I am starting to get worried that I won't make it into West Point after seeing the competition at SLS and on this forum and i need to get a back up so I was wondering if someone could explain the other military colleges. Not USAFA or USNA, I mean the Citadel, Norwich etc. More specifically, how do they compare to West Point in military training, leadership development, etc. and how easy is it to transfer from there to West Point?
Other military colleges
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another13mom
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Have you looked at the thread on this forum for privately and publicly funded military schools? Also, ROTC provides many a path to becoming an officer in the Army and should be included as part of your college application process.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31
surgicalghost13
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General Patton completed his first year at VMI then transferred to WP.
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Please recall that no one can 'transfer' to West Point; you have to start over as a plebe and not all academic credits may transfer either.
Technically all the Senior Military Colleges are big ROTC programs. But I know you're referring to going to a civilian school and doing ROTC, which is a fantastic option. You do have stand out though because when it comes to branching and post assignments you're already at the bottom of the totem pole behind WP and the SMCs.
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If you are interested in the Senior Military Colleges as an option- you really should ask this question on the Military College forum and not divert the USMA forum. I will say that the SMC's are not prep schools for the Service Academies and while, from my experience at VMI as a Dad and Grad, a couple of Cadets from every class will leave to start over and attend an SA (and it is starting over as neither USMA nor any other SA will transfer credit in or shorten your time), but that's not the Norm. The SMC's are their own world and it's a world where in order to be successful- you need to commit to them. (And personally I have often wondered how after putting up with a year of a really demanding 4th Class experience at VMI or the Citadel et al.. you could want to say goodbye to your "brothers" to put up with another year as a Plebe- I suspect that many Cadets come to that same conclusion and don't try and do a George Patton.)
The SMCs are not all the same either in intensity, % military or in the general daily life of the Cadets. At VMI- you will be in a very physically, mentally and academically challenging environment. 100% of the students in uniform as Cadets, wearing a uniform 24/7 (no civies allowed to be kept in your room) with few to no opportunities to leave post as a Rat (4th Classman/ Freshman) and very few weekend pass opportunities subsequently , no car or driving privileges until you are a First Classman (Senior) , mandatory 4 years of ROTC(though not mandatory commissioning. About 50% of the class will commission- the rest choose not to do so). VMI is 100% military and undergraduate. The Citadel has a civilian night graduate program but otherwise is virtually 100% military (some Veterans do not participate in the Corps). Norwich is about 50/50 military/ civilian. North Georgia, Va Tech and Texas A&M are all Cadet Corps within much larger State Universities and differ pretty significantly from VMI and The Citadel in size, feel and Cadet life.
If you come post in the Military College Forum you will get a lot more comments and information from Cadets, grads and parents with experience at the various SMCs so I encourage you to start a thread over there. I hope this answer helps some and that we see you over on the ROTC and Military College forums. Good luck!
The SMCs are not all the same either in intensity, % military or in the general daily life of the Cadets. At VMI- you will be in a very physically, mentally and academically challenging environment. 100% of the students in uniform as Cadets, wearing a uniform 24/7 (no civies allowed to be kept in your room) with few to no opportunities to leave post as a Rat (4th Classman/ Freshman) and very few weekend pass opportunities subsequently , no car or driving privileges until you are a First Classman (Senior) , mandatory 4 years of ROTC(though not mandatory commissioning. About 50% of the class will commission- the rest choose not to do so). VMI is 100% military and undergraduate. The Citadel has a civilian night graduate program but otherwise is virtually 100% military (some Veterans do not participate in the Corps). Norwich is about 50/50 military/ civilian. North Georgia, Va Tech and Texas A&M are all Cadet Corps within much larger State Universities and differ pretty significantly from VMI and The Citadel in size, feel and Cadet life.
If you come post in the Military College Forum you will get a lot more comments and information from Cadets, grads and parents with experience at the various SMCs so I encourage you to start a thread over there. I hope this answer helps some and that we see you over on the ROTC and Military College forums. Good luck!
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surgicalghost13
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Agreed. Wrong choice of words on my part.
Remember that most of the people are not competing directly due to the nomination system. So do not be discouraged!
My regional commander said at SLS last year that, even if there are several people from the same school applying, they are not necessarily going to compare which one is better and get THAT one instead of you... if you are both great candidates, they will try to get you BOTH in.
Don't be discouraged! It is great that you are looking into other options, that's very mature of you! Keep focused and whatever you get, remember that your goal is not "just" going to West Point, or any Service Academy - your goal is to be an Armed Forces officer, and there are many ways to achieve that.
Powell was a ROTC grad, and the first ROTC grad Army Chief of Staff. Just sayin'!
I was in a similar boat to you. I was a little discouraged because I wasn't accepted to SLS and seeing other candidates at Boys State and this forum made me worry. But the advice I would say here is remember that every individual is unique - we all bring something different to the table.
Once I got the QNS from USMA, I had to consider my options. Plan B was Norwich (accepted) or Plan C (Civilian college with ROTC). I intend to reapply to USMA either way, so that was important in my choice.
Bruno's post is really excellent, and mostly what went through my mind when I had to choose. When I visited Norwich, I definitely felt that huge commitment and their own world. I did hear of some cadets who reapply to academies, but it is definitely fewer than civilian colleges. I ended up choosing Plan C, but it was mainly for other reasons. I did consider subjects like this in my overall decision though.
Once I got the QNS from USMA, I had to consider my options. Plan B was Norwich (accepted) or Plan C (Civilian college with ROTC). I intend to reapply to USMA either way, so that was important in my choice.
Bruno's post is really excellent, and mostly what went through my mind when I had to choose. When I visited Norwich, I definitely felt that huge commitment and their own world. I did hear of some cadets who reapply to academies, but it is definitely fewer than civilian colleges. I ended up choosing Plan C, but it was mainly for other reasons. I did consider subjects like this in my overall decision though.