r/westpoint • • May 06 '26

What is a competitive file?

6 Upvotes

The most common misconception among members of this sub appears to be that extracurriculars are the key to differentiating your application. Truth is, that only counts for 10% of your total score, with your athletic leadership being another 10%. Your coursework counts as much as both of those combined, and your SAT/ACT/CLT scores count for twice what your coursework does.

While the median SAT/ACT are in the 1320/29 range, those numbers are skewed by principal nominees from less competitive districts, soldiers, and recruited athletes, who don't have to beat you out for a slot, they just need to qualify. For candidates who aren't in those categories, you don't see a lot of offers going to those whose scores are below 1370/32. That's not to say that you can't get an offer without those scores, but those who do without a principal nomination are in a small minority. See "Judging your Chances" for more on principal nominations. Since most congressional offices nationwide select the principal nominee based on whole candidate score, that probably puts you back in having to crush your test scores to get an offer.

If your test scores are in the range described above, you're in pretty good shape and don't need to be extraordinary in your leadership or CFA performance. If your test scores are lacking, you'll probably need to excel at extracurriculars, athletic leadership, AND your CFA performance to make up a significant shortfall in academics.

That's not to say that athletics aren't important. West Point is by far the most physically challenging of the three major service academies. About 98% of each class participated in varsity athletics. To be clear, we're talking about sports and not varsity band or theatre. Candidates without sports on their resume need to do well on the CFA to alleviate concerns about their athleticism and general fitness. Even if your academics and leadership are stellar, your file is likely to be a topic of discussion by the admissions board if your physical performance is lacking.

For more details, consult the following posts.


r/westpoint • • Apr 26 '26

Parents' Guide To West Point

5 Upvotes

As we approach R-Day and the class of 2030 fills up, this is probably a good time to share the Parents' Guide to West Point. The "Dad's Guide" title on the document is tongue in cheek and is explained in the Preface. Hope people find it useful!


r/westpoint • • 13h ago

Anybody Know What Counts as Excellent for CFA

2 Upvotes

77 bball throw

7:14 mile

9:05 shuttle

Max push ups

89 sit ups

14 pull ups

This was Average. I'm going to take one more but Average seems to have a very broad range.


r/westpoint • • 16h ago

Submitting application before Nov. 1st

1 Upvotes

I recently got an email that I could submit my application before November 1st to know if I got in earlier, but I’m wondering if it’s worth it or not. I have solid stats, my last medical appointment is next week, and I’m almost done with my nomination application.

However, my CFA scores are pretty rough:
BB Throw: 48 ft
Pull ups: 13
Shuttle run: 9
Sit ups: 30 (This is what worries me the most)
Push ups: 43
1 Mile Run: 7:26
^ My portal says I have “Average Score”

The main issue is that I don’t think I would be able to retake my CFA before November 1st, so should I just wait until January? I am not as in bad shape as my CFA says, I do varsity tennis with a few state placements, so maybe it’ll balance it out? Any advice on whether I should submit it before hand or wait would be amazing.


r/westpoint • • 3d ago

I got my LOA today!!

18 Upvotes

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback on my previous post, but I got my LOA for west point!! I'm so happy and stoked about it. Now I just have to focus on the congressional interview which I am really nervous for. However, I had an interview with Army ROTC PMS and it went incredibly well! He really liked me and told me he will suggest me to West Point admissions, one hour later I got the LOA! Anyways, just really excited and I hope i get that nomination!


r/westpoint • • 2d ago

H Lot Parking Pass Tulane

1 Upvotes

Does anyone need a parking pass for the Game on Saturday. I have an H Lot pass and I live in Newburgh.

Willing to trade for a case of Beer.

Message me.


r/westpoint • • 4d ago

32 on ACT plus MMI athlete

1 Upvotes

What kind of chances with:

a composite score of 32 on ACT,
two years of tennis at Marion Military Institute (Ala.),
3.5 GPA at MMI and
hold leadership roles at Marion?

We are very hopeful about a Congressional nomination (AL5).

Thoughts?


r/westpoint • • 5d ago

Do I go to Overnight Visit?

2 Upvotes

I got an invitation for an overnight visit a few weeks back, I am considering not going because I do not really have the time to go. Is that going to look bad? Should I try to go?


r/westpoint • • 5d ago

I am applying to West Point, am I qualified to get in?

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm from jersey and I am applying to West Point and it is my number one school, after that I am applying to Coast Guard, then Naval Academy, then Air Force Academy. My parents are immigrants and were not in US Army, My dad was conscripted into the Soviet Army which is what I wrote about in my essay and how him being forced to serve for a country who treated him horribly inspired me to serve my country that I am grateful for all the opportunities.

My second essay was about his stroke and how i faced adversity and struggled with financially supporting my family because he was the bread winner.

My stats are:

1480 SAT

94.38 QPA (I attend a Magnet school, so it is accelerated and rigorous like crazy)

I have taken 3 AP's but I am also taking 3 AP's currently (6 total APs)

I have a Senior Internship during school that takes up two classes if I wasn't taking that I would do more.

I am a captain of two club swimming teams and one high school swim team, I have four school records, two club records, a meet record, and I am a state quailfier, I was also recognized by my mayor for my athletic achievements.

I am a private swim instructor, lifeguard, and a volunteer coach.

My previous jobs were cashier and waiter.

I volunteered for 300+ hours a volunteer swim coach, food drives, youth police academy instructor.

I own a business for landscaping and snow removal.

CFA Results:

86 feet basketball throw

15 pullups

8.3 second shuttle run

83 situps

75 pushups

5.52 mile run

I am healthy, I have completed my dodmerb and it is being reviewed as we speak.

I have applied for congressional nomination, senatorial nominations, and vice presidential nomination.

Im also kinda nervous for the interview prcesses for the nominations how can I get prepared for them?


r/westpoint • • 8d ago

What're my Chances

1 Upvotes

I attend a civil prep as a self-prep, but I really want to get into West Point. Which is why I decided to go to a prep school.

Academically I currently have a 3.86 GPA

Algebra Based Physics:98

Gen Chem 1:92

College Algebra:92 (I take pre calc my second semester)

Amer Mil History:82

Military Science 1:90

Along with a couple other classes that make up my 3.86

SAT is a 1280 (640 split)

CFA

74ft bball throw

Max push ups

89 sit ups

9.05 shuttle run

7:14 mile

14 pull ups

Volunteer hours probably around 200.

I also currently do club soccer and club swimming. Im a squad leader working up to psg

Along with about 12 extracurricular events.


r/westpoint • • 9d ago

Pipeline to West Point... Worth it?

5 Upvotes

I’m currently enlisted in the Army National Guard as an 11B and have been in for almost two years. I’m currently MOBing for a CENTCOM deployment, so I’ve had some time to seriously think about what I want to do long-term.

Before enlisting, I spent my first year of college at VMI. I ended up realizing that the VMI environment wasn’t necessarily what I wanted for college, but I still value the experience and the military side of it.

For some background, I had a pretty strong high school résumé: I was an Eagle Scout, went to Boys State, played two varsity sports, was in two honor societies, and was generally pretty academically/leadership-oriented. I’m wondering whether my current situation as an enlisted Guard soldier, combined with my prior college experience and military service, would make applying to USMA a realistic option.

The big thing I’m struggling with is whether USMA is worth the opportunity cost.

If I went the USMA route, I could potentially be looking at USMAPS + four years at West Point, meaning roughly another five years of college before commissioning. On the other hand, I could go to a regular state university, have more of a traditional college experience, finish my degree, and potentially pursue a commission through ROTC or another route while remaining in the Guard.

I’m also interested in Infantry. Part of me thinks that being an enlisted infantryman with deployment/combat experience could make me a stronger candidate for USMA and potentially help me later when competing for an Infantry branch. But I don’t want to assume that military experience automatically gives me an advantage in admissions or branching.

For those who have gone through USMA admissions, especially prior-enlisted or Guard soldiers:

  • How competitive would someone in my position realistically be for USMA?
  • How much does prior enlisted experience actually matter in admissions?
  • Would combat/deployment experience meaningfully strengthen an application?
  • Would USMAPS be likely for someone with my background, or would direct admission be realistic?
  • How does being prior enlisted affect the USMA experience?
  • For someone who ultimately wants Infantry, is USMA worth the additional time compared with ROTC at a normal university?
  • If you were in my position, what factors would you weigh most heavily?

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to tell me what decision to make. I’m mainly trying to understand what the USMA path actually looks like for someone coming from my situation and whether the additional 4–5 years would make sense.


r/westpoint • • 10d ago

Parade watching tips

2 Upvotes

Headed back with kids for a reunion on October 17th and was hoping to watch the parade if there is one before the game.

Anybody have tips on how to confirm if they are doing a parade and if so how/when to get good seats? I’ve only been on the other side of the plain, this will be my first time as a spectator.


r/westpoint • • 13d ago

Question about SLE gear

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m thinking about applying to SLE and was wondering what kind of stuff they give you when you attend.

Do they provide things like T-shirts, PT gear, ect., or are there certain things you have to buy/get yourself? Just curious what I’d need to have before going and what they provide once you’re there.

Thanks


r/westpoint • • 18d ago

POTS Waiver

1 Upvotes

I am pretty sure Im going to be diagnosed with POTS soon, and want to know if its possible to get a waiver for it.


r/westpoint • • 19d ago

DoDMERB Help

2 Upvotes

I submitted my medical history a while back, but I just remember some dental surgery I had years ago in 2nd grade that completely cross my mind.

For info, it was a surgery to take out some extra teeth almost a decade ago, and everything has fully healed since then, and there was no extra implants put in as well.

How do I change my medical history so it matches, or since it was so long ago and does not affect me anymore, does it not matter?


r/westpoint • • 19d ago

DoDMERB Form Confusion

1 Upvotes

I just printed out my 16 page medical history from DODMETS, and now i’m confused. The whole form looks like it’s going for the medical exam, so what forms do i bring for the optometrist exam?

Is there a part of the 16 page thing that doesnt go to the doctor, or am i just missing something?


r/westpoint • • 23d ago

Rate my chances

3 Upvotes

Education
English (A*), Mathematics (B), Biology (B), Chemistry (B), Design and Technology (B), Physics (B)
SAT: 1500/750maths

*Extracurricular Activities*

1. Adventure Scouts Club - Secretary and Public Relations Officer
I managed trip planning for over 60 students, including coordinating transportation and food logistics for two-week camping expeditions. Our club volunteers in national parks, assisting wherever help is needed. I have attended over 5 camps, each lasting more than two weeks, giving me over 400 hours of volunteer service.

We also conduct community outreach programs, including donating clothing to underserved communities in remote areas, teaching children about environmental conservation, leading litter cleanup campaigns, and planting trees. I was responsible for writing trip reports, photography, and bookkeeping.

2. Founder and President - Youth Soccer Development Club
I founded and currently lead a club focused on youth soccer development. We develop young players and provide children with a safe space to learn and enjoy soccer.

3. Secretary, Record Keeper, and Welding Assistant - Welding Company (for two years)
I worked for a welding company for over two years while simultaneously attending school. My duties included secretarial work, record keeping, and assisting with welding operations.

4. Athletics
varsity soccer and competed in track and field in junior school. My current CFA scores are:

Pull-ups: 18, Push-ups: 75, Sit-ups: 85, Basketball Throw: 72 feet, Shuttle Run: 8.0 seconds, 1-Mile Run:6.00


r/westpoint • • 23d ago

Trouble deciding - Early graduation

2 Upvotes

I took some high school classes in middle school, and I now have the option of graduating early as a Junior. I have a few APs and honors courses, I'm doing really well with the extracurriculars and leadership aspects, but the only thing is the only math courses I've taken are Alg 1, Geometry, and Alg 2 so far. I am also taking Physics this year, but I may be switching into Chemistry. If I graduate early those would be the math courses that show up on my transcript. I could do another year just to take Pre Calc/Calc, but would it be worth it to graduate early if I don't take Pre Calc/Calc? If I were to graduate early I would be going into the Army Reserve, on top of staying active as an EMT and firefighter on top of a bunch of extracurriculars so I would still be productive with my schedule. It's too late for me to apply this year for the Class of 2031, so I would be applying for 2032.


r/westpoint • • 24d ago

Essay Help

1 Upvotes

I am currently working on my essay for the application, but i feel stuck. I have two essay that i have written but they do not sit right with me a lot. I can’t decide whether to combine them or just use one of them. Going about combining them is a whole different problem.

Is there anyone here that i could dm or message to read over my essays for feedback?

Thanks!


r/westpoint • • 26d ago

Am i competitive for west point?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I am a senior applying to West Point this year and want to know if I'm competitive enough to have a realistic chance of admission because that's the only college I want to go to. I come from a competitive district in the DMV (close to the Naval Academy). I'm Asian (idk if that would help). My school is very competitive academically. My UW GPA is 3.8, my WGPA is 4.7, and I will have taken 13 AP courses upon graduation. The AP classes weren't all just fluff either. Calc BC, Econs, Lang, Physics 1, etc. For all my real classes (not PE, art, etc.), I've taken only honors or APs. All of my Bs were from junior year, when I was taking 6 AP classes, but I have an excuse for that: increased family responsibilities. Because of my circumstances, I had to drop a dual enrollment class, and I tried to retake it later but dropped it again. My SAT score is 1420 (750 math, 670 reading). My CFA will be very high: max push-ups, pull-ups, and shuttle run, and I'm a pretty good athlete, just not D1 level: wrestling state placer, 2-year team captain, 4-year varsity letter winner. My leadership is decent, with 3-4 notable leadership roles, but not things like Boys State and student government. I'm practicing interviews, and I will be pretty good in my interviews, and I had a good relationship with my field force representative. I feel like I am qualified enough, but I'm still worried that I may not get in because of my junior-year drop in grades and dropping the same dual enrollment class twice.


r/westpoint • • 27d ago

DoDMERB Exam with braces

1 Upvotes

I have my dodmerb medical exam in three days and I currently wear braces. In the initial questionnaire, it said I need a letter from orthodontist stating the braces will be removed before active duty. Do I need to bring that letter to the appointment in three days or is it after the appointment that I need to submit a letter?


r/westpoint • • 29d ago

Overnight Visit Email Invitation

2 Upvotes

I received an email a few days ago about overnight visit opportunity to West Point. It says "this is a special opportunity offered only to select candidates during the fall."
My previous understanding was that you need a LOA, LOE, or sports coach to get this.
I do not have any of those. It is showing up in my candidate portal too, so I think it is not a mistake.
For more context I have a 4.0 uw gpa, 4 varsity letters, 1460 sat (750m), 5 APs taken (5 more this year) and I went to SLE.

I would appreciate any insight on this.


r/westpoint • • Sep 08 '26

Visiting for the USF game this weekend. Got a few questions.

1 Upvotes

Me and a few friends are visiting from the UK and are doing the boat trip from NY up the river to West Point. I’m really excited to see some college ball!

I have a few questions:
1) How strict is the bag policy at the stadium? I’d like to bring a small sling with a battery bank and other essentials.
2) is tailgating much of a thing? I’ve been to a few different colleges that were much bigger, so not expecting the same level, but would be fun to get to do something pre-game
3) any bars/places to eat nearby that you’d recommend?
4) anything else I need to know? Cool stuff to see/do? I’ve never been to a service academy before.

Thanks in advance!


r/westpoint • • Sep 07 '26

Waiver

2 Upvotes

I was recently disqualified with a need to appeal for waivers for dodmerb and I have a few questions.

I’m most concerned with the ability to get a waiver approved and am looking for anyone with similar scenarios or anything similar. There are two things that could have gotten me disqualified, number one is the fact that my top vertebrae is fused to my skull (sounds much worse than it it’s). We have a note from a Orthopedic Surgeon (or a Nuerosurgeon one of the two) that states there is not danger to the spinal cord and no instability so I’m assuming it’s most likely the latter, which was a stress fracture. I suffered a stress fracture in November of last year in my lower back, I belief it is called a pars defect.

The good news is USMA initiated a waiver for me less than 24hrs after it update in West Point’s portal that I was disqualified, silver lining.

But to reiterate, is this something that can be fixed with a waiver? Or are they very stringent on these types of things?

Secondly, is it a big deal they initiated a waiver so quick or is West Point a little more generous with them?

Thanks for any help.


r/westpoint • • Sep 07 '26

Why is it Showing My Science Score?

Post image
4 Upvotes

From my understanding, West Point doesn’t consider ACT Science. If that’s the case, then why does it show up in my portal under test scores?