enjoylife

Thank you, O2B@C. He was happy that he passed it because he thought he didn't do too well and thought he could have done a lot better.

I can't wait to hear what you daughter thought of the whole experience.

O2B@C

I know that my D didn't pass the CFA, but she wasn't expecting to. She did tell me today that the interview with her squad leader went well. He asked her about grades, SAT & ACT scores, leadership positions and athletics/sports and based on what she told him and his review/impression of her attitude, teamwork, etc at SLS he told her that he was recommending her. That made me happy and proud.

I guess this explains when I was passing the phone to her Dad at 9:54 PM Thursday evening she said that she had exactly 6 minutes to finish up the conversation and get inside her room! I guess she can follow orders - now if it only worked at home! : )

Derek08

When I was at SLS last summer, I received an autographed book from the instructor of the leadership class.

It turns out it is the book West Point sent us a few weeks ago that must be read prior to R-day next week, "In Search of Ethics." Is this the one she received? If so, she may as well read it now!

I read some of it last summer, but am finishing it up now. One more week!

O2B@C

Derek08,
My D is still back east visiting relatives, but I will ask her about the the book title.

Did you know right after SLS that West Point was for you, or did you still need time to decide? I'm guessing that you kept in touch with SLS friends; did most of them end up applying to WP?

Best wishes to you as you enjoy this final week at home before you travel east to begin your 47 months at West Point. Take care and stay healthy!

Derek08

I did the summer programs at WP, Naval Academy and AFA and preferred WP to the others. WP was very structured and organized, and the history was incredible, the place was just beautiful and reallly blew me away. The two other academies' summer programs were very laid back (compared to WP) and I knew while I was there that I definitely didn't want to apply to them. Naval Academy was HUGE too. I just didn't care for either of them. I felt very confortable at WP, and knew I'd apply there, but I definitely didn't like the humidity. I'd never experienced anything like that before and hated it, but I'm ganna suck it up and deal with it.

My group of friends from SLS kept in touch via facebook and my space. Someone started an SLS 2007 page and we all communicated via that. And you'll be glad to know that everyone I kept in touch with that applied got an appointment :-)

I'm leaving tonight for the east coast. We're ganna spend a few days getting used to the time change and humidity and sight see a little before Monday.

Good luck to your daughter!

O2B@C

Derek08,

Thanks for the information. It was good to hear that all your pals from SLS that applied received appointments. I appreciate you taking the time share your thoughts about SLS and post-SLS as I imagine you're busy preparing to leave.

Best of luck with Beast and beyond, and we will all hope for low humidity this summer!

Take care and Godspeed.

enjoylife

Good luck, Derek08! My S described West Point exactly the way you did, loved everything about it except the humidity. He pretty much decided that this is where he wants to go and only applying to a few other schools just to make us happy. We are beginning to worry that we may have a long road ahead of us.

O2B@C

Hi Enjoylife,
Glad to hear that your son had a great time at SLS and has made the decision to apply. My D arrives from NJ tomorrow along with her grandmother, who will visit with us for about a week.

I still really haven't heard many details from D about her experiences. She says that she wants to wait until after she gets home to tell us about it. Although it sounds like her first day back will be spent catching up with her friends and not with us, but I'm okay with that (really).

She did say her squad was amazing and became very tight. She said that the cadets were 'chill' and didn't yell if someone messed up. They didn't tolerate kids snickering or making comments under their breath about other kids'abilities - which is good to hear. She said the dining hall was huge and since the tables sat only 10 people that 4 members of her squad would have to sit at other tables (there was always a cadet at the head of the table).

She also said that there were conversations among the kids curious about why they were selected for SLS. I think they concluded it was strong grades. She also said just about everyone was involved in sports (lots of football players) and many kids were / will be team captain.

She said the cadet store was just like a department store (is it a PX?) She said it even sold Dooney & Burke handbags.

I'm really looking foward to having her home and hearing about her week.