Is it worth TRANSFERRING From College

I've got a very good shot at going to VMI, but i have wanted to go to the naval academy since i was little. I've been planning on transferring to VMI if i got in after my first year, hoping that my grades are good, but is it really worth it? Should i honestly give up a year of school to do it again at a prestigious academy? I've been told it doesn't matter where you graduate and how everyone of your branch will get the same rank? Will i miss out on great things a VMI? Should i honestly, honestly leave whatever i'd have there behind? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

Are you asking about VMI or USNA? Your post is not clear on where you are and where you are thinking of transferring.

Im talking about VMI or any college to the USNA is the transfer worth it

You don't exactly "transfer." If you're asking if it's worth it to "start over," that's a difficult question. I've had one candidate do it and she said it was absolutely worth it. But that's only a single data point.

Obviously, it comes down to your desires, goals, etc. Not sure anyone who doesn't know you well can answer. There are many advantages to USNA or VMI; there are also great opportunities from a civilian college.

Thanks for the reply, yeah i might be going to VMI but i dont know yet, see i'm looking towards a marine officer commission and i don't understand why im so hyped up on the naval academy. I've been told numerous times that it doesn't matter where i go to college in the military, but idk the academy has been a dream ever since i was little. I'm a senior this year with no chance at all of getting into the USNA, so looking towards four year colleges or two years... Thats why ive asked? Thanks again

If your dream is to attend USNA then perhaps attending a military prep school would serve you better. VMI really isn't set up to be used as a prep school. Not to mention the fact that 2 consecutive years of living through an intense 4th class system might be pretty stressful.

It would also be quite difficult to accomplish all the necessary items to even apply for the academy during your freshman year at VMI - you just will not have the time.

If you start VMI, make sure your mind is made up to finish your education there. It is a great school that offers a lot of opportunities. I'm going to assume VMI is similar to The Citadel (my alma mater) with regard to pursuing a commission. Even if you don't begin with a full ROTC scholarship, the NROTC department on campus has the expertise to assist you during your time there to secure scholarship or contract options...much more so than a civilian school. The requirement to attend 4 years of military science courses (at traditional colleges you can only attend 2 years of military science before incurring a commitment) means you can continue to attempt ROTC as a commissioning source right up until graduation.

Bottom line- ask yourself what your goals are. If attending the academy is your dream, then attending a prep school is the best option. If your goal is securing a commission, then VMI might be a good option.

I know a good number of people who went to college for a year or more before coming to the academy. Not one of them has ever said they regretted doing so. (At least they haven't admitted it.)

I didn't get into the academy the first time I applied. I went to a maritime academy on an NROTC scholarship, reapplied and got in. I was pretty attached to my previous school. I was having a pretty good time as a college student, doing well in all my classes, and had made some amazing friends. So when it came to deciding if it was worth it to switch, it was an incredibly difficult choice.

Obviously, I ended up choosing USNA and I have absolutely no regrets. Given the choice to do it all over, I would do it the exact same way. Sure, there have been some moments (especially plebe year) where I couldn't figure out what in the world possessed me to completely start over and do an extra year of college, but at the end of the day I'm still so glad I made the choice I did.

USNA vs VMI vs State U?

Will it matter as an 2nd LT? Probably not at all.
Will it matter as a 06 trying to make 07? Maybe.

Plus, when you get out, USNA is recognized nation wide as a 1st class institution. VMI or ??? maybe not so much.

osdad said:

USNA vs VMI vs State U?

Will it matter as an 2nd LT? Probably not at all.
Will it matter as a 06 trying to make 07? Maybe.

Plus, when you get out, USNA is recognized nation wide as a 1st class institution. VMI or ??? maybe not so much.

Click to expand...

Though my perspective might be a little more narrow as a 2ndLt, within the military that academy connection doesn't matter as much as it used to at higher ranks (arguably, probably a good thing).
Officers from every and any commissionig source go on to long and successful careers. The O-6 to O-7 transition for the OP is a solid 30 years away, and it'll likely matter less then.

The overwhelming majority of classmates of mine who went to college for a year and then transferred to USNA had no serious regrets. Those who did and expressed them, frankly, underperformed as MIDN.
There's a decent-sized leap of faith that goes with leaving one program for another, and if it's something the OP is interested in he needs to go for it all in. Very few people will be impressed by him having spent a year at VMI, or anywhere else, but there probably will be higher expectations for him once it gets out.

Let us try to quantify it

Graduating/commissioning at age 21, 22, or 23. Does it matter?

Financial - whatever you will pay for the first year at VMI and will pay next three years at VMI vs four years at Naval Academy. I am sure you will pay less for Naval Academy.

Chance of becoming of an active duty Marine Corps officer - both will be competitive, but in theory Naval Academy should be higher.