WP and NMSF/NMF

[sealion]

I have done a cursory search on WP's site and haven't been able to find out how many National Merit Semi Finalists or Finalists matriculate at WP.

There is a stat for the class of 2012 that shows 199 who have National Merit recognition. I'm guessing that figure includes Commended students.

Anyone know where to find stats on the Semi Finalists and Finalists who select WP?

 

[TXDAD]

My son was a National Merit Finalist and a member of the Class of 2011. We were told by someone in the Admissions Group that he was one of about one hundred semi-finalists/finalists that year.

 

[sealion]

Son was recently named a finalist and I'm interested in finalists' experiences at WP. If anyone knows anyone w/ a cadet or cadet parent who could has more info please send them my way.

Thanks.

 

[enjoylife]

Son was recently named a finalist and I'm interested in finalists' experiences at WP. If anyone knows anyone w/ a cadet or cadet parent who could has more info please send them my way.

Are you expecting your son's experience at WP to be different than other cadets because he's a NMF? I'm not expecting that at all even though my son is a finalist. I would think that WP treats everyone the same whether they are NMF or not. NMF only means my kid tested better than most kids and wrote an essay.

 

[sealion]

I would think that WP treats everyone the same whether they are NMF or not

.

Yes, I agree. I don't see how NMFs could be readily identified anyway.

What I'm more interested in is the process and wisdom of course selections, course validations, major and minor combos, major and/or language minors, availability and access to supplemental academic and/or major specific or possibly language specific opportunities. There's more... because there have been some things that are available through private organizations (based on GPA, standardized test scores, blah, blah where NMF status was requested) that may or may not work w/ WP.

WP has been great in offering direction with some of these things but I kinda wanted some first person advice.

NMF only means my kid tested better than most kids and wrote an essay.

I realize it's a sensitive subject. Sorry to have ruffled you.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

The "West Point Experience" won't be any different. Highly gifted cadets who are at the top of their class don't get any "special favors" for being so.

Academics could very well be different - it all depends on how a new cadet does in validating classes and their academic motivation. Certain plebe classes are indeed grouped by "ability". Chemistry has different levels and they will even juggle some plebes during the first semester.
Some plebes who test high on the foreign language exam will be recommended to take Arabic or Chinese or other "challenging" languages. They like to start these plebe year and will sometimes put off Chem until Yuk year.
Validating plebe history can put a plebe right into "Dirt" and allow for electives later on. Validating Calculus put you right into an accelerated math curriculum and gets you out of two math core classes.
When your cadet gets into his major then AIAD is offered competitively. If you go to the different departments on the academic webpage - http://www.dean.usma.edu/departments/ you can see all the possibilities.
If you look on this webpage:
http://www.dean.usma.edu/Scholarships/
you can see the different scholarships that are awarded to cadets for graduate study.
Academic opportunities are offered to all cadets on a competitive basis. You don't need to be an NMF to take advantage.

Sealion - for instance - if you son tests highly on the validation tests he could jump right into his foreign language plebe year and be eligible for an AIAD either over spring break or in the summer after plebe year. He definitely would have a head start on the rest of the class.

As far as a minor - it's going to depend on his ability to juggle lots and lots of classes. Also, all Cadets must complete an "engineering sequence" which is basically a minor.

Clubs - there are also many academic clubs that provide enrichment to cadets - these can be found here:
http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/clubshome.html
Many languages have clubs, i.e. Chinese and I know Model UN is very active and popular.

 

[enjoylife]

What I'm more interested in is the process and wisdom of course selections, course validations, major and minor combos, major and/or language minors, availability and access to supplemental academic and/or major specific or possibly language specific opportunities.

Now, it's only my son's experience but according to him the materials they test on PSAT are basic algebra, geometry, grammar, etc. I could be wrong but I don't see how this should or could determine anything you quoted above. I would think that the course validation tests they have to take during plebe summer are the ones used determining where each cadet should be placed academically.

I realize it's a sensitive subject. Sorry to have ruffled you.

No it didn't ruffle me at all. What I'm trying to say is that it's great that our kids made NMF but I don't know it will mean anything at all beyond its recongnition.