<p>did you go to nmmi?</p>
<p>To WP wannabe and anyone else
I understand the thought that I want to go to WP, and going to civil prep/aog would ‘suck’ …This was my attitiude for my son, and it nearly cost him the opportunity to be at WP (he is a JR-Cow now) … The Civil prep opportunity is for all intensts and purposes an admission to WP… if ths is your goal the year will be nothing, and will work fo ryou.</p>
<p>as to the relative differnce between NMMI and Marion… most say they are essentially equal… Geopgraphy/other connections woudl b the main contributiors… if you ae west of the rockies–nmmi, if you are in the deep south marion…otherwise it just depends.</p>
<p>For all the negatives listed about rosewll, NMMI is well respected, it is a nice little campus, I would recommend</p>
<p>is it little? i thought it was really big</p>
<p>I went to Marion with djfrro’s son (we’re both Yuks now), and I can say for sure that Marion prepared me for West Point. Academics weren’t that hard but you will spend that year of prep getting your mind focused on the necessities: academics, PT, and military bearing. Marion has recently received funding from the state, so I would imagine its facilities and prep program will only get better with time.</p>
<p>Without a doubt, the support network there is fantastic and your advisors will do everything they can to help you succeed. The SAP director, LTC Lewis, is a USMA grad and your advisor, LTC Bauer, will make sure that you keep your file updated. LTC Bauer’s history class is taught like it would be at West Point and it’s a great introduction to the Thayer Method. Dr. Stevenson will probably be your Chemistry instructor and I can say without a doubt that he’s one of the best instructors I’ve had.</p>
<p>As far as the military program goes, you will wake up and do PT every week with the ECP cadets under the guidance of Army instructors. You have the option of signing up for ECP ‘just in case’ you don’t make it into USMA (and you’ll get paid for doing so), but your appointment is basically guaranteed as long as you keep your grades up, improve your CFA, and stay out of trouble.</p>
<p>So, in short: a year of civil prep will make you grow up really fast and Beast will be easy. How good your experience was really depends on what you make of it. I hated being there but it was worth it.</p>
<p>My son is at MMI now and he got his appointment last month. He would rather be at USMA this year, but this has been a good chance for him to see if this is really what he wants. He is very happy to be going to USMA next year and feels like this year has given him good preparation for that. The AOG prep program is very good and if offered, we would say is a great way to gain admittance into the academy. We kind of thought of this as this as the “consolation prize” but it is really an honor and not many are given this option. It has been a great opportunity. Also, you will be at school during the prep year with many other future classmates. Over all, though he would rather be at West Point this year, and MMI is in a VERY tiny town in rural Alabama. They have recently been granted State funding that they did not have access to before and there are plans to make some good improvements to the school.</p>
<p>As to NMMI size, I suppose it is a matter of perspective. I went to a large state U, so not big by that standard… I am sure it is larger than many LACS… wasnt being dismissive… the physical plant is very very good, with long time support and I shoudl say traditions also</p>
<p>I am currently at MMI, and im goin to be wp class of 13. MMI is small, only has a total of around 400 students. Everyone knows everyone which can be a positive. Although, MMI has the larger service academy prep program between the schools. Out of the 40 something people to recieve AOG scholarships, 36 came to Marion this year. Plus there are other students at MMI doing the same kind of the thing for other academies, so you make good friends with people heading to different academies which is pretty cool.
All your academic classes are with just service academy students this includes other people preparing for the coast guard, air force and the naval academy. The only real tough course is chemistry because I was placed in honors and thats mainly because of all the work you have to do for the class. The chemistry teacher, Dr. Stevenson is a good guy and is always there if you need help.
You also do PT every afternoon Mon. Wed. Fri. and do swim PT on Tuesdays. Triggs mentioned signing up for ECP, but this year we were told we couldn’t because we were sponsored to attend West Point already.
MMI is in the middle of nowhere in a kinda of run down town, but you are allowed to bring a car (and I recommend if you can to do) or you make good friends with someone who does have a car, which is a lot of people. It is only 45 minutes to tusculoosa where there is tons of stuff to do and the university of Alabama is located there. You can also go into birmingham which is a little more than hour away. If you are traveling from a distance, most people use the airport located in birmingham.</p>
<p>So Cait, how was this year’s Swamp Fox party?</p>
<p>I would call Marion a little more that “run down” It was down right scarry. I have never felt so bad as I did the day we drove away and left my son there. But now he is finishing up his plebe year at WP and all is good</p>
<p>Marion, Alabama is in the rural south. It is not a cosmoplitan city in any way, nor does it pretend to be. If you are trying to compare Marion to something you have seen, think of the town in To Kill a Mockingbird. If the rural south bothers you, Marion may not be for you. </p>
<p>On the other hand, you will be there for about eight months and if your goal is to get into West Point, it will help you acheive your goal. Moreover, it will make West Point and Beast, in particular, easier for you. My son is a Yuk and he went to Marion. We live in a large urban area in Texas and he was initially shocked by Marion. He had never seen a smaller town, or perhaps a poorer town in his life. The high school he graduated from looks like a small private college and is larger than MMI. When we drove into Marion he literally turned white. To his credit, he told me that Marion was a means to an end…West Point. He gave it a chance and to this day thinks some of the professors at MMI were the best teachers he has ever had. He speaks fondly of Dr. Stevenson, COL Bauer and COL Thornton.</p>
<p>The night before R Day he and maybe fifteen or twenty of his MMI friends had dinner in Highland Falls at the Park Restaurant and told stories, relaxed and prepared for R Day. Get this, he started Beast with more than twenty friends. They had already been through a unique expereince together and they had a certain bond that gave them confidence that they could get through anything. My son started Beast already knowing a number of things that new cadets learn at Beast. Other new cadets looked up to the MMI kids for help making beds, understanding ranks and other military protocol. Today some of his best friends at West Point are his friends from MMI. </p>
<p>I asked my son over Christmas this year if he missed Marion. He thought a second and replied that he did miss it in a way. He said he missed the people in Marion. He missed Dr. Stevenson, COL Bauer and COL Thornton. He missed some of his friends that went on to the Air Force, Naval and the Coast Guard Academies. He still keeps up with some of those guys and looks for them at the Air Force and Navy football games. The MMI plebes had a cookout last year towards the end of school and compared notes on West Point. If I am not mistaken, all 26 kids from MMI that started West Point as plebes almost two years ago are still at West Point.</p>
<p>This is a long way of saying, don’t let Marion, Alabama scare you. Keep an open mind. As my son learned, it is not the bricks and sticks that he remembers when he thinks of MMI. It was the people at MMI, both the faculty and the other prep students. He admits that MMI helped prepare him for West Point …and most importantly, it allowed him to achieve his dream of attending West Point. Good luck.</p>
<p>I am on the Waiting List at WP, and my rc called me to tell me that he is going to submit my name for an AOG scholarship. I have a few questions on the process if I am to gain this scholarship. Is there any application process to go to nmmi or mmi if I am to gain the AOG scholarship? What is the tuition for MMI and NMMI? What are the barracks like? (how many roomates, etc.) When do you start classes and training? What are the chances that I don’t receive admission to WP for the next year? Who do you apply for congressional nominations from for WP admission? (home state or Alabama/New Mexico congressman?) These questions are more or less for MMI rather than NMMI, but I want to know these questions for both institutions.</p>
<p>Gael09, If you are offered an AOG scholarship that is an excellent way to gain admission into USMA for next year. Our son is at MMI right now. After he accepted the AOG scholarship the different schools that are an option for the prep year started to send him information fairly quickly. Once he chose MMI, they sent him all the paperwork to apply. The AOG scholarship paid for quite a bit of the tuition and costs. MMI also offers scholarship money to the SAP (Service Academy Prep) cadets there. So the cost was very minimal and reasonable. The school likes and encourage those students. I think there are around 100 SAP cadets at MMI this year from the different academies. Our son has one roommate. I think that is what everyone has there. They have a dorm style room with bunk style beds. His roommate is also an AOG SAP cadet. There are almost 40 that are attending MMI this year and will be at USMA next year. The things written in the postings previously all pretty much sum up MMI and the town it is in. But, that said, it is not a long period of time, you will make friends who will be in your class at West Point, and have the chance to live a military style lifestyle for that time to see if you really want that. The personnel in charge of the SAP program at MMI are very helpful with making sure everything is on schedule for acceptance into West Point the following year. If you keep your grades up, pass the Fitness test don’t get into any trouble and get your nomination again, you should have not problem. You will need to apply for a nomination from the congressman or senator from your hometown district. Our son had one nomination last year and this year he had two (I think the fact that he is in the AOG program helped with that. He did have to reapply and re-interview. The time he has spent at MMI has gone quickly. He was offered an appointment early this calendar year. I think the school starts at the end of August and they finish for this year in a couple of weeks. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you. Being offered an AOG scholarship is really quite an honor and vote of confidence. There are not many offered so if you are given this chance you should feel very good about it. Congratulations.</p>
<p>My son went to NMMI as an West Point prep in 2006-2007.</p>
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Yes, there is an application but it isn’t a big deal. Since you are sponsored by the AOG you will be accepted.</p>
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It has been a couple of years since my son was at NMMI so you should check the website for current tuition. The AOG will give you a scholarship that covers part of the cost and NMMI will also give you a scholarship. If you get any outside scholarships that are not tied to a specific college, you can use these towards NMMI and MMI also.</p>
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At NMMI the barracks buildings are three stories, they put the females on the top floor. Two cadets to a room. The rooms have bunk beds with a desk underneath, two closets, and a counter with a sink and mirror. Also, the rooms are air conditioned which is nice in the hot months.</p>
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New cadet training (they call you a RAT - “recruit at training”) starts in early August and runs three weeks. Then classes start. You are a RAT for the first semester, although that could have changed in the last couple of years. The year is done around mid May.</p>
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Your appointment for the next year is yours to lose. This means unless you quit, get in trouble with the law, or get poor grades, you will get into West Point the next year.</p>
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Your home state and most MOC’s will do telephone interviews if necessary. </p>
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My son ended up choosing NMMI because of location. It was the closest to home. He got a great education there but it was not his favorite place to live.</p>
<p>WPmom2013, how did your son like MMI this year? I just received the AOG scholarship in the mail today, and I am considering the different civil prep schools. I am heavily leaning towards Marion. I was just wondering if you could give me any feedback on your son’s year at MMI, and how he is feeling about West Point for this coming year.</p>
<p>Gael09, Congratulations!!! That is an honor to receive. Good for you. We returned from our son’s convocation at MMI last week. It was a good experience all in all. It got him what he wanted and that was the goal. Like it has been stated on this forum, MMI is in a very small, very economically depressed town. There is not much to do there other than prep for West Point and study. I asked our son to add his comments and he said this: It was good to get used to being part of a company rather than being a regular student in college. Also good to get used to taking orders and having more discipline. You also get used to having to do things that may seem useless at the time but serve some unseen purpose. The President of MMI is leaving after this year, so that will be a change that will be felt. He was particularly good. I would think that the new person coming in will also be good. One thing you will need to do if you go there, though, is you will have to work out on own to get in shape enough. That was not the strongest part of the program there. From what we learned, MMI has the highest acceptance rate. The majority of AOG’s and other academy SAP’s go to MMI (I think there were around 100 there this year), so you will get to meet and make friends with many of them as well. Please feel free to email me if you have more specific questions.</p>
<p>WPMom2013,</p>
<p>Thank you for you and your son’s input. I am excited/nervous for this upcoming year and going to Marion. When did your son arrive at Marion and when was his last day? How many breaks did he get? How often did he get to come home? I just want to address these questions with my parents before I arrive there. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Our son reported to MMI around August 14 and finished on May 5. He got a couple weeks off at Christmas and a week at Thanksgiving and spring break. The year went by quickly as we look back on it. Have you been to the MMI website? I think the calendar and information from this past year is probably still posted there. It might give you a good look at the specifics of the year [Marion</a> Military Institute](<a href=“http://www.marionmilitary.edu%5DMarion”>http://www.marionmilitary.edu). Please feel free to let us know if we can help answer any questions. Civil Prep is really a great way to go if you do not get an appointment this year. My son and the other AOG SAP’s(service academy prep) we talked to felt like it has been a good experience all in all. Good luck with your decision and congratulations on being offered this opportunity once again.</p>