In order to be considered by the Association of Graduates for participation in the program, an applicant must meet these criteria:

• Be eligible for admission to the Military Academy the following academic year (see current USMA catalog for requirements as to age, marital status, etc.)

• Have completed a candidate file with the USMA Admissions Office

• Be academically qualified for admission to USMA. (A waiver may be granted by the Director of Admissions in special cases were potential exists for qualification after additional schooling.

• Be medically qualified for admission to USMA

• Have achieved a satisfactory score on the Physical Aptitude Examination (PAE)

• Have demonstrated high potential for leadership

Selection of Candidates for participation in the West Point Preparatory Scholarship Program (WPPSP) begins early in the calendar year, and competition for the limited number of scholarships available is keen.

A candidate interested in participating in the program may apply for a scholarship by writing either:

From the direct applicants and recommended candidates, the Association of Graduates makes its selections. The Program Director writes to each candidate selected, offering a scholarship in the WPPSP. Accompanying the letter of offer will be two enclosures: an Application form and a Confidential Financial Statement.

On the Application form, the candidate is requested to list his/her first, second, and third choice of schools. Candidates who do not have specialized athletic ability normally attend a four-year college or a military junior college. Although the choice of schools must be approved by the Program Director, normally any accredited four-year college is acceptable. Each case is evaluated by the Program Director on an individual basis. Candidates with specialized athletic ability normally attend preparatory schools as post-graduate students.

The Confidential Financial Statement is filled out by the candidate's parents or guardian. It is used to assist the Association of Graduates in determining the amount of the scholarship award.

A candidate who accepts an offer of a scholarship in the WPPSP makes a moral commitment when he or she returns the completed and signed application form to the Association of Graduates.

This statement appears above the candidate's signature on the application form:

"I understand that my signature below signifies my intention to make every effort to gain admission to the Military Academy. I further agree to accept an offer of admission if it is tendered."

The Association of Graduates strongly believes that the candidate must stand behind his signature and that this commitment is morally binding on the candidate. Any candidate who is not absolutely determined to gain admission to West Point should not accept the offer of a scholarship. This important decision should be made before accepting a scholarship offer - not during the year of academic preparation.

Once a candidate has accepted the offer of a scholarship, the Program Director will determine the amount of the financial award. The award is always paid directly to the school, and not to the candidate.

For those candidates who attend colleges rather than preparatory schools, the financial assistance available from the Association of Graduates is limited. Also, matching grants are normally not available from four-year colleges and community colleges. Military Junior Colleges do provide scholarship grants for WPPSP candidates.

When the candidate's choice of college has been approved by the Program Director, it is the candidate's responsibility to arrange for admission to the college, pay the applicable admission fees, arrange for courses, etc. Candidates who plan to attend a college during their preparatory year should bear in mind that applications for many colleges are closed early in the calendar year. Therefore, it behooves the candidate to select one or more colleges and apply for admission as soon as possible. In many cases, candidates will already have been accepted to college before being notified that they are the recipient of a West Point Preparatory Scholarship Program grant.

The Director of Admissions, USMA, routinely assigns an Admissions Officer the task of monitoring the performance of candidates participating in the West Point Preparatory Scholarship Program.

The WPPSP Admissions Officer will review each candidate's file, and recommend those courses that the candidate should take at college or preparatory school in order to best qualify for admission to USMA.

As a guide, each WPPSP candidate attending college or preparatory school is required to take a full year of both English and mathematics. English composition should be taken during the first semester. In mathematics, the candidate should take pre-calculus or calculus, depending on the strength of his/her mathematics background in secondary school.

Each candidate should take at least two additional academic courses. If chemistry or physics was not taken in secondary school, or if the secondary school grades were weak in either course, then the candidate should repeat the course in preparatory school or take freshman chemistry or physics in college. A college level course in American History is also desirable.

Candidates participating in the program must discuss their academic programs with the WPPSP Admissions Officer before signing up for courses.