Applying Early Decision to VMI

marjorieli

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
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Hello All - from France - my son is applying early decision to VMI. He's so ready he would go tomottow. First I want to thank everyone and say how useful it is to read everything on this forum...I mean really useful as well as friendly and informative and sometimes hilarious. (Age issues). Anyway, I've been meaning to post for some time to comment on the outstanding reception that my son has received from VMI. Faculty, Admissions and Cadets have been incredibly welcoming. He has visited the post TWICE and is ready to commit to what he believes is his real life. I believe he's doing everything that he can to submit the best possible application. It's stressful, waiting to know if he'll be accepted. I can only vouch with utmost humility that he would be a fine Cadet and he will be an excellent soldier, leader, officer. He's never ever wanted to do anything else. Any advice is most welcome. Thanks again for all of the info that you make available to us.
 
Good luck to your son- he has a unique resume and I'm sure he will do very well. I Look forward to hearing positive news from you this fall:thumb:
 
Applying Early Decision VMI

Thanks Bruno - you're a champ ! Appreciate your encouragement !:thumb:
 
Good luck! MY DS is currently a Rat and applied with VMI (first and only choice) early decision last year. Although it the Ratline is tough, I think it is worth it and I think my DS will agree when he gets through it!
 
Hello All - from France - my son is applying early decision to VMI. He's so ready he would go tomottow. First I want to thank everyone and say how useful it is to read everything on this forum...I mean really useful as well as friendly and informative and sometimes hilarious. (Age issues). Anyway, I've been meaning to post for some time to comment on the outstanding reception that my son has received from VMI. Faculty, Admissions and Cadets have been incredibly welcoming. He has visited the post TWICE and is ready to commit to what he believes is his real life. I believe he's doing everything that he can to submit the best possible application. It's stressful, waiting to know if he'll be accepted. I can only vouch with utmost humility that he would be a fine Cadet and he will be an excellent soldier, leader, officer. He's never ever wanted to do anything else. Any advice is most welcome. Thanks again for all of the info that you make available to us.
I remember being in those same nervous shoes last year. Hopefully it goes well for your DS. Have no fear in his choice because VMI IS as it markets itself. A great school that is welcoming and totally dedicated to bringing out the best in your DS even when they learn much the hard way. There is a great support system for the parents through the parents counsel for you. But I must confess I have not taken advantage of a whole lot of that because I learned most of the "ropes" through a contact on here as well as a few alumni that have been more than happy to answer all of my questions through the process. One thing I will also re assure you on with being out of country. Your DS will not be left out when parents visit etc and you are unable to be there if that is the case. DS and most of the Rats look around and make sure those kids have a family to take them off post for a meal etc. I also have been informed that we will be having a guest over Christmas break who is actually from Taiwan. They can not afford to go home until May and we are really happy to do it. DS is hoping to do the study abroad program at Oxford next year and he has a BR who's family lives close to there and they offered their home to him for the semester if he is selected to go. This type of stuff is very rare in the world but common place and appropriate etiquette for VMI families. The key to reaching break out I believe is that the Rats have learned to put their BR's first and sacrifice for each other. You will find that attitude permeates the Professors, the parents.. everybody. It seems abnormal in this world of "me first", but it is the norm and expected at VMI. Let us know how it goes:thumb:
 
Early Decision VMI

Thanks for the information easter2 and bjkuds. Please enlighten me : what does DS mean (I understand from the context) and what does BR mean? Do you have to already be a Rat to be a DS ? I know that VMI is the absolute best place for my son and objectively I think he'd be good for VMI - only a few more months of waiting.....phew. We'd be glad to welcome any VMI students here in Paris ? I guess I should tell the International relations office. I think I will !
 
Thanks for the information easter2 and bjkuds. Please enlighten me : what does DS mean (I understand from the context) and what does BR mean? Do you have to already be a Rat to be a DS ? I know that VMI is the absolute best place for my son and objectively I think he'd be good for VMI - only a few more months of waiting.....phew. We'd be glad to welcome any VMI students here in Paris ? I guess I should tell the International relations office. I think I will !

DS= dearest Son
BR= Brother Rat
 
Hello All - from France - my son is applying early decision to VMI. He's so ready he would go tomottow. First I want to thank everyone and say how useful it is to read everything on this forum...I mean really useful as well as friendly and informative and sometimes hilarious. (Age issues). Anyway, I've been meaning to post for some time to comment on the outstanding reception that my son has received from VMI. Faculty, Admissions and Cadets have been incredibly welcoming. He has visited the post TWICE and is ready to commit to what he believes is his real life. I believe he's doing everything that he can to submit the best possible application. It's stressful, waiting to know if he'll be accepted. I can only vouch with utmost humility that he would be a fine Cadet and he will be an excellent soldier, leader, officer. He's never ever wanted to do anything else. Any advice is most welcome. Thanks again for all of the info that you make available to us.

Boujour Madame! I also have a DS who is a Rat now at VMI. I echo the other comments about VMI. It is the real deal. It will accord your DS a first-rate education while molding him in ways that are truly profound. I am continually impressed by VMI (and I am old and more than a bit cynical and don't impress easily). That said, you may wish to check out the other senior military colleges (SMCs) and maybe even ROTC at mega Universities to get a full sense of this world. VMI is definitely not for everyone. The other schools (SMCs especially) offer similar experiences but are all different in subtle and not so subtle ways. My DS, for example, overnighted at VMI, Citadel, Norwich and Texax A&M barracks before settling on VMI. The visits confirmed his choice in his mind and that is a comfort, especially in the darker days of the Ratline. Whatever your DS's choice, I wish him luck!
 
Early Decision VMI

Bonsoir Pennak - We (my DS) also went to the Citadel, VTech, Texas A&M and Norwich. But we went TWICE to VMI ! (only one overnight) My DS - now I know what it means (I would have never guessed) actually liked them all and so did I. But VMI was by far the place that marked him most - where he felt at immediately at home - never having lived in the US. I think it is the size and the sobriety - he's looking for that rigor and degree of seriousness. The real deal precisely. That is what impressed him the most and me too.. but also the real friendliness of it too. My DS was indeed giddy with anticipation when he left the post - both times. He'll need a BR to bring him back to earth. And he's going to be far from home...but he considers the US his home and he's chomping at the bit to get settled stateside. Still, he's got to get accepted first. Thanks for allowing me to tell the story -thanks for "listening" and "conversing" - fantastic forum this !
 
Bonsoir Pennak - We (my DS) also went to the Citadel, VTech, Texas A&M and Norwich. But we went TWICE to VMI ! (only one overnight) My DS - now I know what it means (I would have never guessed) actually liked them all and so did I. But VMI was by far the place that marked him most - where he felt at immediately at home - never having lived in the US. I think it is the size and the sobriety - he's looking for that rigor and degree of seriousness. The real deal precisely. That is what impressed him the most and me too.. but also the real friendliness of it too. My DS was indeed giddy with anticipation when he left the post - both times. He'll need a BR to bring him back to earth. And he's going to be far from home...but he considers the US his home and he's chomping at the bit to get settled stateside. Still, he's got to get accepted first. Thanks for allowing me to tell the story -thanks for "listening" and "conversing" - fantastic forum this !

Tres excellent! It was that degree of rigor and seriousness that was the big draw for my DS too. That and the single sanction honor code. He had his pick, he got into all the SMCs, but he he thought vmi was for him. As a Rat today I got a letter from him saying that vmi is living up to it's reputation. Bonne chance!!
 
Ps. Not to worry about him being far from France. His BRs (and their parents) will take good care of him during the school year!
 
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