I'm a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy so if anyone has any questions...

[fjer]

As the topic title says, I'm a cadet (Plebe) at West Point. If anyone has any questions about admissions or cadet life (at least as far as a first semester Plebe) I'd be happy to try to answer them.

[devin0116]

What are the academic requirements?

[fjer]

This is the profile for the class of 2011:
http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/classprofile.cfm

Strive to beat the averages on that. Work hard to get good grades in your class, and take challenging classes (honors, AP, dual-enrollment college classes, ect); you really need to be in the top 20% of your class. They won't tell you what minimum scores on tests are (your Congressmen will probably have requirements before they nominate you, though). However, they do say that they only look at your highest scores in each category, so take the SAT or ACT soon and often.

It should be noted that if you are a recruited athlete, prior service, or really desirable for some other reason, but are deficient academically, they may send you to the prep school for a year. Going to a school such as the Marion or New Mexico Military Institutes for a year, also acts in a similar way to the prep school.

[fjer]

Oh, and don't forget that academics is only a portion of your entrance consideration, leadership and physical are also very important.

[TruBlu]

Oh, and don't forget that academics is only a portion of your entrance consideration, leadership and physical are also very important.

Oh, I'm really big on wanting to go to the USMA (check my signature lol). I was wondering about the physical portion a lot. I know that you need to be in good condition (no brainer) but I was wondering about how tight it is if you don't have any Varsity sport, or any for that. I have a lot of technology credits and am part of the National Technical Honors Society. Would having classes and being in an organization like that help make up for it in the academic area?

[flyBoy2010]

I've also got that problem. I want to go to the USAF Academy, but I don't have any Varsity sports. I know that for the Air Force, athletics are part of the extracurricular portion which makes up about 20% of the final score. Academics are 60% and the interview is 20%. I'm not sure about West Point, but if you do good on your CFA, and have other activities (JROTC) you should be fine.

[fjer]

The vast majority of people did play a varsity sport in high school, so it could be a problem, but I think your JROTC might cover it. If your school gives a letter for JROTC, then you'll be almost certainly good; my varsity letter was for marching band (which they actually counted as a sport, too; though I had track, so it wasn't a big deal).

As you'll note, I said, "I think" for everything. The only person that can give you a definite answer will be someone involved in the admissions process. I suggest getting in contact with your local (or closest) Association of Graduates. They have admissions reps that will help you through the process, and will know what they are doing.

Look here to find your local West Point Society:
http://www.westpointaog.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=2096

[TruBlu]

The vast majority of people did play a varsity sport in high school, so it could be a problem, but I think your JROTC might cover it. If your school gives a letter for JROTC, then you'll be almost certainly good; my varsity letter was for marching band (which they actually counted as a sport, too; though I had track, so it wasn't a big deal).

As you'll note, I said, "I think" for everything. The only person that can give you a definite answer will be someone involved in the admissions process. I suggest getting in contact with your local (or closest) Association of Graduates. They have admissions reps that will help you through the process, and will know what they are doing.

Look here to find your local West Point Society:
http://www.westpointaog.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=2096

Thanks man, that's a good link. I've located mine and I'll set up a meeting with them some time soon. Very helpful.

[C./Fields]

If your school gives a letter for JROTC...

I was wondering if you knew what the requirements are for getting a letter in JROTC?

[armysc_25b]

I was wondering if you knew what the requirements are for getting a letter in JROTC?
Since your school would give it, I'd assume your administrators would have that answer.

[TruBlu]

I was wondering if you knew what the requirements are for getting a letter in JROTC?

That's all about the school, nothing else. If the school determines that JROTC's drill team, color guard, etc., deserves a Varsity or Junior Varsity designation, then they will be given one. This, at least in my region, does not happen very often. But like said by 25B, check with your administration at the school, or your instructors.

[Drill for life]

To get into most military academies you have to have a lettter of recommendation from a senator or congressman. My friend got in becasue he was in the reserves and was our BNCO and got three letters of recommendation.

[TruBlu]

Now I'm confused. What type of "letter" are we talking about? One that is on a piece of stationary with a signature on it, or one that you wear on your shoulder from a Varsity or Junior Varsity sport/team/whatever?

[armysc_25b]

I believe Drill is the one that is causing the confusion. Yes we were talking about letters worn on jackets of the school's theme, typically customized to the wearer's desire. Not that I would know or anything since my dad bought me a "Letterman's Jacket" as a Christmas gift many moons ago, with the front having the Academic letter I earned (and I later customized with a couple pieces of JROTC insignia) and the back stating "Hometown" JROTC.

[Drill for life]

Sorry guys, I though you meant a different Letter.

[fjer]

Just to clear things up, it's very helpful to have a varsity letter from your school (though not required). Also, you do need nomination from your representative, one of your senators, the VP, your JROTC or ROTC instructor, or another source (you have to be either enlisted or a really good athlete for that).

[TruBlu]

Just to clear things up, it's very helpful to have a varsity letter from your school (though not required). Also, you do need nomination from your representative, one of your senators, the VP, your JROTC or ROTC instructor, or another source (you have to be either enlisted or a really good athlete for that).

For letters of recommendation, is it best to have more than one from different sources? Say I wanted to apply to an academy and got the standard letter of recommendation from my state senator. Should I also pursue a letter from my JROTC instructor, as a past military officer? How about military personnel, especially ones who have graduated from an academy?

[-BuLL-]

Just to clear things up, it's very helpful to have a varsity letter from your school (though not required). Also, you do need nomination from your representative, one of your senators, the VP, your JROTC or ROTC instructor, or another source (you have to be either enlisted or a really good athlete for that).

I was going to add the part about writing a letter to the VP. The only way to get in without out recommendation is luck(or just be that good). My uncle went to West Point without a political nomination. Though he attended the USMAPS first before going to West Point. Maybe it was good at a sport (undefeated all-state wrestler, later undefeated while at West Point). TruBlu, have you checked out the admissions site. www.usma.edu/admissions. Read through all the information they have there and it should provide a all the things you should do, when you should do it, and many other FAQs.

[TruBlu]

I was going to add the part about writing a letter to the VP. The only way to get in without out recommendation is luck(or just be that good). My uncle went to West Point without a political nomination. Though he attended the USMAPS first before going to West Point. Maybe it was good at a sport (undefeated all-state wrestler, later undefeated while at West Point). TruBlu, have you checked out the admissions site. www.usma.edu/admissions. Read through all the information they have there and it should provide a all the things you should do, when you should do it, and many other FAQs.

Yeah I've read through most of the stuff, but I haven't run across anything when it comes to multiple recommendation letters, not just one from a congressman.

[space3math]

You'll definately want to apply to more than one source. Generally getting nominations from senators or congressmen is quite a competitive process in and of itself, so you want to apply to several sources to increase your chances of getting a nomination. You only need to have one nomination, however, and I've never seen anything to suggest that the particular source that yours is from matters, as long as you've got one.

[fjer]

The nomination is basically legal authority for USMA to offer you admissions. You only need one; in fact, since I got a nomination from my Congressman before my Senators selection process took place, they didn't even consider me, because they wanted to offer the opportunity to as many people as possible.

[Shadow811]

hey what kind of things can i do to make sure i get a nomination from a congress person

[Billyd]

Can you smell the irony? Cadet, you may want to fix the disconnect between your post and signature.