If you are ready to change the world through your leadership and vision and have a strong sense of duty, honor and country, then the United States Military Academy at West Point is the place for you. Established by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802, West Point is our nation's first service academy, and for more than 200 years it has helped shape men and women of character into leaders who don't wait for others to change the world, but start to change it from the moment they graduate. Cadets, as the students at West Point are called, are selected from the most successful members of their communities for their outstanding academic, physical, and leadership accomplishments. Every summer this challenging opportunity takes place when valedictorians, team captains, Eagle Scout/Gold Award winners, class presidents, and civic leaders come together for Cadet Basic Training as new cadets to start their 47-month "West Point Experience," which culminates into becoming a part of the "Long Gray Line" of West Point graduates. One of the world's premier schools in leadership excellence, West Point stresses the academic, military, character and physical development of each cadet to best prepare them for the leadership challenges and opportunities in the U.S. Army. The academic curriculum has over 45 Majors and Fields of Study that provides an excellent broadly structured undergraduate curriculum, that balances the physical sciences and engineering with the behavioral and social sciences that is geared towards developing the whole person, and providing a firm foundation for future intellectual growth. The goal is for every graduate to be able to think creatively and clearly and express original ideas on both technological and interpersonal issues. In addition to its formal curriculum, West Point offers its students numerous enrichment opportunities throughout the year that complement and reinforce the learning and development that cadets undergo in traditional academic, military, and physical setting, to include Conferences, Guest Speakers, a Semester Abroad, and Academic Individual Advanced Development ("Internship") that happen during the summer and involve travel to domestic and international locales where, in a real-life setting, cadets apply what they have learned in the classroom, on the playing field, and in training areas. Every cadet at the Academy participates in sports at his/her ability level throughout the academic year. Some compete at the varsity level of intercollegiate athletics, which has 28 NCAA Division I sports, while others are challenged at the intercollegiate club level or in West Point's company athletics program. In addition to sports, there are countless other activates for cadets to enjoy. For instance, there are over 80 academic, diversity, hobby, military, religious, and support clubs available to cadets and many social activities for cadets to attend. There is an on-post movie theater, frequent dances, a golf course, a ski slope, a bowling alley, boat ride, and tailgates. You will never hear a cadet say that he or she is bored. The final accomplishment is not graduation, but a commission into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, fully ready to serve the Nation for five years on active duty followed by three years in the U.S. Army Reserves. West Point graduates have, and will continue to make wonderful contributions to our nation. West Point is indeed a special place.

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