Waiting on VMI Regular Decision

Keystone_Dad

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Jan 18, 2016
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I'm new to this forum and am thrilled there is something like this on the web. Can anyone point me to the acceptance thread for VMI 2020? My DS is waiting for regular decision. His application went in before the Early Action deadline, but he opted for the regular route.
 
I haven't seen one start yet for this year. Regular Decision Candidates should start hearing at any time. Might as well make this that thread. It would be good if folks would post in a format like the SA appointment threads.

Example
1. ProudDad, DS, Fairfax, VA, NROTC, Swimming
2. Trooper, DD, Wilmington, NC, ROTC undecided, Water Polo
3. Sonny, DS, Morgantown, WV, AROTC, Rugby
Example

For those offered and choose to attend VMI, be very proud. You are 1 of only 500. Rat mass of 2017+3
 
My daughter has been offered an appointment to VMI, the appointment arrived in December (regular decision). She is doing an overnight visit in Feb.

USNA is her first choice, but will is thrilled to have VMI if not offered at USNA.

She is still waiting to hear about NROTC, and has not yet accepted VMI, so I'm not sure she should be "officially" listed yet.

Good luck to you!
 
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My daughter has been offered an appointment to VMI, the appointment arrived in December (regular decision). She is doing an overnight visit in Feb.

USNA is her first choice, but will is thrilled to have VMI if not offered at USNA.

She is still waiting to hear about NROTC, and has not yet accepted VMI, so I'm not sure she should be "officially" listed yet.

Good luck to you!
USCGA is my DS's first choice but will be thrilled to have VMI as well. Congrats to your DD and I hope USNA works out.

Best wishes!
 
DS received VMI regular decision acceptance in December and received AROTC scholarship. He also was fortunate enough to receive USCGA appointment in November which we think he is leaning toward accepting. Best of luck to your DS, Keystone_Dad and hopefully they will see each other on R-day.
 
This thread is already starting to show the quality of applicants to VMI. (I suspect Citadel may be similar, but I have no first hand knowledge of El Cid, and since this thread is focused on VMI I will stay focused there.).

VMI ends up attracting a lot of candidates that are also applying to a SA, (makes it hard for those that don't have SA calibre records to gain admission. There are only 500 slots for the entering VMI class. Last year they cut back to 495.) A significant number of those that attend VMI also have been awarded ROTC national scholarships, which in today's world requires about the same academic, athletic and leadership record as required to obtain an SA appointment, which again speaks to the calibre of VMI applicant.

Our family has learned that ROTC and VMI can be a great "Plan B" for those that want an SA-like education to prepare them to serve. We have also learned that VMI is no "Plan B" when it comes to quality of institution or education. Impressive labs, facilities and instructors.

Best wishes to those that are SA applicants. Many things can happen that can preclude an SA appointment, many of which are out of your control. If offered, remember, being 1 of the entering 500 at VMI, especially if on a ROTC national scholarship, is also very special.
 
DS has an acceptance to VMI, full ROTC scholarship and waiting patiently to hear from West Point-(Me
Not so patient anymore, mainly anxious) Very blessed. Tremendous options.
This forum has been a wonderful source of info the entire journey. Has kept me sane since I am limited with any other parents who I could have knowledgeable conversations with in regard to SA. I found it in 2010 and read posts forever before joining. Thank you everyone for such a huge support system even though you had no idea you were!!
 
I must 2nd what FalconA stated. I also have no experience with El Cid, one of DS classmates is there and loves it.

VMI really is no Plan B. DS top 3 schools were VMI, West Point & Norwich. In that order. In the end he was not offered an appointment to WP, but he was 3Q with two nominations. He was not disappointed as VMI was where his heart was anyways.

What I guess I am saying to those for whom VMI is your Plan B, please don't be disappointed if you end up not getting an appointment and have to Plan B it at VMI. It really is an amazing place and really 1 of only 500 is pretty incredible. There is a YouTube video one of 500, give it watch.

Best of luck to all of you.
 
I think it partialy has something to do with which admissions councelor you have. When I interviewed at the open house, I was told to expect a letter soon. I received my appointment in November, regular decision. USNA is my first choice, but I am thrilled with VMI and would even go as far as to say that I feel more at home there then at USNA. Barring an appointment to USNA of a full scholarship offer from The Citadel, I will be accepting VMI's offer to participate in MO NROTC or AROTC depending on whether or not I am offered an ROTC scholarship. I'm also from Virginia. Not sure if that makes a difference.
 
DS is a Second at VMI on 3 year AROTC scholarship that was upgraded to a 4 year scholarship. VMI proved to be a better fit than West Point and he felt that immediately upon attending Open House. From a parent perspective all our dealings with the school have been prompt and professional. His regular decision appointment came January 4; one day after the AROTC scholarship notification.
 
For those waiting to hear from VMI, here is some data from last year to help put the VMI selection process into context. This is from our experience, so others may have different data and different thoughts.

First let me say that you wanting to go to a school like VMI (or the other SMCs) is pretty special. Like the SAs, it is not your "normal" college life environment.

Competition for the entering VMI Rat Mass 2016+3 (will be Class of 2019 after Breakout) was very tight. Over 1900 applications were submitted. 495 were allowed to enter. The academic stats for the entering class was an average SAT score (CR + Math) near 1200 and an average GPA of 3.6. Included in the 495 were 56 ladies and 80 recruited athletes.

I've seen on-line here and in other places that some folks think VMI is an "easy school" to get into since its acceptance rate is reported to be around around 40-50%. It is "easier" to get into VMI than a SA since the SAs have the whole nomination process and have a 12% acceptance rate, but that doesn't mean getting into VMI is easy. This perception of an "easy" 50% acceptance rate comes from the historical stats that shows VMI gets 1900-2000 applications each year and then makes ~900-1000 appointment offers to fill their 500 slots. This 50% statistic hides the real difficulty of entry. First, there are only ~500 slots for entry each year, so while VMI may make 1000 offers -- they can still only fill 500 slots, so they have to make the appointment offers in a "rolling admissions" fashion so they don't bust their 500 cap, and that takes time. They start by making offers to the folks with the best all-around records. Many of those folks are also competitive applicants to the Service Academies. So the SA applicant will accept the VMI appointment, and then cancel late in the process (June) when and if a Service Academy appointment comes through. What's my point? It really isn't a 50% acceptance rate -- it's more like a 25% acceptance rate when calculated like the SA's do: 10,000 completed applications resulting in 1200 appointments = 12% SA acceptance rate. VMI: 2000 completed applications resulting in 500 appointments = 25% VMI acceptance rate.

If your record is "competitive" for gaining a Service Academy appointment, or a national ROTC scholarship, your chances for getting into VMI are very good and you will probably be offered an appointment "early." If your record is not that, getting one of the 500 slots may be difficult and you may not hear until late in the year, as late as June or July after the SA BCTs have started. Hang in there.
 
I look forward to celebrating with you all when the next round of admission decisions comes out; I hope that it's good news for me. Applying as a transfer student is an interesting situation and I hope I am notified soon. VMI impressed me beyond measure when I went to visit and I know you are all just as eager as I am to find out what the decision is!
 
I look forward to celebrating with you all when the next round of admission decisions comes out; I hope that it's good news for me. Applying as a transfer student is an interesting situation and I hope I am notified soon. VMI impressed me beyond measure when I went to visit and I know you are all just as eager as I am to find out what the decision is!
Good luck!
 
I am currently waiting for a regular decision response from VMI as well. I have not received a yes or no either way, only an email asking if I would like to schedule an interview or register for an open house overnight visit. I chose the latter and picked the Feb 26-27 date (anyone else going?) Will their perception of me at the open house affect my likelihood of being accepted at all?

Thanks to anyone who answers!
 
I am currently waiting for a regular decision response from VMI as well. I have not received a yes or no either way, only an email asking if I would like to schedule an interview or register for an open house overnight visit. I chose the latter and picked the Feb 26-27 date (anyone else going?) Will their perception of me at the open house affect my likelihood of being accepted at all?

Thanks to anyone who answers!
My DD will be there that weekend too. We are all looking forward to seeing it!
 
They make a note in your admissions file that you attended an "overnight" -- and that is a good thing. Shows more than casual interest. Recommend you also do the interview if you can. It can be key.
 
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