Why choose West Point?

[Anonymous]

1. free
2. you are fine or even like military life style

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Some people legit want to be in the military and see this as a good stepping stone. Yes, they could do ROTC or OCS out of college, but this isn't the same thing as saying you graduated from a service academy. They may be from military families or had family members who graduated from the academies. If you know you want to join the military anyway, why not try for a service academy where you are an officer upon graduation?

No senior company grade officer or higher cares about means of commissioning.

Really? You are clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most kids don’t want to give up 5 years of their lives post grad. It is a big sacrifice and a setback in career progression. I know one Navy guy who regrets it.

I think five years is minimal for a free education and getting paid to be a student.

It takes double that to pay off most student loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People joining academies in 2023 are signing up to be buried in the South China Sea

Good luck

Thank you. My DD is headed to WP this summer and we couldn't be more proud of her or excited for her.

How long has she had the goal of attending West Point? Is this something that predated researching colleges?

She has always been a war buff. We have watched Band of Brothers, the entire series, at least 3 times. Fascinated by tanks and WWI especially. Really kicked into gear in high school and became her focus. When looking at colleges we also looked at VT Cadet Corp and just ROTC programs. But her focus had been on WP since sophomore year and she did it. If she didn't get in she would have gone to VT.

She drank the kool aid.

My mom used to say patriotic war movies were free OR/recruiting tools for the military.

Glorifying a brutal business that damages young people both physically and mentally.

[Anonymous]

How do you think the young soldiers of Israel are going to feel decades from now, when it sinks in that they killed thousands of children in the name of national security?

It is called moral injury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:West Point or Cornell ROTC?

Mom of current WP student (cadet) in her first year (plebe year). She also applied to Cornell and other schools that offered Army ROTC. (She is not the PP's DD above who checked out the Virginia schools; we are in California)

I'm assuming your kid is a junior or younger in high school, because it's probably too late to start the application process for WP. Your student needs a nomination, which is a whole other application process in conjunction with the WP application process.

With that assumption in mind, the best thing your DC can do is apply for WP's Summer Leaders' Experience (called SLE). It takes place the summer before senior year. The application for that opens in or around January; it's a rolling admission process so it's worth getting on it the first day it opens.

SLE is a week-long "camp" at WP where the kids get a feel for what it will be like. It's very helpful for kids to figure out if they want that lifestyle vs a typical college experience. My kid loved SLE because she "found her people"--super athletic but also geeky smart, and people who love the outdoors. She also went to the Navy's version, called "Summer Session" and that helped her see the differences in the day-to-day of the Naval Academy experience (for her, she wants to be on the move and outdoors, and the Navy is more inside (inside ships, inside cockpits, etc).

Your kid has to pass a physical called the "Candidate Fitness Test" (CFT) as part of their WP application. If they go to SLE, that test will be part of the week's experience.

I think for many, the hardest thing is to pass the medical tests (Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board, or DoDMERB). There are many things that can get kids disqualified.

The real differences between a school like Cornell vs. WP are, IMO

1) the day-to-day experience is military-immersive, (really hard, made hard on purpose to challenge the cadet physically and psychologically)

2) the emphasis at WP is leadership training. Everything is designed to teach a cadet to lead, as their job after WP is to lead the enlisted.

3) unlike civilian colleges, everyone who graduates goes to work for the same company, in a sense. Big Army

4) the experience puts the individual in that 'Band of Brothers' mindset. They talk about their friends as if they are family. They "have each other's backs." And they are all high-performers with team-mentality that are committed to each other. This is special. It's a VERY different experience than my other DD is having at a civilian college.

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

^^ forgot to say, check out serviceacademyforums.com as the moderators there have extensive experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you think the young soldiers of Israel are going to feel decades from now, when it sinks in that they killed thousands of children in the name of national security?

It is called moral injury.

Do you have the same concern for those fighting for Hamas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you think the young soldiers of Israel are going to feel decades from now, when it sinks in that they killed thousands of children in the name of national security?

It is called moral injury.

They are killing rapists and baby killers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you think the young soldiers of Israel are going to feel decades from now, when it sinks in that they killed thousands of children in the name of national security?

It is called moral injury.

Nope. It’s called total warfare. Been around for year. Thucydides did a pretty good job talking about it in a book, I seemed to recall. Also Grant, in his memoirs.

As for West Point, the original subject: if your child wants to be a US Army officer, it is the best choice. And lots of other reasons, but that’s they key one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids don’t want to give up 5 years of their lives post grad. It is a big sacrifice and a setback in career progression. I know one Navy guy who regrets it.

I think five years is minimal for a free education and getting paid to be a student.

It takes double that to pay off most student loans.

Yes, you're also getting paid leadership experience post-college, and this is valuable to employers. Keep in mind, though:
1) Your life could be in danger, depending on your job and what's going on in the world when you graduate
2) You only have so much control over the job you get after graduating. Top students get priority, so how you perform at the academy matters in what you do after graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC's "Big Three" sends at least one graduate each year to either USNA or West Point. Most turned down Ivy or other top schools to do this. Amazing, selfless and patriotic individuals.

OP here.

Yes, kid I know turned down HYP Ivy.

I would just as soon as hire from West Point as I would HYP. I don't see HYP as better.

(I am not military) It is an impressive school who puts out impressive people. And I would go so far as to say that the West Point graduates that I've known are extremely hard working, self sacrificing, as well as smart. HYP are smart, but often lack the dedication and hard work of West Point.

I agree with this assessment and feel the same. I am also not military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:West Point or Cornell ROTC?

Mom of current WP student (cadet) in her first year (plebe year). She also applied to Cornell and other schools that offered Army ROTC. (She is not the PP's DD above who checked out the Virginia schools; we are in California)

I'm assuming your kid is a junior or younger in high school, because it's probably too late to start the application process for WP. Your student needs a nomination, which is a whole other application process in conjunction with the WP application process.

With that assumption in mind, the best thing your DC can do is apply for WP's Summer Leaders' Experience (called SLE). It takes place the summer before senior year. The application for that opens in or around January; it's a rolling admission process so it's worth getting on it the first day it opens.

SLE is a week-long "camp" at WP where the kids get a feel for what it will be like. It's very helpful for kids to figure out if they want that lifestyle vs a typical college experience. My kid loved SLE because she "found her people"--super athletic but also geeky smart, and people who love the outdoors. She also went to the Navy's version, called "Summer Session" and that helped her see the differences in the day-to-day of the Naval Academy experience (for her, she wants to be on the move and outdoors, and the Navy is more inside (inside ships, inside cockpits, etc).

Your kid has to pass a physical called the "Candidate Fitness Test" (CFT) as part of their WP application. If they go to SLE, that test will be part of the week's experience.

I think for many, the hardest thing is to pass the medical tests (Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board, or DoDMERB). There are many things that can get kids disqualified.

The real differences between a school like Cornell vs. WP are, IMO

1) the day-to-day experience is military-immersive, (really hard, made hard on purpose to challenge the cadet physically and psychologically)

2) the emphasis at WP is leadership training. Everything is designed to teach a cadet to lead, as their job after WP is to lead the enlisted.

3) unlike civilian colleges, everyone who graduates goes to work for the same company, in a sense. Big Army

4) the experience puts the individual in that 'Band of Brothers' mindset. They talk about their friends as if they are family. They "have each other's backs." And they are all high-performers with team-mentality that are committed to each other. This is special. It's a VERY different experience than my other DD is having at a civilian college.

Hope this helps!

This is pretty spot on.

DC went through the West Point application process. Got the Congressional nomination. But also applied for the four year ROTC scholarship. Got it. Ultimately chose to do ROTC at a top 20 school and withdrew the WP app.

I think people here are really underestimating what it takes to be considered for West Point. The Candidate Fitness Test alone will eliminate about 80 percent of all American 18 year olds. Then the medical tests. Eyesight? Color-blindness for instance. And any kind of serious meds are an automatic disqualifier. Then there's the Congressional nomination process.

It's why the acceptance rates for West Point and Annapolis are so deceptive. There are so many hoops to get through before you can even apply.

Anyone considering really needs to start thinking about it sophomore year. They need to be very fit. And they need leadership positions. Very important. And sophomores are generally not leaders of anything so it needs to be planned. WP - and ROTC - are all about creating leaders. It's why employers tend to like them.

But the whole application process for WP is nothing like a regular college application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:West Point or Cornell ROTC?

Mom of current WP student (cadet) in her first year (plebe year). She also applied to Cornell and other schools that offered Army ROTC. (She is not the PP's DD above who checked out the Virginia schools; we are in California)

I'm assuming your kid is a junior or younger in high school, because it's probably too late to start the application process for WP. Your student needs a nomination, which is a whole other application process in conjunction with the WP application process.

With that assumption in mind, the best thing your DC can do is apply for WP's Summer Leaders' Experience (called SLE). It takes place the summer before senior year. The application for that opens in or around January; it's a rolling admission process so it's worth getting on it the first day it opens.

SLE is a week-long "camp" at WP where the kids get a feel for what it will be like. It's very helpful for kids to figure out if they want that lifestyle vs a typical college experience. My kid loved SLE because she "found her people"--super athletic but also geeky smart, and people who love the outdoors. She also went to the Navy's version, called "Summer Session" and that helped her see the differences in the day-to-day of the Naval Academy experience (for her, she wants to be on the move and outdoors, and the Navy is more inside (inside ships, inside cockpits, etc).

Your kid has to pass a physical called the "Candidate Fitness Test" (CFT) as part of their WP application. If they go to SLE, that test will be part of the week's experience.

I think for many, the hardest thing is to pass the medical tests (Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board, or DoDMERB). There are many things that can get kids disqualified.

The real differences between a school like Cornell vs. WP are, IMO

1) the day-to-day experience is military-immersive, (really hard, made hard on purpose to challenge the cadet physically and psychologically)

2) the emphasis at WP is leadership training. Everything is designed to teach a cadet to lead, as their job after WP is to lead the enlisted.

3) unlike civilian colleges, everyone who graduates goes to work for the same company, in a sense. Big Army

4) the experience puts the individual in that 'Band of Brothers' mindset. They talk about their friends as if they are family. They "have each other's backs." And they are all high-performers with team-mentality that are committed to each other. This is special. It's a VERY different experience than my other DD is having at a civilian college.

Hope this helps!

This is pretty spot on.

DC went through the West Point application process. Got the Congressional nomination. But also applied for the four year ROTC scholarship. Got it. Ultimately chose to do ROTC at a top 20 school and withdrew the WP app.

I think people here are really underestimating what it takes to be considered for West Point. The Candidate Fitness Test alone will eliminate about 80 percent of all American 18 year olds. Then the medical tests. Eyesight? Color-blindness for instance. And any kind of serious meds are an automatic disqualifier. Then there's the Congressional nomination process.

It's why the acceptance rates for West Point and Annapolis are so deceptive. There are so many hoops to get through before you can even apply.

Anyone considering really needs to start thinking about it sophomore year. They need to be very fit. And they need leadership positions. Very important. And sophomores are generally not leaders of anything so it needs to be planned. WP - and ROTC - are all about creating leaders. It's why employers tend to like them.

But the whole application process for WP is nothing like a regular college application.

West Point (and the other military academies) is a huge achievement and I would hire their grads over any one else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:West Point or Cornell ROTC?

Mom of current WP student (cadet) in her first year (plebe year). She also applied to Cornell and other schools that offered Army ROTC. (She is not the PP's DD above who checked out the Virginia schools; we are in California)

I'm assuming your kid is a junior or younger in high school, because it's probably too late to start the application process for WP. Your student needs a nomination, which is a whole other application process in conjunction with the WP application process.

With that assumption in mind, the best thing your DC can do is apply for WP's Summer Leaders' Experience (called SLE). It takes place the summer before senior year. The application for that opens in or around January; it's a rolling admission process so it's worth getting on it the first day it opens.

SLE is a week-long "camp" at WP where the kids get a feel for what it will be like. It's very helpful for kids to figure out if they want that lifestyle vs a typical college experience. My kid loved SLE because she "found her people"--super athletic but also geeky smart, and people who love the outdoors. She also went to the Navy's version, called "Summer Session" and that helped her see the differences in the day-to-day of the Naval Academy experience (for her, she wants to be on the move and outdoors, and the Navy is more inside (inside ships, inside cockpits, etc).

Your kid has to pass a physical called the "Candidate Fitness Test" (CFT) as part of their WP application. If they go to SLE, that test will be part of the week's experience.

I think for many, the hardest thing is to pass the medical tests (Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board, or DoDMERB). There are many things that can get kids disqualified.

The real differences between a school like Cornell vs. WP are, IMO

1) the day-to-day experience is military-immersive, (really hard, made hard on purpose to challenge the cadet physically and psychologically)

2) the emphasis at WP is leadership training. Everything is designed to teach a cadet to lead, as their job after WP is to lead the enlisted.

3) unlike civilian colleges, everyone who graduates goes to work for the same company, in a sense. Big Army

4) the experience puts the individual in that 'Band of Brothers' mindset. They talk about their friends as if they are family. They "have each other's backs." And they are all high-performers with team-mentality that are committed to each other. This is special. It's a VERY different experience than my other DD is having at a civilian college.

Hope this helps!

This is pretty spot on.

DC went through the West Point application process. Got the Congressional nomination. But also applied for the four year ROTC scholarship. Got it. Ultimately chose to do ROTC at a top 20 school and withdrew the WP app.

I think people here are really underestimating what it takes to be considered for West Point. The Candidate Fitness Test alone will eliminate about 80 percent of all American 18 year olds. Then the medical tests. Eyesight? Color-blindness for instance. And any kind of serious meds are an automatic disqualifier. Then there's the Congressional nomination process.

It's why the acceptance rates for West Point and Annapolis are so deceptive. There are so many hoops to get through before you can even apply.

Anyone considering really needs to start thinking about it sophomore year. They need to be very fit. And they need leadership positions. Very important. And sophomores are generally not leaders of anything so it needs to be planned. WP - and ROTC - are all about creating leaders. It's why employers tend to like them.

But the whole application process for WP is nothing like a regular college application.

West Point (and the other military academies) is a huge achievement and I would hire their grads over any one else.

at your used car dealership as a sales rep?