Very frustrated

[Livestrong35]

I am a reapplicant to USMA and have been 3Qed since mid January. I have been appointed to USCGA, but I really want to go to West Point. I have contacted my RC and he has said I am still in the running but asked if I was interested in Civil Prep. It's frustrating because people have gotten in who are less qualified, but are getting in for other reasons. Has anyone ever been offered Civil prep after a year in college and does this mean my chances of getting this year are over?

 

[candor]

I apologize that I can't speak as a college reapplicant, but I'd say that anything is still possible. I was offered a year of civil prep about a month ago, and I am probably going to accept it. My RC offered this to me because I was fully qualified, yet my chances of direct admission were slim because of district competitiveness. On my AOG scholarship papers that I received last week, it stated that I could still get an appointment this year, but it might be last minute or very unexpected to say the least.

 

[Livestrong35]

I apologize that I can't speak as a college reapplicant, but I'd say that anything is still possible. I was offered a year of civil prep about a month ago, and I am probably going to accept it. My RC offered this to me because I was fully qualified, yet my chances of direct admission were slim because of district competitiveness. On my AOG scholarship papers that I received last week, it stated that I could still get an appointment this year, but it might be last minute or very unexpected to say the least.

The frustrating part for me is that I am a college student and offering me civil prep is ridiculous. I have gotten all A's in college and have shown I can handle college level work. I did everything they said to do as a reapplicant and they wont accept me.

 

[AROTC-dad]

I apologize that I can't speak as a college reapplicant, but I'd say that anything is still possible. I was offered a year of civil prep about a month ago, and I am probably going to accept it. My RC offered this to me because I was fully qualified, yet my chances of direct admission were slim because of district competitiveness. On my AOG scholarship papers that I received last week, it stated that I could still get an appointment this year, but it might be last minute or very unexpected to say the least.

The frustrating part for me is that I am a college student and offering me civil prep is ridiculous. I have gotten all A's in college and have shown I can handle college level work. I did everything they said to do as a reapplicant and they wont accept me.

Is your ultimate goal to serve as an Army officer, or to graduate from West Point?

 

[Teragram]

DD also got an offer of civil prep about a month ago and her portal updated today with the offer to accept or decline. Her paperwork also stated that she may still receive a direct appointment and her RC confirmed this. She is 2nd on congressional slate and the person ahead of her has multiple SA offers and has not accepted nor declined WP. She also has received a 4-year AROTC scholarship, so we asked a lot of questions regarding the advantage of AOG over ROTC and reapplying as college student. The difference with being a college re-applicant as opposed to sponsored civil prep is that college re-applicants still have to win their slate whereas civil prep do not (again explained to DD by RC).

 

[candor]

DD also got an offer of civil prep about a month ago and her portal updated today with the offer to accept or decline. Her paperwork also stated that she may still receive a direct appointment and her RC confirmed this. She is 2nd on congressional slate and the person ahead of her has multiple SA offers and has not accepted nor declined WP. She also has received a 4-year AROTC scholarship, so we asked a lot of questions regarding the advantage of AOG over ROTC and reapplying as college student. The difference with being a college re-applicant as opposed to sponsored civil prep is that college re-applicant still have to win their slate whereas civil prep do not (again explained to DD by RC).

Teregram, on your DD's portal, I am assuming there is a "link" that says "accept or decline your civil prep appointment." Does this link work for you, or will it just change after you mail in the "application for civil prep" that had signatures, information, etc. in? Thank you.

 

[Teragram]

DD also got an offer of civil prep about a month ago and her portal updated today with the offer to accept or decline. Her paperwork also stated that she may still receive a direct appointment and her RC confirmed this. She is 2nd on congressional slate and the person ahead of her has multiple SA offers and has not accepted nor declined WP. She also has received a 4-year AROTC scholarship, so we asked a lot of questions regarding the advantage of AOG over ROTC and reapplying as college student. The difference with being a college re-applicant as opposed to sponsored civil prep is that college re-applicant still have to win their slate whereas civil prep do not (again explained to DD by RC).

Teregram, on your DD's portal, I am assuming there is a "link" that says "accept or decline your civil prep appointment." Does this link work for you, or will it just change after you mail in the "application for civil prep" that had signatures, information, etc. in? Thank you.

Yes, there is a purple box on the Overview page and it says Offer of Civil Prep and then a link to accept/decline. I am not sure if it works because she hasn't clicked on it yet. There are also two pdf files that are forms and information for those offered civil prep but they say not yet available.

 

[BSCAR]

Yeah it definitely does suck to watch people with lower test scores, worse class rank, worse CFA scores, etc from around the country get appointed whilst you sit in limbo or are outright rejected--I can sympathize. There's nothing griping will do to fix it though. Just roll with the punches because nothing in life is fair and this is no exception.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Just roll with the punches because nothing in life is fair and this is no exception

^ This....a thousand times, this. If you dwell on your stumbling blocks too long, you will lose momentum.

Keep moving forward.

 

[xcmum]

DD also got an offer of civil prep about a month ago and her portal updated today with the offer to accept or decline. Her paperwork also stated that she may still receive a direct appointment and her RC confirmed this. She is 2nd on congressional slate and the person ahead of her has multiple SA offers and has not accepted nor declined WP. She also has received a 4-year AROTC scholarship, so we asked a lot of questions regarding the advantage of AOG over ROTC and reapplying as college student. The difference with being a college re-applicant as opposed to sponsored civil prep is that college re-applicants still have to win their slate whereas civil prep do not (again explained to DD by RC).

Teragram- what state/district are you from, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[jl123]

I apologize that I can't speak as a college reapplicant, but I'd say that anything is still possible. I was offered a year of civil prep about a month ago, and I am probably going to accept it. My RC offered this to me because I was fully qualified, yet my chances of direct admission were slim because of district competitiveness. On my AOG scholarship papers that I received last week, it stated that I could still get an appointment this year, but it might be last minute or very unexpected to say the least.

The frustrating part for me is that I am a college student and offering me civil prep is ridiculous. I have gotten all A's in college and have shown I can handle college level work. I did everything they said to do as a reapplicant and they wont accept me.

Assuming your college curriculum is rigorous and similar to plebe year academics, it seems that civil prep is a step back. However, your RC may have a reason for this recommendation. You might try talking directly to the RC to understand the reasoning and decide how that fits into your goals. As others have noted, those attending civil prep with AOG scholarships have a very high acceptance rate.

 

[trackandfield08]

I am a reapplicant to USMA and have been 3Qed since mid January. I have been appointed to USCGA, but I really want to go to West Point. I have contacted my RC and he has said I am still in the running but asked if I was interested in Civil Prep. It's frustrating because people have gotten in who are less qualified, but are getting in for other reasons. Has anyone ever been offered Civil prep after a year in college and does this mean my chances of getting this year are over?

First, let me say that I understand your frustrations. It is extremely frustrating when we want something badly and are a) never given the opportunity to have it or b) delayed in our gratification.

However, and this is something I consistently emphasize with applicants, parents, teachers and others, YOU are unable to determine who is MORE QUALIFIED, QUALIFIED or LESS QUALIFIED than any other individual. You do not sit on the board, do not review applications and are not privy to the information that Admissions Officers, ROs and other individuals are able to view. You've almost completed your first year of college with all As, congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. However, there could be an applicant who has a lower GPA but goes to school, plays sports, is involved in clubs AND has to work a part-time job to help support his family while taking care of a sibling because he is from a single-parent family. My point is, you don't know who these people are anymore than they know who you are.

Do people get in because SA's need to recruit athletes for their programs? Yes
Do people get in because SA's are trying to diversify their officer corps in terms of ethnicity and gender? Yes
Do these people sometimes have lower metric based qualifications? Yes
Is it fair? Not always but then, that's life. It's better you learn to accept that reality right now.

Let me give you some advice. You've been given the opportunity to potentially be given a civil prep spot to be groomed to attend West Point. That is a much better response and opportunity than the thousands of applicants who have receive a simple 'No." As a re-applicant, I can imagine you understand the feeling of that rejection. What you have received this time is not rejection but an opportunity. You've also received an appointment to CGA while others apply to all SAs and receive no appointment. I have classmates that graduated college and then went to the Academy, I have classmates who applied 3 0r 4 times until they were accepted directly and 2 or 3 times before they were offered prep school slots. Not everything we want in life happens in the way we want it. Learn to be flexible now and you'll save yourself a lot of heartbreak going forward. My story, I was accepted to USCGA 2013. I arrived for Swab Summer and was medically discharged AT THE END of Swab Summer while I watched my classmates and new friends receive their shoulder boards. I went home and attended community college because that was the only institution I could be accepted to that late in the summer. I worked two jobs and definitely did not get to have that "freshman year experience." Fast forward 7 years and I graduated with the Class of 2014 and have been AD for 3 years. I tell everyone that asks that being derailed and not having my life work out in the way I wanted/planned was the BEST thing that every happened to me.

As another posted stated, do you want to go to West Point or do you want serve and lead as an officer in the Army? If your answer is only the first, than don't bother. If it's both, continue to apply until you no longer can. But if it's primarily the second, then look at other options such as ROTC or SMCs. At the end of the day, West Point is only four years of someone's life. It is not the end all be all. Do you want just the Army or would you rather have the privilege to serve this nation as an officer in any branch? You may find that you like the Coast Guard just as much or more than the Army.

Good luck to you. I hope someone can answer the question you've asked. I just couldn't allow myself to read this thread and not post.

 

[jkim123]

I am a reapplicant to USMA and have been 3Qed since mid January. I have been appointed to USCGA, but I really want to go to West Point. I have contacted my RC and he has said I am still in the running but asked if I was interested in Civil Prep. It's frustrating because people have gotten in who are less qualified, but are getting in for other reasons. Has anyone ever been offered Civil prep after a year in college and does this mean my chances of getting this year are over?

First, let me say that I understand your frustrations. It is extremely frustrating when we want something badly and are a) never given the opportunity to have it or b) delayed in our gratification.

However, and this is something I consistently emphasize with applicants, parents, teachers and others, YOU are unable to determine who is MORE QUALIFIED, QUALIFIED or LESS QUALIFIED than any other individual. You do not sit on the board, do not review applications and are not privy to the information that Admissions Officers, ROs and other individuals are able to view. You've almost completed your first year of college with all As, congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. However, there could be an applicant who has a lower GPA but goes to school, plays sports, is involved in clubs AND has to work a part-time job to help support his family while taking care of a sibling because he is from a single-parent family. My point is, you don't know who these people are anymore than they know who you are.

Do people get in because SA's need to recruit athletes for their programs? Yes
Do people get in because SA's are trying to diversify their officer corps in terms of ethnicity and gender? Yes
Do these people sometimes have lower metric based qualifications? Yes
Is it fair? Not always but then, that's life. It's better you learn to accept that reality right now.

Let me give you some advice. You've been given the opportunity to potentially be given a civil prep spot to be groomed to attend West Point. That is a much better response and opportunity than the thousands of applicants who have receive a simple 'No." As a re-applicant, I can imagine you understand the feeling of that rejection. What you have received this time is not rejection but an opportunity. You've also received an appointment to CGA while others apply to all SAs and receive no appointment. I have classmates that graduated college and then went to the Academy, I have classmates who applied 3 0r 4 times until they were accepted directly and 2 or 3 times before they were offered prep school slots. Not everything we want in life happens in the way we want it. Learn to be flexible now and you'll save yourself a lot of heartbreak going forward. My story, I was accepted to USCGA 2013. I arrived for Swab Summer and was medically discharged AT THE END of Swab Summer while I watched my classmates and new friends receive their shoulder boards. I went home and attended community college because that was the only institution I could be accepted to that late in the summer. I worked two jobs and definitely did not get to have that "freshman year experience." Fast forward 7 years and I graduated with the Class of 2014 and have been AD for 3 years. I tell everyone that asks that being derailed and not having my life work out in the way I wanted/planned was the BEST thing that every happened to me.

As another posted stated, do you want to go to West Point or do you want serve and lead as an officer in the Army? If your answer is only the first, than don't bother. If it's both, continue to apply until you no longer can. But if it's primarily the second, then look at other options such as ROTC or SMCs. At the end of the day, West Point is only four years of someone's life. It is not the end all be all. Do you want just the Army or would you rather have the privilege to serve this nation as an officer in any branch? You may find that you like the Coast Guard just as much or more than the Army.

Good luck to you. I hope someone can answer the question you've asked. I just couldn't allow myself to read this thread and not post.

If you don't mind answering, why did you get medically discharged?

 

[JWP]

Hmmmm...very frustrated? Trying to be nice so here goes.... CONGRATULATIONS on both the opportunity to attend USCGA and on the civil prep offer. Can you possibly understand what is going through the mind over so many who are struggling and trying so hard to get an appointment to USMA and have worked their entire academic careers to reach that point who will be turned away who are reading your post? There are so many out there waiting on pins and needles to receive an appointment and frankly many of them won't. It is an exceedingly small percentage who gets the opportunity to attend a service Academy. Civil prep on an AOG scholarship and your ticket is punched. I know cadets at USMA right now who went to civil prep for two years unsponsored who are exceedingly grateful for the opportunity. I want to say suck it up buttercup but I won't. Congratulations, and be very thankful and humble for the opportunities that are afforded you that will not be afforded to so many who are applying. Just because you went to college for a year means you're entitled? Just because you went for college for an entire year means you're more qualified? If you want to attend a service Academy you need to get your attitude straight about the reasons you're going there and the people that you're serving with. You are no better or no worse than any other Cadet that is that the academy or who is applying right now. Again - congratulations on the incredible options being afforded to you....

 

[Humey]

My son wanted to go to the Air Force Academy but based on his grades and likely possible ACT scores, there was no point in even applying. I contacted our Senator and was told not even to bother her unless my son had an "A" average. My son still wanted to serve, still wanted to be an officer and a pilot. So he joined AF Rotc at his college. Not going to say he is an A average student in college, but his gpa is competitive and he has been given a pilot spot when he commissions at the end of next year. Would he have loved to go to the academy, definitely. Would I have liked for four years of free tuition, you betcha. However its all to a means. He is still going to end up with what he really wanted (hopefully) and that is to be an Air Force pilot.

 

[kinnem]

I endorse trackandfield08's comments, although I would not have been so kind and gentle in making them. A civil prep year is a great opportunity. It's close to receiving an LOA for next year. They're telling you they want yo but not this year by suggesting it. Of course, based on your comments, it's only a suggestion and not an offer so you may not even get that. Don't get your hopes too high. Personally, I would recommend setting the sour grapes aside and at least investigating civil prep with an open mind.

 

[Alaskan]

I am a reapplicant to USMA and have been 3Qed since mid January. I have been appointed to USCGA, but I really want to go to West Point. I have contacted my RC and he has said I am still in the running but asked if I was interested in Civil Prep. It's frustrating because people have gotten in who are less qualified, but are getting in for other reasons. Has anyone ever been offered Civil prep after a year in college and does this mean my chances of getting this year are over?

"Getting in for other reasons"?

 

[Livestrong35]

The reason why I am frustrated is because I have not even been offered civil prep yet. I feel like he is just leading me along. I would really prefer to just be told something so I can move on. He keeps telling me things like I have a shot and it's not over yet. @Alaskan by other reasons I mean that people are getting in with lower scores but have a certain quality that I don't have. I would be happy at USCGA, but would be very angry with myself if I accepted the appointment then heard from West Point that I got in. I wish admissions wouldn't lead people on this long

 

[Livestrong35]

Honestly West Point admissions is the least efficient out of all the service academies. If they really tried they could tell everyone an answer by March 1st. They are very inconsiderate of the fact that people wait to hear from them and have other offers from other academies that are due an answer by May 1st.

 

[Teragram]

The reason why I am frustrated is because I have not even been offered civil prep yet. I feel like he is just leading me along. I would really prefer to just be told something so I can move on. He keeps telling me things like I have a shot and it's not over yet. @Alaskan by other reasons I mean that people are getting in with lower scores but have a certain quality that I don't have. I would be happy at USCGA, but would be very angry with myself if I accepted the appointment then heard from West Point that I got in. I wish admissions wouldn't lead people on this long

It all comes down to where you sit on your slate. Like I said earlier DD is sitting in 2nd and it may be a long wait to May 1 to see if person ahead of her accepts or declines. In the meantime she plans to accept AOG and if direct appointment happens then great, but if not then she has her place next year that is "hers to lose". If he is telling you it's not over yet then trust that.