Civil Prep

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PJdaines

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Mar 11, 2015
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Anybody have any idea as to when civil prep offers will be given out? And how they will be given out?
 
My RC told me they send them out once the class is full. And they told me to expect mid March but I still haven't heard anything. Anyone else have any other information?
 
DS FFR reported Civil Prep to be full already on 4/2. I assume that offers must have gone out to some folks, or perhaps West Point already has candidate slots full and will send.
Check in with your FFR-they might be able to fill you in. Good luck!
 
Scholarship traditionally come from AOG. Depending on the year its about 50 scholarships are given to those who are recommended from WP admin. WP admin doesn't have any thing to do with it, other than give the recommendations. Your RC is the one to contact about this subject and I would email or call ASAP.

There is also the opportunity to enroll as a "free Agent" to a Civil Prep school. They do offer grants and scholarships to help.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
My dd is still waiting to hear about any Prep. We were told to wait 'patiently' and they would update us as her file progressed, but no time line as to when and how that would happen. We are working diligently on our back up plans, just in case. She is also still 'boarded' for AROTC, but I see alot of people heard today about their status. Someone posted that AROTC and USMA 'talk', but of this I cannot be sure.
So 'wait patiently'. :)
 
Best to your DD!!!!Civil Prep sounds like a nice option-learned about it after the dreaded TWE from West Point.
Agreed RC is a good source, DS was in contact with both FFR and RC after TWE. FFR was truly the best!
 
I can confirm AROTC and USMA talk. Last year after the TWE, DS received a letter stating that if he was interested in becoming an officer, ROTC would like to give him a 3 year scholarship. He hadn't applied for the ROTC scholarship previously.
 
I am being considered for civil prep and I am curious if anyone has heard anything/received civil prep offers yet. Anybody know around when these offers go out?
 
Anyone choosing to do self-sponsored civil prep after learning they were QNS? Haven't heard anything on AOG (or anything else for that matter. Communication with RC and FFR has been minimal at best) so my DS has looked into self-sponsored civil prep at Valley Forge. This is one of the approved civil prep schools for the service academy prep program. They offered him a full ROTC scholarship but since it is a 2 year college they only offer the early commissioning program meaning he signs on and can't reapply to West Point. His other option is self-sponsor and pay out of pocket and roll the dice with West Point again next year. They have a very high success rate with service academy admissions (greater than 85%) but most of their stats are from sponsored prep students. Obviously we want to support our son with whatever decision he makes and he loved the visit to Valley Forge so he is going there either way. Any suggestions?


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@1proudmom: how is that really any better than doing ROTC at any civilian college? Did your son also apply for the ROTC scholarship? Mine did not, but after receiving the QNS, he was contacted by ROTC and offered a 3 year. He decided to go to a SMC (UNG) and jumped into the corps of cadets as it it were his forever school. He quietly reapplied, but was immersed in the cadet life. If he had not been appointed to 2019, his ROTC scholarship would've kicked in this fall. Look at all of the options w/ your son. Valley Forge is just one of many. Plan B needs to be a happy place for him to want to stay in case West Point isn't in the cards, IMHO.
 
Mom3 boys... I agree. He did start his ROTC scholarship but never finished. We refused to do any of it for him. The commander at valley forge even questioned him on it saying he would have for sure got it if he would have finished the application. Unfortunately sometimes you must learn from the school of hard Knox! His dream has been West Point his whole life and he knows that he wants to be with other like minded, determined and intelligent individuals so a more intimate, structured environment suits his personality more than a large public college which we support if that's what he wants. He really wants to do whatever it takes to go to West Point. However there is nothing else that will live up to that prestige. In my eyes it is a means to an end. He will end up in the same position as an army officer with ROTC as he would with West Point. He did ask for advice from his uncle that graduated from West Point in the 80's and he still thinks he should take the chance of getting into west point. It is very stressful for parents but in the end it's his decision and we were just happy that he really like valley forge regardless of what path he chooses. No feedback from his RC or FFR even though he has asked about areas he can improve or any information to help with his application for next year. Wish they would give him some guidance. Seems to be a great divide between West Point and ROTC graduates.


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My DS was notified his CP offer was in the mail Friday. I can share for those hoping/waiting that we were asked if we would take it about a month ago, since DS has a 4 yr AROTC scholarship(2nd board), WP gave us 24hrs to decide stating that they would only give out if he 100% planned to take it. DS is planning to attend MMI for his CP. He was informed he was the only one in FL.

SAT 2010 GPA 3.98 unweighted and then all the varsity, extracurricular stuff and more.

Leads me to believe if you are being considered then there is communication.

Hope this helps anyone waiting.

On a different note, I turned down Prep when I was his age and did SMC VMI on ROTC scholarship and had the time of my life. If your goal is be an officer, don't look back, attend VMI or citadel, both active alumni and well respected in the armed forces. Best of luck to you all!
 
@Chris Abbott, those are not the only senior military colleges to consider. Those looking for that environment might also consider University of North Georgia (which does not charge out of state fees to those attending if they are in ROTC), Norwich, VA tech, and Texas A & M.
 
Sure and all cars get you to your destination, you might be forced to buy one in your price range but let's agree a Ford Focus is not a Range Rover.

So again bravo to everyone and pursue the "best" route for you financially and personally, I have no doubt you will make a great officer!
 
1proudmom said:
They offered him a full ROTC scholarship but since it is a 2 year college they only offer the early commissioning program meaning he signs on and can't reapply to West Point. His other option is self-sponsor and pay out of pocket and roll the dice with West Point again next year. They have a very high success rate with service academy admissions (greater than 85%) but most of their stats are from sponsored prep students. Obviously we want to support our son with whatever decision he makes and he loved the visit to Valley Forge so he is going there either way. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

First, your DS should get an opinion from his RC. Not all QNS are the same. You DS could have barely qualified or was a high qualifier. Assume you DS gets good grades and improve his SAT/ACT at a prep school or college, that should get him in next year.

Why do you say if he accepts ROTC scholarship, he can't reapply to West Point?

Personally, I prefer a regular college with ROTC over a self prep option. I, not to offend anyone, don't see any proof that a prep school increases someone's chance of getting into West Point over a regular college with ROTC. I worked with a kid that was either QNS or didn't complete the application several years ago. I was surprised he didn't get in. He figured out he needed to focus and needed the discipline, so went to Valley Forge and got into West Point next year. Didn't even have to retake the SAT as his scores were off the chart. I believe he would have still gotten into West Point even if he went to a regular college, because he knew what he had to do after his rejection.
 
My DS has 3.87 GPA and 29 composite ACT (super scored above 30 in every category). We have asked several questions of his RC and FFR with no response. He was able to get responses earlier on in the process as to which college courses to take during his high school year but nothing since. I think it is because he needs stronger leadership opportunities. He has several varsity sports and was team captain for 2 years and holds several team records but they are unconventional sports (golf, bowling) but has also done baseball and varsity track this year. Because Valley Forge is a junior college (only 2 years) they have the early commissioning program. In a 4 year school you have until your junior year to commit but this is an accelerated program and you commit from the beginning which eliminates West Point. In the end it comes down to the fact that he put all his eggs (the majority anyhow) in one basket and now is scrambling to pick up the pieces. My husband and I tried to warn him of this early on but of course parents don't know anything. He has been admitted to the engineering program of a major university in our state but doesn't want to go if he can't do ROTC. Unfortunately at this point in the game the majority of ROTC scholarships have been given out and he doesn't want to get lost in the shuffle of a large university. As a parent you can only do so much and holding their hand through all this certainly won't get them anywhere. He will have to put forth the initiative and figure it out (with our support) or settle for the offer on the table.


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1proudmom

My background is a grad and a FFR for 10+ years. I am also my State FFR coordinator so I can view all the candidates in the state.

From my prespective, academics gets is the downfall of most QNS candidates. For the candidate evaluation, it's 60% academics, 30% leadership, and 10% physical. For academics, it's abou 50% class rank and 50% SAT/ACT. So depends on the school, a student could have 3.87 GPA and not top 5% class rank wise. There is no extra credit, so once a kid maxes out the leadership, no additional point. So if there is a choice between improving academics or more leadership (assuming some baseline which I see your DS have), I always recommend academics. My understanding is that college performance is used to adjust the HS ranking in the WCS score.

As for ROTC, you can do ROTC without a scholarship. So if the State school has a ROTC program, he can just participate and apply for scholarship.

As stated before I am not a big fan of self prep, but it's a case by case and I don't see it working out for most people. The challenge with your DS doing a self prep is that if he doesn't get into West Point, he will have to transfer to a 4 year college to finish and I believe there are limitations on what schools will accept credits to each prep school.

Still didn't answer the question why your DS can't reapply to West Point if he accepts ROTC scholarhsip.

One more thing, with ROTC active duty is not guaranteed.
 
MemberLG said:
First, your DS should get an opinion from his RC. Not all QNS are the same. You DS could have barely qualified or was a high qualifier. Assume you DS gets good grades and improve his SAT/ACT at a prep school or college, that should get him in next year.

Why do you say if he accepts ROTC scholarship, he can't reapply to West Point?

Personally, I prefer a regular college with ROTC over a self prep option. I, not to offend anyone, don't see any proof that a prep school increases someone's chance of getting into West Point over a regular college with ROTC. I worked with a kid that was either QNS or didn't complete the application several years ago. I was surprised he didn't get in. He figured out he needed to focus and needed the discipline, so went to Valley Forge and got into West Point next year. Didn't even have to retake the SAT as his scores were off the chart. I believe he would have still gotten into West Point even if he went to a regular college, because he knew what he had to do after his rejection.
Click to expand...


If you are QNS and inside your heart of hearts WP is the place for you, it is important to continue with your education. I agree with MemberLG, there is no better “odds ” of being selected by attending a civil prep as opposed to a college.


Civil prep schools do have a connection with the SA because they are like minor league teams for the big league. They are very much finishing schools to help prepare a candidate. Mainly with academics.


Attending a college is another excellent method of improving your opportunities to attend WP. Taking courses like Algebra, calc, Chem with a lab, college writing, language, world history, physics are classes that are similar to the first year of being a Plebe. While attending WP your academic load will be 19 to 24 units, plus sports, plus military studies, plus duties and responsibilities. (Math, Chem and Physics are Plebe killers)


Either way you must show you can handle the demands of college level courses and moving forward with your education. The pitfalls-the civil preps do write evals for SA to review. And are in communication with civil preps. College can have a negative effect as well: you can’t handle a college level math course and receive sub-standard grades. You change your mind because you enjoy the public college life.

As MemberLG stated-attending college is a great way to go and being involved with ROTC. If for what ever reason your not accepted again to WP you have a year of college completed.


Set your goals, and have a Plan B!!

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
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