AROTC Scholarship decisions
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Strength and Honor
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Not even close to a decision yet. I keep hoping one morning I'll wake up and just know for certain, but I don't! And the recruiting officer at Purdue told me it just has to be postmarked by December 22nd.
I've set myself the deadline of December 16th to send out my letter.
I've set myself the deadline of December 16th to send out my letter.
Feel free to pm me if you have specific Norwich questions. My DS is a Cadet at Norwich, played a sport this year and is way more than 7 hours away.
S&H,
Purdue v VMI? Purdue is a fine school... a VERY fine school, but VMI grads shaped history and changed the world. In my opinion it's a no-brainer. Heck, even reading a list of VMI alumni gives me a lump in my throat!
Take the scholarship and go to VMI. Be a part of that proud history. You won't be sorry.
Purdue v VMI? Purdue is a fine school... a VERY fine school, but VMI grads shaped history and changed the world. In my opinion it's a no-brainer. Heck, even reading a list of VMI alumni gives me a lump in my throat!
Take the scholarship and go to VMI. Be a part of that proud history. You won't be sorry.
Couple of points to consider:
- those VMI grads who shaped history would also have shaped history had they instead attended Purdue, and
- Purdue will be excellent for some majors, and VMI for others. The major might make the decision more than where really cool dead guys went to college.
For DS, a major sticking point has become SMC lifestyle vs. civilian college experience. As Strength says - he is hoping the answer will just come to him. Any 17 year old has pretty limited experience in deciding on that choice if they have never lived it. Fortunately my older 3 have been happy with their college choices, and the choice seemed to be obvious to them at the time....unfortunately, this choice seems to be a whole lot harder!
nofodad
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cool dead guys
+1 I think if you check the roster, there's plenty of cool dead guys that graduated from the big 10....
+1 I think if you check the roster, there's plenty of cool dead guys that graduated from the big 10....
Strength and Honor
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Well it's basically VMI's history and traditions vs Purdue's close to home vs USF's totally free and south Florida lifestyle! I don't know what to do!
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Clearly one question you have to ask yourself is how often you want to get home. When I was in college, once a month was sufficient. DS on the other hand, who is only 3.5-4 hour drive only comes home on holidays and breaks. He has yet to come home for just a weekend. And this was a kid who didn't want to get too far from home when he weighed his options. Also, consider what other students at the college do on the weekends. I know plenty of colleges where everyone disappears on the weekend. Don't know if any of yours fall into this category.
Other things to consider: mountains, vs rolling hills, vs dead flat. Any one of which might make you miss home, and what you're used to.
Also, history and traditions are nice, but they don't put food on the table later in life. I won't even get into SMC lifestyle vs "regular" college which I know you understand.
Vista123
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son's three schools are reach schools just by the nature of their school (in other words he has good stats but so does everyone who applies).
One he applied non binding early admission and should hear back by Monday but it could easily be a deferred regular admission decision until spring.
One he also applied non binding early admission and should not hear back until 12/26 (after the deadline) but regardless this could also easily be a deferred decision until spring.
One only had binding early decision so he had to do regular decision so wont hear back from them until spring.
He does have a definite order of preference but really likes all three. We are encouraging him, if he does not get early decision to his #1 choice, to chose that school anyway, hope he gets into it on regular decision, and if he does not get in try to transfer later. so far he is not inclined to listen and wants the sure bet (should he get into early decision to #2 or #3).
He hasn't listed to my "expert advice" throughout this process--I was so sure that 17 year olds mind their parents....
One he applied non binding early admission and should hear back by Monday but it could easily be a deferred regular admission decision until spring.
One he also applied non binding early admission and should not hear back until 12/26 (after the deadline) but regardless this could also easily be a deferred decision until spring.
One only had binding early decision so he had to do regular decision so wont hear back from them until spring.
He does have a definite order of preference but really likes all three. We are encouraging him, if he does not get early decision to his #1 choice, to chose that school anyway, hope he gets into it on regular decision, and if he does not get in try to transfer later. so far he is not inclined to listen and wants the sure bet (should he get into early decision to #2 or #3).
He hasn't listed to my "expert advice" throughout this process--I was so sure that 17 year olds mind their parents....
Vista, I think they only mind us if it involves putting money in their hands....
One of my concerns is that some of the comments I am getting from DS are a bit bizarre. Such as, well in the SMC there will be nothing to do. When pressing further, well no x-box. When it was pointed out that he doesn't even have an x-box anymore, the reply was, well I will play in college.
I just think that there are so many little things that have to be weighed, especially when considering a lifestyle that they have only experienced for 24 hours!
One of my concerns is that some of the comments I am getting from DS are a bit bizarre. Such as, well in the SMC there will be nothing to do. When pressing further, well no x-box. When it was pointed out that he doesn't even have an x-box anymore, the reply was, well I will play in college.
I just think that there are so many little things that have to be weighed, especially when considering a lifestyle that they have only experienced for 24 hours!
Vista123
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LOL-I snorted my coffee when you wrote that. We are not a family of gamers (my third would rather code than game...) However, my son at USNA will text me how his sponsor parent's other midkid games the entire wkend while there. He also texted me about another mid who competes with some kids from Korea (gaming).
However you are right, it is a lifestyle choice. But I dont necessarily think it is as bleak and drastic as one might think. My son actually came home from Thanksgiving with longer hair than he has ever worn. We teased him that he joined the navy and now has "flow."
Pima
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Strength,
I agree with kinnem. College is more than just one thing, it is the whole package. You just need to decide what things carry the most weight. Life is always going to be that way, there will always be a give and take.
I understand VMI has military tradition, but remember every college has their own traditions too. Once you get there, and IF you love your school you will defend it as the best. That too is just the way of life.
I also agree that those great officers would exist no matter where they attend college because it is the drive that is in their existence. It would be akin to saying Bill Gates should not be a business mogul because he dropped out of college, or that had he stayed in college he wouldn't be a mogul. He is because of that is his passion and what pushed him to be a success.
Finally, I know kids that think by going to a school close to home is a negative thing in different ways.
1. Many of the kids from HS go there and we want to start from scratch.
~~~ The fact is for large universities, the chances are they won't see each other. They won't live in the same dorm. They won't be in the same classes. They too probably want to start their life too. IOWs it is a fallacy to believe it will be XYZ HS part II with all of the same people in your circle if you don't want them to be.
2. The folks will be popping by at the dorm, or asking if you are coming home for Friday night dinner.
~~~ The fact is our lives move on too. Many of us like the idea that you won't be coming home, because after yrs of the tv blaring until 1 a.m. and waking up to dishes in the sink we are happy not to be screaming across the house at 1 a.m. lower the tv and shut your door. Trust me we also don't miss the dishes either!
~~~ The reality is it will be you coming home, and as parents we know what that means.
~1. They need $$$
~2. They ran out of clean clothes
~3. The snack/food supply is running low
~4. Everyone cleared out for the weekend, and so by going home #1-3 are accomplished! Plus, Mom and Dad really miss me, so they will be more than happy to see me, even though I am only coming home for reason #4, they'll never realize that!
So if you are placing Purdue or any school at a lower placement for the above reasons, you need to re-think it.
Good luck.
PS. Our DS attended college only 70 mins away from us, but a spit eye from DC. He maybe came home 1x a semester, besides long weekends like T-Day. Our DD at VT, 4 hrs away, has come home now more often, because she and her sorority sisters like to go into DC when there are no home games at school. They all love VT, but you know when you get to the age of 21, DC is a lot more fun than Blacksburg, and at 21 with 5 girls in a car, a 4 hr road trip isn't that long in their mind when you scheduled your classes to have every Friday off!
It is amazing how things change when you get older!
I agree with kinnem. College is more than just one thing, it is the whole package. You just need to decide what things carry the most weight. Life is always going to be that way, there will always be a give and take.
I understand VMI has military tradition, but remember every college has their own traditions too. Once you get there, and IF you love your school you will defend it as the best. That too is just the way of life.
I also agree that those great officers would exist no matter where they attend college because it is the drive that is in their existence. It would be akin to saying Bill Gates should not be a business mogul because he dropped out of college, or that had he stayed in college he wouldn't be a mogul. He is because of that is his passion and what pushed him to be a success.
Finally, I know kids that think by going to a school close to home is a negative thing in different ways.
1. Many of the kids from HS go there and we want to start from scratch.
~~~ The fact is for large universities, the chances are they won't see each other. They won't live in the same dorm. They won't be in the same classes. They too probably want to start their life too. IOWs it is a fallacy to believe it will be XYZ HS part II with all of the same people in your circle if you don't want them to be.
2. The folks will be popping by at the dorm, or asking if you are coming home for Friday night dinner.
~~~ The fact is our lives move on too. Many of us like the idea that you won't be coming home, because after yrs of the tv blaring until 1 a.m. and waking up to dishes in the sink we are happy not to be screaming across the house at 1 a.m. lower the tv and shut your door. Trust me we also don't miss the dishes either!
~~~ The reality is it will be you coming home, and as parents we know what that means.
~1. They need $$$
~2. They ran out of clean clothes
~3. The snack/food supply is running low
~4. Everyone cleared out for the weekend, and so by going home #1-3 are accomplished! Plus, Mom and Dad really miss me, so they will be more than happy to see me, even though I am only coming home for reason #4, they'll never realize that!
So if you are placing Purdue or any school at a lower placement for the above reasons, you need to re-think it.
Good luck.
PS. Our DS attended college only 70 mins away from us, but a spit eye from DC. He maybe came home 1x a semester, besides long weekends like T-Day. Our DD at VT, 4 hrs away, has come home now more often, because she and her sorority sisters like to go into DC when there are no home games at school. They all love VT, but you know when you get to the age of 21, DC is a lot more fun than Blacksburg, and at 21 with 5 girls in a car, a 4 hr road trip isn't that long in their mind when you scheduled your classes to have every Friday off!
It is amazing how things change when you get older!
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EDelahanty
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I bet x-box is worth on average 0.4 GPA points and 30 APFT points. He'll have to figure that out for himself.
Vista123
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Two more points
1. I agree with EDelahanty, there are sacrifices within school that need to be made/or not made. My son plays a sport that is four hours a day (door to door) that drastically effects his GPA and will effect summer options and possibly service assignments later. He understands this (I hate it!) but those are choices for him to make.
2. When making college choices and then ordering them for ROTC my other son was in a bind. This is how he came up with an answer: we took index cards and wrote one item on each card (I wish I could remember them all) and they were something like: Has an ROTC program, liked PMS/battalion, has my major, prestigious for my major, fraternity, urban/non urban setting, nice dorms, close to home, close to sibling, can play my sport, has a club that Id like, weather, size etc etc etc. (there were more but I cant recall) I had him line them up with the most important at the top and the least important at the bottom. It was amazing how well that simple exercise worked.
I think the x-box comment was most likely coming from a friend or acquaintance, and I have a feeling I know which one, and maybe was just another way of saying "what do you do to amuse yourself and relax in your free time if there is no TV, x-box, phones, etc'? I know playing his sport will keep him going and busy for most of one semester, but I am not sure he has a good idea of what the cadets do to "amuse" themselves other than that. Sleep? Talk?
I like the idea of the index cards - I am going to set them on the couch right now so I remember to have DS do that.
I like the idea of the index cards - I am going to set them on the couch right now so I remember to have DS do that.
Free time?
5:15 Rise
5:50 PT
7:00 Food
8:00 - 11:00 Class
12:00 Food
1:00- 3:00 Class
3:00-6:30 Sport
7:00 Food
8:00-12:00 Study
Community Service, Away sport matches, laundry, church, dating, extra ROTC activities.
There is no time for "amusing," most weeks. Plus unless you have a bunch of AP credits you probably need 17 credits each semester.
5:15 Rise
5:50 PT
7:00 Food
8:00 - 11:00 Class
12:00 Food
1:00- 3:00 Class
3:00-6:30 Sport
7:00 Food
8:00-12:00 Study
Community Service, Away sport matches, laundry, church, dating, extra ROTC activities.
There is no time for "amusing," most weeks. Plus unless you have a bunch of AP credits you probably need 17 credits each semester.
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So true. ANd that doesn't even factor in girlfriends or boyfriends. Most times when I call DS I get, "I can only talk for a minute Dad, I'm in the middle of... or I'm about to start... or I'm on my way to...". I believe him. Even my kid can't dislike me that much!
Vista123
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Let us know how that goes, I was surprised at how different my son's order was from what I thought his order would have been.