<p>I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. I’m going to apply for Summer Leaders Seminar for this upcoming summer; however, I’ve been talking with a local Army Reserve recruiter, and she told me that I might have a better chance of being accepted to West Point if I enlist under the split option. This means I could go to basic training this summer after my junior year, BUT I highly doubt I would be able to go to SLS also. Would it be better for me to enlist under the split option or go to SLS???</p>
<p>Hmmmm. My inclination would be to apply as a regular student, especially if you are well qualified as far as grades, medical condition, and ec’s are concerned. If you’re not accepted to West Point you can apply for an ROTC program and become an officer through those channels.</p>
<p>If you arn’t accepted into West Point via the Army Reserves you’re basically stuck.</p>
<p>Just a thought…</p>
<p>Well, if i don’t get accepted to WP then the summer after my senior year I would go to my AIT training, and then start college. The Reserves would pay for a lot of my tuition with the college first program; also, with the SMP program I would be payed as an E-5 during my junior and senior years in college. Combined with ROTC Scholarships, I could basically have a free ride through college. So, I wouldn’t really be stuck; I just wouldn’t be at WP (which has been my dream since forever).</p>
<p>Remember the recuiter told Goldie Hawn she would have a condo on the beach. </p>
<p>Contact the Academy and identify your MALO. Ask the MALO about this process before you sign anything with the recruiter. It is a recruiters job to get you in the ARMY not West Point.</p>
<p>If your scores and everything else is already high, I would not reccomend the basic-> AIT option. However, if you are low on the list, enlisting then asking to go to WP might be a better option. </p>
<p>Enlisting leads to the potential of you not wanting to go to West Point. While this may not be a bad thing, you have to consider that you may also be deployed before you have a chance to go to West Point. I admire your decision to serve the Armed Forces either way!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>you would not be deployed until after graduation if you do an ROTC program.</p></li>
<li><p>enlisting does not indicate to admissions that you are less interested in west point, so i dont know what usma011 is talking about.</p></li>
<li><p>just go to summer seminar, there’s plenty of time to be in the army…have fun with your last free summer.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>the end</p>
<p>Well, what I mean is I would recommend SLS if his desire is to go to West Point. It’s a great program to decide if you really want to attend USMA. If, after SLS, you feel West Point is not for you - you can always enlist and serve your country that way.</p>
<p>If West Point is your dream take as direct a route as possible and put everything else out of your mind until you know the outcome of your application. Like Cadet for 7 says, “there’s plenty of time to be in the army”.</p>
<p>I was in your exact place many moons ago, choosing between SLS and doing split op. I went with split op with the national guard (11B Infantry), and I will never regret it for a few reasons.
- Nothing can help you understand what your soliders will go through as much as going through enlisted basic training, especially at Sand Hill on Ft. Benning. It just gives you an idea of how tough it can be to be a E1 or E2
- If you are in the guard or reserves, you have a guaranteed nomination into USMA, so long as your company commander will write it for you
- As far as I know (and I did not go, so this isnt the greatest indicator), SLS doesnt fare a great deal on your application process. However, if you are in the guard/reserve, you are no longer in the same application pool as most others applying. Rather, you are in the prior service pool, from which, those who are qualified are chosen.</p>
<p>Take my advice with a grain of salt; I did this back in 2000, before the war started and the last time the reserves got activated was WWII. However, even after graduating from USMA, some of the best leadership lessons I learned were at basic training as a private. Those who dont go through it will never understand it, but it changes you in many ways, and that is not a bad thing for someone aspiring to become and officer.</p>
<p>As always, just my two cents…</p>
<p>screaming eagle… didnt you also do a Prep year at NMMI? How did that align with Reserves …Just curious and might help OP.</p>
<p>For the OP, my Sis a current plebe, class of 2010… He did not go to SLS (IAW at the time) did do a prep year at NMMI-sponsored prep. This made me realize the multitude of ways there are to get into WP, I was focused on the HS to prep, no ‘dirty’ sidetracks. Which turned out to be the very best thing for my S at NMMI.</p>
<p>With all of that… check with MALO, Admissions, etc… get all the facts and then check the facts before signing up. IF after really understanding the situation it works for you either the WP route or Reserve/ROTC … then I woudl be proud to have you serving our constitutional government and defending this great citizenry</p>
<p>My plebe this year went through the reserves,11B. He went through basic and came here almost immeadiately after (not even long enough to earn the blue band).</p>
<p>I was in the same situation. The recruiter had the 18X papers out (or, 11B recruiting program as I found out later). I decided not to go through with it and spent the summer at the academies. </p>
<p>Either choice is a good one and you will learn valuable lessons either way. Yes, you will get “joe” experience…but honestly, for how long and how in depth. If you get accepted you will be in the guard for a year. On the other hand…how much will spending a few weeks at the academy tell you about the army, not west point?</p>
<p>six in one, half-dozen in the other.</p>
<p>This is all EXCELLENT advice! After I contact my MALO and talk with him about it, then I will make my decision. Thanks!</p>
<p>It wasnt that big of a deal, I was in the guard so I just did an interstate transfer and stayed in the guard while I was at NMMI and did ROTC. However, my understanding is that NMMI no longer allows service academy preps to contract via ROTC (and thus, get good money and training as an MSIII), so that may no longer be an option. In any event, just going through basic was a most worthwhile experience. Hope that helps</p>
<p>FuzzySlippers: Although going to SLS is not a major factor in the WP admissions process in terms of your whole candidate score, acceptance to SLS usually means that you “have what WP is looking for” based on your pre-candidate questionaire, and indicates that you have a good chance of acceptance. Weigh all of your options carefully and speak to the WP admissions staff in addition to the army recruiters.</p>
<p>APologies. In my post above, I meant ot say I was focused on helping my son go from HS to West Point directly. I didnt realize the benefits of the various prep programs. OSrry for any confusion</p>