USMA Candidate

madds12

Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2018
Messages
15
Hello! I only started looking into West Point last week, and only submitted my SLE application on Feb 26th. I don't think I'm that competitive of a candidate, considering my SAT score and lack of school sport. However, I know a current cadet at WP right now and she got the equivalent of my score on the old SAT (mine=1280, hers=1790). Also, would my lack of a school sport be accounted for in that my school does not have sports? I go to a Middle College High School, so I've taken about fifteen or more college classes, including high levels maths such as calculus. I'm also on track to graduate with 3 associates degrees, and am a geology/geography major.

Another difficult point for me is my extracurricular. Since I travel so far for my school (about an hour commute each way at 5am), and our college classes are wedged between our normal ones, I normally don't have a lunch time to participate in clubs. Here's my list of activities so far on my application:

National Honor Society
Principal's Honor Roll (I haven't put this on my app since I don't know where to put it)
Club Soccer, was team captain several years ago for two years (stopped last year due to a crazy schedule with school and practice)
Debate Club Member (just joined)
Project Linus Member (a charity club that makes blankets for underprivileged kids)
Tang Soo Do/Karate 1rst Degree Black Belt (plus some Krav Maga)
Geology Club (a college club)

I also listed my volunteering in the remarks section, as well as my sports since they were not "school".
Volunteering: 120+ hrs at a local elementary school, and 40+hrs at my local library, 20+ other charity volunteering opps

Also working on publishing a book, as well as other short fiction online, although I don't know if this could even go anywhere on the app? And even if I was in the process of publishing it while I applied to WP, could I still list it on my app?

My GPA: 3.84 unweighted, 4.36 weighted. I'm a bit confused about my school's system and am asking my counselor tomorrow, but there's also a 10-12 GPA that's a 4.62 weighted. Does WP look at weighted or unweighted?
Class Rank: 38/104 unweighted, 34/104 weighted. I hope they keep in mind that I go to "nerd school", but I doubt they will.

I'm looking into joining a sport again, although I am debating between finding a lower level soccer team (like regional AYSO, if you know what that is) or tryign to find a wrestling team since I excelled at competitive karate as a kid. Or maybe JROTC, but it wouldn't start again until next school year I think. Which one would be better? I'm also trying to join the journalism club, applying for an officer position in NHS, and have been trying to start my own club.

Three other people from my school have applied, all three with 1500+ SAT scores, and only two were accepted. Kind of making me nervous. Also not sure about the competitiveness of my district, CA-25. Does anybody know how I could find that out?

Thank you and good luck!
 
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Another thing I forgot to add, I had a ton of extracurriculars when I was younger. I earned a special reading award, I was in several more clubs, I was a Girl Scout for five years, and was in another two years of JNHS. Plus, I was on Cross Country for two years in Junior High, and Track and Field for one. I know the app only covers 9-12, but should I still list these on the clubs section?
 
We all had tons of extracurriculars when we were younger because we had more time to actually do them. In high school, we had less time and had to start picking and choosing things.

West Point asks you to list things from 9-12 not only because they want to gauge your recent leadership experience, but because they want to know how you’ve managed your time.

I do believe you can add that you were a Girl Scout regardless, but if you’re like me and moved 10+ times within the past 10 years and were not able to get your Gold Award, don’t put that down.

Ask your FFR for information on those topics. It wouldn’t do you any good to get an honor offense before you even had a shot at becoming a candidate.
 
You do realize that West Point leads to a career, US Army Officer, that has a very active outdoor, physical lifestyle. I know that West Point tries hard to sell itself as another Ivy League college, but from I read from you profile you seem to be more into personal academic achievement. Now there is nothing wrong with that, matter of fact your achievements are impressive. Do you want to be an Army officer? How are you for being in the field for weeks at a time? Do you deal well with people who may not be book smart, but can be very, very street smart (soldiers)? If you don't get into West Point, are you going to join ROTC? There are many other institutions of higher learning that would love you resume.
 
I got up to Bronze Award for Girl Scouts, but should I still list it? Also, I have so few extracurricular because I took lunch and night classes, which I'm kind of regretting right now but at the same time it's already been done.
I want to be in the Army because I believe I should fight for what I love, and that if everybody can that they should. It sounds cheesy, but I love America and I want to do service for it.
I'm actually a pretty athletic person, but my school doesn't have sports because we are on a college campus. There's something with the laws that means we can't play at the community college's team, but I took the "class" with the team and was even offered an unofficial spot to practice with the varsity level college team. I had to respectfully decline at the time due to a major scheduling conflict. I did practice with them several times, but I hesittate to put that on the app because it technically isn't allowed. Didn't play any games, but I was offered a spot on the team despite being a sophomore (4ft 9in at the time). So I've always been athletic.
About ROTC, I've been looking into it, but like a lot of other things it isn't offered at my school. I think we're allowed to go to the other high school programs, but my guidance counselor has been conspicuously missing for the past couple day so I haven't had a chance to ask. Do you think it would be better than trying to pick up another sport?
 
You are a junior and you are thinking about this now. That is a good sign. You can't change what you have already done but you can focus on the next 12 months. Your academics look good. I am not sure how your class rank will affect you. From what you describe, it sounds like you go to a very rigorous high school. Only 20% of the 2021 class were in the second fifth of their class ranking but I suspect some of those are from highly ranked schools.

As far as what you need to do, I think you have done a good job of learning what counts to West Point. Find a way to be a leader at something. Can you be the president of National Honor Society at your school? Student Body President? Captain of the debate team? Your leadership experience is an important part of your whole candidate score. Are you a leader in your classes? Do you help other students? As far as sports go, can you be a leader on a club team? Train hard for the CFA and impress them with your score. Show them you are physically capable even you can't letter in a sport due to your circumstances. Try to get those CFA scores in as soon as possible so that your name and results are in front of them before the rest of the candidates are in the system.

California does look to be a highly competitive state. Find out now what you need to do for your nominations and start working on it today? Try to get a recommendation from someone your member knows. Do you know any local or state elected officials? Get a recommendation from them. Know any SA grads? Try to get a recommendation from them.

You mentioned ROTC. That is an excellent option. My daughter is a triple qualified candidate waiting on her appointment decision from WP but she is also in the running for a four year ROTC scholarship. We visited her school choice on Tuesday and we were really impressed. It will be a fine option. You can start looking at ROTC options right now. Find out what schools offer it and what additional benefits are available at those schools. My daughter's top choice school offers free housing to all scholarship cadets. Some offer more, some offer less. Reach out to the Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO) at the schools you are interested in and see how much you can learn. Ask what they look for in candidates. Make an appointment to meet with them. Even if you don't qualify for a four year scholarship you can participate as a freshman and earn a three year scholarship. BTW-You don't have to be involved in JROTC in high school to get a scholarship through ROTC.

Good luck.
 
I don't think I can become class president because I haven't done student council before. I might be able to go for NHS president but the advisor of that program is currently in major surgery so I can't ask. And another thing (that's come back to bite me) is that I dropped off my club team last year because I couldn't do the amount of practice. I was down to four hours of sleep a night and my practices were three+ hours almost everyday. I could try to join again but I doubt I would make the same level team as last time.

Also thanks for the advice on ROTC. I'll look into it as soon as possible. I know a current WP cadet, in her 2nd year right now. I've already asked her if she could recommend me to the congressman since we're from the same district.

I've been working on practicing my CFA as well, but I'm worried I'll have to have a super super good score on both the CFA and the SAT/ACT to make up for my other stuff. Thanks!
 
You can address any perceived shortcomings in your essays. If this is what you want, you have to fight for it...that might mean you don't get in on the first try, so you try again. After this admission cycle is over, contact your RC for a candid assessment of how you're looking and what he/she suggests you do...then do everything they say to do.
 
I managed to track down the counselor for the Girls State, but she said our school doesn't do it and that it's too late. Do you guys know if there's any other events like it that look super good on the WP application?
 
I managed to track down the counselor for the Girls State, but she said our school doesn't do it and that it's too late. Do you guys know if there's any other events like it that look super good on the WP application?
There are a number of programs available for leadership. Patriot Academy, Four Star Leadership, Marine Corp Summer program and you could probably find a half dozen more with an internet search. Not sure if the deadlines for NASS and AIM have passed yet but deadlines for most programs are quickly approaching so you should not hesitate to research and apply.
 
Thank you so much! I'll look into them right now. I know I'm going to need a lot of leadership to make up for my other categories.
 
You can go to Girls State in some states without actually being a resident of that state...the program I’m counseling this year is NM Girls State...you have to live in the United States to attend but you have to be a resident of NM to go to Nation from there.

If you can travel there I recommend applying. They take anyone who fills out an application. Just don’t try to go to Girls Nation from there because you have to live in the state for that.
 
Are the deadlines different from state to state? Because according to my counselor, the deadline has already passed for ours.
 
If you applied to NMGS the deadline is June 2. I applied last year in April. Every program has different deadlines
 
The closest JROTC to me is Air Force. I don't think it really matters as much but would it be better to commute farther for an Army one?
 
The closest JROTC to me is Air Force. I don't think it really matters as much but would it be better to commute farther for an Army one?
I don't think so. When my daughter was completing the application, it did not specify which branch. However, keep in mind that what they are really looking for is leadership experience. So, if JROTC gives you a chance to be a leader, then by all means, go for it. But, if you can find leadership opportunities in your school or closer to home, then you should pursue those.
 
I don't know if I can be a leader, or if I can even join before next year. But I'm looking into other things as well. Some things I can't do because I'm taking college classes over the second half of summer.
 
You can go to Girls State in some states without actually being a resident of that state...the program I’m counseling this year is NM Girls State...you have to live in the United States to attend but you have to be a resident of NM to go to Nation from there.

If you can travel there I recommend applying. They take anyone who fills out an application. Just don’t try to go to Girls Nation from there because you have to live in the state for that.

Hi GoArmy, Do you have any idea how New Mexico Boys State works? Their website isn't as straightforward as the NM Girls Sate site. My son was selected for Nevada Boys State, but cannot attend because of a conflict with the rifle team. They are competing at a national event the same week as BS. I was curious if it's worth a shot for him to reach out to them and see if he can attend Boys State there instead. Do you have any advice for him?
 
Hi GoArmy, Do you have any idea how New Mexico Boys State works? Their website isn't as straightforward as the NM Girls Sate site. My son was selected for Nevada Boys State, but cannot attend because of a conflict with the rifle team. They are competing at a national event the same week as BS. I was curious if it's worth a shot for him to reach out to them and see if he can attend Boys State there instead. Do you have any advice for him?

I do not know how Boys State works as opposed to Girls State. I could, however, attempt to reach out to someone who could answer your question if you would like.
 
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