<p>My son received a Falcon Foundation Scholarship to Northwestern Prep for September,2008. Is anyone else planning to go there and does anyone have any information about the program?</p>
<p>I got a falcon scholarship but i went to New mexcio military institute...basically the way it works is that if you go to whatever prep school you choose (in your son's case NWP) and dont fail, then you are guarenteed accpetance. In the case of NWP, you only go for a semester, then you come home and do community college for a semester (by the terms of the scholarship you have to do a full year, but NWP is only a semester). Hope this helps!</p>
<p>If one is successful @ NWP, the chances of receiving an appointment, pending a nomination, is much better than not. Remember nothing is guaranteed. </p>
<p>North Western Prep was an outstanding program for my son. It eases the student into what life will be like at the Academy. NWP has student’s candidates for both the Navel and Air Force Academies. </p>
<p>Time Management and Study skills are stressed. Improvement on academics and performance on the SAT and ACT tests are encouraged. </p>
<p>It is a good program; it prepares both the student and families for separation and the expectations of Military and a disciplined life. The second semester is spent at a hometown College/University taking core courses.</p>
<p>I'm going to NWP too. What questions do you have? If I don't know, I know who does.</p>
<p>There are a few 4 degrees in my squad who went to NWP last year. Basically everyone who wanted to come to the Academy from there got an appointment. From what I know it's a pretty chill prep school and it's a good environment to boost grades without having a ton of extra military stuff to do.</p>
<p>Is the majority of running done @ NWP road or trail running? About how much running is done on a daily basis? Any suggestions for shoes?</p>
<p>From what my son described and from photos I saw, it was mostly through the woods. </p>
<p>My son loved it up there and made life-long type friends. The NWP guys and girls still get together at AFA.</p>
<p>Trial Shoes is what you'll need</p>
<p>I went to NWP for the fall 07 and I loved it. It's very hard, but everyone is in the same boat, and you get through it. Get ready to run, 3-4 days a week are 30-40 minute runs through the woods. (the school's at the top of a mountain) It is a prep school for all academies (AF, Navy, Army, CG, MMA) You'll feel like you're there forever, but don't lose focus. Mr. and Mrs. Durbeck run the place and they are great people, who really care about the students. It's definitely an experience. My daily schedule went like this:</p>
<p>0730 Breakfast
0800-0845 Daily vocab test and announcements
0900-1015 English
1030-1145 Math
1200-1300 Lunch and free time
1300-1430 Study Hall
1445-1600 PT
1615-1730 Chemistry
1800-1900 Dinner
1900-2200 Study hall (there's a 15 minute break at 2100 and current events where you watch some news and get quizzed on it)
2200-2300 Free time
2300 Lights Out</p>
<p>It's a long, hard day and it starts to get very repetitive very early, but try to stay focused. Everyone helps everyone, and you'll do more studying and vocab than you thought possible. You go down and take 3 SAT's and 2 ACT's while you're there, and there are 3 free weekends after SAT's. You can stay with students who live in the area or people can visit you. The dorms are large, 20 people to a dorm for dorms #2 and #4, and 30 people in dorm #5, and the girls stay in dorm #1.<br>
If you have anymore questions, feel free to message me, I'd be glad to answer</p>
<p>Is it possible to go to these prep school without a Falcon Foundation Scholarship?</p>
<p>Yes it is. Over half of the students were what are called "free agents" where they are applying to more than one academy or are not on a scholarship. Visit the NWP website at Northwestern</a> Preparatory School to apply.</p>
<p>Great, which of the service academies are the cheapest and which offer financial aid or something? Do any of these free agents get in the academy? I heard that you have to be qualified medically or physically to get a scholarship? Is this the same case for those that are not on scholarship?</p>
<p>I don't know if I understand your question right, AFPJ, but if you're asking how much it costs to go to the Academy... it doesn't cost you anything (monetarily at least :)). It's an education that costs almost $400,000 that is paid for by the government. Some people have to attend a prep school after high school in order to be competitive for an appointment to the Academy, and unless you go to the USAFA prep school or get a Falcon Foundation scholarship, that will cost you something, but the actual Academy is all paid for.</p>
<p>Well, the acceptance rate of NWP preppies is about 85% (roughly). The Falcon Foundation provided $4,500 to me and gave me a list of 5 schools to choose from. I didn't apply to the Foundation, it's offered to 100 kids in the US. I don't know about the Navy Foundation or anything about Army. I don't know about being medically or physically qualified, but after going to NWP, you definitely prepared physically and mentally for the Academy. you find out the medical qualifications during the military physical part of the academy application.
As for who got in and who didn't get in, most of the free agents got in. About 5-10 kids got into another academy, but not their first choice. (People who wanted Air Force and went Navy or Army, vice versa)
People I know who didn't get in were because they a) didn't complete the application on time, b) didn't try at NWP or c) they failed the medical.
As long as you try your hardest, and the Durbecks see it, they will write you a glowing recommendation, which the Academies use as a major deciding factor.</p>
<p>Correction, which of the service academies PREP SCHOOLS are the cheapest and which offer financial aid?</p>
<p>NWP was the cheapest because it's one semester and you don't pay for uniforms or anything. (No uniforms, everybody wears khakis and dress shirts/polos). The only financial aid I was offered was from the Falcon Foundation. The other 4 prep schools the Foundation recommended were Marion Military Institute, new Mexico Military Institute, Valley Forge Military Academy, and Wentworth Military Academy. I remember Valley Forge being the most expensive. As for finding out about financial aid, maybe look them up and give them a call?</p>
<p>You can also look them up on collegeboard.com - this site gives you last years tuition, room & board costs, as well as other ways to compare them.</p>
<p>If you are considering prep and are not sponsored - proceed cautiously. There are pros and cons to the various programs.
If you are on your own then you need to figure out where your "deficiencies" are. NWP does have a good track record in improving SAT scores but SAT's are not your whole package.</p>
<p>Foundation Scholars get a nice scholarship from the AOG. My daughter got one from Army last year and she told me the Air Force kids get the best deal. AT MMI the school has a $10,000 scholarship that sponsored kids can use on top of their foundation scholarship. The AF kids also got their uniforms paid for. You may also qualify for Federal Financial aid if you choose a junior college over a school like NWP, which does not give you college credit.</p>
<p>Anyway there are many considerations - if you have an AF ROTC scholarship then you are probably better off using that and going to college and doing well than you are at prep school.
If you choose a prep school on your own then ask how many of those who were not sponsored won appointments. If you choose a school like NWP - and you don't get an appointment then you have lost time at college.
Even at MMI - a junior college- your credits may or may not transfer.</p>
<p>There is no "right" answer here that will fit everyone. It pays to do your homework.</p>
<p>Wow. That really is intense. My defiences are basically anything but leadership. My academics arent great, I actually failed two classes. I live in the Bronx as an inner city kid the opportunities weren't that great, it was hard not getting influenced by everyday stuff like drugs and taking care of my family. Thus I screwd up academics. I have an 84 average. My class rank should rank in the upper 10 or at least upper 20 because in my school there is like a 60 percent graduation rate. I guess even Northwestern is not for me I still have a whole other semester to slack off back home.</p>
<p>AFPJ -
There is an option that MAY be good for you. If you want to serve in the Air Force and attend the AF Academy then consider enlisting.
Once you enlist you can apply directly to the AFA prep school. If you enlist and do well - then you have a good chance. The services are always looking for enlisted with potential for the Academies.
This is not without risk - you may fail to gain acceptance but it may be a risk worth taking.
Good Luck to you.</p>