Don't know what to do after High School

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Apr 8, 2016
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I have no earthly idea what I want to do when I graduate. My original plan was to go to JSU with my friends and stay close to my boyfriend. Now, I'm interested in being a Marine. However, the time is closing on applications to any and all military academies. And I don't want to leave my friends and boyfriend, any advice on what to do or where to apply as far as military colleges?
 
Ummm....if you graduate this year I am afraid you have missed all applications for a service academy or any of the senior military colleges.

One thing you could do is go to any college that has a NROTC unit and join the unit.
 
Did you click on the link I posted? All of the NROTC schools are on that link, broken down by state.

Some state colleges might still allow you to apply now, but you are far too late for a scholarship for freshman year. However, you can apply for the NROTC-MO (Marine Option) now that would cover your last 3 years of college. Look at the link above, then research each school and their admissions process. If you are still able to apply to a college, do so asap, and then contact the NROTC battalion at that school to let them know you plan to join as a "college programmer" (that means non-scholarship).

Good luck to you!
 
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If you graduate h.s. next month, you are way too late to just be starting this process. At this point, timing for next year would be better. Choosing a college just to remain with your h.s. friends is probably not even a good plan for a civilian college. People will go in different directions and if you are no longer their friends, that choice of college won't seem to make much sense.
 
Agree with others that your timing is unfortunate.
Best bet is try (remote chance) to late enroll and get into the nearest 4 year regional college with NROTC and enter NROTC as a college programmer. You will have to pony up 100 pct of the costs, though.

Have you even taken the SAT or ACT yet?

More likely you can attend community college for a year and go for the academies and SMCs next year.
 
Or, you could join the Marines for a year or two and then apply for the SA/SMC of your choosing.
 
If you graduate h.s. next month, you are way too late to just be starting this process. At this point, timing for next year would be better. Choosing a college just to remain with your h.s. friends is probably not even a good plan for a civilian college. People will go in different directions and if you are no longer their friends, that choice of college won't seem to make much sense.
 
I thought about just taking time off and doing PT until next school year and applying to military colleges next year. I really want to go through West Point and go to school/ train there before I go off to the military. That way I can kind of ease into it, because all of this is so new to me.
 
Agree with others that your timing is unfortunate.
Best bet is try (remote chance) to late enroll and get into the nearest 4 year regional college with NROTC and enter NROTC as a college programmer. You will have to pony up 100 pct of the costs, though.

Have you even taken the SAT or ACT yet?

More likely you can attend community college for a year and go for the academies and SMCs next year.
SMC's?
 
I thought about just taking time off and doing PT until next school year and applying to military colleges next year. I really want to go through West Point and go to school/ train there before I go off to the military. That way I can kind of ease into it, because all of this is so new to me.

You really need to do more research about West Point and SMC (senior military colleges). IF you were to get & accept an appointment to WP, you would be in the military full-time (ie cadets are considered active duty). There is no "easing into it" at WP.

Also, WP is on par with Ivy League schools academically (you will take calc, chem, physics, etc and on average 18-21 credit hours EACH semester), in addition to having military and physical education requirements daily. Time management and stress management skills will be crucial.

I'm not trying to discourage you from applying next year, but you need to look at the programs/requirements at WP, SMC/JMCs, and civilian colleges. But like others above have mentioned, you really need to get your ACT scores up.
 
If you want to be a Marine officer by going to a Service Academy, then you need to go to the Naval Academy. West Point is Army only.
 
I have not taken the SAT yet. I plan on doing so, soon though. True, I don't know what I am getting myself into. I've never done any of this and didn't have an interest in military college until my mom mentioned it earlier this year. Yes, I know my scores could be better. The truth is- I slacked off a LOT this year as far as preparing for my future.Now, I just don't know what to do.
 
I have not taken the SAT yet. I plan on doing so, soon though. True, I don't know what I am getting myself into. I've never done any of this and didn't have an interest in military college until my mom mentioned it earlier this year. Yes, I know my scores could be better. The truth is- I slacked off a LOT this year as far as preparing for my future.Now, I just don't know what to do.
I would look into your local community college. Do you have a helpful high school guidance counselor who can assist you? As suggested above, please take a look at West Point's webpage so you have a better idea of what you are talking about.
 
This link explains the "SMCs", which stands for Senior Military Colleges, with links to all six colleges.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senior_Military_College

You can also Google "Junior Military Colleges", those are two year colleges similar to a community college but with a military environment.

For the service academies, West Point is Army, Naval Academy is Navy and Marines and Air Force Academy is Air Force. Do the research on each, all three have websites that explain admissions requirements.

You do need to raise your ACT score. There's another test in June. Sign up to take it.

Your mom suggested a military college for you? Sometimes parents know their kids better than kids know themselves, simply because parents have twenty plus extra years of more time on this earth to gather life lessons than the teenager. However, I am wondering WHY she thought it might be good for you? Is it because you are you spending too much time with friends and boyfriend, instead of concentrating on school? If your mom suggested a military college to try to get you away from your "crowd", that's a pretty bad reason to join any branch of military. You are the one that will be doing the training, getting deployed - so YOU need to want to be there.

Perhaps a better option is to look at a state college that is not local to you, (that you would stay in a dorm instead of still living at home), where you could work on your grades for a year while researching the service academies and/or military colleges.

You also really need to take some time and research each military branch. I hate to say it but if you're intimidated by PT, the Marines might not be the best choice.
 
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