West Point SLE 2017

Silbur

Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Messages
10
Just like to see where I stand compared to people.

PSAT(1380)
- Math: 750
- Critical Reading: 630

Sports/Clubs/EC
- 1 year Track & Field
- 1 year Gymnastics (Team State Champion)
- 2 years Soccer
- Church Member (Leadership Team, Worship Team & Nicaragua Mission Trip)
- Yearbook (Selective)
- PE Leader (Selective)

How about you guys? Ooooh and feel free to post if you got in from past years.
 
With a year I'm sure you can boost that score up, but weird they didn't ask for a GPA when I applied
 
Yes no GPA, strange. Stats for my DS:
PSAT 1420
Sports,EC/Clubs:
1 year Lacrosse
1 year Track
2 years Wrestling, Lettered
3 years Cross Country, Lettered , Voted Captain for Next Year
Eagle Scout, Senior Patrol Leader, in charge of 74 kids
MUN member, 2 years, will likely run for Executive Board

Good luck to everyone!
 
I'm fairly sure you have heard this before, but competition for a spot varies by geographic location and characteristics like gender, ethnicity, and race. Of course, this means it is all the more difficult to accurately evaluate your standing among applicants all over the country. However, I believe your PSAT score is solid (750/780 in Math is certainly commendable), and your extracurriculars are alright for now. That being said, you may want to seek more leadership positions and awards to boost your standing. Hope this helps.

Side note:
It still says the application is closed, despite it being the 16th. Does anyone know if it is, in fact, open? Thanks.
 
Honestly, there is no point comparing yourself to others. It is an absolutely futile exercise.

My DS met people at SLE who were rock stars academically, sports-wise and leadership-wise. These people would be accepted to the top Ivy Schools. He also met others who he wondered how they got accepted. Poor scores, not in shape, etc.

Lesson learned from my DS. SLE is a recruiting tool. It's a way for USMA to introduce itself to people who may not have been interested in or know about USMA. Unrepresented minorities, underrepresented geographical areas, women, etc are the main focus group. Just because you don't get into SLE, that doesn't mean you don't have a chance at an appointment to USMA. Conversely, just because you get accepted to SLE, that doesn't mean you have a chance at an appointment to USMA.

If you're remotely interested in USMA, apply. It will open a file and you will get a head start on your application process.
 
Like Padre101 said, comparing isn't going to help. Advice: focus on getting strong ACT/SAT scores and load up on leadership EC's. Many of the people I met at SLE were very competitive. Don't be bummed if you don't get in because it's not the end of the world. Boys State is also a great experience and actually plays a role in admissions unlike SLE, but usually takes place during SLE week. Don't get me wrong, SLE is a great experience, but focus on what you can change to receive an appointment to USMA next year. Regardless, if you want to hear my credentials, here they are:

31 ACT (it's a 34 now because I retook it)
3 years Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track
First pianist of orchestra
Church Youth Group President
Organized fundraising piano recitals (sponsored by Lexus)
2nd Degree Black Belt for TaeKwonDo (Captain of Demo Team and Assistant Instructor)
Founder/President of the TaeKwonDo Club at school
Peer Tutor
Historian of National Music Honor Society

There may be more I forgot but I added a bunch more after my SLE experience because I loaded up on searching for more leadership opportunities. With your stats and credentials, I think you have a very strong chance of being accepted to West Point's SLE this year. Good luck!
 
Yeah definitely! I don't mean to sound like a ****** when I say comparing applications with others like trying to figure out if I'm better than you or that you're better than me. I just like to see what kind of activities other applicants have done and if I can do the same (like Boy's State was suggested).
 
Yeah definitely! I don't mean to sound like a ****** when I say comparing applications with others like trying to figure out if I'm better than you or that you're better than me. I just like to see what kind of activities other applicants have done and if I can do the same (like Boy's State was suggested).
Understood. This forum is a good place to get advice and ideas. Boys State is a must.

Good luck.
 
I want to go ahead and put this out here so people can have a good example. When I applied to SLE I looked like this:

32 composite score ACT
Model UN Officer with awards
JV and Varsity lacrosse with scholar athlete awards
Interpreter for mission trip to Honduras, mission trip assistant coordinator for return trip
Church group officer
National Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society
Self-taught multilingual (Spanish, French, Louisiana Creole, some Italian, some Portuguese, some Mandarin)
And some other nice things that aren't as big

And on April 12, 2016 I opened my portal and saw I was not selected.

In the very last three hours that the Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS) application was open I applied and got in. I got selected for NASS and went and had a great time. For a while I was discouraged from seeking out USMA but my Blue and Gold officer encouraged me to look at all my options. When summer was over USMA was my number one pick and I just got notified I am the principal nominee of one of my Senators to USMA. I felt absolutely stunned and incredibly blessed to have been nominated. My profile hadn't changed all that much when I applied for nominations, though. SLE serves a lot of different purposes and one of those purposes is marketing and letting kids try things out. If they see that you are a great kid from a military family in a military location with a lot passion for USMA and the Army then you might not get selected because they feel like you'll apply to West Point no matter what. But that other kid who might be on the fence about it might get the push to carry through with the whole process because SLE was the experience they needed. Apply to all of the summer seminars you could afford if you got in. I'm pretty sure even some military colleges like the Citadel and VMI have "summer seminar." Show your passion and determination!
 
Hello! I applied to SLE for this coming summer. Here are my stats for those who are curious.

-PSAT 1440 (710 Math, 730 Verbal)
-2 years Varsity soccer (girls), 2 years lettered (I'm on my third year, being a junior, but I technically haven't completed the season so I wrote '2 years')
- First degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do
-Math tutor
-Deputy Explorer for the County Sheriff's Department
-Explorer Drill Instructor for the County Sheriff's Department Explorer Academy (In charge of the leadership, character, and physical training of 25 recruits)
-Founder and president of Armed Forces Club
-Founder and leader of school flag detail
-Principal's List and High Honor Roll
-2 years Scholar-Athlete award
-National Honor Society
-California Scholarship Federation

I am also a self taught multilingual but I didn't think to include it in my application. I will be sure to add it when the full fledged application comes, so thanks for the tip!

I applied to all three summer programs, I hope to see you guys there! I am beyond excited about what lies in store for all of us :)
 
I applied as well, still haven't heard anything.
National Honor Society
National English Honor Society (Secretary)
Key Club (Secretary)
Student Council
Model United Nations Delegate
Yearbook (Sports Editor)
Boys State (Selected Delegate)
Varsity Football (2 letters, 1 captain)
Varsity Baseball (1 letter, will be 2 in June)
Top 6% of class
1230 PSAT (Low but not discouraged)
I live on a military base, will be applying out of a district with a huge army base, and my father went to USMA. I've heard USMA will turn people away that know a lot about the Army and West Point itself but we'll see. I applied the 14th (the receipt came even though it wasn't supposed to open until the 15th). Best of luck to all, and please let me know when you guys start to get accepted!
 
I wasn't talking about admittance into the academy, I was talking about SLE. Sorry, for any confusion.
 
Hi! I applied to SLE for this coming summer and I just got my acceptance notification yesterday at 4:00 P.M. I applied on January 15th at around 9:00 A.M. When you get accepted, they send you an email and then once you log into the candidate portal, you are able to view an official acceptance letter. My credentials are :

PSAT :
Math : 630
Reading / Writing : 720

ACT :
English : 36
Math : 29
Reading : 32
Science : 29
Overall : 32

SPORTS :
Cross Country ( Two Years Varsity Women's)
Softball ( Two Years JV )
Indoor Track ( Club )
Cheerleading ( One Year Varsity )

ORGANIZATIONS :
Camp Counselor
Church Group Member
Dramatic Participation In A Public Performance
National Honors Society Attendee
School Band / Chorus Member

I have one girl from my school a year older than me that committed to West Point for volleyball, and I know at least one other student in my area that wants to attend, but I don't think I live in a super competitive district. Best of luck to everyone to applied and I can't wait to see what a great opportunity this will be for all of us!
 
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I just got my acceptance email yesterday. Here are my stats:
3rd in class of about 400 (4.4 GPA)
31 composite on ACT (35 English, 32 math, 31 reading, 28 science)
1430 on PSAT (720 Math, 710 Reading)
AP Scholar (5s on Human Geography, US Government, and Psychology)
AP Human Geography Outstanding Performance Award
Junior Class President
Beta Club Secretary
3rd in Social Studies at TN Beta Club Convention (National Convention Qualifier)
Junior State of America Representative
Directors' Student Advisory Council member
National Honors Society
74 hours community service for various things
Varsity Scholars' Bowl
Spanish Club
Key Club
Debate team member
National Student Leadership Conference on Intelligence and National Security attendee
Beta Club Leadership Summit attendee
3 years Cross Country
1 year Varsity Wrestling
2 years Varsity Swimming

I am also doing what I can to make sure I get my school's nomination for Boys' State and I am waiting on my notification of whether or not I get into TN Governor's School for International Studies. If I get into GSIS, then I'll unfortunately have to turn down SLE along with USNA and USAFA summer seminars if I get in those also, so that would potentially really suck to have to miss out on those. Nevertheless, good luck to you. I hope this gave you a better idea.
 
Boys State is a must.

With all due respect, it's not. Our son never heard of Boys State (and neither had I until this forum). He didn't do SLE, no LOA, and no MOC calls. He's a Yuk now.

SLE is a recruiting tool. It's a way for USMA to introduce itself to people who may not have been interested in or know about USMA. ...Just because you don't get into SLE, that doesn't mean you don't have a chance at an appointment to USMA. Conversely, just because you get accepted to SLE, that doesn't mean you have a chance at an appointment

This is an important point that doesn't seem to stick on this forum. SLE is just a summer camp with a recruiting mission. It has zero impact on admissions, yet kids worry about "getting in" to SLE like it somehow matters. It doesn't. If you want to go to camp, apply. If there isn't a spot for you, oh well. Go do some other fun thing. SLE doesn't affect your candidacy one whit.

Oh, and it doesn't resemble a real week as a cadet at West Point one iota.
 
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