MMI ECP/SAP question

[Utahguard93]

Hello everyone.I'm a high school senior and a PV2 in the Utah Army National Guard.I'm looking into attending MMI for their ECP program but recently I saw that they also offer the SAP program and I'm quite interested.

I was researching that you can do SAP and if you don't make it you can fall back on ECP, is this true? I never really considered West Point before in my life due to my poor grades and thinking "oh I'll never make it, I'd never get accepted into West Point."

However I'm done with that attitude and I'm ready to do this and succeed in my goal of becoming an Army Officer and making a career of it.My question is,should I even go to MMI for the SAP program? I was reading that as a member of the Guard I can apply to West Point and even if I'm denied I'm automatically qualified for the prep school. Which route in your opinion better prepare me academically and physically for the rigors of the USMA?

Thank you all for your time.I really appreciate it.

[WAMom68]

My son did the prep program at NMMI which is very similar to the program at MMI. I believe you can do ECP is you don't get into the academy but to be sure you should talk to admissions at MMI.

Good luck!

[Utahguard93]

Thanks for the reply! I also had another question,my gpa right now is embarrassing at 2.36 right now(need to get it up to at least 2.5 to participate in the SAP program). I know I'd have no shot at West point right now let alone any decent university.

I have a dumb question,do they look at your HS transcripts if I go to an Academy prep program and then apply? I'm assuming they'd look at my college GPA at that point but I'm just making sure.

[jackson1989]

My son went to MMI last year as part of the SAP (He was a Falcon Scholar). He has friends at MMI who participated in both the ECP and the SAP program. It sounds like a good option would be for you to apply to their ECP program for the first year, strive to get good grades, extracurriculars, etc. and then apply for direct entry to WP. You may or may not get in, but at that point you would have the opportunity to demonstrate your dedication and desire to excel going forward. The program at MMI is a good one and you will get out of it what you put in.

Best of Luck!

[NMMI PREP DIRECTOR]

Utah,
As WAMom said both are possible (ECP and SAP). When it comes to the USMA the Army will release you from your contract if you get an appointment. If you are applying to any of the other academies then it is best NOT to contract with the Army. I had two Army ECP cadets a few years back that applied to the Merchant Marine Academy and received appointments. It took a very long time for Cadet Command to release them and then with the stipulation they pay back all their scholarship money.

You can offset some "poor" high school grades by getting "decent" SAT or ACT scores. Shoot for 600's on the SAT and 26 or above on the ACT. If the academies don't offer a direct appointment you may have a chance at being a sponsored Prep.

Lastly, all but the USCGA require nominations. How is that process going?

-NMMI Prep Director

[Bongham]

Originally Posted by jackson1989

My son went to MMI last year as part of the SAP (He was a Falcon Scholar). He has friends at MMI who participated in both the ECP and the SAP program. It sounds like a good option would be for you to apply to their ECP program for the first year, strive to get good grades, extracurriculars, etc. and then apply for direct entry to WP. You may or may not get in, but at that point you would have the opportunity to demonstrate your dedication and desire to excel going forward. The program at MMI is a good one and you will get out of it what you put in.

Best of Luck!

Jackson 1989 I want to go to MMI on a Falcon Scholarship but i don't where to start applying i will be very greatfully if you can supply me with some ideas
Thank You

[RLTW]

Originally Posted by Utahguard93

I was reading that as a member of the Guard I can apply to West Point and even if I'm denied I'm automatically qualified for the prep school.

Utah,
I'll get to MMI but first I'd be darn careful about that phrase. Anything that says "automatically qualified" just sends up flags for me, as getting into an academy is highly competitive and hardly automatic. I don't know the details in your case, that's just something I'd clarify and verify until you are very sure. You don't state which prep school you'd be automatically qualified for, I would just make sure you have a clear understanding of what you do or don't get automatically.

Now, DS went to MMI and did the dual-track, enrolling in both the ECP and the SAP programs simultaneously. His goal was USMA, and if you want USMA, MMI can be a great path. Based on his experience, I would say that if you only want to choose either ECP or SAP rather than dual-track (and I'm not advocating dual-tracking specifically) then I would say SAP is much more aligned with preparing you for USMA because it is specifically modeled directly with the plebe year of USMA in mind.

That said, ECP certainly gives you a great plan B for your goal of USMA, especially since should you end up on that path you'd commission in only 2 years, not 4. You still have to finish a 4-yr degree someplace else but that is part of the plan. DS did ECP both for the additional options it enables in case you don't end up at USMA and also that is how he paid for MMI (winning a scholarship in AROTC and using the pay from ECP).

Very few dual-track, it's an intensive program, but it does offer more opportunities for the future. Either way, ECP or SAP, both offer good options, yet if you only choose one and your goal is USMA I would suggest the SAP program.

BTW DS is finishing Beast Barracks at USMA right now (Class of 2015) and was very glad to have gone to MMI because it gave him a significant edge in preparedness for USMA.

Whichever path you choose, know that hard work pays off.

Best regards,
RLTW
Go Army!

[swimmer27]

At MMI, you can do what's called "dual-track" for USMA and ECP. If you don't get into USMA, then you will already be enrolled in ECP. I attend MMI now and have many friends in ECP. They all love it! I am an SAP student and can tell you this program is great too. You really can't go wrong with dual-tracking if being an Army officer is your goal. Good luck- if you have any questions about MMI or SAP/ECP feel free to PM me!