Waiting on/already received an appointment. Now what?

[Rdms0127]

Hey there! I am an economics major. Regardless of what major you choose, if you complete your 47-month experience at the academy, you will branch into an officer position that leads a platoon. 2nd Lt = Platoon Leader.

This year, Cadets spent Thanksgiving at USMA in support of a longer Xmas break. I believe we left for leave around 13Dec and returned sometime in mid-January. This longer Xmas break also ate into our spring break, so we will not be having that off time this semester. I think they've tried to incorporate more study days into this current semester, but I am not completely sure of the logistics of that plan.

With COVID going on, we are pretty much locked away. Cadets are not permitted to leave post or have outside visitors come onto post. Just last weekend, we were given the privilege of going to on-post sponsor's homes. I didn't mention this a few posts up, but there is also some tension between leadership and cadets because faculty, staff, and workers leave post at will, but cadets remain stowed away. Do with that information what you will .

Thanks for your reply. I’m just a mom trying to help my son make an informed decision. I have many reservations about him choosing WP only because I don’t think at 18 anyone can imagine what this commitment actually looks like If that makes sense. Thankfully, we had the opportunity, pre COVID, to visit campus a few times. The one thing I hold onto is that WP was the only campus visit that we made and he left there saying he feels like he came home when he was there. He also said he had zero worry about receiving an appointment because he knows that’s where he is supposed to be. These are all things I’ve never heard him say about ANYTHING. Hang in there, your family will be there for you when you can get leave and be with them. Best of luck to you!

 

[minos]

Unfortunately I have never been to visit USMA because of COVID. How isolated does the campus feel? I know its possible to drive to NYC, but it seems that there really isn't much to do in the surrounding area when you have liberty as opposed to USNA, which is inside a city.

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences!

I think the nice thing about civilian schools is that there are so many people making YouTube videos and writing about their experiences at those schools online, so you can learn about the pros and cons of these schools from a wide range of people who usually aren't afraid to tell all. I'm sure it's a lot more difficult to do this at a SA because of the social media rules/stigma/time constraints, so it's harder for candidates to get the real scoop from sources other than the polished website or admissions representatives who want you to attend.

Typically during your plebe year, and under normal conditions (pre COVID), you don't have many base opportunities to leave post. You can't just leave at will either. However, there are several ways to earn passes which can definitely improve the number of times you are able to leave.

Speaking from my personal perspective, I am not a fan of NYC. It's just a different atmosphere, pace, and style than my home city, but this is completely person-dependent. The campus is relatively isolated to me. NYC is about an hour and a half away from USMA, so it's definitely a driveable distance, but remember that as an underclassman, you won't have a car. Underclassmen usually take a train to the city. I think NJ might be slightly further, but I am not entirely sure.

The area surrounding West Point is Highland Falls and there really isn't much to do there. There are a few restaurants that cadets order takeout from, but it's not really an area any of us set aside time to go out and do things. As a plebe, and under normal circumstances, you would pretty much have unlimited walking privileges, so you could travel outside post on a radius of 5 miles I believe? Fact check me on that. Also, there's a nearby outlet mall, but nowhere within the vicinity of those walking privileges.

 

[tweety_bird]

Typically during your plebe year, and under normal conditions (pre COVID), you don't have many base opportunities to leave post. You can't just leave at will either. However, there are several ways to earn passes which can definitely improve the number of times you are able to leave.

Speaking from my personal perspective, I am not a fan of NYC. It's just a different atmosphere, pace, and style than my home city, but this is completely person-dependent. The campus is relatively isolated to me. NYC is about an hour and a half away from USMA, so it's definitely a driveable distance, but remember that as an underclassman, you won't have a car. Underclassmen usually take a train to the city. I think NJ might be slightly further, but I am not entirely sure.

The area surrounding West Point is Highland Falls and there really isn't much to do there. There are a few restaurants that cadets order takeout from, but it's not really an area any of us set aside time to go out and do things. As a plebe, and under normal circumstances, you would pretty much have unlimited walking privileges, so you could travel outside post on a radius of 5 miles I believe? Fact check me on that. Also, there's a nearby outlet mall, but nowhere within the vicinity of those walking privileges.

Thank you!

 

[minos]

May I ask what specific occupation you are trying to pursue?

Also, the 8+ years of service after graduating from West Point is really the only things holding me back from 100% pursuing West Point... though I know that that's essentially the price we have to pay to actually attend and the end goal... I really cherish spending time with my family and friends so that post-graduate duties seem really daunting...

What was the hardest aspect of West Point for you (i.e. physical training, military training, academic rigor, strict rules, etc.)?

And thank you so much for opening up this thread!

I definitely understand how you feel because I was in the same boat when deciding to come. I think having those feelings are pretty natural, but you still have to decide what's most important in life to you and what kind of environment you need to thrive and achieve all that you set out for yourself.

The hardest aspect of West Point for me was everything physical. When I came in, I wasn't in great shape, but I wasn't extremely out of shape either. I had been a 4-year varsity letter earner, but the level of physical fitness they want you to be on here is next-level stuff. Things were absolutely tough too, but nothing that I couldn't bear, although some cadets and former-cadets would disagree. I thought the APFT was bad and then I got slammed with the ACFT lol. I would like to mention that I did pass the ACFT, but it seems as though the Army is putting more of an emphasis on holistic health and personal fitness now. That test is no joke. For people struggling with the CFA....I can't even put into words how much better shape you have to be in to pass the ACFT.

Another thing that I struggled with was the social aspect and just creating an environment that was conducive to my happiness. I absolutely have friends here and I love them to death, but part of me still feels like an outsider/outcast because I know that I don't have that innate interest to do what other cadets are trying to do. Nonetheless, there's definitely somebody here for everybody, but you will have to be willing to venture out and find those people. It's 100% possible.

 

[minos]

I heard from a Cadet that left WP but according to her, USMA faked the numbers of the covid cases to hold a football game against Navy while Cadets who tested positive were pretty much "locked" in isolation barracks. Are these kind of corruption prevalent at Point?

Hm. This is an interesting take. As cadets, we really don't know what's going on behind the control room, so I'd be wary of believing any speculation that comes from us, especially a former cadet that no longer attends the institution. All that I can confidently say is that cadets who test positive for COVID-19 are placed in isolation barracks until they can healthily return with the rest of the corps without putting other cadets at risk.