The Summer Leaders Experience at West Point

The West Point Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) provides rising high school seniors with a week-long immersion into the academic, military, and social life of a cadet. Our country’s best asset is our people and West Point is trusted to educate, train, and inspire its undergraduate students to become leaders of character who will make an impact on the world stage. At SLE, you will explore West Point from all angles, including our high-tech educational facilities, team building athletic activities, and realistic military training. You will get a taste of Cadet Life through the entire program, which is led by current West Point cadets. You will experience the thrill of victory when you overcome the challenges of our summer program and you will form life-long connections and friendships with your future classmates.

Attendee Benefits:

  • 1-on-1 interview and discussion time with a current West Point cadet.
  • Introduction to our academic curriculum.
  • Optional group discussion with West Point athletics coaches.
  • Small group and individual counseling sessions with the West point Admissions team.
  • Insight into cadet life and West Point culture of leadership.
  • Training and experience in U.S. Army squad, platoon, and company leadership.
  • Cadet Fitness Test training and tips for success.
  • Connect with other top high school scholars, athletes, and leaders from across the nation: your peers and future classmates.
  • West Point SLE Merchandise and training equipment.
  • Certificate of Graduation for West Point Summer Leaders Experience.

 

The SLE 2023 application window opens February 1st, 2023! 

Applicants will be informed of their status by mid-April.

SLE Sessions

  • Session 1: June 3 - 9, 2023
  • Session 2: June 10 - 16, 2023

The cost of attendance is $625 and generous need-based scholarships are available. There is no application fee. Standardized test scores are not required but the ideal applicant has a strong academic background and participates in team sports and other extracurricular activities.  Please note that attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Team Building Experience

You will work together with other top scholars, leaders, and athletes from around the country to overcome complex challenges.  The cornerstone of an effective team is trust and respect; through dialogue, you will harmonize with your team to develop a clear course of action and achieve a unified mission. You will learn how to share honest feedback to resolve conflicts and build trust in the team. 

A drill team leader marches across the field of view with sword in right hand, followed closely by a guidon bearer; in the distance a formation of cadets stands at attention.

Academic Experience

You will have the choice to survey several academic classes from the West Point curriculum.  You will see why West Point is continually ranked among top undergraduate public universities. During our summer program, you can customize your experience by choosing courses from a wide variety of academic disciplines, such as:

Athletics Experience

At the Academy, every cadet is an athlete; SLE will challenge you with military fitness competitions, and highlight the athletics programs offered at West Point.  The Candidate Fitness Assessment is difficult.  During SLE, we will provide you with CFA training and advice, to maximize your athletic potential, culminating when you conduct a Candidate Fitness Assessment. You will take part in athletics forums with sport specific coaches from across the Academy.

Social Experience

Our junior summer program is a taste of life at West Point. The academic, military, and physically demanding journey will form life-long connections and friendship between you and your future classmates.

A group of cadets work together to flip a tractor tire during an fitness training drill.
A group of female West Point cadets wearing dress white uniforms show off their class rings.

Tips for Choosing a College

Choosing a college is one of the most significant decisions you will make as a young adult. It is important to think about what You want for Your Future, because college is your next step to preparing for your life adventure. Your answers to the questions below can inform your college decision:

  • Which college prepares students to make a positive impact?
  • Do your top school choices have a reputation for excellence?
  • Do the other students have similar interests and ambitions?
  • Which schools have a high post-graduation employment rate?
  • What is my plan to pay for my education?

If you are reading this, you are already considering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, so we also ask you to consider these questions when comparing the Academy to your other schools of interest: 

  • Will your education train you to be a leader, so you can make an impact larger than yourself?
  • Will attendance at your chosen college or university earn you the immediate trust and respect of a nation?
  • Do you want to join a lifelong network of civilian and military professionals?

The Long Grey Line is waiting for You to Answer the Call.

Why Attend the West Point Summer Leaders Experience?

We designed our Summer Leaders Experience to provide you a snapshot of our outstanding academic environment, that prepares our graduates to be leaders in their chosen academic disciplines and to make an impact on the world. 

In addition to taking part in our Summer Leaders Experience, we urge you to explore the costs and benefits of all your schools of interest, talk with students and faculty members, and determine the best fit for you.

By applying for the Summer Leaders Experience you are also opening an admissions file at the Academy. Consider joining us at West Point this summer to confirm your interest.

West Point is consistently ranked among the top colleges in the country and is well recognized for consistently producing Rhodes scholars and recipients of Hertz fellowships. Many seniors also are selected for Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Truman, East-West Center, and National Science Foundation fellowships and scholarships. SLE will give you the opportunity to meet some of the brightest scholars, athletes, and leaders from across the nation, your future classmates.

Throughout the program, you will be led by current West Point Cadets who will use the leadership skills they have learned at West Point to plan and lead your SLE program. Every Cadet has a different West Point experience; during your one-on-one Cadet interview and discussion time, they will gladly share their stories and answer your questions about West Point or about the U.S. Army.

Three SLE college summer program attendees conquer the Bellybuster obstacle.

A Diverse and Well-Educated Citizenry

Thomas Jefferson fervently hoped that this nation would be built on the strong foundation of a well-educated citizenry. Today, West Point continues to stand among the best of our nation's colleges. One of our top goals is to educate a more ethnically diverse student body than ever before. West Point, likewise, enrolls a supremely talented, geographically diverse student body from all 50 states and a select group of international students.

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