West Point Candidate

GoArmy2023

GoArmy2023

Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
40
Hello everyone, I am a current high school Junior applying for USMA. I plan on enlisting in the National Guard this summer to assist with tuition if I do not get in USMA or get an ROTC scholarship. I am very familiar with how the West Point's Admissions proccess works , however I only know the basics for ROTC. Can someone explain what I should do know as a student to apply for a ROTC scholarship?
- When should I start applying?
- What are the steps?

My Stats by the way:
JROTC Company Commander (hopefully brigade next year.)
National Honor Society President
JROTC PT Team Commander
Raider Team 1SG
HOSA Vice President
HOSA Secretary
A lot of other clubs.
Track and Field 1 Year (This year, no letter or varsity yet. Joined because I learned that it significantly impacts WCS)
1120 PSAT ( I know it is bad, but I will improve.)
40/681 Students ( Top 7%)
I really want to get into West Point , but my ultimate goal is to become an Army officer. I need guidance for the ROTC route. I have spent hours and hours researching USMA on this forum, however haven't started for ROTC yet. Thanks!
 
The online application will open in June. You will need to submit your transcript, test scores ( definitely work on improving those), take a physical fitness test, there are 3 short essays, and online "personality" test, and you will go to an Interview. The first board meets in Oct, the 2nd in Jan and the 3rd in March. If you are awarded a scholarship , at that point you begin the DODMERB process to get medically cleared. My son was awarded a 4 year on the first board this year and he is currently going through the DODMERB system. We didnt know anything about the process last year, but read on here a a lot and it really helps! Good luck!
 
GoArmy2023. Your plan to start now is exactly what you should be doing. My DS is Class of 2022 and he started his Apps last year about this time for all the SAs and it all worked out near perfectly. I would say we’re very happy and grateful. My DS got interested in the Military since age 8 and started his path to SAs since age 12. So starting early does build up equity and pays strong dividend when most things work out. And the results begin to show in Sep of your Senior Year if you are right on the money at all times.

Now that I set the stage to answer your questions, here it is. Planning for ROTC you already started that since you’re in JROTC. You should be able to tap into 5 or 6 Noms if your parents served. SA is a local district competition so know your district strength and prepare accordingly. If your district is below the national average then your PSAT SAT comparable may or may not work. Test scores are the single most important Academic factor then class rank then quality of your school and courses you took and lastly your GPA.

ROTC is a national competition so you need to compete with the highest test scores you can accomplish. You have plenty of time to improve your scores so bring that up to 700+ on both sections. To be very safe a Composite of 1500 would be great. So dedicate to testing from now. You should have started this in Spring Sophomore year. Then your class rank is important.

ROTC like anything over 3.0 you’ll be fine so long as you’re not applying to the Ivies. But since you’re applying to WP you should demonstrate class average of WP at least middle 50%.

I see that you are thin on team sports. You’ll need it. So join a Varsity team this Spring. And continue through Senior Fall with another. ROTC and SAs give greater WCS to team sports and Varsity. I believe double compared to individual Varsity sports like XC Track Tae KWON Do. Stop joining this and that clubs. Focus on few with quality and leadership that is meaningful to others and to build yourself.

Complete all your ROTC Apps by Mid Sep. This includes interview. That takes the longest. You should schedule something in August or early Sep. Ask your counselor to have the full transcripts for you before the school is out. Ask for recommendations now from
English
Math
Physics or Chem
PE Coach
JROTC CDR

You should have joined scouting and made Eagle Scout. That adds big points to WCS. Do Boys State this is a must! Adds big points to WCS even though it is only a week Program.

You have a lot to do from now through Sep. so time manage everything. Spend less time with your girl friend and on games. This is the biggest hazard. Distraction.

Otherwise you already started your process. I say your stats and readiness to WP is about bottom 25% percentile. You want to be in the upper 25% if you want to be very competitive and increase the certainty. Unless you are an inner city URM you need more work. Good news is you have enough time to beef up your qualifications.

I have more to say but I will stop here and let you respond and let others chime in.
 
Thank you for your detailed response sir. Un fortunately I live in a very competitive district. However, my MOC gives Principal Nominations. I have a few connections under my belt, including some candidates for the upcoming election. Hopefully I can out compete the competitve candiates in my district. It is my dreams and aspirations to attend one of the most prestigous univeristies in the world, especialy a military one. I want Army, and only Army. I am going to do my best.
Thank You. Very motivating.
 
CrewDad said:
GoArmy2023. Your plan to start now is exactly what you should be doing. My DS is Class of 2022 and he started his Apps last year about this time for all the SAs and it all worked out near perfectly. I would say we’re very happy and grateful. My DS got interested in the Military since age 8 and started his path to SAs since age 12. So starting early does build up equity and pays strong dividend when most things work out. And the results begin to show in Sep of your Senior Year if you are right on the money at all times.

Now that I set the stage to answer your questions, here it is. Planning for ROTC you already started that since you’re in JROTC. You should be able to tap into 5 or 6 Noms if your parents served. SA is a local district competition so know your district strength and prepare accordingly. If your district is below the national average then your PSAT SAT comparable may or may not work. Test scores are the single most important Academic factor then class rank then quality of your school and courses you took and lastly your GPA.

ROTC is a national competition so you need to compete with the highest test scores you can accomplish. You have plenty of time to improve your scores so bring that up to 700+ on both sections. To be very safe a Composite of 1500 would be great. So dedicate to testing from now. You should have started this in Spring Sophomore year. Then your class rank is important.

ROTC like anything over 3.0 you’ll be fine so long as you’re not applying to the Ivies. But since you’re applying to WP you should demonstrate class average of WP at least middle 50%.

I see that you are thin on team sports. You’ll need it. So join a Varsity team this Spring. And continue through Senior Fall with another. ROTC and SAs give greater WCS to team sports and Varsity. I believe double compared to individual Varsity sports like XC Track Tae KWON Do. Stop joining this and that clubs. Focus on few with quality and leadership that is meaningful to others and to build yourself.

Complete all your ROTC Apps by Mid Sep. This includes interview. That takes the longest. You should schedule something in August or early Sep. Ask your counselor to have the full transcripts for you before the school is out. Ask for recommendations now from
English
Math
Physics or Chem
PE Coach
JROTC CDR

You should have joined scouting and made Eagle Scout. That adds big points to WCS. Do Boys State this is a must! Adds big points to WCS even though it is only a week Program.

You have a lot to do from now through Sep. so time manage everything. Spend less time with your girl friend and on games. This is the biggest hazard. Distraction.

Otherwise you already started your process. I say your stats and readiness to WP is about bottom 25% percentile. You want to be in the upper 25% if you want to be very competitive and increase the certainty. Unless you are an inner city URM you need more work. Good news is you have enough time to beef up your qualifications.

I have more to say but I will stop here and let you respond and let others chime in.
Click to expand...
 
If being an Army officer is your ultimate goal, do not rule out the US Merchant Marine Academy... You can commission into any branch upon graduation (provided your grades are high enough.)

Just something to look into as it's much less known and competition may not be as fierce if you are in a competitive area.
 
This is true. USMMA is less competitive than the "Big 3" SAs... note that people call them the Big 3 for good reason. I don't even have to tell you which ones they are because you already know.

Keep in mind there are many routes for becoming an Army officer. Let's start with the one you're most interested in.

WEST POINT

This is a toughie and the application process is long and hard. You're going to want to up your test scores to the 30 ACT/1500 SAT range if you want a good shot at making this. Additionally, you say you're in a lot of clubs but have no varsity letters. There a chance you could make varsity football? That would be the most ideal. If not, go for whatever varsity opportunities you can get your hands on. Apply to Boys State and start preparing for the CFA. Sign up for every SAT/ACT you can afford.

Okay, let's discuss one of the other options already mentioned here.

U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

Upon graduation, a USMMA cadet can become an officer in any of the branches that he or she chooses. This is the only SA of this type. There are a few catches, though. The first is that USMMA IS an SA. You still need a nomination and you must still pass the CFA. Additionally, Mids at USMMA spend time submerged...consider that.

Here's a popular one.

ROTC

You can do AROTC at a variety schools...communities, ivies...or, you can go to a Military school like VMI, The Citadel, or Marion. Depends on what kind of environment you'd like. The military schools are like smaller, less competitive West Points, but if you go to a "regular" college, you can live a partially civilian life for a while.

You can also enlist out of college and try to get into officer school afterwards.

Try for what you can get! Good luck!
 
GoArmy2023 said:
Hello everyone, I am a current high school Junior applying for USMA. I plan on enlisting in the National Guard this summer to assist with tuition if I do not get in USMA or get an ROTC scholarship.
Click to expand...

You may want to think twice about enlisting in the NG this summer before you even hear back about acceptance to either WP or the ROTC Scholarship. There isn't as much of an issue if you receive an appointment to WP but you will need to be released from the NG to take an AROTC Scholarship.

You should sit down with a Recruiting Officer (ROO), not a local recruiter, at a University program and discuss your goals, they will be able to tell you about the program and options that won't make things more complicated.

If you join the NG and go to college for ROTC without a scholarship you can't contract until sometime during your sophomore year. This means you are more beholden to the NG then to ROTC, you are also still deployable until you contract with ROTC.

If you are not given an appointment the first go around and decide that you want to apply again during your first year at college, you will want all the time you have to put toward school. If you're re-applying to WP you will need to take classes that mirror what you would be taking the first year at WP, these classes aren't easy and if you are adding the NG to both college and ROTC you may find that a strain on your time.

The best advice I can give you is to stop talking to the NG Recruiter and start talking to an ROTC Recruiting Officer, the NG recruiter simply wants you to enlist and will paint a rosy picture that sounds great without knowing how to advise you on your actual goals.
 
jaglvr said:
If being an Army officer is your ultimate goal, do not rule out the US Merchant Marine Academy... You can commission into any branch upon graduation (provided your grades are high enough.)

Just something to look into as it's much less known and competition may not be as fierce if you are in a competitive area.
Click to expand...

GoArmy2022 said:
This is true. USMMA is less competitive than the "Big 3" SAs... note that people call them the Big 3 for good reason. I don't even have to tell you which ones they are because you already know.

Keep in mind there are many routes for becoming an Army officer. Let's start with the one you're most interested in.

WEST POINT

This is a toughie and the application process is long and hard. You're going to want to up your test scores to the 30 ACT/1500 SAT range if you want a good shot at making this. Additionally, you say you're in a lot of clubs but have no varsity letters. There a chance you could make varsity football? That would be the most ideal. If not, go for whatever varsity opportunities you can get your hands on. Apply to Boys State and start preparing for the CFA. Sign up for every SAT/ACT you can afford.

Okay, let's discuss one of the other options already mentioned here.

U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

Upon graduation, a USMMA cadet can become an officer in any of the branches that he or she chooses. This is the only SA of this type. There are a few catches, though. The first is that USMMA IS an SA. You still need a nomination and you must still pass the CFA. Additionally, Mids at USMMA spend time submerged...consider that.

Here's a popular one.

ROTC

You can do AROTC at a variety schools...communities, ivies...or, you can go to a Military school like VMI, The Citadel, or Marion. Depends on what kind of environment you'd like. The military schools are like smaller, less competitive West Points, but if you go to a "regular" college, you can live a partially civilian life for a while.

You can also enlist out of college and try to get into officer school afterwards.

Try for what you can get! Good luck!
Click to expand...
 
Jcleppe said:
GoArmy2023 said:
Hello everyone, I am a current high school Junior applying for USMA. I plan on enlisting in the National Guard this summer to assist with tuition if I do not get in USMA or get an ROTC scholarship.
Click to expand...

You may want to think twice about enlisting in the NG this summer before you even hear back about acceptance to either WP or the ROTC Scholarship. There isn't as much of an issue if you receive an appointment to WP but you will need to be released from the NG to take an AROTC Scholarship.

You should sit down with a Recruiting Officer (ROO), not a local recruiter, at a University program and discuss your goals, they will be able to tell you about the program and options that won't make things more complicated.

If you join the NG and go to college for ROTC without a scholarship you can't contract until sometime during your sophomore year. This means you are more beholden to the NG then to ROTC, you are also still deployable until you contract with ROTC.

If you are not given an appointment the first go around and decide that you want to apply again during your first year at college, you will want all the time you have to put toward school. If you're re-applying to WP you will need to take classes that mirror what you would be taking the first year at WP, these classes aren't easy and if you are adding the NG to both college and ROTC you may find that a strain on your time.

The best advice I can give you is to stop talking to the NG Recruiter and start talking to an ROTC Recruiting Officer, the NG recruiter simply wants you to enlist and will paint a rosy picture that sounds great without knowing how to advise you on your actual goals.
Click to expand...

Yes, sir. I am aware of recruiters and their recruitment ideas. I am talking to my JROTC instructor who is an Army vet to see if this a good decision to make.
 
What helped me the most with getting into West Point was SLE. I was never even thinking of applying there before I went. However, SLE helped me change my mind, and ended up boosting my USMA application greatly. Solely because of my performance at SLE(I received 2 academic awards), and with my decent ACT scores later on, I received an LOA at the end of that summer. Then I HAD to apply (I was later admitted). If someone asked me a month before, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell you where USMA was located, and I live an hour away from there.

In conclusion, apply to SLE. It turned me from a complete military outsider to an admitted candidate.
https://www.usma.edu/admissions/sitepages/summer.aspx
 
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