"President Gerald Ford signed Public Law 94-106 on October 7, 1975. One hundred and seventy-three years of tradition were changed in an instant with the stroke of a pen. Women could now apply to West Point. Women throughout the country rejoiced when the announcement was made. Most felt it was long overdue, and all that needed to be done was to have women start applying. In reality, nobody outside the military had any concept of thousands of decisions and the mountain of work that needed to be done. Normally, a student starts the admissions process during the second semester of their junior year of high school. Members of Congress are making decisions on the nominations for the class that enters in July during the late fall. President Ford signed the bill in October, so women who wanted to enter the Academy in the summer of 1976 were far behind in this long and complex process."