mariner116
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2009
- Messages
- 234
...is there a downside to choosing the 3-yr AD. I realize that tuition the first year is on me (but with his merit scholarship it's basically a wash). Let's assume that he'll have no trouble with the APFT .
1. If your son accepts the 4-year scholarship all he has to do is pass the APFT to activate the scholarship.
2. If your son accepts the 3-year AD he also needs the support of the PMS and needs to pass the APFT.
Two things to consider. In my DD's case the PMS she knew well was transferred to another assignment before she ever got to campus. Things have worked out fine but the new PMS had nothing vested in my DD. That's not a big deal since she was 4-year, but a change in PMS is a bigger risk for a freshman on a 3-year AD because a cadet needs his approval to activate the scholarship at the start of sophmore year.
In addition, right before heading to school my DD injured her leg and was unable to run for several months. She was down to just a couple of weeks to go before losing her scholarship when she was able to pass the APFT. A 3-year AD simply has more time for some type of injury to be an issue.
My overall point is that the 3-year AD introduces greater risks of getting a scholarship than the 4-year. This difference in risk level is important to consider, along with the financial differences.