Why choose West Point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Not questioning it. I'm sorry if that was implied. I know that it's super prestigious, incredibly rigorous (academically and physically), etc.
I'm just curious why people you've known have made this choice. I know very little about it.

Literally the title of this thread is you questioning it. It is not “implied.” Don’t backpedal now, OP. You were stupid to question it. Own it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The military academies have the strongest alumni networks by far. Not even the Ivies can compare.

umm no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the rumours, I used to think that it requires T20 academics like 1500 SAT and that you need to pass the Navy seal level physical test.

I learned that it is very much exaggerated and overhyped.
I guess pro-military folks have spread the rumors.

most sane people would avoid signing up to get shot at so they got to do something to convince others it's worth the risks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why question his decision? Just thank him for his service.

This. Not enough people are willing to serve…

Acceptance rate is fairly low so apparently there are enough people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the rumours, I used to think that it requires T20 academics like 1500 SAT and that you need to pass the Navy seal level physical test.

I learned that it is very much exaggerated and overhyped.
I guess pro-military folks have spread the rumors.

most sane people would avoid signing up to get shot at so they got to do something to convince others it's worth the risks

Going to a top undergrad school for free, plus grad school, med school or law school for free is a pretty good deal. That is appealing to a lot of people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Not questioning it. I'm sorry if that was implied. I know that it's super prestigious, incredibly rigorous (academically and physically), etc.
I'm just curious why people you've known have made this choice. I know very little about it.

Literally the title of this thread is you questioning it. It is not “implied.” Don’t backpedal now, OP. You were stupid to question it. Own it.

To be fair, OP isn’t backpedaling now. They backpedaled more than a year ago. It’s an old thread.

[Anonymous]

Only 25 percent of American 18 year olds are even eligible to join the military. They're mostly too fat, too depressed, and too criminally inclined. When you account for what it takes to get into West Point - smarts, the fitness assessment, character test, a Congressional Nomination, a willingness to serve - it's a pretty impressive group overall. And from I've seen, West Point grads do have an enviable network to plug into when they complete their service. The M7 business schools certainly love them.

[Anonymous]

I'm probably a PP on here but I'm not going back 20 pages! I'm going back to the PP who revived this thread (page 19).

PP, I had ZERO military experience, and my DD decided it was the path for her. She is there now; just finished her plebe year (first year). For summer she's learning to become an emergency first responder, then will train in the field, then is going to learn how to repel out of helicopters.

The application process is like a college application, but then more requirements (physical, medical, leadership, nomination). (The nomination is do-able btw, you don't have to "have an in".)

If you have specific questions, start a new thread and I'll watch for it. LMK the grade your kid is in.

I also suggest you look at serviceacademyforums.com, and the West Point website. In particular, look for "Summer Leadership Experience" or "SLE"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only 25 percent of American 18 year olds are even eligible to join the military. They're mostly too fat, too depressed, and too criminally inclined. When you account for what it takes to get into West Point - smarts, the fitness assessment, character test, a Congressional Nomination, a willingness to serve - it's a pretty impressive group overall. And from I've seen, West Point grads do have an enviable network to plug into when they complete their service. The M7 business schools certainly love them.

I’m surprised anyone wants to join after 20+ years of incompetently fought Middle East wars. But hey if you go to one of the academies now, you might graduate just in time to be killed when the Chinese attack. Yay!

[Anonymous]

There was an excellent letter to the editor the other day about this:

Thank you for Matthew Hennessey’s encouraging story of two young leaders from a small school with appointments to West Point (“From the Western Canon to West Point,” op-ed, May 16). This is only the beginning of their journey. When they both arrive for R-Day (reception day) in July, they will meet 1,200 extraordinary young men and women who have also elected to dedicate themselves to something bigger than themselves.

West Point isn’t the place for shameful protests from the ill-informed. No one takes a knee during the national anthem. When these students graduate, they will be called upon to do the heavy lifting the nation requires and face, with courage and honor, the nation’s biggest challenges.

Frankly, few Americans understand that while much of higher education has lost its way, U.S. service academies are singularly focused on building great leaders and attracting the most talented young men and women in the nation. May it ever be so.

Douglas Doan, USMA ’79
https://www.wsj.com/articles/welcome-to-west-point-where-the-self-comes-second-6424b843?st=0pbbc08tboifgvw&reflink=article_copyURL_share

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not only is it free, they get paid.

It is NOT free. What an idiotic comment and I hear people make it often. If a cadet stays in the academy and receives that degree they are required to serve five year in the military as active duty, they could lose their lives. It most certainly is not free.

[Anonymous]

Somebody re-lit this dumpster fire? Dang

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps he feels called to serve.

This was my first thought too. Sad it took several comments before this was mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only is it free, they get paid.

I
It is NOT free. What an idiotic comment and I hear people make it often. If a cadet stays in the academy and receives that degree they are required to serve five year in the military as active duty, they could lose their lives. It most certainly is not free.

Yes. We all understand that. The point is, they don’t have to cough up hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to college, grad, post grad school or take out a lifetime of student loans. That is extremely valuable to many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only is it free, they get paid.

I
It is NOT free. What an idiotic comment and I hear people make it often. If a cadet stays in the academy and receives that degree they are required to serve five year in the military as active duty, they could lose their lives. It most certainly is not free.

Yes. We all understand that. The point is, they don’t have to cough up hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to college, grad, post grad school or take out a lifetime of student loans. That is extremely valuable to many.

And they get paid. Both as a cadet and they draw a good salary once commissioned as well- with zero dept and low living expenses. This is a great way for kids that don’t have a giant trust fund to get ahead in life