Need advice - CSM vs A&M

rdhdstpchld

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So DS is waiting and waiting on USAFA but recognizes the percentages are changing rapidly chances wise. We are digging in deep on Plan B but here's the rub - He knows he wants to commission - he's *pretty sure* he wants to go comp sci but is open to that changing...- he's been accepted at his top 2 choices -- Co School of Mines and at A&M. He loves mines b/c it's "home" to him. Lived in Colorado for 4 years (the longest he's lived anywhere) and so it feels "good" to see the front range etc. He'd have to do crosstown at boulder (45min to an hour away). He doesn't drive b/c we live overseas and the age is 18 - why learn on the other side of the road for 6mos. So he'd have to learn to drive and cross the denver metro area all at once. LOL. Doable - sure. He'd also be crosstown, which is fine, but my experience with crosstown cadets was that they were at a disadvantage in many ways (I was on campus, but we had several crosstown students in my ROTC program).

He's never been to texas. Didn't visit texas schools b/c they weren't on the radar when we did that trip back to the states. I feel like (and this is me - just knowing what I know about the rotc situations at each school) he'd be better at A&M for his stated purposes. I'm sure I'm leaving vital details out...I'm fine with distance (we will be living in texas we just found out) - if he's across town or across the country isn't my concern - I think college is his time to grow up without me in the wings. I'm obviously willing to be there in a heartbeat if truly *needed* but don't plan on seeing him every weekend or even every month. I'm ok with that. Also, with the GI bill, finances aren't highest on my list either - tho they are on the list.

Thoughts? Be gentle please....
 
Sir, I'm in this exact camp but living in the US. Waiting on SA but accepted to a lot of schools. It came down to A&M and Mines as Plan B. Both schools are outstanding academically in engineering but both are very different. A&M is huge with a national presence in sports and a long tradition with military. Your son needs to visit A&M and prioritize what is important to him. If he wants a more traditional experience then A&M. If he wants a strong ROTC then A&M. Academically it's a toss up but I will say I felt Mines was more invested in me with the smaller class size. A&M is so huge that you won't get that personal touch I felt at Mines. I'm also very big into camping, hiking, skiing, etc. which you won't get as much at A&M. Both are great schools but I'm picking Mines unless I get that BFE! Hope that helps.
 
Sir, I'm in this exact camp but living in the US. Waiting on SA but accepted to a lot of schools. It came down to A&M and Mines as Plan B. Both schools are outstanding academically in engineering but both are very different. A&M is huge with a national presence in sports and a long tradition with military. Your son needs to visit A&M and prioritize what is important to him. If he wants a more traditional experience then A&M. If he wants a strong ROTC then A&M. Academically it's a toss up but I will say I felt Mines was more invested in me with the smaller class size. A&M is so huge that you won't get that personal touch I felt at Mines. I'm also very big into camping, hiking, skiing, etc. which you won't get as much at A&M. Both are great schools but I'm picking Mines unless I get that BFE! Hope that helps.
Ma'am, but it's all good. LOL! I feel like either one will give him a fantastic engineering degree to be proud of; and if he were going to go civilian, I'd say Mines - but where that degree comes from if your main goal is commission is kind of immaterial - I was an english major for pete's sake. {shrug} I didn't make him apply for rotc scholarship b/c I didn't want him pinned into a major until he was ready to. He's in a super small school now so I'm not sure if the sheer size differential will be important to him or not. Lots to think about...a visit to A&M is *nearly* impossible at this point before decision day...
 
I've worked with Computer Scientists from A&M in the past. They are extremely competent people. I expect that CO Mines has a good to excellent Comp Sci program as well.

What should probably drive the decision is Corps of Cadet life vs a somewhat more civilian like ROTC experience. Make sure you all understand what Corps of Cadet life is like. Is it possible to get there over a weekend or something and meet with the ROTC personnel? Seems like a big decision that deserves a little more homework.

He should plant himself in the place where he would best succeed, including ROTC. He's an officer at the end of either path and once you're an officer no one cares where you went to college. They care only about your leadership and the results you produce.

One minor point... it's might be worth calling the unit at CO Mines. Many schools provide vans or assist in car pooling for cross-town participants. It might relieve some of the driving issues, at least when starting out. They also might be able to perform many activities (including PT) at their own school depending on the unit size. Each unit is different when it comes to cross-town affiliates.

Finally, when it comes to which school will do the best job of preparing him as an officer you should read the first post on this thread: https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/atypical-path.67061/#post-660980
You get out of a program, any program, what you put into it. The program doesn't transform you into a military officer, it is only the conduit to transforming yourself. Each program above will offer the necessary opportunities in their own, and different, way.
 
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I've worked with Computer Scientists from A&M in the past. They are extremely competent people. I expect that CO Mines has a good to excellent Comp Sci program as well.

What should probably drive the decision is Corps of Cadet life vs a somewhat more civilian like ROTC experience. Make sure you all understand what Corps of Cadet life is like. Is it possible to get there over a weekend or something and meet with the ROTC personnel? Seems like a big decision that deserves a little more homework.

He should plant himself in the place where he would best succeed, including ROTC. He's an officer at the end of either path and once you're an officer no one cares where you went to college. They care only about your leadership and the results you produce.

One minor point... it's might be worth calling the unit at CO Mines. Many schools provide vans or assist in car pooling for cross-town participants. It might relieve some of the driving issues, at least when starting out. They also might be able to perform many activities (including PT) at their own school depending on the unit size. Each unit is different when it comes to cross-town affiliates.

Finally, when it comes to which school will do the best job of preparing him as an officer you should read the first post on this thread: https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/atypical-path.67061/#post-660980
You get out of a program, any program, what you put into it. The program doesn't transform you into a military officer, it is only the conduit to transforming yourself. Each program above will offer the necessary opportunities in their own, and different, way.
Thank you Kinnem - I appreciate the insight. I wish we could just drop in; we are overseas right now and with decision day 1 May, there are really only 2 weekends I could put him on a plane to texas; I'm looking at it actually - about $950 and 13hrs of travel. Yowzas. He and I spoke about it today - he's not in disagreement with me and needs to spend some time thinking. He agrees with the "crosstown vs. in-house" thing, and I think he'll be fine with cadet corps life- he's prepared right now to go to USAFA if appointed, so he's pretty well and truly on board with living *that* sort of existance. We sponsored a cadet for 4 years too, so he has a pretty good understanding of what *it* is - tho I suppose you can't truly understand it until you're actually in the thick of it, can you? ;)
 
@rdhdstpchld Sounds like you all have a handle on it. Some folks don't realize that VA Tech is an SMC so I wanted to make sure you were aware of the issues.

We visited VA Tech with my son. It's quite a beautiful campus with the Hokie stone buildings and what not. It's a bit remote but the small town has everything a student could want, except a big city atmosphere. If someone has wheels it's about a 2 - 2.5 hour drive from Charlottesville and UVA (which was the next stop on our trip) for more bigger city action. I bet they could flop with some cadets there.

DS wanted a more normal experience than VA Tech would provide so it's just as well he wasn't accepted. He ended up exactly where he needed to be. He recently had an impromptu reunion with about 10 of his midshipmen buddies in the San Diego area. Wherever your son goes he'll build relationships to last a lifetime. I know he'll have a fun adventure.
 
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The 45 minute crosstown commute is one thing but you add on the weather you are not going to find it enjoyable. You giving him different scenarios isnt hoovering. Its realistic young people dont consider these varibles because they are invicible. The culture at both schools are completely different from each other. A & M is HUGE but they are very welcoming. There can be lots of distractions because of the culture.

My DD a few years back received the full NROTC and we specifically marked off the list any colleges with long cross town commutes. Who wants to give up 10 hours a week min for commuting especially when you are an engineering major? Looking back I think my DD regrets not taking A & M over a service academy.
 
I also have been accepted to CSM. You also have to account for the fact that CSM doesn't allow freshman to have cars on campus.
 
Thank you Kinnem - I appreciate the insight. I wish we could just drop in; we are overseas right now and with decision day 1 May, there are really only 2 weekends I could put him on a plane to texas; I'm looking at it actually - about $950 and 13hrs of travel. Yowzas. He and I spoke about it today - he's not in disagreement with me and needs to spend some time thinking. He agrees with the "crosstown vs. in-house" thing, and I think he'll be fine with cadet corps life- he's prepared right now to go to USAFA if appointed, so he's pretty well and truly on board with living *that* sort of existance. We sponsored a cadet for 4 years too, so he has a pretty good understanding of what *it* is - tho I suppose you can't truly understand it until you're actually in the thick of it, can you? ;)

We have had the same issue regarding school visits because we live in Hawaii. We are also waiting on AFA decision. DS is accepted to ASU, TCU, USF and UCF. We visited ASU, USF and UCF last summer but not TCU. Here’s what we have done recently.

If you call the admissions office, you will likely get a student worker on the phone or if you happen to get a actual employee asked to talk to a student worker. These are usually front running students who can have an educated conversation with your child about the school. I would have them come up with 10 questions that they want to ask or a few topics that they want to talk about. Tell the student worker that you are overseas and you would like to Skype or FaceTime with them to ask him questions about the school. They likely will oblige quickly. You can get a good feel for the school And the students there without actually visiting. Yes this method is faulted because you were limited to the perspective of students that are there and you were limited to the perspective of the top students in the college but it’s better than nothing since you are overseas. If you want a sample size greater than one you can call the admissions office and the financial aid office and ask for a student worker. You can also do the same with the ROTC unit.
 
I've got lots of personal experience with Texas A&M. Parents graduated from A&M, all siblings graduated from A&M. Brother was in the Corp and a Ross Volunteer. What I want to say specifically is that if you cannot make it over the pond before a decision is to be made--there are people who would be very interested in speaking to your son. They can answer questions, maybe even set him up with current students that could speak to him over the phone or by skype to give him a more personal experience that maybe an admin wouldn't necessarily have or give. Second semester is also a better time for that--the cadets have had time to adjust to the the shock that being a Freshman in the Corp has. Never met an Aggie that wasn't approachable or eager to help. Reach out to Cadet Recruiting.
 
I've got lots of personal experience with Texas A&M. Parents graduated from A&M, all siblings graduated from A&M. Brother was in the Corp and a Ross Volunteer. What I want to say specifically is that if you cannot make it over the pond before a decision is to be made--there are people who would be very interested in speaking to your son. They can answer questions, maybe even set him up with current students that could speak to him over the phone or by skype to give him a more personal experience that maybe an admin wouldn't necessarily have or give. Second semester is also a better time for that--the cadets have had time to adjust to the the shock that being a Freshman in the Corp has. Never met an Aggie that wasn't approachable or eager to help. Reach out to Cadet Recruiting.
It's funny - I did just that yesterday to be sure registering for august NSC wouldn't be too late to get decent classes; we do have a couple of friends whose kids are there now so I'll go that route. LOL
 
Curious what your decision was? One DS (who did not apply to an academy) will be going to CSM in the fall. We live in Texas and he never had any interest in ATM (I'm a Longhorn, so that may have had an influence!), he said too big. FYI, you can get a parking pass at Mines as a commuter student. I also have a DS who will be attending USAFA in the fall. He was a second time applicant. He attended Marion Military Institute (as a self prep), as reapplying was always his plan B. If you are considering reapplying, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about a service academy prep program. Good luck!
 
Both are great schools, and he won't go wrong either way, but if he loves Colorado, he might find the unique culture of Aggieland to be an acquired taste.

Nothing at all against Texas A&M - it's a great school and a fabulous opportunity - but the hollering, bonfires, and other TAMU traditions aren't for everyone. I'd strongly recommend a trip to College Station, ideally with a sleepover in the Corps if at all possible.
 
Also curious where your DS ended up. As an Aggie who recently graduated I always enjoy hearing about people who end up there in the Corps.
 
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