STP

[bjkuds]

To all the prospective Rats for 2016, per DS that just completed STP "Go if at all possible." He learned so much and is so grateful to have gone. Got the dreaded Eng comp class out of the way with a B and it's 3 less credits to carry come this fall. Not to mention the friends he has made that he already holds dear. The PT helped him improve his VFT run by 2:38 to a passing level from when he started STP and gained several situps which was passing to start with. Pull ups are another story, but he got better at that as well. He said it was way more than he expected it to be but didn't go into details. I expect to hear more when he gets home tomorrow. He and Dad are sleeping in a COMFORTABLE BED in Lex tonight. Parents be advised that every evening with few exceptions he was busy studying or had a meeting of some sort. We did talk a few times a week.
He met the Glee Club director and is comfortable and excited about having that opportunity. He adjusted to the food sort of. Is happy with the church services on Post..(said something about banana bread) and also the sermons were good too.
He has the utmost respect for his Prof and those in the writing center that really do care. It is not a "line" they feed you at visitation weekends. It really does happen. They expect a lot out of them and every time I talked to him he was exhausted yet happy( It was weird). He knows that this was just the beginning and Rat Line will be what he makes it yet he is excited for August. He is not cocky about matriculation at all, but he gained a world of confidence at STP. Between doing well in class(which most HS kids aren't sure about) and the physical improvements he made, that has helped him a lot. For us is was a choice between a summer vacation or STP....we made the right choice by sending him I have no doubt. Thanks too all that pointed us in this direction. You know who you are

 

[RahVaMil2009]

Is happy with the church services on Post..(said something about banana bread) and also the sermons were good too.

Chaplain Park (the Institute Chaplain, affectionately known to all as "Chap") and Mrs. Park are incredible. They pour so much of themselves into the Corps.

The banana bread was probably baked by the wife of one of the psych professors. They're very involved in the Chapel community. She almost always brings all kinds of baked goods for the cadets to eat before the service. I guess they could also eat it after the service, but no matter how much she brings, there typically isn't a whole lot leftover.

If your son seeks Chap out for mentorship, he will not be disappointed. In fact, the entire VMI Chapel community is wonderful. Several of the professors attend Chapel on Post, as well as other people from Lexington, and even some girls from other schools (like Sweetbriar).

Jackie M. Briski
First Class PVT (Ret.)
Cadet Chaplain, 2008-2009

 

[TurkishRunner]

To all the prospective Rats for 2016, per DS that just completed STP "Go if at all possible." He learned so much and is so grateful to have gone. Got the dreaded Eng comp class out of the way with a B and it's 3 less credits to carry come this fall. Not to mention the friends he has made that he already holds dear. The PT helped him improve his VFT run by 2:38 to a passing level from when he started STP and gained several situps which was passing to start with. Pull ups are another story, but he got better at that as well. He said it was way more than he expected it to be but didn't go into details. I expect to hear more when he gets home tomorrow. He and Dad are sleeping in a COMFORTABLE BED in Lex tonight. Parents be advised that every evening with few exceptions he was busy studying or had a meeting of some sort. We did talk a few times a week.
He met the Glee Club director and is comfortable and excited about having that opportunity. He adjusted to the food sort of. Is happy with the church services on Post..(said something about banana bread) and also the sermons were good too.
He has the utmost respect for his Prof and those in the writing center that really do care. It is not a "line" they feed you at visitation weekends. It really does happen. They expect a lot out of them and every time I talked to him he was exhausted yet happy( It was weird). He knows that this was just the beginning and Rat Line will be what he makes it yet he is excited for August. He is not cocky about matriculation at all, but he gained a world of confidence at STP. Between doing well in class(which most HS kids aren't sure about) and the physical improvements he made, that has helped him a lot. For us is was a choice between a summer vacation or STP....we made the right choice by sending him I have no doubt. Thanks too all that pointed us in this direction. You know who you are

He made the right choice taking English comp. That class consumes literally 5 to 10x more time than any other one if you want to get an A or B. I didn't do STP because I preferred the vacation . . but I regretted it when I was spending 50% of my time on that one class both semesters. I'm happy your son improved so much! That's awesome. It's great to see hard work pay off. He should keep in mind, though, that STP is nothing like the ratline. While he has definitely gained an academic and "logistical" edge in terms of knowing where buildings are, he's coming to a totally different place come August 21st. I wish your son the best of luck! It sounds like he's setting himself up for success so far.

 

[bjkuds]

I appreciate it. It's going to be a long Fall and Winter

 

[pennak]

He made the right choice taking English comp. That class consumes literally 5 to 10x more time than any other one if you want to get an A or B. I didn't do STP because I preferred the vacation . . but I regretted it when I was spending 50% of my time on that one class both semesters. I'm happy your son improved so much! That's awesome. It's great to see hard work pay off. He should keep in mind, though, that STP is nothing like the ratline. While he has definitely gained an academic and "logistical" edge in terms of knowing where buildings are, he's coming to a totally different place come August 21st. I wish your son the best of luck! It sounds like he's setting himself up for success so far.

5 to 10 times!! That's a lot. Fortunately my DS tested out of it with a 4 in AP Lit/Comp. He did STP in World History and got his A in that. Of course, he's a history major too!