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.