What Should I Ask when I Meet a Cadet?

s-xuer

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Hello-
I am currently a high school junior who is planning to apply to USMA 2024. I have been doing research about the academy and its applications. My FFR said that next month, a senior cadet from the local area will be back to meet with candidates and prospective candidates.

Does anyone have any suggestions for insightful questions or topics I could bring up when I get the chance to meet the cadet?
 
If you want to ask “insightful questions,” they need to come directly from you, not from strangers on this forum. You have to give these questions some serious forethought. That’s what makes them insightful.

Start by reading every link, dropdown and section of the USMA website. Learn all the stuff that’s readily available. Now, ask yourself, “What do I still want to know, especially from the distinct perspective of someone who’s been there, done that?” That — not conducting a general survey on this forum— is how you come up with insightful questions.
 
1 on 1 sessions with cadets are golden opportunities to ask whatever you want - none of that gets fed back to admissions. So you can't advance your application but you can learn a lot. DS hoping to be home Thanksgiving week for just this reason - he went his senior year in your position.

Take advantage of it and ask away !!
 
Like others say, information can be gotten from the website.

But that cadet was in your position just a few years ago. Take advantage of that.

You could ask them what about USMA was different than they thought it would be , and what was the same.
You can ask them what is the most challenging aspect.
What is the most surprising thing that has happened.
What was the most meaningful thing that has happened
Looking back...how did they make the choice to attend USMA and what do they think of that reasoning now?
What are their plans (as much as you can make plans) for the future?
 
Hello-
I am currently a high school junior who is planning to apply to USMA 2024. I have been doing research about the academy and its applications. My FFR said that next month, a senior cadet from the local area will be back to meet with candidates and prospective candidates.

Does anyone have any suggestions for insightful questions or topics I could bring up when I get the chance to meet the cadet?

Do those granite walls look any different on the inside than what they did from the outside?
If so, how?
 
Just ask that which you want to know. You're looking for insight for yourself, not to impress the cadet with your insightful questions. What's difficult about the academy for one person my be different for another person, etc etc.
 
Avoid questions that you can answer for yourself by a thorough reading of USMA.edu

What surprised you the most when you became a cadet, that was different than how you thought it would be?

What’s the trick to balancing academics, athletics, professional requirements?

What’s the best thing I can do to prepare, if I should be appointed?

What did you major in and why?

What was the hardest thing to adapt to as a Plebe?

You get the idea. The things that will help you to figure out if you and USMA are a good mutual fit.
 
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