What Does West Point Look For In A Candidate?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What does West Point look for in a candidate? Candidates for West Point are evaluated on

academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential and physical fitness

. All are required to be U.S. citizens and between 17 and 23 years old. West Point cadets must be unmarried, not pregnant, and not under obligation to support any children.

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What looks good on a West Point application?

Be in

good physical and mental health

. Pass a medical exam (DoDMERB) Above average strength, agility, and endurance. A strong performance on the West Point Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)

How can I increase my chances of getting into West Point?

  1. SAT or ACT scores.
  2. Find out your high school class rank.
  3. Provide high school sports participation.
  4. Provide high school extracurricular participation.
  5. Use our CFA calculator to calculate your fitness test score.

How are cadets selected for West Point?


Every candidate must secure a nomination from a congressman, senator or the vice president, or if eligible, secure a service-connected nomination

. Each congressional nominating source has a total of five vacancies at West Point — ideally, at any given time, at least three or four are filled with current cadets.

How hard is it to get nominated for West Point?

West Point is one of the most prestigious Service Academies, with its legacy dating back to the Revolutionary War. Every year, about 10,000 students start the application process and only a little over 1,000 are admitted. In order to be appointed to West Point, you'll need:

Excellent grades

.

What is the hardest military academy to get into?


United States Naval Academy (USNA)

USNA is the most competitive of the service academies in terms of , with only 9% of receiving an acceptance. Applicants must be 17 to 23 years old, unmarried, with no children, and of good character.

How do I prepare for a West Point interview?

Ask yourself questions such as “Why do I want to attend West Point?”; “What do I expect from a West Point education?”; “Is it my first choice?”; “Why am I a good candidate for West Point?”; “Am I prepared for the hard work, sacrifices, rigor, demands and intensity of West Point?” The questioning process will act as …

How strict is West Point?

The West Point requirements are strict, with

only ten percent of applicants making the cut

. To have a chance, you must secure a nomination from your Congressperson, be at the top of your class, and show leadership and determination to succeed.

What is average GPA at West Point?

Average GPA:

3.9

The average GPA at West Point is 3.9. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.9, West Point requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

What GPA is required for West Point?

With a GPA of 3.9, West Point requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

Who gets invited to West Point?


Applicants must be a high school junior (current year), be a US citizen and reach the age of 17 by 1 July during your applying year to West Point

. To apply, complete the West Point Candidate Questionnaire.

How much does West Point pay?

Guaranteed Employment: Every graduate is guaranteed employment with an annual compensation package

starting at about $70,000

and increases tied to promotions.

Where do most West Point graduates go?

Graduation. What's Next? After graduation, you'll

attend a Basic Officer Leader Course

where you'll study general Army operations, planning, and training. Then, you'll study branch-specific material to become competent in the technical aspects of your occupational specialty.

What is the average salary of a West Point graduate?

Outcome & Salary

The average salary of a West Point graduate is

$100,000

; their early-career salary is $83,500 and their mid-career salary is $155,000. This makes their 10-year salary earnings potential $1,000,000 and their 20-year salary earnings potential $2,550,000.

How many students get into West Point each year?

Volume of Applicants Men Total Applicant Files Started 8,919 12,294 Qualified (academically & in physical aptitude) 1,721 2,228 Admitted

918


1,210

Is West Point elite?

The United States Military Academy at West Point is

one of the most elite institutions in the country

. Students, or cadets as they're called at the West Point, receive a full scholarship to the school in exchange for a five-year commitment to the Army after graduation.

What is the most badass military unit?


SEAL Team 6

, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the U.S. military.

What Military Academy is easiest to get into?

The maximum you can score on these tests is 99, but there are distinct minimum score thresholds for each military branch. The Army requires at least 31, the Navy 35, the Marine Corps 35, and the Air Force 31. Hence, by this token, the easiest branch of the military to get into is the

Army or Air Force

.

Which branch has the easiest basic training?

Easiest Boot Camp / Basic Training

What is this? Though boot camp / basic training is considered challenging, yet mandatory, for every branch of the military, the easiest among them would most likely be the

Air Force

.

How long is the West Point interview?

The interview is slated for

30-45 minutes

. Parents are encouraged to meet the interviewer, but the interview should be conducted only with the interviewer and candidate.

What is the average SAT score for West Point?

Reading and Writing 610-700, Math 600-740 (2019–20)

Is there an interview for West Point?

Field Force members are an invaluable when navigating the application process at West Point. Find your Field Force representative today!

All applications must include an interview

. A Field Force representative will contact you to schedule the interview.

How much sleep do West Point cadets get?

During cadet basic training, incoming cadets received

5 hours 40 minutes

of sleep per night.

Can you date at West Point?

Plebes can only date other plebes.

once your in your second year you can date up if you want to

.

What percentage of West Point graduates stay in the military?

At West Point, the proportion of graduates choosing to stay in the military after four years has dropped from more than 80 percent for the classes graduating in the 1980s to

67 percent for the class of 1994

. West Point expects the percentage to be even lower for the class of 1995. At the Naval Academy, Capt.

Who has the highest score at West Point?

Charles Mason Born October 24, 1804 Pompey, New York Died February 25, 1882 (aged 77) Burlington, Iowa Political party Democratic

What are West Point students called?

The school, also known as USMA, West Point and Army, is the oldest of the country's five federal service academies. Students, referred to as

cadets

, are officers in training, and their tuitions are funded by the U.S. Army in return for an active-service duty obligation.

How many applicants get accepted to West Point?

Out of the 12,294 applicants seeking a spot in the West Point Class of 2022, only

4,005

ended up receiving nominations. However, the pool was then sliced in half again as the admissions committee found 2,228 of that group to be “qualified” physically and academically.

Is West Point competitive?

West Point has a 14% acceptance rate and has

extremely competitive admissions standards

. The process for applicants is extensive and demanding as candidates are evaluated based on their academic, physical, and leadership potential.

Is West Point Ivy League?

Its members are

Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University

.

Is getting a letter from West Point good?

Takeaways.

A letter of encouragement does not assure you of admission to West Point but indicates that you are competitive

. If you receive an LOE and fully complete your application and are considered qualified academically, physically, and medically, you have about a 50% chance of admission.

Is West Point free?

The United States Military Academy is a four-year, coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York.

There is no tuition to attend

. Students (Cadets) accepted into West Point are members of the U.S Army, and each Cadet receives an annual salary, room, board, medical and dental care.

Can you leave West Point on the weekends?

1)

No, there are no classes on the weekends/holidays at least for most people

. You get a few days off for Thanksgiving, about 2 weeks for Christmas, about week for Spring Break and at least 2 weeks off in the summer.

What is a green girl at West Point?

Green Girl –

Slang for the issued cadet bed comforter

.

How many years do you serve after West Point?

Your Army Commitment After Graduation

In your junior year at USMA at West Point, you commit to serve as an Officer in the Army after graduation. Your commitment will be at least five years of Active Duty and three years in Army Reserve Component, for a total of

eight years

.

Do West Point cadets outrank enlisted?

As it turns out,

West Point cadets *do* outrank Army noncommissioned officers (NCOs)

.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.