Which Preparatory School should I choose?

Augustus

5-Year Member
Joined
May 15, 2011
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I am having a hard time deciding on which program to attend. Does anyone have any input on MMI, NMMI, Northwestern PS, Valley Forge MA, or Wentforth MA? I just received the FF scholarship through the mail last Friday and was stoked when I received the news. After not receiving an appointment to the USAFA I was planning on attending ORU for a year and then doing ROTC the following year, but changed my mind when I received the FF. Any ideas on which program to attend? I need to send the FF back to the Academy through FedEx tomorrow, so I would love anyones opinion on this matter. Thanks.
 
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I am having a hard time deciding on which program to attend. Does anyone have any input on MMI, NMMI, Northwestern PS, Valley Forge MA, or Wentforth MA? I just received the FF scholarship through the mail last Friday and was stoked when I received the news. After not receiving an appointment to the USAFA I was planning on attending ORU for a year and then doing ROTC the following year, but changed my mind when I received the FF. Any ideas on which program to attend? I need to send the FF back to the Academy through FedEx tomorrow, so I would love anyones opinion on this matter. Thanks.

This is one of the more difficult decisions you get to make early in your "career." Which one?

Okay...let's do a quick reality check (and by no means the entire check):

1. DO YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT TO DO THIS?
2. Assuming you do want to do this...
a. Can you and your family afford this? This is a "STOP" question: if the answer is no, then you stop here and proceed with plan "B" IMHO.
b. IF you can afford this, what type environment do you want to live in?

I ask this because NWPS is like being at a "prep school" similar to HS/Jr College. The others...military schools; similar to the academy. Your freedom will be restricted, there will be military style discipline, etc. Is that what you want?
3. What do you do if this does NOT work? If you're the "rare but..." student from the FF that does NOT receive an appointment for any reason?
a. Is there another backup plan?

These are just a few questions I think you need to consider.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Steve

Yes, my family will be able to afford the school. I am sure I want to do this, my ultimate goal is to reach the USAFA. But, if I am one of the "rare student.." that doesn't receive an appointment then I will be able to come back home and start attending a community college nearby.

I need to decide on which Prep-school I want to attend very soon. I wouldn't mind attending the Military schools that are like the Academy itself because it will get me ready for the Academy.

How is NWPS different from the other four? If I attend one of these schools will I be able to play on any sports teams? I saw that Wentworth has a soccer team and I wasn't sure if I would be able to play soccer while I went through the prep program.
 
Steve

Yes, my family will be able to afford the school. I am sure I want to do this, my ultimate goal is to reach the USAFA. But, if I am one of the "rare student.." that doesn't receive an appointment then I will be able to come back home and start attending a community college nearby.

I need to decide on which Prep-school I want to attend very soon. I wouldn't mind attending the Military schools that are like the Academy itself because it will get me ready for the Academy.

How is NWPS different from the other four? If I attend one of these schools will I be able to play on any sports teams? I saw that Wentworth has a soccer team and I wasn't sure if I would be able to play soccer while I went through the prep program.

Check your mail box...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
If you're the "rare but..." student from the FF that does NOT receive an appointment for any reason?
Not quite following you here. Are you saying that on 'rare' instances, foundation students who meet all the requirements still do not get appointments?
 
Augustus - I answered on the AF forum but here is more food for thought.....

Check out the MJC's. Not all have soccer but if you want to play and they have a team you will be able to try out. Some kids have even been recruited from their prep school.
At a MJC you will participate in ROTC, you will play a sport, you will attend College classes (for credit) that are specially tailored to your plebe year at the AFA. If necessary you will re-take your SAT's. You will have opportunity for leadership development in a military school setting. You will be exposed to the military culture - lunch with a visiting General? Yes!
The majority of military college preps go to MMI or NMMI - but you are free to attend any school on the list.

If you decide that military school is not for you - you can take your college credit and transfer them to many excellent colleges.

NWP - is a half year non credit program that focuses on study skills and improving SAT scores. Then you leave your group and go home for the rest of the year (perhaps to a CC).

Your appointment is yours to lose. If you complete the program as required - you WILL receive an appointment.
 
One more point - affordability.....

Nearly ever student can afford NMMI or MMI if they are sponsored. If you have an AFROTC scholarship you will make money attending MMI. You can used Federal financial aid at the military junior colleges - not at NWP.
NMMI and MMI also give in-state tuition plus an added SAP scholarship for their sponsored cadets.
 
NWP - is a half year non credit program that focuses on study skills and improving SAT scores. Then you leave your group and go home for the rest of the year (perhaps to a CC).
I have never had a candidate to be offered NWP. However, if I did, I think I would have to be a lot more comfortable with these concepts before I could recommend it.
 
One of the factors my son just considered in choosing NMMI is the altitude. Granted Roswell is not as high as COS but it's a heck of a lot higher than sea level where we live. A year at 3700 feet should make the transition to COS easier.
 
I just answered in the AF forum, but in specific response to your soccer question: Valley Forge does have a competitive soccer team that competes against other colleges and also the West Point prep school USMAPS and the Peddie School, which a lot of navy preps go to
 
IMHO, I believe NWP is a great prep school and has great success. NWP had 56 FF last year I believe and 56 of them received appointments. I attend NWP last year as well as a free agents. What they do up there is outstanding and that one semester back at home is nice considering it will be your last one. At NWP you will not be able to go home for Thanksgiving as well, so you will basically be up there for 3 1/2 months without going home, unless you live close. Then the only time you go home is on liberty weekends and that is only for a Saturday night after your test and you have to be back Sunday. If you are also worried about altitude it is 5,300 feet above sea level in the mountains of Southern California. I would recommend it to anyone! If without a FF scholarship.
 
I am planning on re applying to the USAFA and USNA along with applying (for the first time) to the USMA for the class of 2016. For this prep year ahead, I was looking into the Self Prep(free agent) programs at both the NMMI and NWP. Which one do the Academies look higher on (during the admissions process)?
 
I know Air Force ranked NWP number 2 out of all the foundation prep schools this past year. And that is without the military aspect, that means they they automatically received zero points for that category. There were 56 falcon foundation students last year at NWP when I attend as a free agent. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
 
I am planning on re applying to the USAFA and USNA along with applying (for the first time) to the USMA for the class of 2016. For this prep year ahead, I was looking into the Self Prep(free agent) programs at both the NMMI and NWP. Which one do the Academies look higher on (during the admissions process)?

If you are going to apply to USMA or possibly USNA then re-think NWP. West Point does not use this school for their sponsored AOG preps. I don't think Navy does either - if they do then very few go there.

If you are self-prep; I would strongly recommend a Military Junior college - either MMI or NMMI or possible Valley Forge (who has recently revamped their prep program).
All of these schools prep for all three academies. The other big advantage to an MJC is that you will earn college credits. If the SA does not work out you have transferable college credits.

Be aware that at the MJC's, one has to apply to the Service Academy Prep program and be accepted.
 
Navy foundation does us NWP. They only give out 50 scholarships though and I believe 8 of them went to NWP last year, so many of them do go there as that is a little less than 1/5 of the foundation. So it is pretty even throughout the Navy foundation. And USMA does not send them there because there is no military uniforms, but many free agents went there this past year and I believe 5 free agents got into Westpoint.
 
I'm acquainted w/ a young man who went to NWP as a free agent (not accepted @ USNA out of high school). He did well @ NWP, re-applied, and while he still didn't get USNA, he was accepted @ USMA, where he's now entering his third year.
 
USNA specific

I am planning on re applying to the USAFA and USNA along with applying (for the first time) to the USMA for the class of 2016. For this prep year ahead, I was looking into the Self Prep(free agent) programs at both the NMMI and NWP. Which one do the Academies look higher on (during the admissions process)?
Why don't you call Admissions, which you should, and ask them? They will probably tell you to go to a good four year school and take a minimum of 15 semester hours each term of calculus, chemistry and/or physics, history, and English composition.

There are many ways NOT to get selected for admission. The typical Prep selectee is only one of them. He normally is a "Wow, what an outstanding candidate. Perfect except his SATs are a little low, his academics are not quite as rigorious as they should be, or his grades and/or not quite as good as we would like them". If you are absolutely, without a doubt, sure that this is you, perhaps a prep school is in order. If not, a year of regular college will most likely be better for you.

As far as NWP and USNA, I have seen several candidates offered NMMI or MMI but never an offer to NWP. Perhaps, though, it is financial or geographic. I am East coast.
 
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Getting accepted is about the candidate... how best to improve your whole package and compete for an appointment. Sure, some might go to NWP and get accepted but not all do. It's not a guarantee but a risk.
Kids and parents need to evaluate the risk vs the benefit.
Here is a real life example of a parent whose daughter took the risk and lost:

Read this post -
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showpost.php?p=20374&postcount=12

She applied twice - got 2 or 3 nominations each time and was rejected twice. Just a warning - proceed with caution.
 
Yes this might be because you are on the East Coast, but I attended NWP this past year and we had I believe 8 Navy foundation scholars. Some of these students were also from the East Coast, actually 6/8 were I believe so I know that people from all over attend NWP. They do send them there every year. Like I stated before it is not as many as AF though due to the number of scholarships they give out. They only give out 50 scholarships and I believe they have 6 prep schools to choose from I am not positive on how many there are, but we did have a decent amount from navy this past year and in previous years they get about the same number.

As far as NWP and USNA, I have seen several candidates offered NMMI or MMI but never an offer to NWP. Perhaps, though, it is financial or geographic. I am East coast.
 
Does attending a prep school over community college really seem that much better when reapplying?
 
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