<p>Am I correct in guessing that the Citadel also offers the option to obtain a commission in any of the services? I met a Navy lieutenant yesterday who is a Citadel grad.</p>
<p>That might be another factor to consider when you are choosing a school.</p>
<p>Adam's Mom - Is son #2 entering The Citadel this year? (Aug. 2006)
If so, send me a personal message. (I noticed that you were set up for PM's so decided to ask in a general posting - sorry.)</p>
<p>My colleagues daughter is a 2006 Citadel grad. Lovely young woman: intelligent, bilingual, could be on the August cover of Vogue magazine. From what she told me, she had a very different experience at the Citadel than my mid is having at USNA. I dont think one can reasonably compare the service academies to military colleges because students at the service academies are already in the military. She is following in her fathers footsteps (he is a Citadel grad); upon graduation she received a commission in the USAF and got stationed in Germany, her first choice.</p>
<p>Greetings,</p>
<p>How was your colleague's daughter's experience different at The Citadel than your mid is having at USNA? </p>
<p>I would be very interested in knowing the difference. Thanks!</p>
<p>It sounded like she had more personal freedom at The Citadel than mids have at USNA, which makes sense. The mids at USNA are in the US Navy, and the standards at USNA are even higher than those in the Fleet. Also, the curriculum at USNA is more rigorous, e.g., English majors take Calculus III and Physics.</p>
<p>Do the cadets at The Citadel have a lot of freedom? I was under the impression that it was a pretty regimental lifestyle all 4 years without much freedom.</p>
<p>I also thought they didn't have many weekends off. </p>
<p>And do they have repsonsiblities in the summer when school is off!</p>
<p>Any feedback on this would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>Anxious Mom: Thanks for response to the LOA question; I think it will help put things into perspective for others who get an LOA letter and who might be mislead into thinking they're in the clear.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son at the Citadel. Judging by the posts from those who have experience with the institution it sounds as though it will be both a challanging and rewarding experience for him and for the whole family.</p>
<p>It is my understanding that they get leave Thanksgiving and Christmas the first semester and can request a weekend leave one weekend during 2nd semester.
I think they only have obligations in the summer if they have received an ROTC scholarship.
My son still doesn't like to answer many questions, says he's told me things before (that's what happens when you hit the big 5-0!)
Guess I'll be learning more as I go. They do a lot of information at The Citadel website.</p>
<p>Thank you anxious mom and best wishes to you and your knob. Hopefully my son will be there next year. I appreciate any information you get! </p>
<p>Do you know if the regimental lifestyle stays the entire 4 years? Thanks!</p>
<p>You are correct. That was a positive for my son. At USNA there was a possiblility that he could received a Marine commission, but there is a limited number of them.
At The Citadel he can choose which branch of the service he wishes to enter.</p>
<p>Sorry I missed a day of being on cc. I think this is the most discussion we've had about the Citadel and I'd love to learn more.</p>
<p>Calder, </p>
<p>JM was correct. I meant that West Point is considered the #1 Leadership school in the world. The Citadel has an excellent reputation as a military college with outstanding training. A student of the Citadel who participated in ROTC will be the exact same rank as a cadet from West Point after they both graduate. That being said, I think I should mention that if your son can prep over the summer for another round of the SAT, there is a strong likelihood that he will improve his math score. If he can do so, then West Point will not be such a stretch. The service academies are looking for students who are well-rounded, bright, physically and mentally able to pass the required tests, and committed to becoming an officer in the military. These boards are filled with kids who worked to improve their SAT/ACT scores, GPAs, and fitness levels. They received appointments. If your son has even a bit of interest in WP, then I suggest going for it. He has the advantage of time, which allows him to request nomination packages right now (but not submit them until after the next set of test scores are available) as well as prep for the tests. As has been mentioned many times, some kids perform significantly better on the ACT, so he may as well take both.</p>
<p>The point I'm really trying to make is that if he is possibly interested in WP, but afraid about how "hard" it is and how grueling the admissions process is, he should try it anyway. He may surprise himself. At one point during junior year of high school, my daughter mentioned that she wouldn't apply to WP because there would be no way she could get in. She believed that because she wasn't her class valedictorian (class of 1000+ kids) at a school where 9 AP classes meant you were a slacker, and was the captain of only 1 team, she wouldn't qualify. So why go through the work and disappointment? (I'm glad that wore off quickly.) However, if your son really wants to go to the Citadel and doesn't want to consider WP, that's great too. Just don't let him eliminate an obvious choice because he thinks he will not be able to get in. Best of luck to your son. </p>
<p>anxious mom,</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son and best of luck to him. I can't wait to learn more about The Citadel.</p>
<p>This is coming out of the blue but I was looking at the collegeboard's profile of The Citadel and a College profile book that was dated back in the 90s, I think between 95-00'. Last year, Collegeboard says that 78% of the applicants were accepted while the book said that only about 30% were admitted. Is the Citadel very competitive to get into?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>It's competitive, but not like the academies. Im an 05 Citadel grad and as much as I would like to say my education was on par with West Point, I cant. I can say that as a cadet Ive spent a lot of time at most of the academies and academy kids spent a lot of time at the Citadel (for sports, leadership seminars, etc...), and there are obviously some big differences as well as similarities. In any event, Ive never once herd a Citadel grad say I wish I wouldve went to an academy instead of the Citadel, conversely Ive never heard an academy guy say the same.</p>
<p>Hello everyone! We have been out of the loop for a couple of weeks due to vacation. I greatly appreciate all the help that has been given to us concerning WP and The Citadel. My son has completed the applications to Army ROTC and The Citadel and is in the middle of the application process to WP. I will gladly continue to take any advice, knowledge, etc from any of you. I hope all is well with each of you. Thank you and I will keep you posted. Hope to hear from you all!</p>
<p>I'm glad to have found this discussion! We took our son on a tour of the Citadel this summer, and he mailed his application a week or so ago. I didnt know anything at all about the Citadel before we went to look at it, but I was very impressed with what I saw and with our tour guide, who seemed like a wonderful young man. One of the moms--not me--asked him about hazing and he really downplayed that, basically saying it doesn't happen anymore. However, having done some internet searches I'm getting a little nervous. Can anyone with first hand experience tell me about Hell Night, what a "red room" is, what "bracing" is, etc.? I understand that things are tough in the armed forces, and the whole theory of being hard on the kids so they form a tight bond, learn to follow orders, etc.--but as a mom, I am concerned about things that cross the line into being physically dangerous or abusive.</p>
<p>My son just started as a knob a couple of weeks ago.
We've only gotten to talk with him for a few minutes and he didn't go into detail, except to say "Hell Night" was just that and they loved it!
I know the new president is taking a firm stand on harrassment and hazing.
With the hazing they cannot do anything that involves touching them (physical abuse) . I haven't heard the term "red room". I know that "bracing" is when they are standing at attention and they have to hold their neck straight and head down. It might be chest out, too. One of the former Citadel guys that posts here might can explain it better than I can. My son says he's enjoying it. He was in JROTC for 4 years and is used to the 4th class system.</p>
<p>Hello, my son has applied to The Citadel also. Anxious mom, is your son finding it very difficult physically? My son wants it to be difficult physically and militarily espcially. I would appreciate any information you can pass our way. Thanks!</p>
<p>My son did not have a problem with the physical training but he put many hours in from the time wrestling was over his senior year until he reported to make sure that he was in good shape. There is a summer program that is called Citadel Success Institute that is a great way to help get in shape as well as learn the ropes of the Citadel way. It is not cheap but worth every penney. It is 5 weeks long and they earn 4 credit hours. Good luck.</p>
<p>Welcome...</p>
<p>How does your son like The Citadel? My son was just informed that he was academically accepted at The Citadel. </p>
<p>Has your son found The Citadel to be very tough both physically and militarily? My son wants somethings that is very tough.</p>
<p>Also, what is your opinion of the academics at The Citadel? Is it tough in the realm of academics? </p>
<p>Thank you...I would appreciate anything you are learning about The Citadel you can give me. My son has also applied to West Point but is not very good at math. We wonder if The Citadel is a better fit.</p>
<p>He wants to go into the military and into linguistics.</p>
<p>Again, thanks!!</p>
<p>Yes, my son likes it. We are very far away and it is hard on me, too. The knob year is tough for many reasons. They have so many areas that they need to be accountable for including academics that it makes it tougher academically than it would be at a "normal" college. </p>
<p>My son is also planning a career in the service. I am very proud of him and his desire to be a part of the military. I don't understand these boys that seem so dedicated to doing this with their lives but as moms we have to be proud of them. </p>
<p>Good luck with the college choice. Do a pre-knob visit and perhaps your son will do as mine did and that will make up his mind. Once he visited the The Citadel he stopped applying elsewhere. He made up his mind that it was the place for him. </p>
<p>:) Good luck. Citadelmom</p>