<p>BLKnightMulan, I am the parent of a current AOG cadet at Marion. I can understand where your parents are coming from. I did not want my son to go to Marion, or any other prep school. If he wasn't good enough for West Point right out of high school, why in the world should he waste a year at a prep school with a non-guaranteed spot? Why should he repeat classes he ahd already taken? He had a full scholarhip to Big State U, was in the Honors program and an Honors Dorm. Why in the world should he go to a prep school in rural Alabama or rural New Mexico?</p>
<p>Because that is what he wanted. His dream wasn't to go to Big State U, it was to go to West Point. It didn't matter to him that there wasn't a guaranteed spot at West Point. He was willing to take the risk. As a parent, I don't like risks when it comes to my kids. I like sure things. Your parents are probably thinking the same thing. It is great when parents care. There is nothing more important to me than my kids and you are probably equally important to your parents. So don't be down on your parents. I am sure they mean well.</p>
<p>One of the hardest things we have to do as parents is let go. It is really tough. At some point last year I came to the realization that my son's goals for himself were different than mine. His dream was different than mine. I couldn't orchestrate my son's life. I came to understand it was ok for him to take a risk if it meant pursuing his dream, and I let go. That doesn't mean I don't still ride him about grades and take an interest in what he is doing, because I do. But the time came to let him decide what to do with his life, including his choice of schools.</p>
<p>The risk my son took in going to Marion paid off and in February he received his appointment to West Point. I am very proud of him. If I were you I would sit down with your parents and tell that what your dreams are, what your goals are and the ways you think you can achieve your dreams and goals. Tell them the process you went through in setting your goals. Ask for their advice, and more importantly ask for their support. Tell them about this web site and the service academy parents area. Lots of parents have gone through what they are going through. They can talk about their fears and talk with folks that have been there.</p>
<p>FW Dad thank you so much for that post. We are in the same situation this year. My son had his heart set on going to USNA but was not offered an appointment. He has been offered the prep program for USMA. At first I was less that thrilled with this option. My son is a nationaly ranked swimmer, has offers from all over the country for full rides to top notch universities. But he wants to go to a service academy and if it takes an extra year and means he cannot swim it is what he wants to do. I think he has decided on Marion after researching all of them. It still breaks my heart to see him walk away from the other offers but as my husband keeps telling me " he has to follow his heart on this one, we can't make this decsion for him " So I bite my tounge and pray that he is making the right choice</p>
<p>USNA Coach turned him down, USMA coach watched him swim at YMCA Nationals this year and his status has been changed to that of a recruited athlete. Unfortunatly it was to late to get him into his swim school, they tried a couple of other prep schools that have good swimming programs but they were full for next year, So we sent everything into Marion, they do not have a swim team there but they do have a pool. If my son wants to swim for WP he is going to have to train on his own for a year, but he is excited about attending Marion next year and going on to join the long gray line the next</p>
<p>The pool at Marion is very nice and is in one of, if not the, newest buildings on campus. I bet with a little self discipline your son can keep his swimming up and join the team at West Point next year. One of the nice things about Marion is that its size is such that they can be flexible on some things. Maybe he can talk them into letting him swim as part of his physical training. Good luck and I hope to see you next year.</p>
<p>Col. Herbert at AOG has talked to Lt Bauer at Marion and he has assured him that my son (Steven) will have pleanty of pool time to stay in shape. the only thing that he won't have is a coach pushing him and working on tecnique. As I have said before, Steven does not want to go to WP to swim, he wants to go to become an officer in the United States Army, If he can swim it is a bonus, He has been swimming competitivly since the age of 4 so he knows what it takes to stay in swimming shape, but he may decide that he has been doing in long enough and not continue into college. its up to him</p>
<p>LTC Bauer is a great guy. He will be your son's history teacher. He graduated from West Point and will monitor your son's application through the process at West Point as the year unfolds. Good luck to your son. If you have any questions about Marion feel free to send me a PM.</p>
<p>Hi
My son will attend NMMI self prep and reapply West Point starting this fall. Since he is not a sponsored prep, academically, how good should he perform in order to get accepted by West Point next year. He is medically and physically qualified when he applied for class of 2015.
How do you overall feel about NMMI’s prep school for West Point? </p>
<p>Our son was a sponsored prep at nmmi … graduated from west point 2010… prep year 05-06</p>
<p>We were very happy with NMMI and facilities… son had a ‘mini’ reunion at army-navy each year with navy and west point nmmi guys… so we are very fond and happy with nmmi and the experience.</p>
<p>i have stayed in touch with nmmi, dropped a note to Geraci, etc… that all seems very good. you will hearcomplaints (like at west point) -example would be the HS kids intermixed with perps and JCs… but sometiems thats life.</p>
<p>I did know a couple of self preps – i know at least one of the two got in … so that is good , just dont know about the other… the answer of course is he shoudl do as well as he can… but i dont know about specifics</p>
<p>Also if he is keen about an army service, as a backup they have the commissioning program after two years, as I understand it -you get commissioned, time starts as well as pay and then you got to a 4 year rotc program to finish up – It is really a good option, especailly as a fall back if WP doesnt work</p>
<p>My son went to MMI as a sponsored prep. He will graduate from West Point in May. In his class of sponsored preps, twenty-five went on to West Point. I am not sure if there were non sponsored preps that got into West Point, but I suspect there were. As far as a grade point goes, I am not sure there is a magic grade point, but I would advise your son to do as well as he can vis a vis the sponsored cadets. I would also encourage your son to find out from your area admissions officer what his or her perspective is on NMMI and admission as a non sponsored cadet. I would hope they would be frank with your son. I believe that some applicants are encouraged to go to a regular college or university and then re-apply to West Point. Good luck…</p>
<p>I am wondering if joining self prep in NMMI or going to regular college is better for my son to increase his chance to be accepted by West Point for the class of 2016. He is currently a senior in NMMI high school. He is very familiar with all the teachers and environment there. We heard that the academics in NMMI’s prep school is good. But the acceptance rate to West Point in NMMI self prep is low this year. My son can go to University of New Mexico for college. Would this choice be better?</p>