Accepted

One year and one month from the day that he opened his application...a large package arrived in the mail. Weeks of anticipation were here when I opened the mail box, but the Son was working so we jumped in the car and drove to his work to open the package and sign the little grey card.

When to apply?

You need to take the ACT early in the fall of Junior year. Note you can take it as many time as you need to and you need the scores in the next phase...the application.

The application process started on 14Dec of our son's Junior year. We had his test scores and class rank. When we opened the application file and applied for the Summer Leadership Seminar.

Christmas & New Years passed and couple of weeks later we got the note from the USMA that he was accepted to the SLS.

The best advise is to open the file early and complete the application VERY Early. July 1st is NOT too early. Boards start meeting to hand out LOAs (letters of assurance).

SLS allow the candidates to complete two very important parts of the application: The interview and the candidate physical fitness assessment. Practice the basketball through before you go.

Shoe & Boot Letter

Ok... we got the boot letter on Monday, March 14th. We ordered the boots and low-quarters thru the PX by phone.

We picked standard low quarters and Bates M-8 Desert Boots Desert Sand. The total for one pair each was $175. We debated if we should be two. Ultimately we decided one pair of each.

copy of the boot letter

Why This Blog

As parents of a Candidate, we wanted to write about our experiences. While much of the work is done by the candidate, there is a lot work, encouragement and calendar watching that needs to be done by the parents.

Summer Leadership Seminar

Our candidate attended the West Point Summer Leadership Seminar.

The best $300 (tuition) plus air fair ($200) that I have spent in a long time.

He had a blast. We put him on the plain Saturday morning and were a little worried but should not have. He later told me that sitting down on the plain was the first time that attending the academy became real to him. USMA met him at the Newark airport. He did call to tell us that he had arrived. But they kept them so busy. We next heard from him three days later.

We drove to WP to pick him up early Friday morning. He came home with dozens of stories.

So You Want to Go to USMA West Point

When to start?...This is harder to say than you think.

You don't just wake up in the middle of your Senior year and decide that you want to go to a service. The application process is long, complicated by design.

Our son expressed interest before his freshman year of high school. After some discussion and research he found admission profile for the incoming (class of 2010?). He printed it out put it up on his bulletin board.

Our attitude was ok...nothing wrong with setting a high goal. This goal affected his clubs sports and leadership positions he participated in and sought:

• Karate
• Scouts
• JROTC
• Cross Country
• Swimming

Plus the academic side of the equation is the most difficult. The USMA does not use your GPA. The use your class rank! So you not only have to take the Honors and AP classes you need to work to have a good class standing.