Simonedury
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2013
- Messages
- 37
Hey I am really considering self-prepping at Northwestern Prep in CA. Has anyone gone there and be willing to answer some questions about it?
Northwest Prep
- Thread starter Simonedury
- Start date
Simonedury
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2013
- Messages
- 37
1. What's a typical day at NW like?
2. Favorite and least favorite thing about NW?
3. How does the program improve you as a candidate?
4. Do you apply for Nominations in CA or your homestate?
5. For 'self preppies' who had to pay tuition, did you get any financial aid or scholarships from NW?
Those are just a few of my main questions for now. If anyone could give any insight it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
2. Favorite and least favorite thing about NW?
3. How does the program improve you as a candidate?
4. Do you apply for Nominations in CA or your homestate?
5. For 'self preppies' who had to pay tuition, did you get any financial aid or scholarships from NW?
Those are just a few of my main questions for now. If anyone could give any insight it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
I went to NWP in 2012 and I am now a freshman at USAFA.
1. Days at NWP are busy and really teach you time management.
Breakfast at 7:30am
Vocab test at 8am
Two classes before lunch (I had physics and math)
Lunch at noonish if I remember correctly
Two classes after lunch (I had English and Chem)
PT with Coach
quick shower time before dinner
Dinner at 6:30/7ish?
Mandatory study time (which you will definitely need and use!)
some free time
lights out at 10:30/11ish
Wednesdays are a little different because there isn't PT and there are less classes. You use some of that extra time to help out around with projects around the school and with cleaning, as well as doing your own workout with your friends.
On the weekends, you might have a workout on a Saturday morning but other than that you can just chill. A lot of kids go hiking which is nice because you're located in the San Bernardino National Forest. On SAT/ACT weekends, you are allowed to leave after the completion of the test. A lot of kids go visit San Diego or LA or go with their friends houses who live in CA.
2. Favorite thing: Friends. Many of the friends I made at NWP are at USAFA with me now. Even just seeing them all in their Hawaiian shirts on inprocessing day made the transition into Academy life a little easier.
Least favorite thing: Rodney's Hill. If you choose to go to NWP, you will become quite familiar with this hill during PT class but hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?
3. The program really is successful at challenging you physically, mentally, and academically. Another really cool part about it is the second semester at a local college or university! That gives you the "real college" experience with real college classes but also gives you experiences that many military school/direct entry kids might not have. That goes in with the whole "well-rounded" thing that the SAs look for in applications.
4. You apply for nominations in your home state. That can make interviews tricky since you might (like I was) be on the complete other side of the country for the actual interview. You just have to work with the nominating sources' offices to set up either phone or skype interviews. There will be a lot of kids in the same boat.
5. I was a Falcon Foundation Scholar so I'm not too sure about financial aid/external scholarships but I'm pretty sure that you can use scholarships there. Not too sure about that though.
Hope that helps!
I spoke with my daughter who was a free agent at NWP this past year:
1. Can't say it any better than previous posts.
2. Her favorite thing about NWP was that everyone was working towards the same goal. Maybe different academies, put all the kids pushed and encouraged each other every day. She didn't have a least favorite thing.
3. The program really focused her. She improved her CFA significantly and also added over 200 to her SAT. She thought the visits by prior NWP grads really helped her decide this is the right thing for her. Now that she is back home she is taking college classes and waiting for I-day. She realizes that the academics at NWP - while not accredited - have given her a very good foundation for her Doolie year.
4. Apply to home MOCs. They were easy to work with and knew about NWP. Phone interviews were not a problem.
5. No financial aid, but we didn't ask, so maybe there is something available, I don't know.
NargleSlayer
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
- Messages
- 49
Really awesome that you're considering NWP for reapplying to an SA. It was the experience of a lifetime. I went just last year, in 2013.
1. What's a typical day at NW like?
Depends on what day in the weeks you're in. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday hit hardest. The schedule for M&Tu,Th goes like the previous posts.. But wednesday and Friday you get more breaks... Like I had chem and physics in the evening on M,Tu,Th but Wednesday we had work crew (just volunteering around campus, it's really fun) and no science classes. However, we are doing study hall til 10 pm every night (except Saturday and rarely Friday) and it kind of drains you (but makes you appreciate sleep).
2. Favorite and least favorite thing about NW?
My favorite thing was all the leadership opportunities, camaraderie, all the admissions directors and really important people from the academies come and visit and talk to "free agents" or "self preps", and memorization skills they give us.
Least favorite was that I left all of my NWP brothers and sisters Dec 15. We all grew so close and it was hard to have that taken away from you... Even if the academics were hell sometimes there. Oh and Rodney's hill.
3. How does the program improve you as a candidate?
Improves ACT/SAT dramatically. Math ACT went from a 26 to a 32 just from going to the math class Mrs. Durbeck teaches. The reading I had to work on myself... But they have more than enough resources for that.
They give a lot of leadership opportunities: Even though I was not a class officer, I was squad leader for my physical training class and dorm supervisor for some time.
They improve your memorization skills dramatically... At the beginning the vocab tests seem like hell.. And then your brain becomes accustomed to memorizing vocab fast... I did it in 20 mins by the end of the term. It was beautiful and will come in handy with future memorization at an SA.
The PT coach kicks your ass and your CFA scores are beautiful (as long as you put the effort in). Also, they just redid the pool (idk if it's indoor yet) so get ready for "parties in the pool" as coach moe likes to call it.
If you work hard and stay humble, the Durbecks are always watching and will take note if you're always willing to help people, working hard in PT, doing well in vocab, and improving your weak points. They have great relationships with admissions at the SA's (especially USAFA) and if they think you can hack it, you'll most likely get in.
4. Do you apply for Nominations in CA or your homestate?
Applied for it in your home state, however some peoples ALOs or Gold and Blue officers changed. They allow for some people that live in close states like CA or NV to do the interviews in person. But mostly the nominations committees do interviews over Skype or phone.
5. For 'self preppies' who had to pay tuition, did you get any financial aid or scholarships from NW?
Yes the give scholarships!! I'm not sure what they are because I was a Falcon foundation scholarship earner... But they have multiple levels of scholarships they give.
---Also, after the USMA director of admissions visited us (holler for class of 2013), NWP is now officially affiliated with USMA's equivalent to the Falcon Foundation..... Meaning USMA has a lot of respect for NWP and kids are way more likely to get accepted to USMA from there than what has been the statistic before.
---If you have any more questions, PM or post on my profile. I'm more than willing to answer any question you have.
1. What's a typical day at NW like?
Depends on what day in the weeks you're in. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday hit hardest. The schedule for M&Tu,Th goes like the previous posts.. But wednesday and Friday you get more breaks... Like I had chem and physics in the evening on M,Tu,Th but Wednesday we had work crew (just volunteering around campus, it's really fun) and no science classes. However, we are doing study hall til 10 pm every night (except Saturday and rarely Friday) and it kind of drains you (but makes you appreciate sleep).
2. Favorite and least favorite thing about NW?
My favorite thing was all the leadership opportunities, camaraderie, all the admissions directors and really important people from the academies come and visit and talk to "free agents" or "self preps", and memorization skills they give us.
Least favorite was that I left all of my NWP brothers and sisters Dec 15. We all grew so close and it was hard to have that taken away from you... Even if the academics were hell sometimes there. Oh and Rodney's hill.
3. How does the program improve you as a candidate?
Improves ACT/SAT dramatically. Math ACT went from a 26 to a 32 just from going to the math class Mrs. Durbeck teaches. The reading I had to work on myself... But they have more than enough resources for that.
They give a lot of leadership opportunities: Even though I was not a class officer, I was squad leader for my physical training class and dorm supervisor for some time.
They improve your memorization skills dramatically... At the beginning the vocab tests seem like hell.. And then your brain becomes accustomed to memorizing vocab fast... I did it in 20 mins by the end of the term. It was beautiful and will come in handy with future memorization at an SA.
The PT coach kicks your ass and your CFA scores are beautiful (as long as you put the effort in). Also, they just redid the pool (idk if it's indoor yet) so get ready for "parties in the pool" as coach moe likes to call it.
If you work hard and stay humble, the Durbecks are always watching and will take note if you're always willing to help people, working hard in PT, doing well in vocab, and improving your weak points. They have great relationships with admissions at the SA's (especially USAFA) and if they think you can hack it, you'll most likely get in.
4. Do you apply for Nominations in CA or your homestate?
Applied for it in your home state, however some peoples ALOs or Gold and Blue officers changed. They allow for some people that live in close states like CA or NV to do the interviews in person. But mostly the nominations committees do interviews over Skype or phone.
5. For 'self preppies' who had to pay tuition, did you get any financial aid or scholarships from NW?
Yes the give scholarships!! I'm not sure what they are because I was a Falcon foundation scholarship earner... But they have multiple levels of scholarships they give.
---Also, after the USMA director of admissions visited us (holler for class of 2013), NWP is now officially affiliated with USMA's equivalent to the Falcon Foundation..... Meaning USMA has a lot of respect for NWP and kids are way more likely to get accepted to USMA from there than what has been the statistic before.
---If you have any more questions, PM or post on my profile. I'm more than willing to answer any question you have.