First let me say this; my son makes his own decisions and I don't/won't try to form his opinion but...he always wants to know what I would do in a given situation and, he'll definitely ask with this one! I want to be as informed and objective as I can be on facts and discuss the obvious variables that life brings with hard decisions!
The new situation is this:
He received his NROTC-Marine Corps scholarship for The Citadel, VMI or Virginia Tech earlier today. He's wanted the USMC and his Captain told him that he's been under many USMC Officers that went to West Point and he had no problem with him (son) staying with USMAPS now. Factor in my USMC enlistment a hundred years ago, and one of his favorite NJROTC teachers/mentors is a USMC Gunner (retired, 30 years, drill instructor to WO-4). He also has his AROTC scholarship at The Citadel with academic acceptance there, and obviously an Appointment for USMAPS. He has visited The Citadel and loved the school on a pre-Knob and has a few buddies there now on his facebook. Though he's never been to West Point yet, he will be there in a few weeks for an overnight, he did go to NASS and "loved the academy academic and military atmosphere" his words. Unfortunately he received the thin letter from Annapolis and his Color Vision waiver didn't come through.
The Army has be rock solid with him throughout the whole application process and were the easiest branch to work with, the Navy (USNA) seemed to be the hardest after the NASS trip. West Point has been outstanding and his MALO calls him all the time and has never been off on any of his advice.
The big question is: USMAPS or 2 ROTC scholarships. Understand that he realizes that situations change (I'm sure he does and we'll re-visit that issue) and it's really only up to him but, what are the hard numbers on a USMAPS motivated student, moving on to West Point. His number one goal is to become a career military officer. Trust me, we've had the discussions about going to a local school and doing the required courses with AROTC for another go at West Point or how great it would be to go to The Citadel as either Army or Marine Corps.
Let me focus on the question again after my rambling all over the place post, what are the percentages of motivated qualified USMAPS Students that move on to West Point?
Personally, for the conversation here, USMAPS would be my choice ~if it were my decision, and my life.
With all that said, I'm sure this whole discussion will be moot after he gets back from the West Point overnight trip and then a week at USMAPS.
The new situation is this:
He received his NROTC-Marine Corps scholarship for The Citadel, VMI or Virginia Tech earlier today. He's wanted the USMC and his Captain told him that he's been under many USMC Officers that went to West Point and he had no problem with him (son) staying with USMAPS now. Factor in my USMC enlistment a hundred years ago, and one of his favorite NJROTC teachers/mentors is a USMC Gunner (retired, 30 years, drill instructor to WO-4). He also has his AROTC scholarship at The Citadel with academic acceptance there, and obviously an Appointment for USMAPS. He has visited The Citadel and loved the school on a pre-Knob and has a few buddies there now on his facebook. Though he's never been to West Point yet, he will be there in a few weeks for an overnight, he did go to NASS and "loved the academy academic and military atmosphere" his words. Unfortunately he received the thin letter from Annapolis and his Color Vision waiver didn't come through.
The Army has be rock solid with him throughout the whole application process and were the easiest branch to work with, the Navy (USNA) seemed to be the hardest after the NASS trip. West Point has been outstanding and his MALO calls him all the time and has never been off on any of his advice.
The big question is: USMAPS or 2 ROTC scholarships. Understand that he realizes that situations change (I'm sure he does and we'll re-visit that issue) and it's really only up to him but, what are the hard numbers on a USMAPS motivated student, moving on to West Point. His number one goal is to become a career military officer. Trust me, we've had the discussions about going to a local school and doing the required courses with AROTC for another go at West Point or how great it would be to go to The Citadel as either Army or Marine Corps.
Let me focus on the question again after my rambling all over the place post, what are the percentages of motivated qualified USMAPS Students that move on to West Point?
Personally, for the conversation here, USMAPS would be my choice ~if it were my decision, and my life.
With all that said, I'm sure this whole discussion will be moot after he gets back from the West Point overnight trip and then a week at USMAPS.