<p>Tonight I recieved an AOG scolarship and a civil prep. position at one of the four junior military schools. Of course, this is great news and I'm taking what I can get. However, I was also accepted to The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute. My main goal at this point is to get into West Point, but I'm a little bit uneasy about the civil prep. I was reading the letter and it explained about how it all worked, but there is no guarantee that I will be accepted into the class of 2008. So what I'm skeptical about is the odds of getting in the following year after you've gone through the civil prep. It seems like I could go through a year of prep. and not get in, but I could go to The Citadel or VMI and if I still don't get in, I have a whole year already behind me. Yet, they seem to be the same type of schools. What's the advantages of going civil prep.? Any advice on this situation would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Well you have some decisions to make now. A couple of thoughts for you. First, going to Civil Prep will be free, The Citadel and VMI won't be. So that's a thought. Then there is a part of me that wants to tell you that if your ultimate goal is to go to West Point, don't go to The Citadel or VMI. That would probably make your entrance into West Point more difficult than taking the AOG route. If I were an admissions officer and saw next year in your application that you were offered a way into the Academy but decided to go to VMI or The Citadel, I would wonder why you turned down the offer. I would also think that if your grades were just average at either of those two schools, then your shot at West Point would be up in smoke and you should learn to be happy at VMI or The Citadel. See where I'm going with this? If your grades are satisfactory at Civil Prep, then you'll be offered admission next year to West Point. If they're the same at either of the other two schools, I don't think your chances would be as good. Nothing wrong with either of those two schools, mind you, but you said your ultimate goal was West Point. Take the offer if that's where you really want to be. That's just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.</p>
<p>I say go prep and rock out because if you do, I'm hearing that you can validate a LOT of classes that way. I haven't heard the nicest things about VMI or The Citadel...not too bad, but not gleaming with brotherly love, sunshine and pie.</p>
<p>If it's West Point you want, go either to ROTC at civilian school and do amazingly in your classes, or go prep and do your best. ROTC Ranger Challenge is amazing physical prep. I no longer have the bruises to show for it, but you get the idea.</p>
<p>I am at civil prep right now and you pretty much have to lose a leg to not get your appointment.</p>
<p>it is not entirely free however...plus we have ranger challenge too</p>
<p>Here is how it was explained to me by Maj. Coulon, a west point admissions officer. If you go through with civil prep, you have a 98% chance of getting in with all As and Bs and maybe one C. Once your grades start slacking, so does the possibility of getting into west point. Also, you need to retake the SATs and ACTs AND improve. </p>
<p>Right now I am a prep at the New Mexico Military Institute and the classes have been challenging; however, it is totally possible to get good grades because the entire faculty is geared towards getting you into your respective academy. If you really want to get into west point, my suggestion is to complete a year at a civil prep school. I'm glad I did because I got my appointment 2 days ago! </p>
<p>go army, sink navy!</p>
<p>Congrats Astro! </p>
<p>My parents never want me to do prep...hah.</p>
<p>
[quote]
going to Civil Prep will be free
[/quote]
As a parent of a civil prep cadet attending NMMI right now...this is not true. The AOG gives you a scholarship between $1000-$2000 and the school will also give you some scholarship money, but it is not free. Trust me, I paid the tuition bill! </p>
<p>Still, I agree with majmattmason. If you really want to go to West Point and are offered civil prep take it. If by some chance you don't get into West Point after your civil prep year, you will still have a year of college credits.</p>
<p>I will forward some notes when my son was offered Civil Prep and took it, he is now a plebe, class of 2010 (entered june 2006). If you have an interest in a military career, or even 5 years of military after colege. The civil prep offer, is an 'offer you can't refuse' ... I was very worried about the lack of a guarantee
but in reality you have about 5 or 6 people working diligently to see that nothing slips through the crack... that is our expereince at NMMI, i think the same a t marion. </p>
<p>I would caution though it is not free, the scholarship is for approx 1000$ and NMMI will add to that, but you will still pay, several thousand, I will look up the exact amount</p>
<p>more later</p>
<p>As said above, Civil Prep is great avenue to West Point for those offered the chance. It is, also, not free. My son is currently at Marion and has an appointment for the Class of 2011 at West Point. The cost to go to Marion was about $6,000 for the current school year, which included the AOG scholarship and a scholarship for $10,000 from Marion, which I believe every AOD cadet receives. I didn't look at the costs of the other military school options, but my son tells me that Marion was the least expensive. His experience has been on the whole, very positive. He has complaints about the food and the very small town setting, but I have seen the same comments posted about NMMI in this forum. Two important things about Marion: 1) the West Point liason does a fabulous job and 2) the professors go out of their way to help the AOG cadets. I know its a little tough not to be in the upcoming class, but if you can wait a year, the AOG scholarship is a wonderful thing.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll be accepting the AOG scolarship and hopefully go to Marion. I had a long talk with my parents and although one wants me to go and the other doesn't, I can't pass up this opportunity. Just curious, is there anyone else heading to Marion next year?</p>
<p>Frijoles and I are at Marion right now, so if you've got any questions, let us know.</p>
<p>Hi Weed2102 - My son also received a AOG scholarship this past week. He is looking at Marion and Georgia. We are going to Marion this Saturday for a visit; should be fun since it's alumni weekend. Something to focus on as he moves toward WP. Are you going?</p>
<p>Yeah, I filled out all of my paper work and I am sending it in tomorrow. Let me know how you liked it when you get back. I don't have the time to go down and visit. I live in Maine, and baseball has started so I can't get any time off. Let me know if your son ends up going to Marion.</p>
<p>Although I would never say this out loud, I am glad that I took the Civil Prep route. The best thing about this whole experience is the friends you make along the way. Just this weekend, a bunch of my prep buddies from NMMI (mostly Air Force and West Point) and I took a trip down to Mexico for Full Furlough. It was awesome, but what made the experience more memorable was the camaraderie you feel for your fellow prep brothers (or sisters). In any case, the friends I made down here at NMMI made up for all the BS that we collectively had to deal with throughout the year. The cool thing is: I'll be seeing my West Point prep buddies again next year. (Yeah, I'm talking about you Astrodude :P)</p>
<p>Weed2102 - I asked my son to give you his thoughts of Marion after we get back. After a couple of days of looking at Marion and Georgia's websites (plus phone conversations with each school - reading threads on this site - thanks every body!), he has decided to go to Marion. Have you spoken to Col. Lewis at Marion?</p>
<p>No I haven't spoken to him yet. I was sort of in the same boat. I looked at both websites, and I've been on here for 2 years, and Marion seems to be the popular one. Let me know how everything goes!</p>
<p>If you want someone really useful to talk to here, talk to LTC Bauer. He is in charge of the AOG's and is the one who is really behind all of this working.</p>
<p>We can't wait to meet LTC Bauer. The person in charge of the AOG at WP spoke very highly of LTC Bauer - and so did LTC Lewis for that matter.</p>
<p>As well they should, he is a great guy and will do pretty much anything for the AOG's. Speaking of, our last guy waiting on his appointment is now just waiting on the packet, I think he got a call from his Congressman last week.</p>