US Military Academy at West Point

Date of visit:  May, 2007
Visited by:  Ms. Diozzi
Website:  http://www.usma.edu/

West Point was founded in 1802 by George Washington as a school for military leaders.  Went co-ed in 1976.  It is in a very scenic location on an inlet of the Hudson River.

Famous alumni include:  Dwight David Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Douglas MacArthur, and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.  (Contrary to popular belief, Colin Powell did not attend West Point – he went to the City University of NY.)  

Admission

West Point does not recruit; there is a 15 member admissions committee.

10,800 apply – 1300 accepted – 900 will graduate (1 in 4 or 5 will drop out)

SAT:  1270 mean (in 2007).

All applicants must pass physical fitness standards, and as is the same for all military service, medically based disabilities will not be accommodated.  If an applicant is taking medication for anything, he or she must be off it for a year prior to applying.

West Point is currently analyzing data on the SAT Writing Test; there could be an update in 2012.

All applicants must be nominated by a congressional representative/senator OR a commanding officer if you are already in the military.

Philosophies of the academy:

The role of a cadet or U.S. serviceperson is to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.  All cadets must commit to academics, athletics, duty, honor and country.  As the admissions representative told us in the information session, "Cadets do not get to choose what wars they fight or whether or not they will fight."  Military academies are not looking for people who believe that enlisting in the regular army is “beneath” them.

Academics:

Required courses:  physics, chemistry, military Constitutional law, political science, philosophy, 3 semesters of English (incl. military professional writing), international relations, and international culture (ex. "History of Iraq").  Development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

30% of professors are civilians by law.

Costs:

West Point is free.  At junior year, you are “admitted to the profession of arms” and then will serve 5 years of active duty for the military. Technically, until then, the first two years at West Point are free from cost or obligation.

Cadet Life

Early rise – 

6:30 a.m. Seniors 

5:45 a.m. Freshmen.  Freshmen plebes must deliver and pick up laundry and empty trash in all dorms prior to breakfast.

6:55 – breakfast formation (at every meal 4000 cadets are served in 8 minutes)

7:35 – classes

11:45 – lunch

12:15 – classes

4-6:00 p.m. – extracurricular activity or sport (required)

6-6:30 – dinner

Homework until lights out

Sports: 

All students must be athletes.

29 Division 1 sports.

All students are required to learn “social sports:” golf & tennis.

All women are required to take a karate self-defense class.

All men are required to take boxing and wrestling.

Must pass regular fitness tests, with differing requirements for women and men.