USMAPS vs. Civil Prep

sportslover

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Found out I will not be receiving an appointment to USMA but have been offered USMAPS or Civil Prep-location still TBD. Anybody else in the same situation? With all due respect-should I consider this an honor? Is this offer the next best thing? Do those on the NWL who do not receive an appointment also get offered USMAPS? Does anybody have any insight regarding USMAPS or CP?
 
Found out I will not be receiving an appointment to USMA but have been offered USMAPS or Civil Prep-location still TBD. Anybody else in the same situation? With all due respect-should I consider this an honor? Is this offer the next best thing? Do those on the NWL who do not receive an appointment also get offered USMAPS? Does anybody have any insight regarding USMAPS or CP?

Personally, go to USMAPS. You will make lifelong bonds with other prepsters there which will serve you well as a cadet.
 
Also, if I recall correctly, you will get a service-connected nomination for doing USMAPS, and the year you stay at the USMAPS counts towards your retirement years, or something to the like.
 
Found out I will not be receiving an appointment to USMA but have been offered USMAPS or Civil Prep-location still TBD. Anybody else in the same situation? With all due respect-should I consider this an honor? Is this offer the next best thing? Do those on the NWL who do not receive an appointment also get offered USMAPS? Does anybody have any insight regarding USMAPS or CP?

Yes its the next best thing. Only a select number are offerred prep school. If you want to go to USMA take it.
 
Yes its the next best thing. Only a select number are offerred prep school. If you want to go to USMA take it.

I understand while USMAPS is a sure bet, Civil Prep doesn't necessarily guarantee you a spot for 2017, right?

Because I've been offered CP too if this year doesn't work out.
 
I understand while USMAPS is a sure bet, Civil Prep doesn't necessarily guarantee you a spot for 2017, right?

Because I've been offered CP too if this year doesn't work out.

USMAPS is NOT a sure bet. You still must reapply from USMAPS. It is possible to attend and not be admitted to USMA.
 
That's interesting to be offered USMAPS and CP as there are different qualifications for both.

To go to USMAPS, you must be medically and physically qualified but you have to be academically disqualified (typically in Math or English).
The purpose of USMAPS is for Math and English remediation.
There are 246 slots for USMAPS and about 46 don't make it to WP - mainly for failing grades, they chose to leave or there is some discipline problem.

To be sponsored to a CP school - you must be 3Q'd with a nom.

So that is why it is interesting to be offered both. If you are academically q'd, then USMAPS won't be offered. If you are not academically Q'd - CP won't be offered.
:confused:

If I had a choice - I would go to USMAPS.
 
With all due respect-should I consider this an honor?
Indeed it is an honor. There are thousands of applicants who will not be Appointed who would trade places with you in a NY minute.
 
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That's interesting to be offered USMAPS and CP as there are different qualifications for both.

To go to USMAPS, you must be medically and physically qualified but you have to be academically disqualified (typically in Math or English).
The purpose of USMAPS is for Math and English remediation.
There are 246 slots for USMAPS and about 46 don't make it to WP - mainly for failing grades, they chose to leave or there is some discipline problem.

To be sponsored to a CP school - you must be 3Q'd with a nom.

So that is why it is interesting to be offered both. If you are academically q'd, then USMAPS won't be offered. If you are not academically Q'd - CP won't be offered.
:confused:

If I had a choice - I would go to USMAPS.

I have been reluctant to answer because I attended neither USMAPS nor CP but I noticed nobody has been listing any of the pros of CP. From Prepsters I have heard USMAPS classes did not really help or compare to USMA ones, would CP not prepare/set you up well for the academics at USMA?

I just want the candidate to hear what both choices have to offer. :wink:
 
My DS is a Cow. He attended CP at MMI. It was a good experience for him. Chemistry at USMA was actually easier for than at MMI since the instructor at MMI had designed the course based on USMA's curriculum. Academically it prepared him very well. Indeed, of the 30+ CPs from MMI only one is no longer at the USMA. As far as the military aspect, MMI helped some but it is not the same as being in military. Speaking of which, at USMAPS you are in the service and presumably get paid. As a CP, you don’t and you have to pay a portion of the tuition costs. One last point, I have often wondered about what it would be like to be at USMAPS, which is now physically located at West Point. That would be five years at the Point (or joint as a grad once called it). Best of luck. Both options are great.
 
I have been reluctant to answer because I attended neither USMAPS nor CP but I noticed nobody has been listing any of the pros of CP. From Prepsters I have heard USMAPS classes did not really help or compare to USMA ones, would CP not prepare/set you up well for the academics at USMA?

I just want the candidate to hear what both choices have to offer. :wink:

Absolutely - CP is a great option. Just different from USMAPS but very unusual to hear that someone has been offered both.

With a CP school, you are either sponsored or unsponsored.

Sponsored - you are 'offered' CP and are given a scholarship by the AOG (Association of Graduates) to a CP school.
AOG pays 1/3 of the tuition, the CP school pays 1/3 and the student pays 1/3. If you accept the AOG scholarship, are offered an appointment and turn it down, you have to pay back the scholarship. If you fail out of CP, then you do not have to repay.
CP sponsored cadets are those that are 3q'd with a nom. There was just no room in the class so you are offered a year at a CP school until the next year where you will be offered an appointment if you do well - don't mess up - get a nom, pass the CFA and stay DoDMERB qualified.
AOG is not going to waste money on a candidate who can't get in the next year and they don't offer that many - only about 50/yr.
So being offered CP is definitely a good thing.

Unsponsored - the candidate pays for the tuition. No guarantee of an appointment, however, many will get in the next year. MMI has a good rate of acceptance to WP of unsponsored cadets. I don't know about the other CP schools.

If offered CP, take it.
or
If offered USMAPS, take it.

Both are the next best thing to an appointment and an offer of appointment is yours to lose for the next year.
 
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If you are on the NWL but not appointed and you still want to go to WP -
If offered CP, take it.
If offered USMAPS, take it.

Are you not contradicting yourself?

To go to USMAPS, you must be medically and physically qualified but you have to be academically disqualified (typically in Math or English).

If one were eligible for USMAPS, they would not be on the NWL. Rules for MAPS eligibbility are relatively straight forward. CP, much less so since it is not federally funded.
 
Two additional points regarding the sponsored Civil Prep program (my DS is currently at VFMC as a sponsored prep student):

1. Depending on which prep school you attend, you will not necessarily pay only 1/3 of the total cost. For example, we are responsible for approximately 45% of the total costs for my DS's year at VFMC. Don't get me wrong, in the long run it is well worth it financially, and VFMC is probably the most expensive prep school that you can attend as a AoG sponsored student. However, we found that the 1/3 figure was not quite right in the end.

2. According to the Director of the AoG Civil Prep Scholarship Program, a higher percentage of cadets who enter West Point through the Civil Prep program graduate than from ANY other source. I think that shows how well the Civil Prep students are prepared for West Point.
 
I have been reluctant to answer because I attended neither USMAPS nor CP but I noticed nobody has been listing any of the pros of CP. From Prepsters I have heard USMAPS classes did not really help or compare to USMA ones, would CP not prepare/set you up well for the academics at USMA?

I just want the candidate to hear what both choices have to offer. :wink:

Can't speak to CO but thought I would point out that I wouldn't expect USMAPS classes to be comparable to USMA classes since they are aimed at prepping them for USMA classes. They're laying the foundation.
 
If you are on the NWL but not appointed and you still want to go to WP -
If offered CP, take it.
If offered USMAPS, take it

Are you not contradicting yourself?

I see what you mean. I should have put a line between the two.
You are correct - if you are offered USMAPS, you were not on the NWL because those on the NWL are 3Q'd with a nom and those offered USMAPS would not be academically qualified therefore not 3Q'd.


To go to USMAPS, you must be medically and physically qualified but you have to be academically disqualified (typically in Math or English).

If one were eligible for USMAPS, they would not be on the NWL. Rules for MAPS eligibbility are relatively straight forward. CP, much less so since it is not federally funded.

Thanks for keeping me straight. I'll go back and edit :thumb:
 
Can't speak to CO but thought I would point out that I wouldn't expect USMAPS classes to be comparable to USMA classes since they are aimed at prepping them for USMA classes. They're laying the foundation.

I guess I should have left that part out and left it at "they said the USMAPS classes did not really help them prepare for the USMA ones." :thumb:
 
USMAPS vs Civil Prep

Sorry, new to the board and this may have been covered somewhere. Is a congressional nomination required to be offered a spot in USMAPS by the USMA? Meaning, if I am not academically qualified, but are otherwise physically and medically qualified, a recruited athlete, do I still need a nomination?
 
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