VMI, Citadel, Norwich

I attend VMI so I may be a little biased, but the last month I've spent down at Fort Knox and many of my good friends were guys from other SMCs. We compared freshman year stories pretty often as well as just describing life in general. Here's what I took from it:

VMI and El Cid are pretty darn similar. Bracing and straining, rec day and breakout, etc. The Citadel is larger than VMI so take it for what you will, company pride is stressed there much more than class pride (huge at VMI) because due to the size you won't know everyone in your class. At VMI we have company pride but it's all about your class (18, 18, 18!). Knob year lasts longer than the Ratline but Knobs can go out into Charleston and have their phones eventually and what not, things a Rat wouldn't dream of at VMI. El Cid has real beds, VMI does not. VMI is better at basketball, El Cid is better at football.

Now Norwich is a bit different. The Norwich guys I met were great but seemed to think NU has gone a little soft and has a bit of a disconnect from VMI & the Citadel. For one, Norwich has civilians. Second, it's in Vermont, not the South. Norwich also doesn't have set companies that you stay in during your cadetship, so there's no real company pride like you'll find at VMI and the Citadel. Also, there's a much larger cadre presence during your first year at VMI and the Citadel whereas at NU you'll have like 3 cadre for your Rook platoon (versus a 2:1 Rat-cadre ratio during Hell Week at VMI)and upperclassmen can't mess with you or even talk to you (FAR from the case at the other two).

Not trying to be on one side or the other, I genuinely liked the people I met from all 3 schools and I think all prepare you well for the military and beyond.
 
Strength and Honor said:
I attend VMI so I may be a little biased, but the last month I've spent down at Fort Knox and many of my good friends were guys from other SMCs. We compared freshman year stories pretty often as well as just describing life in general. Here's what I took from it:

VMI and El Cid are pretty darn similar. Bracing and straining, rec day and breakout, etc. The Citadel is larger than VMI so take it for what you will, company pride is stressed there much more than class pride (huge at VMI) because due to the size you won't know everyone in your class. At VMI we have company pride but it's all about your class (18, 18, 18!). Knob year lasts longer than the Ratline but Knobs can go out into Charleston and have their phones eventually and what not, things a Rat wouldn't dream of at VMI. El Cid has real beds, VMI does not. VMI is better at basketball, El Cid is better at football.
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Not trying to be on one side or the other, I genuinely liked the people I met from all 3 schools and I think all prepare you well for the military and beyond.
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Good post from someone that is currently there and without all the Alum bashing... great prospective and example to all...at the end it is about all schools and men and women as a TEAM...Thanks for keeping it REAL...
 
Definitely can see how the Corps of Cadets experience at the Citadel would be similar to VMI, and also heard from others about the company/class bonding and loyalty differences between the schools--very good posts, indeed!
Regarding sports, and I am definitely interested to see how the Norwich, CGA, MMA rivalries pan out in the NEWMAC--will be hard-fought games to watch for sure and make for some great rivalry weekends...
 
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Kim Keelor is the Public Affairs Officer at The Citadel, don't even remember the 'hijab girl's name and don't reallycare at this point. If she has filed a lawsuit against The Citadel I am not aware of it.
 
She reports Sunday to Norwich for Rook arrival day and the beginning of Rook Week.
Has not filed and does not intend to, according to what I have heard.
She wishes attend an SMC and serve in the US Navy and at the time it was mentioned it seemed like her only option.
 
I was just accepted to Norwich as a corps student in the accounting program. My mom is kind of weary of me attending that school since it is in Vermont and I am a Florida boy. So is my father, but he is an O-4 Lt Cmdr in the US Navy so he knows how big this opportunity is. I honestly don't care what school I attend I just want to attend a senior military college. However I do understand that each SMC is different. I am also applied to El cid. My mother and father really want me to attend El cid. I'm all cleared out for my AROTC scholarship just waiting on that first board. I really need to persuade my parents to let me go especially if I get the AROTC scholarship for NU.
 
One more thing, Norwich has very generous merit scholarships.
As the trend for AROTC scholarships appears to be more 3yr AD versus 4 year the merit money makes the first year more affordable.
There is a tool on the admissions web page that will allow you to calculate what scholarship you can expect.
 
AJC said:
One more thing, Norwich has very generous merit scholarships.
As the trend for AROTC scholarships appears to be more 3yr AD versus 4 year the merit money makes the first year more affordable.
There is a tool on the admissions web page that will allow you to calculate what scholarship you can expect.
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Is this merit scholarship something that is automatically under consideration once you are accepted?
 
Yes. There is a formula.
In fact my son was accepted in September ( they have rolling admissions) and the amount of his scholarship offer was increased twice before he sent his deposit in November. He also received an additional sum for having attend the Future Leaders Camp (FLC). The scholarships exceed 50% of the first years expenses. He has a 3yr AROTC scholarship that will kick in next year. Once his AROTC scholarship starts he will receive the ID White Scholarships that will cover room and board.
He received the AROTC scholarship to Norwich or an in state university. Something he says he "thinks about it every night".
 
I recieved my acceptance letter in the mail and it turns out that I recieved the Dean Scholarship Award of $88,000/$22,000 a year. I think if I do recieve a 3 year scholarship to Norwich that it may be in my best interest to accept it.
 
Does anyone know how long it will take to know their decision on acceptance? Since they are rolling admissions, is it quicker than most colleges?
 
Typically very quick.
You can find your counselor on the admissions web page. they are extremely helpful.
Call or email, they will tell you what to expect. Your stats may impact the response time.
 
I agree, NU was quicker on making their decisions than the public universities that I have been accepted to.
 
AJC said:
Yes. There is a formula.
In fact my son was accepted in September ( they have rolling admissions) and the amount of his scholarship offer was increased twice before he sent his deposit in November. He also received an additional sum for having attend the Future Leaders Camp (FLC). The scholarships exceed 50% of the first years expenses. He has a 3yr AROTC scholarship that will kick in next year. Once his AROTC scholarship starts he will receive the ID White Scholarships that will cover room and board.
He received the AROTC scholarship to Norwich or an in state university. Something he says he "thinks about it every night".
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It’s my understanding that if you have the dean scholarship, and then are awarded the ROTC scholarship at Norwich, you then fofeit the merit scholarship. Was this your experience? Or am I mistaken?
 
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