Well, the first thing I have to tell you is that USMAPS is not USMA. Meaning that it's not as strict, you have more freedom, and the classes are less rigorous (math, english, student development, military science, PE). As far as the military aspect, the most military stuff you do would be during the 3 week basic training. After that there really isn't any military training except for the occasional military science grade, which is determined by classroom work, military bearing, grooming, and the occasional SAMI. Oh, and the battalion is pretty much ran by the students with the guidance of the TAC Officers and NCOs. Company leadership positions change every quarter, battalion positions change each semester. I pretty much enjoyed my time at USMAPS. We were all so close and were one big family and still are. But there were times when I got sick of people....and the TACs would get on your nerves sometimes but I never regret going. From what I hear though, Prep school is like paradise compared to the academy lol (I'm at a civi college this year, reapplying for the class of 2017). My class was the first to be at the new facility and the whole campus wasn't done until the end of winter. But the new facility is great
. Work hard there no matter how many times they say prepsters are a shoe in....because after budget cuts a great handful of prepsters (like me) could not get into the academy and another handful had to get put on the waiting list to see if they could get in. My best friend was told that she got in the day before R Day and it sucked for her because she didn't have a lot of stuff that the others did. So even if you heard that people with failing grades from prep got in before (which is true) and that people with an 18 ACT got in (which is also true), don't settle for mediocre and think that you can get in with some Cs and Bs cause that's what I did and I regret it every single day. Let me know if you have any questions!
