Transferring to VMI with a 3.6 EE GPA

Methodical

5-Year Member
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Jul 20, 2011
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3
Hello All,

I applied to VMI my senior year of HS and got waitlisted (3.2 gpa, 5/5 AB calc score, 4/5 BC Calc score).

Looking at some of the posts on this forum I am actually surprised I got waitlisted, but I heard that it was because I was a local and did not give an interview.

I have spent some time at an out of state Engineering school and I've just completed my freshman year with a 3.6 gpa.

calc 2 and 3 completed (multivariable/linear algebra and integral calculus) both A's, also I have completed some Electrical Eng courses with A's, all other Engineering courses were completed with A's. I got a D in English my first semester but retook it my second for a B, nothing else is outstanding on my record.

I want to transfer to VMI for my Junior and senior years (or as I think it is called, the 2nd and 1st years), getting an Officer commission in the US Navy preferably a SEAL slot.

Sorry for rambling, is it worth it to transfer to VMI for my junior and senior years? What are the chances of me getting accepted after two years of College? I have read that VMI accepts 2 year transfers but I'm a bit unsure of it actually happening. If all else fails I am going to transfer to UVA or VT. (VMI/UVA/VT are all cheaper engineering schools than the one I currently go to if you're searching for my reasoning)

Thanks for taking the time to read this jargon!
 
I have read that VMI accepts 2 year transfers but I'm a bit unsure of it actually happening.

My son is currently at STP. He told me he has met several future BR's (transfers) who, after completing the Ratline, will be academic Juniors and will graduate in 2013. So apparently it does happen.
 
I want to transfer to VMI for my Junior and senior years (or as I think it is called, the 2nd and 1st years), getting an Officer commission in the US Navy preferably a SEAL slot.

I have a feeling that you cant branch SEAL right after commission.
 
I have a feeling that you cant branch SEAL right after commission.
there were two VMI grads in class of 2011 who got SEAL slots

BUD/S slots are highly competitive, because there's a much greater need for enlisted SEALs than for officers to command them. The process of earning a BUD/S slot as an officer is extremely selective.

There was a guy in the Class of 2007 who was selected for BUD/S, but then he lost his slot (and his commission) for doing something incredibly stupid at VMI that resulted in a penalty #1. That's 15 demerits, 60 penalty tours, 4 months confinement, and loss of rank--and he was one of the highest ranking cadets in the Corps. Since he was scholarship, he was allowed to complete his degree (he really only had one semester left), but then he had to fulfill his duty obligations as an enlisted Sailor. I'm not sure what he's doing now.

The Moral of the Story: Nobody is untouchable. If you prove that you think you're above the rules, you're only going to hurt yourself in the end. The commanders of the ROTC detachments take their jobs very seriously, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure that only the best officers commission through ROTC at VMI.

On a less sober note, Bruno, do you know the names of the guys from '11 who earned BUD/S slots?

-jmb-
 
BUD/S slots are highly competitive, because there's a much greater need for enlisted SEALs than for officers to command them. The process of earning a BUD/S slot as an officer is extremely selective.

There was a guy in the Class of 2007 who was selected for BUD/S, but then he lost his slot (and his commission) for doing something incredibly stupid at VMI that resulted in a penalty #1. That's 15 demerits, 60 penalty tours, 4 months confinement, and loss of rank--and he was one of the highest ranking cadets in the Corps. Since he was scholarship, he was allowed to complete his degree (he really only had one semester left), but then he had to fulfill his duty obligations as an enlisted Sailor. I'm not sure what he's doing now.

The Moral of the Story: Nobody is untouchable. If you prove that you think you're above the rules, you're only going to hurt yourself in the end. The commanders of the ROTC detachments take their jobs very seriously, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure that only the best officers commission through ROTC at VMI.

On a less sober note, Bruno, do you know the names of the guys from '11 who earned BUD/S slots?

-jmb-
Ahh- the # 1 club. running the block or drinking in barracks I assume? I am pretty close to someone who managed to exceed 60 PTs in a semester- he actually worried me some when he mentioned that he found it kind of stress relieving and that it gave him a lot of time to think about random stuff.:rolleyes:
I don't know the names- Gen Peay was in Boston a couple of weeks ago talking to the Alumni chapter and got that from him.
 
Unauthorized Ratline activities.

At VMI, there are a couple of standard Rules of Engagement (ROEs) for Ratline enforcement. These ROEs spell out what upperclassmen can and cannot do to the little rat-ties. For instance, Cadre and RDC can makes rats do more pushups than a regular upperclassman can, and they have a little more leeway in what they're allowed to drop rats for.

There's a huge distinction between hazing and unauthorized Ratline activities. Under Virginia law, hazing is handled as a form of assault. All hazing is unauthorized, but not all breeches of the Ratline ROE are hazing.

The dude in question broke the ROE plenty of times as a Second Classman (my rat year), but we were too dumb to realize it at the time, and we probably wouldn't have cared too much, anyway. :smile: It was stuff that seemed relatively minor, to us: exceeding the maximum number of pushups, dropping us without a reason, etc.

When he told us he had special Ratline privileges due to his position within the Corps, we believed him. He did have special privileges, because he was working under the Cadre ROE. But he also blatantly ignored the Cadre ROE.

All of this would have been enough to get him some kind of penalty, but it would not have been enough to warrant loss of rank as a Second Classman. Things got out of hand when he became a First Classman and abused his authority as a dyke.

Had he been a First Class PVT, there would have been some kind of penalty, but it probably would not have been as severe as a #1. Given his position, the Commandant's Staff decided to remove all future potential for him to abuse his authority.

In the end, I think it's pretty easy to understand why the NROTC detachment commander decided that this dude was not exactly ready to become a Naval officer.
 
As for the original question, stay in touch with the folks in the VMI Office of Admissions. The more they get to know you and see your dedication to VMI, the better off you'll be. Especially since it sounds like they might have been looking for a little more initiative and commitment to earning that acceptance letter the first time around.

Before you enroll in classes, check with Admissions and the VMI Registrar to make sure you'll get transfer credit.

Also, whatever you're doing academically, keep doing it! What you're doing now is establishing a track record of academic success at the college level. Earning a 3.6 GPA in an EE program at another school is no joke.

Good luck,
-jmb-
 
One of the Class of '11 cadets who got a slot at BUD/s was Regimental Executive Officer, Michael J. Frossard, a Mechanical Engineering major from Illinois (that's how Conteh aka "The Voice of God" would introduce him during parades). I'm not sure who the other guy but there weren't too many people who comissioned Navy this year so it shouldn't be hard to figure out if you look around.
 
As a parent of a rat soon to be I am delighted that vmi actually enforces discipline on the cadre.
Power too easily corrupts especially those too immature to handle it
 
As for the original question, stay in touch with the folks in the VMI Office of Admissions. The more they get to know you and see your dedication to VMI, the better off you'll be. Especially since it sounds like they might have been looking for a little more initiative and commitment to earning that acceptance letter the first time around.

Before you enroll in classes, check with Admissions and the VMI Registrar to make sure you'll get transfer credit.

Also, whatever you're doing academically, keep doing it! What you're doing now is establishing a track record of academic success at the college level. Earning a 3.6 GPA in an EE program at another school is no joke.

Good luck,
-jmb-

Thanks! I'll have to get in touch with admissions a bit earlier than I had originally planned.
Academically, I wake up at 5:00 to squeeze in more studying. College has really taught me how valuable time management is!
 
Thanks! I'll have to get in touch with admissions a bit earlier than I had originally planned.
Academically, I wake up at 5:00 to squeeze in more studying. College has really taught me how valuable time management is!

Mention this in your admissions essay.
 
Hello All,

I applied to VMI my senior year of HS and got waitlisted (3.2 gpa, 5/5 AB calc score, 4/5 BC Calc score).

Looking at some of the posts on this forum I am actually surprised I got waitlisted, but I heard that it was because I was a local and did not give an interview.

I have spent some time at an out of state Engineering school and I've just completed my freshman year with a 3.6 gpa.

calc 2 and 3 completed (multivariable/linear algebra and integral calculus) both A's, also I have completed some Electrical Eng courses with A's, all other Engineering courses were completed with A's. I got a D in English my first semester but retook it my second for a B, nothing else is outstanding on my record.

I want to transfer to VMI for my Junior and senior years (or as I think it is called, the 2nd and 1st years), getting an Officer commission in the US Navy preferably a SEAL slot.

Sorry for rambling, is it worth it to transfer to VMI for my junior and senior years? What are the chances of me getting accepted after two years of College? I have read that VMI accepts 2 year transfers but I'm a bit unsure of it actually happening. If all else fails I am going to transfer to UVA or VT. (VMI/UVA/VT are all cheaper engineering schools than the one I currently go to if you're searching for my reasoning)

Thanks for taking the time to read this jargon!

Make sure to have good recommendations with your application. personally call your admissions officer and tell him/her why you want VMI. Also VMI gets two bud/s slots a year and the guys fighting for them are gonna have a massive edge over you. BTW you will still have to complete the ratline and in general most of your class wont be happy that you've come in late because of the BR relationship.
 
there were two VMI grads in class of 2011 who got SEAL slots
I'm pretty sure that the 2011 Corps XO was the only one to get an officer slot, although at least one guy I know went enlisted, which is a much easier slot to get.
 
Make sure to have good recommendations with your application. personally call your admissions officer and tell him/her why you want VMI. Also VMI gets two bud/s slots a year and the guys fighting for them are gonna have a massive edge over you. BTW you will still have to complete the ratline and in general most of your class wont be happy that you've come in late because of the BR relationship.

There is no such thing as a transfer to VMI. You will be a rat and a third and then graduate if you stay on track.
Anyway, the rats are coming tomorrow so you've already made your choice. Hope to see you tommorow! Lot's of fun. :biggrin:
 
Just to clarify... you can transfer to VMI with advanced academic standing, but you won't get any kind of advanced standing within the Class System. As a very brief overview, the Class System--more specifically, the General Committee (GC)--oversees the Ratline and the privileges of each class.

You earn more privileges the longer you've been at VMI, as a GC class. You can be an academic Second Classman, but still be a rat or a Third within the Class System.

This means that if you transfer in as a junior, it is possible to graduate in two years if you stay on track academically. But you'll still go through the Ratline your first year, and you'll still have minimal privileges the following year--just like your Brother Rats.

Also, here's a direct copy/paste from the VMI admissions application, in the section where you declare whether you're applying ED or RD:

"I am applying for early decision (by November 15), and I know if I am accepted I must attend VMI."

This is a pretty standard policy for colleges in general.

Hope this clarifies things a bit.

Jackie M. Briski '09
Young Alumni Committee, VMIAA
 
Just to clarify... you can transfer to VMI with advanced academic standing, but you won't get any kind of advanced standing within the Class System. As a very brief overview, the Class System--more specifically, the General Committee (GC)--oversees the Ratline and the privileges of each class.

You earn more privileges the longer you've been at VMI, as a GC class. You can be an academic Second Classman, but still be a rat or a Third within the Class System.

This means that if you transfer in as a junior, it is possible to graduate in two years if you stay on track academically. But you'll still go through the Ratline your first year, and you'll still have minimal privileges the following year--just like your Brother Rats.

Also, here's a direct copy/paste from the VMI admissions application, in the section where you declare whether you're applying ED or RD:

"I am applying for early decision (by November 15), and I know if I am accepted I must attend VMI."

This is a pretty standard policy for colleges in general.

Hope this clarifies things a bit.

Jackie M. Briski '09
Young Alumni Committee, VMIAA


Accepted for fall 2012, I'm graduating in 2015 with a SEAL Commission if it kills me. PT scores should blow the minimums out of the water, I am beyond psyched for the ratline.

Thanks for your help.
 
Accepted for fall 2012, I'm graduating in 2015 with a SEAL Commission if it kills me. PT scores should blow the minimums out of the water, I am beyond psyched for the ratline.

Thanks for your help.

Good luck to you:thumb:
 
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