You guys are dancing around logic….first, please stop explaining expectations of a golden ticket vs not having one. It is irrelevant Other than the fact the USNA selected one over the other. Because it is absolutely a question of inferiority.Th
The Navy does “not send its selected appointees to an inferior program for training,” whether NAPS or a Foundation Scholarship prep school partner.
These are not USNA appointees - yet. They are candidates USNA thinks would benefit from the specific programs offered via the SA prep route, and as a vote of confidence in these candidates who were not offered an appointment to USNA in the current cycle but clearly have other attributes USNA values, they are given a free ride at NAPS or a substantial Foundation scholarship at a partner prep school. It’s a key-and-lock alignment. USNA is confident the sponsored prep route is exactly what these candidates need for a successful re-application process, and with successful completion of prep, it is highly likely an appointment will be offered.
There is no such expectation with non-sponsored prep, though successful prep completion can only be a positive. If a candidate is 100% certain that a prep path is exactly what they need to be successful, then it’s a fine way to go - but I don’t believe the SAs go into that level of detail in advising candidates of whether to go prep or college. Unless Admissions is explicit in telling a candidate why they were not successful in their application, self-sponsored prep may or may not be exactly the right path for any given candidate.
It’s not a question of inferiority. It’s what path is best for an individual - for many, attending a 4-year is the right path.
1) all candidates either:
- get appointed
- get sent to prep
- get TWE
are we in agreement? And each of these are ordered in superior order. The TWE being most inferior.
2) a candidate who gets prep opportunity is rated higher than a candidate who gets a TWE, do we still agree? (I sure hope the answer is yes)
USNA values these candidates and gave them a golden ticket. Superior to TWE
3) so USNA takes candidates who are higher rated than TWE candidates and sends them to a school you are stating is inferior to a four year college for the TWE folks When being considered for admission the following year.
this is where you lose me. That is embarrassing if that is true. and, yes, the navy does send their candidates to an inferior opportunity if we are to believe what you are saying.
and I get it. You keep repeating they “fell short” or “will benefit from one more year”. None of that matters, they were selected and given golden tickets because they were rated HIGHER than the TWEs. So however they fell short, it is less short than the TWEs.
someone selected from USNA to be rated higher than a TWE should be given the best opportunity and if a 4yr is better than a prep school, I fully expect USNA sends their selected candidates to the best school, not the worst. why would they send them to a school that is considered inferior for a TWE to attend?
and maybe you really are reflecting the position of the USNA. I firmly believe that you do not. I don’t believe the USNA would send higher rated candidates to an inferior option for the lower rated candidates. It simply makes no sense and would be embarrassing for the navy if true.
you both have stated, and I agree, that each individual scenario can be unique. Maybe someone needs a year of PT? Maybe someone needs academic growth as you pointed out. Prep school does it all. PT, academics, and military life training. And most of them have college level credits that do transfer even if you still don’t make it. USNA, USAFA, USMA, and others send their selections to these schools because they are better than a four year. Otherwise, they would simply send these valued candidates to a 4 yr And be done with it. to send their selected candidates to these schools and then value the schools lower than alternative schools is a poor reflection on the military and I don’t think the military would be that foolish.
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