<p>Alright I am starting this thread specifically for AtlantaDad because he asked me a few questions however feel free to jump in.
Ok first Question. A self Prep is someone that did not receive the Coast Guard Scholars Program Scholarship to one of the Prep Schools that the CGA sends future cadets to but that is reapplying to the CGA or any other service academy for that matter. It is basically A cadet that is not sponsored by their respective service academies. If your Son or Daughter does not get picked to be part of the scholars program there is still many options and good schools for them to reapply to. Its about that time of year where they will be letting people know soon about the Scholars program. Its not something that you can really apply for. The admissions officers just kind of decide who they want for the program depending on what it is they are looking for.
As for prep schools the schools the CGA sends future cadets to: New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM (Where I am), Marion Military Institute in Marion Alabama as well as the Naval Academy Prepatory School. The only ones your son or daughter would be allowed to attend would be NMMI or MMI not NAPS. NAPS is free and for sponsored kids only. The other schools are actually private junior colleges with a military structure. There are multiple other military schools to go to as well such as Valley Forge, Virginia Military Institute, or even The Citadel. My suggestion would be to go to either Marion, or NMMI, the reason being that they will be working side by side with other preps from the CGA as well as tons of other preps from the other service academies. NMMI has a great support network and will do a lot for you to help get you in. Also if you are reapplying being able to compare yourself with the other preps taking the exact same classes can't hurt your chances in admissions. When reapplying again stress how badly you want to go. Make sure to look for good people to write you recommendations to when reapplying. These schools will help. But mainly if you go and work hard and get the grades and work on your test scores you will stand a good chance of getting in because the drive is there and they will notice that.
JD</p>
<p>Thanks Hardball. Son has been told by CGA that he did not get appointment due to no calculus in high school. Sure wish someone along the way had told us that was required. He has straight A's in math. We are also told it would not make sense to give him a scholarship for prep school since he just needs calculus, not the other prep classes. Talk about a catch 22. Here is our concern. Attendence at NAPS is pretty much a guarantee to go the the academy. NMMI or Marion on a scholarship is also high profile, but not a guarantee. Attending one on your own sounds a bit risky. I guess that is the self prep you described. Any thoughts on the success rate for such. Downside?</p>
<p>I'll tell you this. If you're on NAPS, here at NMMI or Marion it is pretty much a sure thing. We are required to maintain a 2.5 and we have our appointment. No D's or F's as well. A self prep who has to apply will probably need to get close to a 3.0, at least that’s what I'm hearing here. I have a 3.2 it’s not unachievable. Hard but not out of reach. As far as how risky? I will say if he's planning on reapplying that these schools will be his best chance. They give you a leg up on everyone else. The success rate will really just depend on the grades he pulls. They have so many kids come from here, with the same teachers it’s easy for them to compare. The downside would be being so far away from home and that this school is a little pricey at times. I believe the first year costs around ten thousand dollars. However they give out tons of scholarships if you apply for them. If you prep here your classes will be, Math (calc, trig etc.), English Comp I, and II, Chemistry I and II, Physics I, and II a Public Speaking course second semester and a few other smaller classes here and there. As far as I know every one of those credits will transfer. Those are all basically required courses anyways for anyone who will be an engineering major. So if you don't get in you don't lose out on much besides just not being close to home and the restrictions on your personal life. The academics here are still very rigorous.
JD</p>
<p>Hardball.... I think you probably know that The Citadel and Virginia Military are not prep schools.... These two institutions are four year colleges that commision graduates directly into all four of the services. These schools have fourth class systems similar to the SAs. Very few (although some do) elect to complete their plebe year at either one and then turn around and accept an appointment to an SA and do the plebe thing over again.</p>
<p>No Understood it is not very common but they are all options if that is somehitng you are looking for. Often location can be a deciding factor.</p>
<p>This is my first post on this forum, although I've been lurking for quite a while, here and on other sites. Daughter accepted the CGA Scholars Program back in March, but we've been waiting for a medical waiver for EVER. It finally came through on Friday, so now I feel like I can say she is really going to the CGA, via prep school. Our next big wait is to see which prep school she gets assigned to. I guess we don't have any input on that, but was wondering if anyone knows how they pick them -- is it the closest geographically or does each school have different strengths? My daughter has been making friends on Facebook with others accepted into the Scholars program so hopefully, she will know some of these kids when they meet up in New London on July 29th (tentative) for Summer Orientation. Any details on that? Is it like a mini-Swab Summer? Any information anyone has on the whole Prep school experience would be appreciated. Her Dad & I are REALLY excited for her! She has wanted to serve her country forever (at least since she joined Sea Cadets when she was 10 years old).</p>
<p>Hahaha great. They usually give the academy a wish list. That is how it was done last year at least. I gave a wish list at the Spring orientation in Connecticut and I got NMMI as I had asked for because I play baseball and wanted to play in the nicer weather. I know they generally try to accomadate people if they can but not everyone does. Don't stress too much about which one they are gonna send your daughter to as they are all going to prepare her for the class of 13'. The summer orientation is a basically a condensed version of swab summer. I didn't go to AIM but from what I've been told its soemwhat similair to AIM but more intense and a lot more serious. It will put her light years ahead of her peers when she gets to the prep schools. It is a good preperation for the people they picked. I am currently at NMMI as a matter of fact an am writing this from one of the lab computers. :)
JD</p>
<p>Have all of the CGA Scholarships been sent to prospective students or are they still being sent? If not, are waitlist students considered?</p>
<p>DM68,
The way I understand it, they offered a bunch of kids the prep school option (D got her letter early March & they gave her two weeks to decide - if she said no, they would then have offered it to the next person on the list). She called and talked to someone in admissions and they said they give out around 55 of these scholarships each year. Also, once she said yes to this offer, she wouldn't be able to take another offer (she was still waiting on USNA - the only other academy she applied to). She thought about it, but it wasn't too hard a decision! Even her BGO understood and supported her decision. I guess it just depends on how many kids declined the offer, whether there are any of these scholarships left.</p>