<p>I just got back from the Candidate Visit Weekend. Had a good time, I laughed pretty hard at times at what the Mids said. Just get a group of six 18-19 year old males in a small room....I bet you can guess what kind of stuff was being said.... and happening...haha. </p>
<p>Anyways, before we met the midshipmen, we had a question and answer session. One of the firsties, who is also the Brigade XO, is going to MIT after graduation and the Navy will be paying 50% of his tuition. He went through it pretty fast, and now I wish I asked for him to repeat it. Does anybody know how to do what he did and get the Navy to pay 50% of the tuition for graduate school, and also postpone Naval duties after completion of Graduate school?</p>
<p>During the weekend we took tours of the Majors departments. When we got to the Mathematics major section, the professor was talking about how one Mid, who was in college for 2 years prior to entering, validated Calculus 1, 2, 3, Differential Equations, College Algebra, Statistics, Chemistry 1, 2, and Physics 1,2. I was thinking to myself "then what did this guy do at the Academy?! Sleep all day?". Not sure how he validated differential equations and statistics, unless I heard the professor incorrectly. </p>
<p>If a mid validates all those classes, what will he do next? Seems like his schedule would be pretty empty at the Academy. Also, would those classes show up on his/her transcript?</p>
<p>I believe if a midshipman mangaes to complete all course work required for graduation, their first class year they can start graduate school and must complate their masters 7 months after graduation. I think its called VJEP.</p>
<p>VGEP can start in spring of firstie year and finish by that December. Navy pays approx. 50% of tuition.
Local universities, e.g. Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, grant about 25% and mid pays 25%</p>
<p>Program is not available to "any" mid who has validated classes; must apply and major must meet the "needs of the Navy." Spring semester of firstie year, attend some classes at university while resident at Academy.</p>
<p>Less familiar w/ IGEP. IGEP, I believe, begins after graduation. Mid must be accepted by a graduate program. I think financial assitance may be less.</p>
<p>There are numerous types of graduate programs offered by the Navy, and yes they all involve an additional committment of service time. I am not aware of a program where the Navy only pays 50%. That is a question to ask the Academy. You might be able to find out more at Navy</a> Personnel Command. Also, no matter how many courses you validate, you will always have to take a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester.</p>
<p>Officers who receive DUINS (Duty Under Instruction) orders to graduate will have their full tuition and fees paid for by the Navy. Normally BUPERS won't offers graduate school to an officer until his/her initial service obligation is fulfilled and the officer has earned his/her warefare qualification. The service obligation for attending graduate school is normally 3 years for the first year and 1 year for each additional year of grad school. The Naval Post Graduate School at Monterey, CA falls under this program.</p>
<p>They accept a maximum of 20 each year. In the past, it was basically the top person in each major who was qualified and who wanted to accept it. I don't know what the renewed emphasis on engineering and technical majors will do to this policy.</p>
<p>to answer the second part of your question, mids that validate classes have an opportunity to double major. if no classes are validated, imagine finishing a bachelor of science with a double major in engineering and arabic in 4 years. it would be nearly impossible. validating so many classes gives room in the academic schedule for a greater variety of study.</p>
<p>
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I was reading into this as well and heard you must be in the top 10% of your class to be considered. True?
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<p>Not quite sure if your talking about VGEP or IGEP. In relation to VGEP though, the biggest hurdle is finishing up a semester early. If you are able to do that, you don't have to have amazing grades to get it. The grades have to be good, (I think the cutoff is a 3.2) but with a 3.5 or so you have a very good chance of getting it simply because there is not nearly as much competition for that.</p>
<p>In one circumstance of which I am involved, this is precisely what is happening vis-a-vis VGEP.</p>
<p>For those of you who wonder whether to validate or not, this one of the end benefits, being eligible for VGEP.
YOu are still resident at th eAcademy during that last semester and will still take certain classes on that last semester but you will travel to an area school for your graduate studies.
I don't think "top 10%" is ahard and fast rule but, rather, those who are selected will most likely be ranked at the top for their major.
There are overall numerical limits to number that may be selected for this. Availability was said to be limited this year.
Selection was also said to be limited, with probable exceptions, to the "hard" majors, e.g. physics, engineering, etc. But, I have heard of some "soft" majors being considered for VGEP in this cycle.
I will know more about VGEP at the endof April as the seleciton cycle should be complete by then.</p>
<p>IGEP is more of a "post-graduate" program, i.e. you graduate in May and then go off to a graduate school. My understanding is you have to be admitted to a graduate program and determine a source of funding, which may include Navy funds that may or may not be at 100%.</p>
<p>These two programs are separate from the DUINS program below.
Not a 100% sure but I don't think VGEP adds to your service obligation; not at all sure about IGEP.</p>
<p>I know of one mid who validated quite a few classes and is Physics/foreign language major who is trying to qualify an English "minor" in there also [although technically there is no grant of minors.]</p>
<p>Remember, even if you "finish a semeseter early" you will still be required to take classes at the Academy.</p>