A deposit with a plan B school--a question for parents

Mom22 said:
My son has an appointment to USMA and has been given a deadline of 4/15 to accept and I expect he will do so.

Still, I worry if some type of injury, accident happens prior to R-day. I am wondering if other parents have placed deposits with plan B schools as backup? While admissions officers hate this, I am told by friends in admissions offices that it is common and expected.

Thanks for any advice.
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Last year my DS had a waitlist status and we paid deposits and signed up for classes at orientation. This year he has an appointment, and he is already registered for next year's coursework "just in case." If he did not stay registered until the withdrawal deadline and something we're to happen, he would lose all his merit 4-year scholarships. If injured and leaves plebe summer, he would be doomed without those in place. Be prepared! BTW, he told the advisors at school he was doing this as a backup.
 
It doesn't matter how determined or "strong" they are, accidents unfortunately happen. My DS who was 3 sport varsity athlete and then attended a military prep school as a Falcon, was more than prepared for the rigors of the physical training at USAFA. Two and a half weeks into BCT, he suffered a freak injury playing mandatory intramural flag football. He ended up having surgery and was released to come home about the time that BCT was over. He ended up recovering at home for the first semester and then attended a state school for the second.
 
We had a similar incident involving a prospect's accident resulting in a detached retina, followed days later by another future cadet's neck injury. All within 2 weeks of start date.
My $.02, set up a solid plan B and discuss with DS or DD; just my $.02 ;)
 
I totally agree that having plan B in place is logical and makes sense. I do think there is a potential downside to consider though. Our DD received an appointment last year in February. USNA was her dream for a while and she had already been accepted at good engineering schools with a NROTC scholarship. We suggested she wait a week or two for the emotional high of being accepted to USNA before making a final decision. After a week or so she accepted saying she was absolutely sure USNA was for her. As I-Day approached, she began to get cold feet. On I-Day she was really second guessing her decision. I think if she had a solid plan B in place she may have been more tempted to give up her dream due to fear. It all ended up OK. She survived, and even thrived over plebe summer and is doing great academically. Most importantly, she feels like she made the right choice even though it's been extremely difficult.
Just another perspective to consider.
 
+1 Dadof2, Very Good Point, Indeed! Having a Plan B definitely could make it easier to leave or not begin in the first place.
 
Dadof2 said:
I totally agree that having plan B in place is logical and makes sense. I do think there is a potential downside to consider though. Our DD received an appointment last year in February. USNA was her dream for a while and she had already been accepted at good engineering schools with a NROTC scholarship. We suggested she wait a week or two for the emotional high of being accepted to USNA before making a final decision. After a week or so she accepted saying she was absolutely sure USNA was for her. As I-Day approached, she began to get cold feet. On I-Day she was really second guessing her decision. I think if she had a solid plan B in place she may have been more tempted to give up her dream due to fear. It all ended up OK. She survived, and even thrived over plebe summer and is doing great academically. Most importantly, she feels like she made the right choice even though it's been extremely difficult.
Just another perspective to consider.
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Dadof2, I certainly can see your point. It is not uncommon for a 17/18 year old to have cold feet as I-day approaches, in fact, I can bet most students packing up and getting ready to head off to any college may have the same trepidation. That is where a parent can do the most good in guiding their young adult and encourage them to stick to the plan, go to I-day, make it through BCT/Plebe summer and never make any big decision on the spur of the moment.

I am glad that it all worked out for your DD, but I still stick to my original post in having a solid plan B. What would your DD have done if she had been hurt or became ill and received a medical turn back during or shortly after BCT/Plebe summer? I am sure she would manage, but without a solid plan B, at least through the Fall school start, to me is too big of a risk, especially where a scholarship is involved. I would give our kids more credit than to just throw a dream away because they are afraid. That type of thinking did not get any of them where they are and most of them have what it takes to face their fear of the unknown and push through to success. Those that don't, were not going to make it at the Academy anyway, whether or not they had a solid plan B. That's just my perspective. I hope your DD continues to do well and before you know it, you will be sitting at her graduation bursting with pride.
 
We have done the same. solid plan for DS. picked the local school, where he had scholarship money, just in case. we will decline housing though, but, as indicated above, it is a cheap insurance policy. Without it, if something happens, it would probably be a lost year at a junior college
 
FalconsRock said:
Dadof2, I certainly can see your point. It is not uncommon for a 17/18 year old to have cold feet as I-day approaches, in fact, I can bet most students packing up and getting ready to head off to any college may have the same trepidation. That is where a parent can do the most good in guiding their young adult and encourage them to stick to the plan, go to I-day, make it through BCT/Plebe summer and never make any big decision on the spur of the moment.

I am glad that it all worked out for your DD, but I still stick to my original post in having a solid plan B. What would your DD have done if she had been hurt or became ill and received a medical turn back during or shortly after BCT/Plebe summer? I am sure she would manage, but without a solid plan B, at least through the Fall school start, to me is too big of a risk, especially where a scholarship is involved. I would give our kids more credit than to just throw a dream away because they are afraid. That type of thinking did not get any of them where they are and most of them have what it takes to face their fear of the unknown and push through to success. Those that don't, were not going to make it at the Academy anyway, whether or not they had a solid plan B. That's just my perspective. I hope your DD continues to do well and before you know it, you will be sitting at her graduation bursting with pride.
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To be clear, I was just offering a different perspective that parents reading this thread may want to consider that might help them prepare for a situation they may well be faced with. I am in full agreement with having a solid plan B for all the reasons mentioned in this thread. As parents, we did guide her and encourage her to stick to the long term plan, rather than deciding something in the short term out of fear. It was very tough to see her go through that phase and I think other parents may face this as I Day approaches.
 
Finally "purchased" the insurance policy for plan B school at the last minute - 1 May. DD was reluctant, since I had to have her do it via the University's student login, but understands since scholarship money would be lost if she had to go this route due to injury or other unforeseen events.

She definitely is NOT looking at plan B as an "out" at the last minute for any other reason.

DD and dozens of other appointees are already establishing friendships via the FB and GC posts. Her excitement just keeps growing.
 
I have a question in regards to plan b. Son is headed to USNA and has a deposit on a plan B which has his 4 yr NROTC scholarship deposited and a merit scholarship that would cover the room and board. My question is what is the recommended timing to decline the NROTC scholarship and advise the plan b university? June 30th or later in August? I've searched the forum and found some info, but current thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
 
KappaPi said:
I have a question in regards to plan b. Son is headed to USNA and has a deposit on a plan B which has his 4 yr NROTC scholarship deposited and a merit scholarship that would cover the room and board. My question is what is the recommended timing to decline the NROTC scholarship and advise the plan b university? June 30th or later in August? I've searched the forum and found some info, but current thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
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I have read on here in several places, that once he shows up for Plebe Summer, his NROTC scholarship will be cancelled. My daughter declined her AFROTC scholarship last week. She has no doubt she is going to show up for BCT and hopefully, she won't get hurt before it's over. The call is your son's, but I would definitely let the school know ahead of time.
 
WAIT! I AM CONFUSED! I thought once they took the oath and started their plebe summer that was it, no medical turn backs. Was advised that if a plan B was in place can cancel once that oath is taken. There are many plebes and cadets hobbling around during summer training.
 
fifi5 said:
WAIT! I AM CONFUSED! I thought once they took the oath and started their plebe summer that was it, no medical turn backs. Was advised that if a plan B was in place can cancel once that oath is taken. There are many plebes and cadets hobbling around during summer training.
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Fifi, I would keep plan B in place until they finish their basic training. I know of a few cadets at USAFA that received medical turn backs during BCT and were sent home to heal. Some of them are returning to the class of 2020. Once BCT is over for my DD, then we will cancel her plan B.
 
There certainly are medical turn backs during basic summer. A broken leg one week in would have someone missing far too much training. Buh bye. See you next year. And I know that no one wants to think it, but candidates will leave over the summer because they don't like it/miss their GF/miss their dog/miss their Xbox. Everyone thinks oh no, not my kid, they've wanted this since 5th grade. You would be shocked at how quickly some drop because it is 'unpleasant' to them. If possible, keep that plan B insurance policy active until they are safely ensconced in their first day of classes!
 
fifi5 said:
Was advised that if a plan B was in place can cancel once that oath is taken.
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I think you may be confusing that with NROTC scholarship. Once you take the oath than the scholarship is cancelled.
 
KappaPi said:
I have a question in regards to plan b. Son is headed to USNA and has a deposit on a plan B which has his 4 yr NROTC scholarship deposited and a merit scholarship that would cover the room and board. My question is what is the recommended timing to decline the NROTC scholarship and advise the plan b university? June 30th or later in August? I've searched the forum and found some info, but current thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
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Is the Plan B school where your DS would go to even if he doesn't have his NROTC scholarship? If so, then, the scholarship is voided when he shows up at USNA. He should still send the NROTC unit a letter/email after he reports into USNA, though, so they don't plan on him showing up. It takes a while for the info to work it's way through the system down to the NROTC unit. If they have a waitlist for their NROTC program, then they can let another kid into their program if he informs them. I would wait, however, to inform the university until after he finishes his basic this summer and will begin his classes at USNA. That way, if he is injured during the training and can't continue, then he can still go to the university (without the NROTC scholarship). He would still have the university's merit scholarships to use. For both of these, DS wrote the letters/emails in advance and then I sent them for him when the time was right and he told me to.
 
We had plan B with Purdue and university of Florida . There is no going back. We said no thank you. Nervous that Air Force is the only choice now. My sons choice.
 
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