Questions Thread

Make sure they know that you received an LOA. I heard from my congressional liaison that most congressman practically just give you the nomination if you have an LOA because then they can get a cadet from their district without having to charge one of his districts cadetships.
 
If you have an LOA -and you complete any conditions of the LOA -West Point wants you and they will almost for sure find you a nomination. If the LOA says it is conditional on you getting a nomination, your chances are less but Admissions will still try to find you a nomination.
 
USMA2016 said:
Make sure they know that you received an LOA. I heard from my congressional liaison that most congressman practically just give you the nomination if you have an LOA because then they can get a cadet from their district without having to charge one of his districts cadetships.
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It's wise to let your MOC know you have an LOA. While they are supposed to be copied, it can get lost, misplaced, whatever. One of DS's MOC did not have it in their file. The fact he included a copy in his application paid off.

Regarding Noms for LOA holders, it's not guaranteed, but it does help. Since LOA holders are normally not charged to the MOC there not a reason not to unless they flub the interview. Also, in very competitive districts it can happen that there are more than 10 LOA holders, or that there are more competitive candidates (per MOC scoring) than the LOA holders. So there are no guarantees!
 
is the USMA admissions staff on break?

I have a couple questions to ask regarding my file, but I was wondering if I should wait until after Christmas break (so my email won't get to the bottom of the list for being sent so early)
 
All right, a few miscellaneous questions:

What are the rules on cell phone use at West Point? Are you allowed to bring your own cell phone?

Is pornography permitted? I've heard that in the army in general it's quite widespread, but I don't know about in the officer corps.

Does anyone with experience in learning languages at West Point have an opinion on how difficult language majors are in comparison with other majors? What are language classes like? In particular, is it possible to do a double-major in a language and an engineering field, or is this too difficult? Once you graduate with a language degree, can you expect to be fluent in your language? Is it possible to take more than one language?

If you went to grad school immediately after West Point (e.g. as a Rhodes Scholar), how would this affect your chances at getting into Special Forces? I know you have to wait a while before applying for Special Forces, but would grad school mess up the timing on this? Consider your fitness level and opportunities for training experiences, would you be a more or less qualified candidate than someone who did not go to grad school?

Thank you!

EDIT: I'm sorry, three more questions.

Do you need to have health insurance while you're at the academy, or is healthcare provided for you?

I saw in some R-day packing list that you should bring your driver's license - do you have to have a driver's license to go to West Point?

I know that computes are issued to you, but what about calculators? I have an old TI-83, should I bring it or do I need a newer version?
 
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gumball2016 said:
All right, a few miscellaneous questions:

What are the rules on cell phone use at West Point? Are you allowed to bring your own cell phone?

Is pornography permitted? I've heard that in the army in general it's quite widespread, but I don't know about in the officer corps.

Does anyone with experience in learning languages at West Point have an opinion on how difficult language majors are in comparison with other majors? What are language classes like? In particular, is it possible to do a double-major in a language and an engineering field, or is this too difficult? Once you graduate with a language degree, can you expect to be fluent in your language? Is it possible to take more than one language?

If you went to grad school immediately after West Point (e.g. as a Rhodes Scholar), how would this affect your chances at getting into Special Forces? I know you have to wait a while before applying for Special Forces, but would grad school mess up the timing on this? Consider your fitness level and opportunities for training experiences, would you be a more or less qualified candidate than someone who did not go to grad school?

Thank you!

EDIT: I'm sorry, three more questions.

Do you need to have health insurance while you're at the academy, or is healthcare provided for you?

I saw in some R-day packing list that you should bring your driver's license - do you have to have a driver's license to go to West Point?

I know that computes are issued to you, but what about calculators? I have an old TI-83, should I bring it or do I need a newer version?
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- you can have your cell phone after A-day
- language majors at the academy are encouraged to double in 2 languages or another major. You can double up w/ an engineering degree if you want to do the non-ABET accredited major (every engineering major has an equivalent more flexible version that is not ABET accredited). But to do the ABET its too many classes to double unless you validate a lot of classes.
- proficiency in the language will depend on the language, but most language majors do some type of abroad experience that increases your fluency.
- you do not need to have a driver's license to go to USMA
- TI-83 is fine. you're not allowed to use graphing calculators
 
vampsoul said:
- TI-83 is fine. you're not allowed to use graphing calculators
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Huh? When did they stop using graphing calculators? We were all issued TI-89s. Even so, a TI-83 is a graphing calculator. Diff EQ and Multi-variable calculus are pretty much impossible without a graphing calculator, unless they've gone back to issuing slide rules...
 
Scout, we weren't allowed to use graphing calculators in my multi-variable calc class this past semester. I think the same is going to happen for next semester with differential equations. We could only use a scientific calculator on tests.

That said, we used Mathematica to supplement the course which while you couldn't use it for tests, you could use to create the different graphs and other functions that a graphing calc would allow you to do plus more. Its a program already loaded onto our laptops.
 
Casey said:
Scout, we weren't allowed to use graphing calculators in my multi-variable calc class this past semester. I think the same is going to happen for next semester with differential equations. We could only use a scientific calculator on tests.

That said, we used Mathematica to supplement the course which while you couldn't use it for tests, you could use to create the different graphs and other functions that a graphing calc would allow you to do plus more. Its a program already loaded onto our laptops.
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Interesting! Good to know!

Laptops...wow. That still makes me do a double-take when I see cadets in class with a laptop. We were issued Pentium III 800 MHz towers!
 
So are you given laptops when you are at west point?? Jw bc my Parents want to buy me a laptop, and if I'm already given one... I wouldn't need to buy
 
You are issued a computer, but it does come out of your pay. You really don't have a choice in the matter, in case you were wondering. Eventually, you should be able to bring your own laptop if you want.
 
personal computers

What kind of personal computer do you get at USMA? Is it Mac or PC. Are they high quality or slow?
 
PC, and they're good computers. Nothing incredible, but they will do everything you need plus more
 
I've attempted to find the answer to this question on other areas of this forum, but have so far come up dry. Does anyone know where we will sleep during beast? or what the ratio of nights spent in the field is to nights spent in the barracks? I would also appreciate it if someone could point me to a more comprehensive thread on beast if such a thing exists. Thanks. (USMA 2016)
 
I kind of have a embarrassing, but comical question. When filling out my canidate questionaire, which I did with my counselor, she made me put other instead of caucasian for my race. She insisted that caucasian and white are not the same thing. It's been about 3 weeks since it happend, but now just thinking about it I realize that I probably should have put caucasian. What should I do now?
 
You've got to be kidding me. I would consider finding another counselor. My suggestion would be to call admissions.
 
Thank you guys, I think I will call up admissions, and get a new counselor. The only problem is that I have got accepted to SLS. Do you think that "changing" my race will affect my acceptance?
 
bryan.silverman said:
I've attempted to find the answer to this question on other areas of this forum, but have so far come up dry. Does anyone know where we will sleep during beast? or what the ratio of nights spent in the field is to nights spent in the barracks? I would also appreciate it if someone could point me to a more comprehensive thread on beast if such a thing exists. Thanks. (USMA 2016)
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Hopefully a 2015 cadet will answer, but here's what I remember from DS's comments:

- First half (CBT 1) will mostly be sleeping in typical plebe barracks, two to a room. You have 1-2 overnights, usually associated with field medical training, etc. Initially CBT1 is nearly all garrison training. But field increases.
- 2nd half (CBT 2) you will do much more field training, ultimately ending up at Camp Buckner and will stay there pretty much till marchback (monday of A-week)

When in the field you may be in bivy sacks, field expedient shelters, shelter halves (think pup tent), and possibly occasionally rough barracks at Buckner (I'm fuzzy on that one). But your stint will definitely be in the field, and depending on weather may be soggy. Certainly smelly! :)

Hope this helps until a 2015 cadet can add color. But remember, your experience could be different, and while the general flow is the same, there may be variance by company/squad just due to scheduling issues, etc.
 
Thanks for the response to my previous question. Also, I am filling out the travel information section of the gray card and I am not sure what to put since I will be traveling to West Point with my parents on R-Day in a car (we're only two hours or so away). The form really only is clear for candidates who will be arriving by plane/bus and who will need additional accommodation prior to R-Day. So, should I even fill out this section and if I should, what should I put?
 
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