So your dream is to become a West Point cadet, but do you fully understand what you are getting yourself into? Don’t become another statistic by dropping out halfway through the semester because it turns out it’s not what you expected.

The most famous West Point internet personality is John T. Reed, who ranks among the top real estate gurus along with Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad) and Russ Whitney. After his graduation from the United States Military Academy and years of service in the US Army, John now says a bold No to the question of “Should you go to, or stay at, West Point?” Is this blasphemy? I don’t think so.

In his article, John T. Reed stops short of bashing his alma mater and does a good job of clearing up the public’s misunderstanding about West Point. His editorial is lengthy enough that he could publish another book on the subject with that webpage alone, but I recommend that you take the time to read through it because the old man speaks from his life experiences in retrospect. The following are some of John’s points relevant to this article.

• My favorite quote from John’s article is “Do not go [to West Point] to see if you like it. It is not designed to be liked.” You will feel good about serving your country and being trained as a leader, but you will not enjoy your time at West Point unless you are a masochist. I knew someone at West Point who was eager for the hazing and other challenges starting from day one, but he was an anomaly.
• War and casualties are real. Just watch CNN for 30 minutes and you’ll hear a report about today’s killed soldiers in Iraq, officers included. Are you ready to sacrifice your own life for the people of your country?
• Accepting an appointment to West Point instantly draws a line through 12 years of your life: 4 years at the Academy, 5 years active duty, and 3 years in the reserves. During your junior year, you’ll be asked to sign a commitment to the mandatory years of service, while financial and legal penalties are pending upon breach of the contract. John T. Reed calls West Point’s commitment the only modern-day example of “indentured servitude.” Carefully ask yourself this question: Do these 12 years feel the least bit like a hassle to you?
• If you’ve grown up in a civilian family, you probably do not know jack about the Army, much less West Point. The military has an entirely different culture which can seem alien to someone who has never been exposed to it. Make it a priority to attend the Summer Leadership Seminar so that you get a feel for the institution and its values.
• You may be planning on serving the minimum required years in the US Army after graduation from the Point and landing a posh civilian job. But being a West Point graduate is not as big of a deal as you may think — ultimately, it is who you are and your school does not make you. USMA graduates land high-paying jobs because of their own potential caliber rather than their diploma, and they could have done the same graduating from a civilian school. Is West Point worth your time and efforts if you’re not looking for a military career?
• West Point offers a good education, but it is nowhere near the quality of education at civilian schools like Dartmouth or UC Berkeley. For one thing, the style of teaching is more along the lines of inculcation while critical thinking is limited, especially since undergraduate research is weak because there is no research done among the faculty. And if what you’re looking for is a free education sponsored by US tax dollars, you have the wrong outlook for a future career in the US Army and there are alternative routes to obtaining scholarships that would benefit you more in the long run.

These are just several points to consider before you decide to apply to USMA — or any service academy for that matter. You know your mindset is right for West Point if none of the above affect your determination to go. Your gut feeling will tell you what you want for yourself.

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