Showing up on R Day with no Appointment

P

ProudofOurMilitary

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2012
Messages
38
I was asked the following question but a cadet candidate who just received the TWE. "I am fully qualified but not selected (TWE arrived) and would like to know can I show up on R Day with bag packed, certain paperwork in hand with hopes that West Point will take me if an appointed candidate does not show up or decides they do not want to attend at the last minute?"
 
Ummmm, in a word – no. There is no ‘stand-by’ line for this flight.
I’m not even quite sure who you would approach that morning to indicate why you were there. But maybe try it and report back your findings to us. That would be fun!
 
No, don't do that. Besides looking somewhat silly standing there with no place to go, you won't have all the appointment paperwork/security paperwork/etc ready anyway.

I can't remember where I saw it, but I do remember reading on one of the Academy sites to not show up unless you have an appointment.

Remember, they actually appoint more than they need knowing at a few will drop out.
 
I don't believe that I've ever seen a question like that.

This bold CC would be missing quite a bit of paperwork since you have to accept your appointment for the majority of your paperwork to be made available.

It would make for an interesting day if he/she got on the bus after the 90-second good-bye and started trying to in-process. Might end up getting to know the MPs.

Hopefully this was just a tongue-in-cheek, pulling-your-leg type of thing.....
 
It might be an urban legend, but I did hear of one CC who showed up w/ a bag and sat in Grant Hall, hoping for a call....which he did get. Apparently, he knew he was very close to the top on the NWL. Last year, someone was called to take the spot of someone who showed up but changed her mind at the last minute...am sure that person had little to no paperwork. Unless you have insider info that you would be the "next one in line," it's rather silly and presumptuous to show up on Rday.
 
Waiting Line

I was talking to a WP Professor earlier this year. She said that certain elements at WP want to bring in people to "be prepared". They would give the hgt/wgt. APFT/CFA to all New Cadets and drop those that did not meet certain standards and bring people in off the standby list. Interesting concept. However, with a shrinking "need" for a standing Army (Not my view), WP probably expects and does not mind the drop outs in the early phases.
 
There were TWE recipients who showed up to I-Day when my dad reported to the Naval Academy in 1982. Some got lucky while most others were turned away. However, he's a former B&G Officer and said that such an attempt (at any of the academies) would be futile. I don't think it's possible in this day and age and I wouldn't recommend it.
 
Hi I'm here!!!

I hate it when someone shows up unannounced. But thats a different story all together. Yes, on R-Day there are a few who get cold feet, show up injured, or who don't meet the weight-height ratios. Then in the first few weeks some tap-out during CBT, get injured and recycled to next year. WP builds in a percent drop rate to sustain the class size. if they feel an opening could be filled, WP usually taps someone from MAPS. For a couple of reasons, they are a needed recruited athlete and they have endured a year of MAPS with all the training.

I would ask you RC about this before you show up. Again have Plan B as a back up. Think about going to a prep school as a free agent.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Thanks for all the great responses. This actually was a question asked of me by a candidate in our school district who lives close by. I said I didn't now the answer but would ask the forum. So my advise to him will come from all of you, do not attempt to try. Thanks again.
 
Agree with all the posters, and the likelihood of success is virtually zero. But, on the other hand, for a very aspiring young future cadet (academy or ROTC), what have they got to lose? If anything, it shows pure determination, dedication, loyalty and fortitude; highly coveted attributes USMA seemingly extolls. For candidates who are near the top of the NWL and are willing to risk some possible embarrassment, I would say any thing is possible. :wink:
 
jrobertschmidt said:
Agree with all the posters, and the likelihood of success is virtually zero. But, on the other hand, for a very aspiring young future cadet (academy or ROTC), what have they got to lose? If anything, it shows pure determination, dedication, loyalty and fortitude; highly coveted attributes USMA seemingly extolls. For candidates who are near the top of the NWL and are willing to risk some possible embarrassment, I would say any thing is possible. :wink:
Click to expand...

Uhhhh, air fare? It also shows some other attributes that are probably not so highly desired by USMA, but that probably doesn't matter because no one will really know you're there.
 
One word: Reapply.

That is the proper path for someone who did not make it in via direct or prep this year. That is where one should be channeling their energies at this point if they want to be taken seriously as a candidate.

Showing up trying to claim something you haven’t yet earned is…..well……I’ve got lots of words for it, none of which I’ll post here. This isn’t the movie “Annapolis” and you are not James Franco. [I know that’s not exactly what happened in the movie, but you get what I’m saying, that this is real life and not a movie. I really don’t think you’d get your Hollywood ending; rather, your name would end up on some sort of list in admissions.]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top