Current Self Prep at Marion Military Institute- ask any questions!

JDBx3 said:
Do you know, approximately, what is the total number of SA sponsored cadets versus self-prep cadets in this year's SAP program? Thanks.
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I counted, and it might be slightly off because I couldn't remember for some people but, 41 sponsored and 36 non sponsored. That should be around the correct numbers, plus or minus a few.
 
phoebem said:
We have a school official designated to our program that guides us through the process and I highly recommend you reach out to him! LTC Bowen is his name and you can find his contact info on MMI's website. If you were just at MMI for an associates degree, you could still apply to the academies and not be apart of the program and probably still get guidance from LTC Bowen if you had any questions. There is also two different ROTC programs at MMI (Army is directly with the school and air force has a program with the University of Alabama). The one thing you would miss out on if you weren't in the SAP program is the occasional visits from officials from the academies. Those are very beneficial so they can connect a name to a face.

Yes I am a self prep so I pay my own tuition but I did get academic scholarships from the school.

It is extremely common for self preps to be applying to multiple academies, and most do! I am just only interested in USCGA.

It is a pretty good mix of USAFA, USNA, West Point, and Coast Guard. There aren't any sponsored merchant marine cadets currently but there are a couple self preps applying. Most SAP cadets currently are sponsored I believe. There are only five self prep coasties currently that I know of (others might have applied and I don't know but I am pretty sure it is just us five). To get a more specific breakdown you would have to contact LTC Bowen.

I hope this helped! LMK if you have any other questions!
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Best of luck to you hope you join the class of 2027 at Day 1 !!! Our DD was planning to attend MMI as an SAP last year but was pulled from the waitlist and joined the class of 2026!
 
I thought of another question. Is there comraderie and integration between all of the SAP cadets or do self-preps stick/room with other self-preps and sponsored cadets with other sponsored cadets?
 
JDBx3 said:
I thought of another question. Is there comraderie and integration between all of the SAP cadets or do self-preps stick/room with other self-preps and sponsored cadets with other sponsored cadets?
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SAP as a collective is pretty close to each other. There are moments where sponsored kids are closer to sponsored and non-sponsored are closer to non-sponsored but for the most part everyone intermingles. Definitely at the beginning of the school year there will be more separation but after ITC and once classes start, you get close with one another. Also! People in the other programs will be around us as well and those people will become some of your best friends too! They tend to put people of similar things in rooms together so sponsored kids to tend to be put with other sponsored kids but sometimes things like sports and band will over rule that. Please let me know if you have any more questions!!
 
JDBx3 said:
That makes sense. Thank you!
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Of course!! Just some other things I thought of that pertain to the question: The companies are mixed with all three programs so you will always be around different types of people! Being in the SAP program you will be taking certain classes and those will mostly be all SAP kids. Other than class and PT, those will be mainly the only time all y'all are all together at one time. There are a couple kids not in the SAP program that take physics and chem but it isn't a lot. You'll have more of a mix in your math and english (and history if you are West Point) than in physics and chem.
 
franknd said:
Do kids that are prepping for the SAs also participate in ROTC? Are they required to? That's what I'm trying to understand.
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My son is a self-prep in the SAP program at MMI. He is "in Army ROTC" , in that he is taking the MS-1 course work only. However this is transferable to ANY ROTC branch for 2nd year. For example he could receive credit for 1st year in an AFROTC, and continue as 2nd yr in an AFROTC detachment next year, by completing the Army ROTC MS-1 course work only. Or continue as a 2nd yr Army ROTC of course. Colonel Bowen, did in fact give him the option of commuting to Tuscaloosa for AFROTC as a SAP student, but didn't encourage it necessarily, as it would be difficult to schedule classes, and might have been limiting in that regard.
My son earned a USMA nomination by taking just the MS-1 course. And an appointment to USMA.(although it seems his appointment will be charged to our congressional Rep, as far as we know?)
He also received an Appointment to USAFA, via nom and appointment from one of our Senators.
Overall, I highly recommend MMI. Colonel Bowen and the school have delivered on everything they promised and MORE! They offer fantastic support, so that your kid can focus primarily on the Hard Work required to standout as a SA candidate.
Imagine trying to get a professor at State U to write your kid a letter of reference for a SA? How will that work, when the professor has 1200 other students in his/her section? Not saying impossible, but that's what I mean when I say that MMI offers the support needed, so your kid can focus on doing the hard work. The professors, etc, know exactly how to handle this stuff. It's part of their job description, and your kid won't get pawned off on some grad student teaching assistant. I highly encourage you to reach out to Colonel Bowen. He has ALWAYS been extremely open, honest, and helpful. And/or PM me.
 
Any feedback on USNA self-prep attendees? Are most students in the self prep bucket applying to multiple SA’s or does it skew more towards students have identified where they really want to go and stick to that SA?
 
USMC Crayons said:
Any feedback on USNA self-prep attendees? Are most students in the self prep bucket applying to multiple SA’s or does it skew more towards students have identified where they really want to go and stick to that SA?
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Most Self preps apply to more than one academy but a couple of us (me included) are only wanting to go to one academy so we didn't apply to multiple. If you could see yourself being an officer in a couple different branches, go ahead and apply for all of the ones you want! There have been USNA self preps that have gotten in this year! I think they are posted on the facebook page or their instagram if you want to see!
 
phoebem said:
Most Self preps apply to more than one academy but a couple of us (me included) are only wanting to go to one academy so we didn't apply to multiple. If you could see yourself being an officer in a couple different branches, go ahead and apply for all of the ones you want! There have been USNA self preps that have gotten in this year! I think they are posted on the facebook page or their instagram if you want to see!
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Thanks. I know that many recommend enrolling in a regular 4 year university if you are not accepted the 1st time, but I feel that DS would really benefit from a year in a program like MMI offers.
 
USMC Crayons said:
Thanks. I know that many recommend enrolling in a regular 4 year university if you are not accepted the 1st time, but I feel that DS would really benefit from a year in a program like MMI offers.
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There are definitely pros and cons to both but being here at MMI will give your cadet more opportunities to meet people from the academies and currently in service as officers, enlisted, and prior academy grads (several of which have attended MMI).
 
phoebem said:
If you choose to do AFROTC instead of being in the SAP program you would travel to Tuscaloosa.

All students are required to take military science classes and those credits are can transfer to other ROTC schools. MMI has an ECP Army ROTC program.

You cannot be in both, you have to do one or the other.
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But, importantly, as an SAP student studying MS-1, you will receive credit for 1st yr of ROTC, and can continue with ROTC as a plan B, if you're not successful in gaining a Service Academy appointment. It will transfer to AFROTC, NROTC, or continue with Army ROTC; as 2nd year. While in MS-1 at Marion, you can earn an additional nomination for USMA. AND, importantly, apply for 3 year ROTC scholarships at other schools for any branch as part of Plan B. OR, do another yr of SAP at MMI, and apply for 2 yr ROTC scholarships. AF big on these. CSPI for Coast Guard commisioning is a 2 yr scholarship. Lots of options with MMI.
 
USMC Crayons said:
Thanks. I know that many recommend enrolling in a regular 4 year university if you are not accepted the 1st time, but I feel that DS would really benefit from a year in a program like MMI offers.
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Yes. At MMI, You will have a ton of advantages with Service Academy Application process. While gaining college credit, and ROTC experience. (MS-1).
Imagine being at State U and trying to explain to your professor that you hardly know, that you need a recommendation letter for Airforce Academy? Or an evaluation??? Or for other SAs? Oh, and can you do that for all 4 of the Service Academies I'm applying for?That professor may have 1200 other students in their section. Impossible? No. But every professor at MMI knows EXACTLY how to handle this already. Has plenty of practice, and it's in their job description. And you won't get pawned off on a graduate student teaching assistant, or told No! You'll be earning college credits at MMI, with solid plan B options, both continuing on at MMI, or transferring to a plan B, with maybe ROTC scholarship, or CSPI for the coasties
 
USMC Crayons said:
Thanks. I know that many recommend enrolling in a regular 4 year university if you are not accepted the 1st time, but I feel that DS would really benefit from a year in a program like MMI offers.
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My DD was waitlisted for USNA last year, her plan B was MMI for self funded SAP. We paid the deposit for MMI and were prepared for her to attend. BGO thought it was a solid plan B as well. She was then offered an appointment to USNA late May! MMI was incredible to work with through the whole process.
 
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