United States Military Academy at West Point
Reviews

Diversity

It is a pretty diverse group of students. Also, there are international students from all across the globe who choose to study at USMA for diplomatic reasons - some of the most fascinating individuals you will meet.

Issued Computers

Dell computers are prevalent throughout campus. They get the work done but crash frequently.

Not a Whole Lot.

Drugs here are virtually non-existent. You rarely find the occasional Cadet who claims to smoke or use illegal substances but they usually disappear pretty quickly. Rooms are searched and inspections are executed. If you are caught with any illegal substance you are done. Plus, the people here aren't into that. The goals that the Corps of Cadets has is much higher and 99% aren't going to let drugs get in the way of their success.

Very Strict on Drugs

West Point consistently tests its student body for illegal substances and often conducts room searches for any contraband. This is very invasive, but it does accomplish drug safety, just perhaps not in the best way.

Good Performance

Lots of sports and clubs. Forced attendance is usually the choice for football games though.

Barracks

clean (most of the time), cramped, not enough room

Would I Do It All Over Again

This place sucks, but it is worth the suck. Work hard for 4 years and reap the benefits for the next 40 years...or go to another college, party for 4 years then play catch-up the next 40 years

Great Support

Great facilities and support, but don't always win. Teachers bend over backwards to help athletes.

Safest

Military Police and local safety ensure WP is one of the safest places to be.

Good but Not Perfect.

Found out after the fact that there was a deposit for enrollment, but full tuition, room and board, and stipend covers everything pretty well.

Ethnic Diversity

Cadets come from all over the United States and all over the world. People come with different viewpoints and different perspectives. There is a lot of variety here.

Housing Process

Everyone lives on campus so it is easy to contact people and go to classes. Everything is nearby so you don't ahve to walk far.

There Is None

Being a military school, there is no party scene, no soroties, no frat houses, no greek life on campus. We live in dormitories with men and women on separate floors if at all possible and doors must always be open.

There are hardly any drugs at all....

There are hardly any drugs at all. Most people have worked too hard to get here to get tossed out for a high.

West Point has a very interesting...

West Point has a very interesting leadership development model. Cadets gain hands-on leadership experience by leading other cadets. Cows and firsties (juniors and seniors) are responsible for instructing yearlings and plebes (sophomores and freshmen). Officers are responsible for mentoring upperclass cadets and ensuring that standards are met.

At West Point, everyone has a...

At West Point, everyone has a vested interest in your success. In a few years, cadets will be in the Army, working with their instructors, so the majority of the instructors want to make sure that they are prepared for the challenges of Army officership.

Many colleges look for high school...

Many colleges look for high school students with good grades, but West Point looks for young men and women who will make good Army officers. You should be intelligent, have good athletic skills, and get along with people. You should also demonstrate your leadership ability. They call it the ‘whole person’ concept here.

At West Point, you get the worst...

At West Point, you get the worst of both worlds. The summers are extremely hot, and the winters are very cold.

The winters are cold and brutal....

The winters are cold and brutal. There are times when you look outside and get depressed, but the melancholy winters are what make the summers that much better.

As a cadet, you are conditioned to...

As a cadet, you are conditioned to do routine things routinely. Everyday is like Groundhog Day. The schedules are very predictable, so it is very easy to establish a pattern. You learn to work smarter, not harder.

Everything is regimented here....

Everything is regimented here. Every day, you have a predictable schedule; you are told where to be, what time to be there, and what uniform to be in. If you can get that right, you are more than halfway there.

This really depends on your chain...

This really depends on your chain of command. Some companies have a reputation for being very hard-core, while others have a reputation for being laid-back.

Drugs are not a concern...

Drugs are not a concern whatsoever. The closest thing to drugs is tobacco. After Buckner, you start to see some cadets start to dip.

A lot of the cadets at West Point...

A lot of the cadets at West Point take Creatine, as well as other supplemental drugs. Every now and then, you will hear about a cadet who took ripped fuel or an acidic supplement and pissed hot because of the supplement.

Throughout the summer and academic...

Throughout the summer and academic year, you have random urinalyses. You also have random health and welfare inspections. The bottom line is that if you do drugs, you will get caught. Every now and then, you hear about someone who smoked pot while on leave, or went to a party where there were drugs, and tests positive. But this rarely happens. If you either test positive or they find drugs, you automatically get the boot.