Civilian Preparatory Program

Oliver09

5-Year Member
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Jun 6, 2014
Messages
5
This is my first posting. MY DS was waitlisted in April. He was awarded a NROTC scholarship to his #1 school. This past week he received a call from an USNA admissions rep. He was offered the Civilian Preparatory Program. He can either (at his cost) attend a Prep school or an approved civilian college with a pre-approved course load. He will reapply for the 2019 class with an abbreviated application, PFT and apply for noms. (He had 2 MOC’s and a Child of Deceased Serviceman. Due to MOC’s interview process and his college being out of state , he will most likely only be able to use a “Deceased” nom.)

He was told that if finishes his freshman year with a A’s & B’s and a clean conduct record, he has an excellent chance of being accepted to the USNA Class of 2019. BUT he will need to turn his NROTC scholarship down.

His dilemma: While he truly wants to attend the USNA and having a prep year is welcomed, his ultimate goal is to receive a commission and serve in the Navy. He is worried about turning the NROTC down. He fears that the Civil Prep Program is “Too good to be true” and he will have missed his best chance for a commission.

FYI – Without the NROTC scholarship, he is unable to afford the school he had planned to attend. He has, however, received a large scholarship to a 2nd school where he will attend for the prep year and if he is not ultimately accepted to the USNA. (He really likes this school – this school just doesn't have NROTC.)

Any advice/encouragement/warnings?

PS - For MANY reasons I think he should take the risk: turn the NROTC Scholarship down and reapply for the USNA. (yes, 1 reason is that I hope he goes to a civilian university, loves it!, becomes an accountant and moves 3 houses down BUT it's not about me - really!)
 
This is my first posting. MY DS was waitlisted in April. He was awarded a NROTC scholarship to his #1 school. This past week he received a call from an USNA admissions rep. He was offered the Civilian Preparatory Program. He can either (at his cost) attend a Prep school or an approved civilian college with a pre-approved course load. He will reapply for the 2019 class with an abbreviated application, PFT and apply for noms. (He had 2 MOC’s and a Child of Deceased Serviceman. Due to MOC’s interview process and his college being out of state , he will most likely only be able to use a “Deceased” nom.)

He was told that if finishes his freshman year with a A’s & B’s and a clean conduct record, he has an excellent chance of being accepted to the USNA Class of 2019. BUT he will need to turn his NROTC scholarship down.

His dilemma: While he truly wants to attend the USNA and having a prep year is welcomed, his ultimate goal is to receive a commission and serve in the Navy. He is worried about turning the NROTC down. He fears that the Civil Prep Program is “Too good to be true” and he will have missed his best chance for a commission.

FYI – Without the NROTC scholarship, he is unable to afford the school he had planned to attend. He has, however, received a large scholarship to a 2nd school where he will attend for the prep year and if he is not ultimately accepted to the USNA. (He really likes this school – this school just doesn't have NROTC.)

Any advice/encouragement/warnings?

PS - For MANY reasons I think he should take the risk: turn the NROTC Scholarship down and reapply for the USNA. (yes, 1 reason is that I hope he goes to a civilian university, loves it!, becomes an accountant and moves 3 houses down BUT it's not about me - really!)

My daughter was in a similar situation last year. She had a AFROTC scholarship offer, but she wanted to try again for USAFA. We plotted out all the options including total cost, duration, and end state. Of course, the end state was always the same: 2LT.

She decided to turn down the ROTC offer and go to Northwestern Prep. She reapplied for her noms while at NWP. The MOCs had no problem with this and arranged phone interviews for her. That shouldn't be a problem for your son either. She improved her CFA, her SAT, and did well academically, though NWP doesn't give college credit. She got the appointment to USAFA.

In reading on this forum, my feeling is that a ROTC scholarship is not really a scholarship, but it is more of a "loan with a repayment that may be forgiven", though that decision is not in your hands. Others may disagree with that characterization, and certainly others know much more about the ROTC process than me. That made us nervous though.

I felt like NWP was the best of both worlds because the first semester is at NWP improving scores, and the 2nd semester is at a college of your choice proving you can do college level work. There are a lot of prep schools though, and they are all different.

The other option you might want to consider is OCS. He could attend the 2nd school with the large scholarship, reapply to USNA, and if not successful, go OCS after graduation.

Good luck.
 
My ds completed his West Point Association Of Graduates civil prep program at marion military institute in marion alabama this past may. MMI had 25 West Point Civil Prep cadets this year and all 25 moved on to West Point. I would also add the program at Marion was outstanding! The staff there is solely committed to each student success. It is no cake walk but these programs really set these kids up for success as they head into their respective academys.
Basically the spot is theirs to lose but the acceptance rate is extremely high.
This is a fantastic opportunityfor your DS. Please feel free to ask questions about thecivil prep program as there are many parents and cadets on this forum who can provide answers.
Congratulations! I was in the same boat as you were last year and one year later, am so grateful my DS had the opportunity! Best of luck!
 
Congratulations on this opportunity for your DS. It does seem too good to be true. My DS was in a similar situation last year. He did turn down his full AROTC scholarship to Norwich University and do a Service Academy Prep year at Marion Military Institute. He wanted to attend USMA with all his heart. He will now attend USMA and is a CC for the Class of 2018. DS has indicated with what he knows now, he would choose the course he has taken.
 
Tough choice. This same kind of predicament happened to me over 30 years ago. My goal was to serve in the Navy and I accepted the NROTC scholarship. Enjoyed a great active/reserve career to retirement. If his ultimate goal is become a naval officer, would think twice about turning down a NROTC scholarship especially in today's competitive environment and Federal budget issues. A lot can happen over a year. Best wishes.
 
Here are a few thoughts from a mother of a self prep who had many friends sponsored by USNA, USMA and USAFA.

1. It isn't too good to be true. The boundaries have been explained to your DS. If he follows them he will get an appointment for the class of 2019. Reread the above posts from former AOG and Foundation students' parents. The appointment is only his to lose by earning poor grades or having poor conduct.

2. Many out of state prep school/ university students conduct their MOC interviews by phone as another poster stated. The other option is to fly home for the interview if finances allow. This is what my DS chose to do.
 
This is my first posting. MY DS was waitlisted in April. He was awarded a NROTC scholarship to his #1 school. This past week he received a call from an USNA admissions rep. He was offered the Civilian Preparatory Program. He can either (at his cost) attend a Prep school or an approved civilian college with a pre-approved course load. He will reapply for the 2019 class with an abbreviated application, PFT and apply for noms. (He had 2 MOC’s and a Child of Deceased Serviceman. Due to MOC’s interview process and his college being out of state , he will most likely only be able to use a “Deceased” nom.)

He was told that if finishes his freshman year with a A’s & B’s and a clean conduct record, he has an excellent chance of being accepted to the USNA Class of 2019. BUT he will need to turn his NROTC scholarship down.

His dilemma: While he truly wants to attend the USNA and having a prep year is welcomed, his ultimate goal is to receive a commission and serve in the Navy. He is worried about turning the NROTC down. He fears that the Civil Prep Program is “Too good to be true” and he will have missed his best chance for a commission.

FYI – Without the NROTC scholarship, he is unable to afford the school he had planned to attend. He has, however, received a large scholarship to a 2nd school where he will attend for the prep year and if he is not ultimately accepted to the USNA. (He really likes this school – this school just doesn't have NROTC.)

Any advice/encouragement/warnings?

PS - For MANY reasons I think he should take the risk: turn the NROTC Scholarship down and reapply for the USNA. (yes, 1 reason is that I hope he goes to a civilian university, loves it!, becomes an accountant and moves 3 houses down BUT it's not about me - really!)

Sent you PM as we received the same offer!
 
Sydney C. Thank you! I read your PM! My DS is the other guy - word for word!

I can not reply to your PM as I haven't posted 5 times on this Board yet. I'm not quite sure how to communicate with you from here.

Ideas?
 
Sydney C. Thank you! I read your PM! My DS is the other guy - word for word!

I can not reply to your PM as I haven't posted 5 times on this Board yet. I'm not quite sure how to communicate with you from here.

Ideas?

Oliver you can post a few more times on this forum to get up to the number 5. No one will be bothered if your post is something simple and insignificant. Once you get to the magic number 5 you can PM Sydney back!
 
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