APPLICATIONS
"WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN"
In the applications, they tell you not to send more than three letters of recommendation. Think about this.
What can it hurt to send in five? Think very rationally about who you ask for letters. I had a math
teacher who I figured would write nothing but good things about me and he ripped me up. You don't want
to send a letter to West Point that says that you "would be a better student if you focused more." Don't be
afraid to ask what your recommendations will say. You'll keep yourself out of trouble that way. If you have
teachers who are retired service members, see if you can get letters from them. Letters from prior service members
go a long way. If you're in the service now, have your Drill Sergeants or other superiors write letters for you.
Definitely have your Company Commander write you a letter. I asked my CO in basic training to write me a letter of
recommendation. The letter he wrote could have gotten me into West Point single-handedly.