Posted on Aug 14, 2019
SGT Cavalry Scout
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Has anyone here gone to the USMA after being an enlisted Soldier? I am eligible for the Soldier Admissions Program and have a pretty good shot at gaining admission. My main concern is that I will have to restart college as a freshman/plebe after I already completed two full years of engineering coursework with a 4.0. Is it worth restarting my whole college process to go through the academy, or am I better off commissioning through ROTC? Thanks in advance.
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LTC Kevin B.
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Bottom line up front....think about where you want to be at 40 years old. Does the USMA better help you attain your long-term goals than going the ROTC route? Only you can answer that question. Your short-term decision-making should help you attain your long-term goals.

If you have goals of pursuing a military career and obtaining a high-quality graduate education, USMA seems like a great option. Life is a marathon; in the bigger scheme of things, two years is a blip. If these are goals you're considering, and attending West Point intrigues you, I wouldn't let repeating the prior coursework be an obstacle. At a minimum, the prior coursework will give you a leg up on attaining a very high GPA at the USMA, thereby making you more competitive (both while in the cadet ranks and when seeking the career path you want upon graduation). Plus, the pedigree of the USMA degree can set you up well for attaining admission into a graduate degree at yet another prestigious institution down the road.

If you have no/little desire to make the military a career, and/or to attend an elite institution to obtain a graduate education, then the USMA pathway may not be as valuable to you. That completely changes the calculus in the decision-making.

Whichever way you go, best wishes to you.
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SGT Cavalry Scout
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Thanks a lot, this is very helpful. Best wishes.
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SSG Michael Johnston
SSG Michael Johnston
>1 y
I "second" the Colonel's perspective.
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SGT Cavalry Scout
SGT (Join to see)
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LTC Broom, thank you for guiding me to making the right decision. I have accepted an appointment with the United States Military Academy Class of 2024! Best wishes.
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LTC Kevin B.
LTC Kevin B.
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SGT (Join to see) - Congratulations! Best wishes to you at West Point. You have seized upon a wonderful pathway for your future!
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CPT Lawrence Cable
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OK, so I am clear, you will be starting your Junior year in an Engineering School and you are current Army National Guard? If you were just starting college, I would say West Point, one of the best free educations available and a very, very good network. However, in you case, if it were me, I would go ROTC since you are exempt from the first two years, do the Guard SMP while I was in ROTC and Commission after your Senior Year. The only downside with ROTC is that only the top students get active duty, if that is your goal.
BTW, 4.0 in Engineering! I am very impressed.
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SGT Cavalry Scout
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Thanks a lot for the input CPT Cable, I appreciate it. Best wishes.
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SGT Cavalry Scout
SGT (Join to see)
5 y
CPT Cable, thank you for guiding me to making the right decision. I have accepted an appointment with the United States Military Academy Class of 2024! Best wishes.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
5 y
SGT (Join to see) - Good luck, soldier. I'm told that the Pleb year is a real pain, but so was OCS. Hang with it and remember what it was like to be enlisted when you make General :^).
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SSG Michael Johnston
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Hi Jack,
That's a valid question and this is my perspective. It sounds like you've already done some thought regarding your eligibility/competitiveness for the Academy, and you seem "intrigued" by the opportunity (or I don't think you'd have reached out with your question). I think your curiosity... is very valid and I don't presume to tell anyone what they should or should not do... but in my humble opinion... I think you should proceed with the application process. Yes, logic tells "us" that repetition is unconscionable... but in this case... I wouldn't consider this opportunity as restarting. You have the opportunity to become a part of the (I'm going to butcher it, so all of you "ring-knockers" please correct) "Long Grey Line". My understanding is that this is an extremely prestigious lineage and network, something that ivy leaguers pay 100s of thousands of dollars for. So you might be a plebe... you've already experienced basic training, right? You've already experienced your MOS school, right? So being a freshman, plebe, etc. is no big thing!
In full disclosure... I'm a bit bias in my offerings, lol. Choosing between the Academy and ROTC (no offense to your ROTC Battalion), it's a no-brainer - West Point, all the way! If I were in your chain-of-command... I would 100% advise you to attend the Academy.
Apologies for the long-winded advice. I wish you all the best and know you'll have amazing accomplishments!

Best,
Mike Johnston
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SSG Michael Johnston
SSG Michael Johnston
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I wish you only the very best and am always available as a resource/sounding board. V/r Mike
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
Totally agree with My ke! A degree from West Point opens a LOT of doors for you. Ultimately the decision is yours. Good luck in your academic endeavors!
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SGT Cavalry Scout
SGT (Join to see)
5 y
SSG Johnston, thank you for guiding me to making the right decision. I have accepted an appointment with the United States Military Academy Class of 2024! Best wishes.
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SSG Michael Johnston
SSG Michael Johnston
5 y
That’s fantastic news! Congratulations! Wishing you all the best!
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