My son wants to go to West Point

[iluvmytxrgr]

My 9th grader has talked about it before, but he's definitely decided he wants to go to West Point.  I've explained how competitive it is and how hard he will have to work to stand out among every one else.  I think he just needs to hear from people who aren't his mom.  If any of you are graduates or are married to a graduate, I'd love if you can give me some tips or things you wish you'd known to pass onto him.  He's a smart kid.  He runs track and plays on the school golf team.  He's in AP and IB classes at school.  Right now, his grades range from high B's to 99%.  

[baconlettucetomato]

I think he also needs a letter of recommendation from a senator or someone. I have to friends that graduated from WP, one in 2005 and one in 2010. I'll give you their info on Facebook.

He could also look into some of the two year prep academies.

[beans]

He needs to get involved in a major way in anything leadership-type capacity that he can. Obviously get good grades. Its important to get varsity letters for sports (and be in leadership within sports, co captain, captain, etc). He'll definitely need a recommendation from a congressman or senator.

H went to USAFA, if you'd like to talk to him, you can find him on my Facebook.

H says- start early, stay motivated, and keep your grades up the whole time in school. Even after you apply and after you possibly get in. Coordinate early with the congressional staff to get your name on the list, because the interviews come up pretty early. If they give him a prep school spot, take it. Take the SATs early and as many times as you can to improve to where you need to be (if you don't score high the first time, they like to see that you're persistent and improving, that means a lot).

Apparently H knows who you are from my Facebook, so if you talked to him he wouldn't be weirded out (he was like, who is asking this? I was all... tx... well, her name is [first name] and he was like oh [first name last name?] I was like... uhhhh.... yes. thats weird you notice who my friends are)

[crimewatcher]

My H went to USAFA. His advice is to be active in the community. The representatives liked all of his volunteering and involvement in the community. I can ask him for more pointers as well. He loves helping people into the Academy s.

[meltoine]

H's best friend went to USMA. I can get you his info if you want to PM me.

I know that, in addition to good grades, he was captain of the gymnastics team in high school. He will have to have a recommendation from a senator or congressman, so if he can find an activity or internship that would allow him contact with one, so much the better, though i know most people call or write a letter for first contact with their representative.

[iluvmytxrgr]

Our Congressman is a friend of the family. I should be able to work out meetings with him for recommendations. Right now, he runs track and plays on his school golf team. There are only 4 boys on the team, two 9th graders and two eighth graders. Because he's one of the older boys, they've named them co-captains. He should get a letter in golf this year as it's a varsity team.
He chose study hall instead of a club this year. I was fairly ticked. I told him colleges, especially Academies, don't want to see study hall on your transcripts. They want to see you involved in clubs and such. I've talked to his advisory teachers and he'll not have study hall as an option any more. He's actually talking to his Physics teacher about starting a Physics or robotics club. He's really excited about that.
His school is one of the top in the state. It's a prep school, but they only have AP and IB classes. You start high school credit classes in 7th grade. They also require every HS student to have 40 volunteer hours every year. His hours have been from a local rescue I work with, church, The American Legion and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. I've think he's got a good start, he just needs to come out of his shell a bit and put himself out there for leadership roles. I'm hoping I can find him a good mentor to talk to so he can stay motivated. Thanks for all of your help. Beans, I may take you up on speaking to your H. I honestly think the AF Academy may be a better choice for him, based on his personality and interests. He's just from a very proud Army family.

[crimewatcher]

Mar 21, 2013 8:07:25 GMT -5 iluvmytxrgr said:

Our Congressman is a friend of the family. I should be able to work out meetings with him for recommendations. Right now, he runs track and plays on his school golf team. There are only 4 boys on the team, two 9th graders and two eighth graders. Because he's one of the older boys, they've named them co-captains. He should get a letter in golf this year as it's a varsity team.
He chose study hall instead of a club this year. I was fairly ticked. I told him colleges, especially Academies, don't want to see study hall on your transcripts. They want to see you involved in clubs and such. I've talked to his advisory teachers and he'll not have study hall as an option any more. He's actually talking to his Physics teacher about starting a Physics or robotics club. He's really excited about that.
His school is one of the top in the state. It's a prep school, but they only have AP and IB classes. You start high school credit classes in 7th grade. They also require every HS student to have 40 volunteer hours every year. His hours have been from a local rescue I work with, church, The American Legion and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. I've think he's got a good start, he just needs to come out of his shell a bit and put himself out there for leadership roles. I'm hoping I can find him a good mentor to talk to so he can stay motivated. Thanks for all of your help. Beans, I may take you up on speaking to your H. I honestly think the AF Academy may be a better choice for him, based on his personality and interests. He's just from a very proud Army family.

Your son sounds like he goes to our old high school. My Husband took a couple AP classes but the AFA didn't honor the credits. In the end my H liked having the base knowledge when he had to do Physics again.

[prettyinpink]

My BIL went to Kings Point, which I know is a little different but I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you or your son about what it took for him to get in and why he choose to go there, ect. He's now reserves with the Army Corps of Engineers.

[beans]

Mar 21, 2013 8:07:25 GMT -5 iluvmytxrgr said:

Our Congressman is a friend of the family. I should be able to work out meetings with him for recommendations. Right now, he runs track and plays on his school golf team. There are only 4 boys on the team, two 9th graders and two eighth graders. Because he's one of the older boys, they've named them co-captains. He should get a letter in golf this year as it's a varsity team.
He chose study hall instead of a club this year. I was fairly ticked. I told him colleges, especially Academies, don't want to see study hall on your transcripts. They want to see you involved in clubs and such. I've talked to his advisory teachers and he'll not have study hall as an option any more. He's actually talking to his Physics teacher about starting a Physics or robotics club. He's really excited about that.
His school is one of the top in the state. It's a prep school, but they only have AP and IB classes. You start high school credit classes in 7th grade. They also require every HS student to have 40 volunteer hours every year. His hours have been from a local rescue I work with, church, The American Legion and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. I've think he's got a good start, he just needs to come out of his shell a bit and put himself out there for leadership roles. I'm hoping I can find him a good mentor to talk to so he can stay motivated. Thanks for all of your help. Beans, I may take you up on speaking to your H. I honestly think the AF Academy may be a better choice for him, based on his personality and interests. He's just from a very proud Army family.

Sounds like he's got a good start and he'll get where he needs to be. Maybe take him on visits or to talk to different people from different branches that do the sorts of things he is interested in? I mean, you know the drill of talking to all branches so I don't really need to say that... Maybe over the next couple years go on visits? I mean, I am pretty partial to Colorado in general and by extension USAFA... but I hear the Army is cool too 

Good luck to him and you!! you know where to find me/H

[brandienee]

Just ditto to everything that Jilly said.

Especially the Colorado part.

Really, he sounds like he is on a good track. A mentor is an AMAZING idea. I think if you can find him a non-family adult to look up to, he would really come out of that shell.

[sushi]

I know nothing about the academies, although I'm currently close with a couple who went to Annapolis, but those volunteer hours seem low. Way back in the day when I was in high school we had to have over 100 hours to graduate. Our school set the minimum at FL's requirements to get 100% in state scholarship. Satisfying the minimum isn't going to set your kid apart.

Now, as much as I'm opposed to the concept of it counting, church was totally the cheat area. I was in the choir, and we did a musical every year. All our hours in practice and worship apparently counted. Honestly, that was over 200 hours a year. The musical alone was easily 100. I never claimed that much, but I could have. So, if your kid wants to rack up hours, that's a good way of doing it.