| West Point is looking for well rounded | | | | that involves "making time" but the |
| young men and women who are good | | | | point is that you demonstrate balance in |
| students, good athletes, and good | | | | your accomplishments. |
| leaders. The balance is very important | | | | Enlisting in the Army or National Guard |
| as it demonstrates that the candidate | | | | is certainly a viable alternative path |
| can achieve success in multiple areas. | | | | to West Point. It is also, I will note, |
| While that balance is important, not | | | | a path less often taken and there is |
| every candidate is equally balanced. | | | | much less competition in the military |
| Some are stronger in some areas than | | | | admissions category. |
| others. The point is that if you are | | | | If you are concerned about athletic |
| weak in an area, to be competitive you | | | | participation (not to be confused with |
| need to make up for that weakness | | | | your athletic capabilities) and you are |
| somewhere else, or work to reduce that | | | | SERIOUS about getting in to West Point, |
| weakness. | | | | this is an excellent path. |
| In your case I would suggest that some | | | | If you enlisted in the National Guard, |
| level of participation in sports and | | | | for example, and completed basic |
| activities would certainly help your | | | | training next summer, you can apply to |
| ability to compete. It is definitely NOT | | | | West Point and be treated in an entirely |
| too late, but you need to act sooner | | | | different category. You will have to |
| than later. Find a winter sport and | | | | demonstrate leadership and athletic |
| spring sport to participate in. Join | | | | ability to get good recommendations from |
| school clubs; participate in church | | | | your military chain of command, but this |
| activities; get that job and show that | | | | may be an excellent option for you. |
| you can achieve in school while holding | | | | The question is not what percentage of |
| down a part-time job. | | | | enlisted members gets in to West Point, |
| Again, gaining a better balance in the | | | | but rather what percentage of an |
| three areas will go a long way towards | | | | incoming West Point class comes from the |
| making you a competitive candidate. | | | | enlisted ranks. The answer is that about |
| You should take the toughest course load | | | | 200 soldiers from the Prep School, Army |
| you can handle. Do well and that will | | | | and National Guard are admitted in each |
| put you in the most competitive | | | | class. That, today, represents about 15% |
| position. The issue of "credit" for | | | | of the incoming class. |
| college courses at West Point is often a | | | | I certainly know of who you are talking |
| point of confusion. You will certainly | | | | about he is a legend in the Army. Being |
| get "credit" in the sense that success | | | | related to such a figure will reinforce |
| in college level courses certainly helps | | | | your admission in that your motivation |
| your academic evaluation. | | | | to attend West Point will be more |
| That doesn't mean, though, that your | | | | clearly understood. You still need to |
| course load at West Point will be | | | | be fully qualified academically, |
| diminished. It's a 47 month program for | | | | medically and physically, but it |
| everyone with a prescribed 32 course | | | | certainly doesn't hurt to be related to |
| "core" curriculum plus 10 to 14 courses | | | | him. |
| for your major. If you have taken a | | | | Keep at it, you might get in and you |
| college level course, you won't have to | | | | might not. Check out your Army and |
| repeated it, but you will have to take | | | | National Guard options and consider them |
| either a more advanced version of the | | | | seriously. I would also contact your |
| course or a different course. | | | | Admissions Commander at West Point and |
| Holding down a job while doing well in | | | | discuss all this directly with him. That |
| everything else certainly helps in your | | | | way you will know ahead of time what you |
| leadership evaluation, so don't hesitate | | | | might be able to do if you there is |
| to proceed in that direction. In a sense | | | | something that you do not have or need. |