Under Consideration

To respond more to the 4 year vs 3 year, each school has so many scholarship spots, but they are not designated by 3 vs 4 year. I would think that the more selective schools do probably have a higher percentage of 4 years actually attend (since the admissions would likely select the more competive candidates for admissions. The number of slots has more to do with that schools mission on how many officers they have to produce and the overall fiscal budget.

In the past, typically the first board awards about 300 scholarships, all 4 year. They second board around 900+, and a mixture of 4 and 3 year, and the last board 1000 ish and mostly 3 year but still some 4 year. We were told when my daughter visited schools on her list (not super selective of schools) that the majority do their national winners were 3 year but they usually got 1 or 2 that were four year. My daughter was told she was competitive but most likely a 3rd board/3 year AD candidate. That was what she needed up getting receiving and has had a great experience her first almost 3 years. All recipients of a scholarship are under no obligation to serve or pay back their scholarship until day 1 of sophomore year. So four year recipients can also walk away. I have a theory this is one of the reasons the Army has gone to more 3 year, but that is just my guess, it could be completely wrong.

Linguists are important to the Army, but the focus is on critical languages. The good news is, the major is not an important factor in the OML for Army for getting a scholarship. It may add to the OML for branching at the end of college however.. Nursing is the exception to that rule for scholarship, that is a different pool of money and each school that has a nursing mission has a separate nursing mission compared to their line officer mission for a given year.

James Madison is a great school. I have two other daughters and one recently decided to switch schools after her sophomore athletic season, she is a soccer player. James Maduson was one that had some interest, but she didn’t want to switch coasts! She instead decided to go play in sunny Southern California, so can’t really blame her. But it was one of the schools as parents we felt she should check out since at the end of the day it is the education that is important - not the sand and the surf! But then again I am not 20, so what do I know?

Good luck to your daughter! And please let us know what happens with her decision!

Gerald said:

[QUOTE="Highhopesmom, Thanks for responding and sharing. CONGRATS ! On TWO exceptional options with the Air Force at either: VMI or JMU.

My daughter and family are gutted.. last night her first choice school W&L published its decision for Regular Decision. She was denied.

It’s ironic that I’ve spent 20 years of my professional life working for Generals ( David Petreaus, James Mattis, Garry Parks, John Allen, Mark Brilakis, Douglas Odell )... and the university with a MASCOT of a General, kicked her to the curb. Most colleges “claims to have a holistic approach and that standardized ACT & SAT is not a major factor... but that’s malarkey.

So, this lesson will resonant with her....when it’s her childrens’ turn preparing for college”... ACT scores need to be 28 or higher & SAT scores need to be 1300 or higher. And to earn as much AP credit so you can enter College as a 2nd Semester Freshman.

Click to expand...

For W&L I would shoot for at least a 1400 and a 32 on the SAT and ACT. The national rankings are sensitive to standardized testing and W&L is brutal in that regard.

[QUOTE="Dckc88, Thank you for this insight. It’s greatly appreciated! Fingers crossed!