Earliest one might get accepted into a prep school? - Posting in the correct forum this time!

Hi. My son's best chance to become a service academy graduate is most likely through a prep school appointment.

Of course I'd love it if he heard that in November 2016! But when might the "true"earliest date be?

Thanks.

bringbacknelsoncruz

No idea what the "earliest date" would be, but mine decided on Navy in November after being offered the opportunity. This offer was sports related. Of course, the offer was contingent on meeting the requirements. The official signed letter offering a year at Naps came after completing the paperwork etc.

Most offers that come before the early spring are sports related. Most offers come in Feb-May. Like I said this isn't 100% of the time, but for the majority this is the case.

Curious why the OP is asking. Application process for next year is just getting started.

Thank you for your responses.
To time2 - the reason I ask is, I'll be honest, out of MY dread of the process.

I know how much my child wants to get in and I am realistic about the chances. It would have been wonderful to hear (so as to get the process over with) that sometimes very early on the admission panels realize an applicant would be great for a prep school and they move on that offer.

Let me emphasize that this inquiry is coming from my worries. This is my oldest child and we've never been through the college application process. I've observed the stress of applying to "regular" colleges and I just dread this upcoming year.

If this is what he wants he should apply to the SA and ROTC. If he doesn't get a scholarship or appointment, then he should plan to enroll in ROTC and try to earn a scholarship. Bottom line, if he wants to be an officer there is a way. He needs to own this process inside and out. Sure applying for schools is a long process and definitely can be a disappointment along the way, but that is part of the process of growing and being an adult. Being an officer means pushing past all the no's and succeeding at the mission. It is stressful buts also a fun time too!

NavyHoops said:

If this is what he wants he should apply to the SA and ROTC. If he doesn't get a scholarship or appointment, then he should plan to enroll in ROTC and try to earn a scholarship. Bottom line, if he wants to be an officer there is a way. He needs to own this process inside and out. Sure applying for schools is a long process and definitely can be a disappointment along the way, but that is part of the process of growing and being an adult. Being an officer means pushing past all the no's and succeeding at the mission. It is stressful buts also a fun time too!

Click to expand...

Oh I agree. For better or worse he built a wall between his academics and us and his successes and failures are all his own. Would he have done better if he had listened to us? Absolutely. However his pretty good GPA is all his and not in any part due to parents calling the teachers and principal begging for extra credit or the grade bump. It is just, you know, these teenagers can be so dang stubborn and obstinant and arrogant and it is really hard to just watch it when I know that he could have been such a stronger applicant if he had only listened! I have to remember it is a journey and if he messes up and things don't turn out well, it is a life lesson.

There are two paths to "prep school." One is a sponsored prep and the other is a self prep. My DS went to MMI, last year, as a sponsored prep and is at the academy this year. (This was the first year USMMA sent sponsored preps to Marion.) While I do not have actual facts for you, here are my impressions, based on discussions with admissions, coaches, parents, and this discussion board. A recruited athlete or underrepresented minority will receive the sponsored prep slots, most (maybe all) of the time. Not all sponsored preps will receive appointments (after prep year), but this usually due to lack of academic effort or major digressions during prep year. It is pretty easy to self prep, but receiving an appointment is still very difficult. Last year at MMI, one of the cadet officers who won the math and science awards (top grades in both) did not receive an appointment. (I believe he wanted to go USNA, exclusively.) But other self preps did. (11 to USCGA and unknown number to USMA) Here are the numbers for MMI in the past:

I dug into the stats earlier this year as we looked to send DS to MMI. MMI has refined their SAP (Service Academy Prep) program to select better quality candidates for their program resulting in an increase in appointments for self-preppers. Early on it was < 30% but now is in the 60%-70% range as a whole and rising. Each academy % is different though - USNA and USAFA are lower with USGCA, USMA and USMMA higher as MMI seems to be a select prep school for their sponsored prep kids. During out visit DS felt this was his best chance at an appointment b/c of the preparation for the academy, rich military history, exposure of the academy representatives to Self Preppers and their instructors. Thanks for sharing these stats.

Here's an article on the day in the life of a cadet at MMI: http://78mag.com/2016/04/the-long-hard-day/