics includes any sports from high school varisty teams to club sports that you are participating in. You will also be required to take and pass the CFA as a part of your application process.
For many reasons, West Point highly values applicants who are athletes.
Summer training at West Point is very physical, you must pass the APFT twice a year and participating in athletics is mandatory.
 
A Parent's view

My wife was not keen on the idea of our son going. Then she heard the feedback from NOM interview and listened to our son detail his summer session experience. She understood that there was a mature commitment which she had to respect.
Go to www.usma.edu and look at the class make up or look at this http://www.usma.edu/Class/2012/profile.asp. Take both the tests until you get them perfect...then it will be high enough. It is the attitude not just the score.
Your asthma condition... do you want a waiver or would you rather show how you beat it though exercise or fencing. From what we saw in the admissions packet, the glasses are not a problem as long as it is correctable to 20/20.
The class of 2012 has a young man that just finished his junior yr at a private college and was willing to start as a Plebe like everyone else, are you? It is a romantic notion for many. About 1300 put in the time and effort and made it real. They discovered getting in is hard but staying is even harder. As an aside R day is very difficult for your parents as well. You will change and it takes some getting used to. So let your parent's know that if you make it in, their family just got larger. The care through mentors, parent's clubs and a number of people in this forum is beyond imagination and that is how we all survive. Good luck
 
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