Waiting...

[matz2022]

It's frustrating to have people ask me about West Point day after day and never to have a good enough response. No, I haven't decided on a college yet. No, West Point hasn't gotten back to me. No, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I feel like admission to West Point is a final, ultimate judgement on how I've spent the last four years of my life: of whether they were good enough or not. It's such a comprehensive assessment of my achievements, and, furthermore, of myself, that I feel like a rejection would be a rejection of me, that it would mean I'm not good enough. And I guess I could get over that. But the wait, and the feeling of being in a constant state of indecision, is really weighing on me.

The last contact I had from West Point was my 3Q letter, which stated that rolling admissions had been eliminated for this cycle and I, like all other candidates, had been placed on the national wait list. I don't know exactly what that means, or if my slates have been resolved, and I'm afraid I'm getting a bit too familiar with the phrase "I don't know."

I have a very solid and exciting plan B with an ROTC scholarship to the CO School of Mines, but I don't know how much I want to finalize it.

I keep getting the question "Which do you think you want to do: Mines or West Point?"

I don't want to say Mines, because I don't want to give up hope on West Point. But, conversely, I don't want to say West Point, because then being rejected would be doubly hard.

So here I am, balancing on the edge of reality and hope, as all of my classmates take their placement tests and pick their roommates. And every day someone will ask me "What are you doing?" And every day I say "I don't know."

I guess what I'm looking for is advice. I don't mean to sound whiny, in case that's how I come across, because I know I'm fortunate to be in the position I'm in and I'm grateful to have come so far. I just needed to get this down, and I hope that maybe someone can offer their perspective to help me better evaluate my own.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Soldiergriz]

Your plan B is superb. You obviously have a competitive application to West Point. Do you know how many kids would love to have an ROTC scholarship to Mines? Well done!

Advice from an absolute stranger:

1. You are a candidate for an appointment to West Point until you receive the TWE. There is not one thing you can do at this point to influence their decision.
2. Go ahead and make plans to attend Mines. Send the deposit, select housing, and complete other requirements they might have.
3. Wait for West Point to decide.
4. Stay in shape.
5. Be proud of all you've accomplished.

 

[NPmom]

It's frustrating to have people ask me about West Point day after day and never to have a good enough response. No, I haven't decided on a college yet. No, West Point hasn't gotten back to me. No, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I feel like admission to West Point is a final, ultimate judgement on how I've spent the last four years of my life: of whether they were good enough or not. It's such a comprehensive assessment of my achievements, and, furthermore, of myself, that I feel like a rejection would be a rejection of me, that it would mean I'm not good enough. And I guess I could get over that. But the wait, and the feeling of being in a constant state of indecision, is really weighing on me.

The last contact I had from West Point was my 3Q letter, which stated that rolling admissions had been eliminated for this cycle and I, like all other candidates, had been placed on the national wait list. I don't know exactly what that means, or if my slates have been resolved, and I'm afraid I'm getting a bit too familiar with the phrase "I don't know."

I have a very solid and exciting plan B with an ROTC scholarship to the CO School of Mines, but I don't know how much I want to finalize it.

I keep getting the question "Which do you think you want to do: Mines or West Point?"

I don't want to say Mines, because I don't want to give up hope on West Point. But, conversely, I don't want to say West Point, because then being rejected would be doubly hard.

So here I am, balancing on the edge of reality and hope, as all of my classmates take their placement tests and pick their roommates. And every day someone will ask me "What are you doing?" And every day I say "I don't know."

I guess what I'm looking for is advice. I don't mean to sound whiny, in case that's how I come across, because I know I'm fortunate to be in the position I'm in and I'm grateful to have come so far. I just needed to get this down, and I hope that maybe someone can offer their own perspective to help me better evaluate my own.

Thanks in advance.

You should be proud of your accomplishments, but I know how you feel. My DS is in the exact same position. Has been 3Q'd since January 19th. He also has a 4 year AROTC scholarship and full tuition scholarships to plan B. He asked the other day if he could just get a t-shirt made that says "No, I have not heard from West Point". He also is not quite ready to pay the enrollment deposit or make housing arrangements yet. So, we wait... but either way we are proud of him and his accomplishments. Don't ever forget how much of an accomplishment is to get as far as you have in the process, and remember there are others out there just like you waiting to hear.

 

[USMA 1994]

You cannot focus on the West Point's BFE or TWE as an ultimate evaluation of your past achievements. Their are many things that impact the admission's decision and it is not the best 1250 candidates nationally. Be proud about what you do have. Most kids do not get those types of opportunities.

 

[Proudteachermom]

Your thread sounds just like my DD. We are in a very small community, graduating class is 52. Everyone is constantly asking have you heard anything, what's your plan, and she is so frustrated because she is a planner. Always knows exactly what she wants and goes for it. She wants West Point, she's so afraid that to get a rejection will be devastating, no matter what a great plan B she has, and the accomplishment to make it this far. I think so much work goes into applying that it is all you have thought about for a year and a half, but no matter what everyone who has made it this far will be successful no matter what route you end up taking.

 

[KCDAL]

It's frustrating to have people ask me about West Point day after day and never to have a good enough response. No, I haven't decided on a college yet. No, West Point hasn't gotten back to me. No, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I feel like admission to West Point is a final, ultimate judgement on how I've spent the last four years of my life: of whether they were good enough or not. It's such a comprehensive assessment of my achievements, and, furthermore, of myself, that I feel like a rejection would be a rejection of me, that it would mean I'm not good enough. And I guess I could get over that. But the wait, and the feeling of being in a constant state of indecision, is really weighing on me.

The last contact I had from West Point was my 3Q letter, which stated that rolling admissions had been eliminated for this cycle and I, like all other candidates, had been placed on the national wait list. I don't know exactly what that means, or if my slates have been resolved, and I'm afraid I'm getting a bit too familiar with the phrase "I don't know."

I have a very solid and exciting plan B with an ROTC scholarship to the CO School of Mines, but I don't know how much I want to finalize it.

I keep getting the question "Which do you think you want to do: Mines or West Point?"

I don't want to say Mines, because I don't want to give up hope on West Point. But, conversely, I don't want to say West Point, because then being rejected would be doubly hard.

So here I am, balancing on the edge of reality and hope, as all of my classmates take their placement tests and pick their roommates. And every day someone will ask me "What are you doing?" And every day I say "I don't know."

I guess what I'm looking for is advice. I don't mean to sound whiny, in case that's how I come across, because I know I'm fortunate to be in the position I'm in and I'm grateful to have come so far. I just needed to get this down, and I hope that maybe someone can offer their perspective to help me better evaluate my own.

Thanks in advance.

When I read your post, I thought it was written by my own son.
He is Colorado now revisiting Mines and meeting with ROTC (4yr. scholarship) on Monday to make sure it is his first choice for Plan B.
I am sure your parents are as proud of you as we are of our own son.
The waiting is so hard and causes so many mixed emotions, not to mention it is hard to celebrate your amazing accomplishments when you just do not know what is next.
I hope you both hear good news from West Point!!
I will try to keep track of your post in case you both decide on Mines.
Wishing you all the best!! Your an amazing young person who has a bright future ahead of them!

 

[Patterndesigner]

It's frustrating to have people ask me about West Point day after day and never to have a good enough response. No, I haven't decided on a college yet. No, West Point hasn't gotten back to me. No, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I feel like admission to West Point is a final, ultimate judgement on how I've spent the last four years of my life: of whether they were good enough or not. It's such a comprehensive assessment of my achievements, and, furthermore, of myself, that I feel like a rejection would be a rejection of me, that it would mean I'm not good enough. And I guess I could get over that. But the wait, and the feeling of being in a constant state of indecision, is really weighing on me.

The last contact I had from West Point was my 3Q letter, which stated that rolling admissions had been eliminated for this cycle and I, like all other candidates, had been placed on the national wait list. I don't know exactly what that means, or if my slates have been resolved, and I'm afraid I'm getting a bit too familiar with the phrase "I don't know."

I have a very solid and exciting plan B with an ROTC scholarship to the CO School of Mines, but I don't know how much I want to finalize it.

I keep getting the question "Which do you think you want to do: Mines or West Point?"

I don't want to say Mines, because I don't want to give up hope on West Point. But, conversely, I don't want to say West Point, because then being rejected would be doubly hard.

So here I am, balancing on the edge of reality and hope, as all of my classmates take their placement tests and pick their roommates. And every day someone will ask me "What are you doing?" And every day I say "I don't know."

I guess what I'm looking for is advice. I don't mean to sound whiny, in case that's how I come across, because I know I'm fortunate to be in the position I'm in and I'm grateful to have come so far. I just needed to get this down, and I hope that maybe someone can offer their perspective to help me better evaluate my own.

Thanks in advance.

We are also still waiting. My DS has a great ROTC plan. They need to know 1 May. The great thing about ROTC is, they know you have applied to West Point and even if you have to say yes to Plan B, it can be changed for Plan A. They are cool with that, or at least my DS’s school is.

 

[turtlerunnernc]

This was my son in 2015. The wait is hard, BUT please don't look at this as a rejection of you and all you have accomplished if you are not selected. You have madenitntm the zero hour. If you were not one of the top of the top you would have a TWE. At this point if you are not selected, you aren't technically getting a TWE, your letter will state that although you were a highly competitive candidate they only had 1,200 slots with many more qualified applicants than that.

You are among the best if the best if you haven't heard yet. Proceed as you are going with Plan B and hope for the best. Sometimes what we think is Plan B turns out to be what was best in the long run.

Hold your heads high.

 

[justdoit19]

All good points above. I truly hope you do not assess yourself as a “you are not good enough” based upon WP’s decision, or rejection. Bc you must keep in mind that WP is not actually selecting the top xxxx number of kids due to their admission criteria. They have legal, geographical etc elements to putting together their particular class. In fact, one year you may be an admission, and the next year with same stats a rejection. How can that be an accurate gauge of YOU? It’s not. Don’t let it be. In fact, if you are really to gauge yourself for the ultimate goal of serving as an officer, IMO that gauge nationally is actually the ROTC scholarship. As I understand, based upon these forums, ROTC scholarship is of an overall national competition. And you HAVE that scholarship. So congrats. CSOM’s is NOT an easy school to get into (DS is accepted so familiar with them). Realizing that you do hold a very competitive national scholarship to a difficult school is pretty cool. Congrats.

Another thing you cannot yet know, is that someday none of this will even matter to you despite how all consuming it is for you now. You will get through this and be ok and it won’t even matter to you at all one day. Keep you chin up!!!

 

[Parent3]

First I would like to say we are in the same boat. The way we have handled it is : move forward with ROTC scholarship. They assume you have an application to a service academy. When you signed the ROTC scholarship paperwork it says an academy slot over rides this contract. The other responders are correct, if you do not end up with an academy slot it does not mean you were rejected just means everyone competitive can’t all go. Try to look at it this way, you will succeed no matter which path you choose. We are prior military and we never cared or inquired whether our fellow comrades were from ROTC or an academy.