Women at West Point

wpmom2011
Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:44:15 +0000

11bakjoe,

You’ve asked a lot of questions that whole books can be written on. I’ll summarize briefly what I know for you.

How are women treated at WP? As far as I can tell from my plebe’s stories, no better or worse than the guys - usually. At least she has never complained that she’s been singled out. She has always gotten along well with the males in her life and on her sports teams, and it’s been no different at WP. Keep in mind that there are always some guys that do stupid things - even at WP.

What is the first day like? Pretty bad for both females and males alike. Long, stressful and when I finally found a picture of my new cadet at the end of that first day, she looked extremely tired, miserable and stressed. But I’m her mother, and I know all her expressions. Her response when I asked was something like she really didn’t want to remember it. Enough said.

What about Beast? Intense, miserable, hard, brutal at times, etc. For both males and females. But she, and the other new cadets, got through it and built deep relationships along the way. My d hated learning the knowledge, the hills, the blisters, the uniform factory. Loved taking apart her M-16, the rappelling, shooting, Camp Buckner. In her case, she told me that she couldn’t have made it through all the rucks if the guys in her squad hadn’t helped her (and the other girls). There is a strong “cooperate and graduate” mentality. Just don’t whine or complain.

What is daily life like? Look back through some of the other threads and you’ll get an idea. My d is now taking 20.5 credit hours, so she’s always busy with something. I believe her day starts around 5:30 or 6 am. Breakfast, then classes, then sports/practice around 4:00 pm or so, dinner, duties, studying. Sounds grueling, and it is, but she’s also had fun and experiences she wouldn’t get anywhere else. As with everything, you get out of it what you put in to it.

How hard is it to get in? If you are qualified, it isn’t hard at all, (I say tongue in cheek). The catch is: You need to be a well-rounded candidate. High GPA and test scores, involved in athletics and extra-curricular activities, have been in leadership positions and be highly motivated to go into the military. It’s not an easy process. Multiple forms, essays, physical and eye exam, and multiple interviews, and then if you receive an appointment they send you a book of instructions of more stuff you have to do. It takes a determined young person to jump through all the hoops that are required.

Are you thinking of the military for a career? If you aren’t, then WP probably isn’t a good fit for you. What grade are you in?

If you have any specific questions, you can PM me.