Plan B for prep

I guess a lot would depend on WHY S/He wasn't given an appointment.

1. Did they not receive a nomination? Even a prep school kid applying to the academy has to have a nomination.
2. Was their grades at the prep school too low?
3. Was there any sort of disciplinary or other reason?

Depending on the why, will determine the options. If it was academic, s/he could go to a traditional college this coming fall and reapply. If it was because they didn't receive a nomination, they can apply again, and get their representative or senator a really good resume and college class schedule to hopefully impress them enough to give a nomination.

If you don't know WHY s/he didn't receive an appointment, then it's hard to say. Obviously, they can't give everyone an appointment. Including ALL of the prep students. Usually an individual gets a prep school spot because the academy sees potential in the individual, and they hope the prep school can enhance the individual in the areas they need improvement in. If the academy doesn't feel that they improved to the point they hoped for, it could be difficult. Start with knowing WHY, then you can work on options.
 
There is a separate forum for prep school discussion, it lists the prep schools that are supported by the academies, and also other routes of commissioning.

Best of luck!
 
NWP

If you don't get an appointment you might be considered for USAFAPS which is the Academy's prep school. If you don't get a USAFAPS spot, you might get an offer to go to a Falcon Foundation prep school. For the Falcon Foundation scholarship, you can pick from eight different prep schools to go to for a year and your have a very, very, very good chance of getting accepted into the next class at the Academy.

I received a Falcon Foundation scholarship last year and I went to Northwestern Preparatory School in CA last semester. My experience there was so awesome that I consider myself lucky to have gotten that TWE. I feel SO much better prepared for the Academy. I would advise looking at the Service Academy Prep School discussions to see more about Falcon Foundation Schools and NWP. I would also suggest giving Mrs. Durbeck from NWP a call. She is full of helpful information and can really help you out.

Even if you don't receive a Falcon Foundation Scholarship, still look up NWP!!! Of my classmates, the majority were "free-agents" and did not have scholarships. Many of them have already gotten good news from the Academy and several are still waiting to hear.

If you do get that TWE, it might seem like the worst thing ever, but keep all of your options open. If the Academy is something that you really want, there are ways to get there.
 
I think you missed my question. If as a preppie, you commit to a year at a prep school but still not get an appointment-what alternatives are there? was what I was inquiring about.
It just seems to me that since there is no guarantee that a preppie gets an appointment, a year would have been wasted or are there credits that can be transferred? I understand that one can apply until thir 23rd birthday but prep school is only one year. I have read of applicants that have tried 2-3 times before getting an appointment. Does that mean you waste 2-3 years and then start from square one when you get in? At what point do you entertain another way of becoming an officer besides the Academy route?
 
bmw17 said:
If you don't get an appointment you might be considered for USAFAPS which is the Academy's prep school. If you don't get a USAFAPS spot, you might get an offer to go to a Falcon Foundation prep school. For the Falcon Foundation scholarship, you can pick from eight different prep schools to go to for a year and your have a very, very, very good chance of getting accepted into the next class at the Academy.

I received a Falcon Foundation scholarship last year and I went to Northwestern Preparatory School in CA last semester. My experience there was so awesome that I consider myself lucky to have gotten that TWE. I feel SO much better prepared for the Academy. I would advise looking at the Service Academy Prep School discussions to see more about Falcon Foundation Schools and NWP. I would also suggest giving Mrs. Durbeck from NWP a call. She is full of helpful information and can really help you out.

Even if you don't receive a Falcon Foundation Scholarship, still look up NWP!!! Of my classmates, the majority were "free-agents" and did not have scholarships. Many of them have already gotten good news from the Academy and several are still waiting to hear.

If you do get that TWE, it might seem like the worst thing ever, but keep all of your options open. If the Academy is something that you really want, there are ways to get there.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumb:
 
iceman2018 said:
If as a preppie, you commit to a year at a prep school but still not get an appointment-what alternatives are there? was what I was inquiring about.
Click to expand...

Alternatives for Prepsters who don't receive an appointment but still want to be an AF officer:
  1. Go to Prep school another year and reapply to USAFA
  2. Go to college and reapply
  3. Go to college and do AFROTC (can also reapply to USAFA while in AFROTC)
  4. Enlist and try to get an appointment (toughest route)
  5. Go to college and do OCS after graduation
Whatever the prepster does in life, prep school is not going to be a "waste". Our DS made great friends, enjoyed living in the California mountains, learned how to study better, and just had fun at prep school. However, you are correct that no classes will transfer to USAFA. Everyone does the full 4 years although cadets can validate out of courses if they can demonstrate a knowledge of the material.

Hope that helps . . .
 
NWP

I would also suggest giving Mrs. Durbeck from NWP a call. She is full of helpful information and can really help you out.

Even if you don't receive a Falcon Foundation Scholarship, still look up NWP!!! Of my classmates, the majority were "free-agents" and did not have scholarships. Many of them have already gotten good news from the Academy and several are still waiting to hear.

My DS was one of the lucky "Free Agents" who attended NWP this past fall and was appointed to West Point. He agrees that NWP, both Mr & Mrs D, and his fellow Prepsters, were all key elements towards his success. The support continues as he prepares for RDay!

Thanks to NWP and a ton of hard work!
One Proud Madre
 
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