Advantages of a SMC

Aglahad said:
Like I said, everyone is different. Let's just say my "hooah" has cooled since I have been in for a decent while. I had similar thoughts when I was finishing HS.

SMCs are totally viable for the right person though.
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As Senior folks always told me. If the military was smart they would make you sign a 20 year when you joined. Everyone is eager at first. ;-)
 
From what I've gathered, a lifetime of convincing other officers that "it's like west point, if not harder."

Seriously though, college choice has approximately 0 effect on the type of officer you will become. Focus on your degree first, ROTC second.
 
Jarhead713 said:
From what I've gathered, a lifetime of convincing other officers that "it's like west point, if not harder."

Seriously though, college choice has approximately 0 effect on the type of officer you will become. Focus on your degree first, ROTC second.
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All of the schools I am applying to have ROTC and are top universities for the major I want to study.
 
smokey% said:
All of the schools I am applying to have ROTC and are top universities for the major I want to study.
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My suggestion is look into Norwich, North Georgia, or VaTech. Those schools all have a fourth class system with a good size C of C and a large civilian population on campus.
Norwich has a 2 cadet to 1 civilian ratio. Athletes and nurses make up the civilian population. The campus activities and school tradtions center around the C of C/ROTC. Even the rings are different for civilians as well as ring ceremonies events.
The "model" of 2 to 1 is to simulate military working and interphasing with civilians. and civilians working with military.
Good luck on your search find the school that fits for you.
 
banjoppd said:
My suggestion is look into Norwich, North Georgia, or VaTech. Those schools all have a fourth class system with a good size C of C and a large civilian population on campus.
Norwich has a 2 cadet to 1 civilian ratio. Athletes and nurses make up the civilian population. The campus activities and school tradtions center around the C of C/ROTC. Even the rings are different for civilians as well as ring ceremonies events.
The "model" of 2 to 1 is to simulate military working and interphasing with civilians. and civilians working with military.
Good luck on your search find the school that fits for you.
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VTech is the only SMC I'm looking at as it has everything I want in a college. Could you elaborate on the rings and ring ceremonies? I haven't heard of those outside of a SA setting.
 
smokey% said:
VTech is the only SMC I'm looking at as it has everything I want in a college. Could you elaborate on the rings and ring ceremonies? I haven't heard of those outside of a SA setting.
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All colleges have class rings. Some have special ceremonies when you get your ring. It all depends on the traditions at the individual school. Norwich seems to provide a different ring for CoC and civilians.
 
smokey% said:
VTech is the only SMC I'm looking at as it has everything I want in a college. Could you elaborate on the rings and ring ceremonies? I haven't heard of those outside of a SA setting.
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All the SMCs have rings and ceremonies to receive them/celebrate the earning of them. The SMCs that have a civilian population usually have two rings, one for Cadets and one for their Civilian students.
 
smokey% said:
VTech is the only SMC I'm looking at as it has everything I want in a college. Could you elaborate on the rings and ring ceremonies? I haven't heard of those outside of a SA setting.
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VMI has the best class rings.
 
NavyHoops said:
All the SMCs have rings and ceremonies to receive them/celebrate the earning of them. The SMCs that have a civilian population usually have two rings, one for Cadets and one for their Civilian students.
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smokey% said:
At SMC with a substantial civilian population like VTech and TAMU, do the Corps of Cadets get separate, unique rings or the same rings as the civilian population?
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You really should try reading the posts before posting a question for the nth time...
 
smokey% said:
VTech is the only SMC I'm looking at as it has everything I want in a college. Could you elaborate on the rings and ring ceremonies? I haven't heard of those outside of a SA setting.
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There are two parts. First is the ring dance which is the formal ceremony where your mentee presents you with your formal ring (the one for dress uniforms and such). It's a big ceremony where everyone dresses up and such. The second part is hiding the battle ring (the ring for every day use) which your other mentee (or the same one that presented it if you only have one) hides it somewhere in your room and subsequently completely trashes the room in the process.

You can customize the ring to have your company, a quote, different stones, and a bunch of other stuff. You can also get the same or different rings as the regular students, but most cadets get the cadet variant. You'll figure it out as you go along and there's no need to stress about it until Jr year.
 
Thank you, everyone, all the responses were super helpful!
 
I agree with much of what has been said. I’d like to emphasize a couple things. While the SMC experience, *for the right person,* I think can better prepare *that person.* This, in my opinion, has little to do with commissioning intent ir other career goals. More simply, certain people thrive in that type of environment. I had an outstanding experience and wouldn’t trade it. It was right for me.

I do not think “getting used to the military stuff 24/7” really helps all that much. Different branches are different, but the training environment implemented at an SMC is not at all representative of life on AD. Again, different branches are different, so YMMV, but in light of that opinion, I’d advise against attending an SMC if your goal is to “get a leg up.” I think this gets to some of the negative anecdotes mentioned above in the long run.

TLDR: make sure it’s right for you and something you intrinsically want, rather than a simple means to an end.
 
VMI2017+3 said:
I do not think “getting used to the military stuff 24/7” really helps all that much. Different branches are different, but the training environment implemented at an SMC is not at all representative of life on AD.
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Same goes for attending an SA. SA grads might be more acclimated to military life than SMC grads, and SMC grads might be more acclimated to military life than regular ROTC grads. But never confuse “going to school” in a military setting with “going to work” in a military setting.

DD, nearly two years out of USNA and now a 2LT, testifies to that. Going to school — even with all the other non-academic obligations it entails — doesn’t compare to doing a job, getting paid for it, and being accountable for the results of others. It’s called “work” for a reason.
 
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