<p>Thanks you to all of the parents who share so willingly on this forum - I have learnt so much from your experiences and have enjoyed following the progress of your sons and daughters. I know you are all breathing a huge sigh of relief (and beaming with pride) as Beast and other summer training programs end. The risk of being separated for medical reasons during this period seems to be a real concern. Did your sons/daughters enroll in a civilian college, pay a deposit etc. just in case the unthinkable happened and they found themselves back home?</p>
<p>Ann:</p>
<p>Funny you should ask your question today since I just sent notification to our son's "backup" college today informing it that our son would not attend this fall.</p>
<p>Yes, our son paid a deposit for both the enrollment and dorm room(getting him to pay the deposit with "his" money was a real learning experience for him). Both were forfeited but even he felt the $250 "insurance" was worth it to avoid the possibility of having to leave USMA for whatever reason and not have a spot in college for the upcoming year.</p>
<p>Recommend you check the policy of your backup school to determine when you become liable for the room charge and tuition. In our case the student was not responsible for the first semester of room cost until he officially enrolled in classes - something he never did.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks Aspen - I appreciate your feedback.</p>
<p>Ann,</p>
<p>There was a lot of discussion about this very subject last spring. When we look at cadet2009 and what happened to her, we all have to wonder what if this happens to my child. I think aspen's plan is great. The only time I would really have a moral dilemma is if a scholarship is awarded. Typically it would not be given to another student at this time of the year.</p>
<p>We even went a step further. When my daughter went to NAPS last year, we didn't notify her backup school until after the indoc period. Then, when we did, we asked for a deferral. That way, if it wasn't for her, she didn't have to go through the application process again. Lost some deposit money, but it was well worth it in the long run. I think that's why these academies lose a good number of people during their plebe summer/beast etc. Most have a backup plan and if it isn't for them, it's really a no harm no foul experience where their life won't be affected too negatively for leaving.
NAPS05mom</p>
<p>Thanks momoftwins and naps05mom. I agree that accepting a scholarship would be difficult knowing that an alternative plan is in place. I hadn't thought about asking for a deferral in case plans or circumstances change later in the year.
At this stage it is difficult to get my son anywhere near focussed on applying to alternatives. His heart is set on USMA. He knows he has to have backup plans - he just has little enthusiasm for them....</p>
<p>Ann,</p>
<p>I went through the same thing with my daughter last year. She really had no enthusiasm for other schools because she wanted to go to WP so badly. I kept telling her the stories of highly qualified candidates who did not receive appointments until she told me one day that she ought to apply to some schools with strong ROTC programs. After she received an acceptance and scholarship from the first school, it was impossible to motivate herself any farther.</p>
<p>Momoftwins - I'm glad to hear that others have been through the same experience. My son has toured about 12 colleges, and has visited 3 ROTC programs - but nothing measures up to WP in his eyes. SLS sealed the deal for him. It's an uphill battle trying to get him to start on the essays for his alternative schools...</p>
<p>Back up plans!? What a concept! My son stopped doing any apps in December when he got an early admit to KP</p>
<p>Where was this advice when I needed it!? LOL Wish I would have found this place last year. Listen to the advice here, cause its good stuff. In our case, we called our "Plan B" college, The Citadel, the last day of the deadline and got our small deposit back. Now knowing what I know, its best to hang on to your plans/deposits until after the summer training if at all possible. Not that I don't think the kids can make it through the training. They CAN! Its just that I know of a few instances where kids get hurt at the last minute and are delayed entry until the following year or not at all. Hurt knees, color blindness, ect. My son had wanted USMMA since the 10th grade so trying to make him realize that he needed a back-up plan was kinda like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. His mind was set. I, on the other hand, saw the many super qualified kids that they were being passing over. As mentioned in previous posts, you must learn about the nomination process. You or your child could be knocked out of the running. Fair play? Its how the game has always been played and thats another issue for another day.</p>
<p>Momoftwins - could you refresh our memory as to what happened to Cadet2009 to give us a learning curve?</p>
<p>I'll tell you myself lol. I was a member of the class of 2009...on June 30 (only 3 days into beast), my company was doing the APFT. Well, as we were running back up the hill from gillis field house, I collapsed. I became unconcious, and woke up at Keller hospital. They said I had had a heat stroke (core temp was 105.1). While I was there they did some routine bloodwork and found out I had a type of anemia that was a disqualifying condition. They said I wouldnt be able to do PT while they were assessing the med. situation and it was more than likely that I would be med. seperated. Well, after discussing it with my mom and the physician, I decided to make a mature decision and resign for medical reasons (so I would be able to make it into a college this fall). I'm glad I came home...they figured out exactly what was wrong with me and as I type to you now I'm sitting in my dorm room...</p>
<p>I'm really glad I had a backup plan...I surely would have been discharged for what it turned out to be.</p>
<p>Cadet0509: I'm glad to hear that things have worked out. Hope all goes well for your freshman year!!</p>
<p>Oh! Its you dear! Sorry, I thought Cadet2009 was a kid that I'd never heard of. The screen name threw me. Yes, you are sadly a prime example of things that can go wrong and a huge lesson to those applying. BUT you are such a good mentor here because of it. Can't tell you how happy I am that you're all settled in at your new school. Stay well and happy there!</p>
<p>Hi all! We paid the deposit to a backup and asked for a deferral as well. We figured that if something happened our son could take a gap year or go to the local state college where he has tuition free status (because of his rank in HS class). We did lose the $600.00 deposit, but I think it gave everyone peace of mind to know there was a plan B.</p>
<p>Thank ya kindly jamz :)</p>
<p>The hard part for me was feeling bad when the backup college gave us the deferral; not once but twice (at semester and at year end). I had already purchased a bunch of gear from them (t-shirts, sweatshirts etc.) and I still fondly think of that school. It's funny how quickly you can get attached. There is a mid from our state who was recently separated due to Chrones Disease (sp?) Just happened after her first year. How disappointing it must be and to not really have much backup after a year. My question is how and what can they separate you for, medically speaking</p>
<p>Crohn's disease is a very serious auto-immune disease of the digestive system where food is not absorbed properly and can result in malnutrition, etc. It is treatable however with steroids and the like...it wouldn't be a pretty thing to have at an academy. </p>
<p>Medically speaking, they can seperate you for anything that would prevent you from being commissioned as an officer. This includes: asthma, anemia, unset fractures, stress fractures, depression, some cancers, detached retinas, etc. While I was at WP...I knew a kid who got seperated for having a stomach ulcer...I got seperated for anemia...we had a herniated disk patient get seperated too. </p>
<p>Hope I helped!
~G</p>
<p>Check out this link:</p>
<p>When prospective cadets are seeking a waiver, they are seeking a waiver from not only the standards prescribed for Academy admittance and ROTC Scholarship awards, but also standards for commissioning.</p>
<p>The above link is for the Army, the other branches have similar regulations.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>good detective work GEB.</p>
<p>Our son's backup plan was suggested by the coach at another school ... one that had awarded him a substantial scholarship. Our son paid and forfeited his deposit, but said the backup plan made him even more sure of his decision to stay at West Point. He wrote letters to the coach and to the college near the end of Beast declining the offer, and to this day the school and athletic program occupy a warm place in our hearts. Perhaps because of the "official" awareness of the backup plan, neither we nor our son felt any guilt, only gratitude.</p>