VMI Appointment Timeline?

L

luke5891

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So I received an email of acknowledgement from VMI today, recognising that I had completed/submitted all necessary files as an applicant. Within that email, it also included a statement saying, "We will make every attempt to issue an admissions decision as quickly as possible
but official notification may not be made until mid to late March after we have reviewed all applications received by the 1 February deadline."

As far as I understand, VMI has rolling admissions, but there must be a wave of appointments that are sent out in January/February, right? Or are most appointments generally sent in March?

Maybe I'm overthinking this, and either way, I just have to wait and see, but being that VMI is my number one school, this wait is killing me (although I am sure many others are in a similar position). I would have applied Early Decision, but I also applied to the Naval Academy, so that would have not been appropriate.

Anyhow, I digress, does anybody have a sense of when most appointments are released?
 
Luke -- Your sense of honor is commendable (not applying Early Decision since you've applied to USNA.)

What have you heard from USNA and/or from the ROTC's you've applied to?

Depending what you are hearing from USNA and/or the ROTCs, you should let VMI Admissions (and the appropriate VMI ROTC detachment) know that VMI is your #1 and why you didn't do ED.

What part of the country are you coming from?

I've heard VMI Admissions may be a little behind due to some construction on Post. From what they wrote it sounds like you are competitive for a VMI appointment, but competition for entering VMI in recent years has been very tight . . . a lot of folks that enter with the 4 yr and 3 ROTC scholarships have "SA-quality" records.

I've seen on-line here and in other places that some folk think VMI is an "easy" school to get into since its "acceptance rate" is around 50%. This perception of an "easy" 50% acceptance rate comes from the historical stats that shows VMI gets 1900-2000 applications each year and then makes ~900-1000 appointment offers to fill their 500 slots. If VMI were to calculate its acceptance rate the way the Service Academies do (10,000 completed applications with 1200 accepted = 12% acceptance rate), then the VMI acceptance rate would be closer to 25% (2000 completed applications with 500 accepted = 25% acceptance rate).

The VMI acceptance rate statistics hides the real difficulty of entry in today's environment. First, there are only 500 slots for entry each year. While VMI may make 1000 offers they don't make them all at once since they can only fill 500 slots. They have to make the appointment offers in a "rolling admissions" fashion so they don't bust their 500 cap. They start by making offers to the applicants with the best all-around records. Many applicants to VMI (like yourself) are also applying to the SAs. The top applicants will accept the VMI appointment early (in December through February), and then cancel late in the process (April thru June) when and if a Service Academy appointment comes through. Also keep in mind about 60% of VMI matriculants come from Virginia and about half of those come from Northern Virginia which contains the 2 most competitive congressional districts in the country for admission to USMA and USNA . . . so VMI gets many outstanding SA candidates that don't make the "NoVa cut," but would have been ranked very high in other MOC districts around the country.

Hang in there! Best of luck to you becoming 1 of 500!
 
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Falcon A said:
Luke -- Your sense of honor is commendable (not applying Early Decision since you've applied to USNA.)

What have you heard from USNA and/or from the ROTC's you've applied to?

Depending what you are hearing from USNA and/or the ROTCs, you should let VMI Admissions (and the appropriate VMI ROTC detachment) know that VMI is your #1 and why you didn't do ED.

What part of the country are you coming from?

I've heard VMI Admissions may be a little behind due to some construction on Post. From what they wrote it sounds like you are competitive for a VMI appointment, but competition for entering VMI in recent years has been very tight . . . a lot of folks that enter with the 4 yr and 3 ROTC scholarships have "SA-quality" records.

I've seen on-line here and in other places that some folk think VMI is an "easy" school to get into since its "acceptance rate" is around 50%. This perception of an "easy" 50% acceptance rate comes from the historical stats that shows VMI gets 1900-2000 applications each year and then makes ~900-1000 appointment offers to fill their 500 slots. If VMI were to calculate its acceptance rate the way the Service Academies do (10,000 completed applications with 1200 accepted = 12% acceptance rate), then the VMI acceptance rate would be closer to 25% (2000 completed applications with 500 accepted = 25% acceptance rate).

The VMI acceptance rate statistics hides the real difficulty of entry in today's environment. First, there are only 500 slots for entry each year. While VMI may make 1000 offers they don't make them all at once since they can only fill 500 slots. They have to make the appointment offers in a "rolling admissions" fashion so they don't bust their 500 cap. They start by making offers to the applicants with the best all-around records. Many applicants to VMI (like yourself) are also applying to the SAs. The top applicants will accept the VMI appointment early (in December through February), and then cancel late in the process (April thru June) when and if a Service Academy appointment comes through. Also keep in mind about 60% of VMI matriculants come from Virginia and about half of those come from Northern Virginia which contains the 2 most competitive congressional districts in the country for admission to USMA and USNA . . . so VMI gets many outstanding SA candidates that don't make the "NoVa cut," but would have been ranked very high in other MOC districts around the country.

Hang in there! Best of luck to you becoming 1 of 500!
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I appreciate the response.
Regarding location, I am in a unique position, in that my family is posted overseas on a diplomatic assignment, however, we still hold residence in NoVa. Therefore, I managed to schedule an interview/tour of VMI last summer, but due to my posting, I have been unable to attend an Open House session.

For ROTC/Academy applications, I was fortunate enough to receive a congressional nomination to the Naval Academy, and according to my Blue and Gold Officer, I am 3Q'd with a nomination (that's only half the battle though, still need to fight for an appointment). I also applied for an NROTC - MO scholarship. I was rejected by the early board, but hopefully, I can get a positive response from the February b0ard.

Checking the Class Profile for 2022, I did feel like I met the standards of VMI, but of course, it is a competitive school, and there are lots of unknown variables. I never knew about the acceptance rate calculations VMI made, interesting insight for sure. I pray that I get a response in January/February, but a common consensus within this forum is patience, which I will exercise to the best of my ability.

Either way, if I don't get in this year, I'll apply the year after that, and the year after that if I have to. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
 
Pickering2019 said:
Have they not accepted anybody but the early decision people?
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Not sure. There is only one recorded appointment on the VMI 2020+3 Appointment Threat, and I am not sure if that individual ED'd or not - but that does not necessarily reflect all appointments being sent out.
 
Because I did not apply for early decision and I have been accepted. VMI is my 2nd choice behind the Citadel. I like them both but the Citadel is closer to home.
 
Luke -- hang tough. From what you wrote, my guess is you will most likely receive an appointment offer to enter VMI this year.

Thank you for choosing a challenging preparation path (whether USNA or VMI) and being willing to serve.
 
luke5891 said:
I just received my appointment letter to VMI! I'm ecstatic! It was dated January 18 (which is sort of ironic), but since I am posted overseas, I only received it today.
Best Tuesday of my life.
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Luke -- Congratulations on your offer of appointment to VMI! Welcome to an extraordinary family!
 
Congratulations on your appointment!
If I may offer you some advice: fill out your FAFSA now if you haven't done it already. Start running hills/stairs/distance and work on your pull-ups now. I have one at VMI now and another that just received an appointment 2 weeks ago.
 
PaniSvet good advice!

Look for the VMI Rat Mass 2020+3 Appointment Thread and add your DD/DS!
 
I received my appointment last Thursday (1/24), dated 1/18. On a side note, has anyone who has been appointed received the information packet?
 
PaniSvet said:
Congratulations on your appointment!
If I may offer you some advice: fill out your FAFSA now if you haven't done it already. Start running hills/stairs/distance and work on your pull-ups now. I have one at VMI now and another that just received an appointment 2 weeks ago.
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Congratulations !!

Yes, get FASFA done asap. Run hills, then run more hills.
 
@Pololive5
@luke5891

Yes, definitely run hills. Hospital Hill - or so it's called because it puts people in the hospital - on Post is notoriously difficult. I'd also recommend getting really good at push-ups and pull-ups. Having good upper body strength is a great way to bolster your standing as a new cadet (RAT) at VMI.
 
How steep are the hills? Is it a sprint up a steeper path or longer runs over a more gradual incline?
 
luke5891 said:
How steep are the hills? Is it a sprint up a steeper path or longer runs over a more gradual incline?
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Both. You'll do short sprints up steep hills and stadium steps and you'll do some longer runs. Not too many flat areas in Lexington, so run pretty much anywhere and you'll encounter hills.

As @C76706340 stated, you will benefit greatly from arriving in good physical condition.
 
C76706340 said:
@Pololive5
@luke5891

Yes, definitely run hills. Hospital Hill - or so it's called because it puts people in the hospital - on Post is notoriously difficult. I'd also recommend getting really good at push-ups and pull-ups. Having good upper body strength is a great way to bolster your standing as a new cadet (RAT) at VMI.
Click to expand...


It is called hospital hill because the post hospital is at the summit right behind Crozet. That is nearly as bad as this rumor that drum outs are at 0333 because it is halfway to 666. (they are actually 0330).
 
emwvmi01 said:
It is called hospital hill because the post hospital is at the summit right behind Crozet. That is nearly as bad as this rumor that drum outs are at 0333 because it is halfway to 666. (they are actually 0330).
Click to expand...

I concur with the hospital hill description. Can confirm however that drum-outs occur at 0333, not 0330.
 
DS#2 just applied to VMI. He has been offered a preferred walk-on position on the football team but we need to see whether he is accepted and how much financial aid he can get since we are OOS. DS#1 was accepted two years ago but got a NROTC scholarship to his first choice, Virginia Tech. DS#2 is willing to do ROTC at VMI but currently has no desire to commission so applying for a campus based scholarship does not seem to be an option right now.
 
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