Calling Northwestern Prep self-preps / free agents
- Thread starter franknd
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so7
NWP 2020, AFROTC Det 330/875
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- Jul 10, 2020
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Howdy, I was a self-prep back in 2020 (the covid class that never actually went to the mountain and did NWP online). That year was exceptionally brutal for Air Force officer accessions for all commissioning sources (USAFA, AFROTC, OTS). That being said, most of us self-preps didn't get in to USAFA. That's not necessarily the case anymore, but I would highly recommend looking into alternative options instead of just NWP. I'm currently in AFROTC on track to commission, but I have some regrets about going to NWP instead of just starting my college career normally and doing AFROTC in the meantime. NWP is great for prepping you specifically for Academy life (or a senior military college), but it honestly doesn't help much with AFROTC or OTS prep if you end up going that route as I did. Since it's also not accredited, you won't get any college credits and you'll be a semester "behind" on your academics. This won't be an issue if you get into the academy, but if you don't it can really suck for future course loads. If you end up just going AFROTC, you'll have about the same amount of an advantage coming into the Academy as you would going to NWP, just in different areas. You'll already know marching, basic uniform wear, seven basic responses, and all of the low-level military training that NWP doesn't teach. Additionally, with AFROTC, you can get an AFROTC nomination in addition to all of the other nominations.
On the other hand, NWP will help you learn how to memorize things very quickly, raise your SAT/ACT scores dramatically, and get you in shape to max the CFA. If those are things that you really need in order to boost your application, I would highly recommend NWP.
Like most things, there is no one correct answer. What branch are you trying to go into? What major are you looking into? Career field? Are there any colleges near home that have ROTC Detachments/units? All of these factors should go into your decision as to whether or not you should self-prep. It's a risky game to self-prep, but if it all works out, you'll be incredibly high-speed and ready to take on academy life. If not, you may have wasted a semester and be a bit behind on school.
I say all of this to simply offer an alternative perspective, not to discredit NWP in any way. I loved my time at NWP and look back to it fondly! I would recommend it to any FFS recipient over any other prep school. Although it did set me a bit behind, it was an incredible experience that helped me grow immensely. I'd be happy to answer any follow-up questions.
"Oh goody, another day in which to excel!"
On the other hand, NWP will help you learn how to memorize things very quickly, raise your SAT/ACT scores dramatically, and get you in shape to max the CFA. If those are things that you really need in order to boost your application, I would highly recommend NWP.
Like most things, there is no one correct answer. What branch are you trying to go into? What major are you looking into? Career field? Are there any colleges near home that have ROTC Detachments/units? All of these factors should go into your decision as to whether or not you should self-prep. It's a risky game to self-prep, but if it all works out, you'll be incredibly high-speed and ready to take on academy life. If not, you may have wasted a semester and be a bit behind on school.
I say all of this to simply offer an alternative perspective, not to discredit NWP in any way. I loved my time at NWP and look back to it fondly! I would recommend it to any FFS recipient over any other prep school. Although it did set me a bit behind, it was an incredible experience that helped me grow immensely. I'd be happy to answer any follow-up questions.
"Oh goody, another day in which to excel!"
Self-prep or FFS?
Thank you for your thoughtful response.
The tentative impression I'm getting -- mostly because I've heard it now from multiple people -- is that one area where NWP seems to excel is SAT/ACT prep. And I'm sure some people like that it's only a semester, with a second semester of regular college. For people looking for a prep school without the military angle, it seems to be the only game in town. OTOH, I wonder whether they are as committed to self-prep success as the other prep schools seem to be. In 3+ months, I'm not sure how they could be. But that's why I started this thread.
My daughter attended NWP in 2017 as a self prep. In high school only applied to USAFA and did not receive an appointment. She had to decide between ROTC and a year at regular college or a Prep Program that would help build her application in the area of ACT/SAT which was the main reason for the TWE. So upon recommendation of her ALO and her cadre at the summer seminar she chose the prep program at NWP. They not only got her ACT/SAT scores up but also encouraged her to apply to all the academies. They helped her with her applications and her ACT/SAT scores improved dramatically. They brought in speakers from all the academies, and she was most impressed with the speaker from usma. She applied to all but the merchant marines and spoke with the admissions teams that came to check on their scholarship recipients and self prep hopefuls. At the end of the day she accepted her appointment to USMA and graduated last May with the class of 2022. You never know how different things would have turned out if she had not gone to NWP, but I believe she is where she was meant to be.
NWP great for sponsored preps! They do a fantastic job with FFS and Sponsored preps.
Pretty low odds for self preps.
You won't be able to start ROTC like you probably ought to. No college credits.
When you go to the college of your choice for spring semester, you can't start ROTC there either in spring semester. You won't get even a whisper of support once you leave campus in December as a self prep.
It may work out for you. But if not, you're on your own for plan B.
In my opinion, (and experience), you'll likely do better at MMI or GMC where former military people run the SAP programs.Their rates of appointment for self preps considerably higher.
What exactly does, "looking for a prep school without the military angle" actually mean? NWP does a great job showing what to expect at an academy. I think better than a normal college with ROTC and they actually have many speakers from all the academies come
Maybe it has changed but out of roughly 20 self-preps in 2017, all but 2 got offers of appointment. So odds are pretty similar to MMI and GMC. Although all the main programs keep the self prep appointment numbers under lock and key. Only way to really know is to have someone in the program that knows all the prepsters and keeps in touch to actually figure it out.
"Looking for a prep school without the military angle" refers to the fact that there are no uniforms, drill, ROTC, etc., at NWP. It's a completely civilian school. Yes, it's purpose is to prepare for SAs, but AFAIK there is no military drill, uniforms, etc. at NWP. That's what I'm referring to.
MMI, alone as far as I can tell, does not keep its self-prep numbers under lock and key. They are readily available year-by-year and SA-by-SA on the MMI website. That is much more than I have seen for any other school. And in his letter to cadets, LTC Bowen also gives the denominator figures. As far as I can tell, they don't hide anything, which is admirable. Having said that, I am glad to read that the self-prep success rate in 2017 was so high for NWP. Not sure why they don't publicize info like that, but that's the kind of info I'm looking for. (And to preempt the, "but that doesn't mean . . ." assertion, which one often reads here, I'm well aware. At the end of the day, an appointment is a binary proposition, either yes or no, 100% or 0%. Nevertheless, if one school has 90% of its students obtaining appointments, and another has 10%, that tells me something worth knowing about the school if not my particular student. Similarly, if you tell me, for example, that a school accepts 80% of its applicants, I understand that that doesn't mean my student has an 80% chance of acceptance, which goes back to the binary nature of admission. But, if nothing else, it DOES tell me that 80% of the applicants will be in the 100% category, and 20% will be in the 0% category. In that situation, without knowing anything else, which we often don't, I like my odds much better than if the school accepted 20% of its applicants. Sorry for the digression, but it's a pet peeve.)
The #s for self-preps last year not even remotely close to your experience. No answer for that. Perhaps a good reason. But results are what counts.
The reason why odds are hard to project for self-preps in general, is that most reasonably decent high-school graduates can be admitted as a self prep into SAP programs. But how many of them are really Service Academy Material. Self prep programs will only work, if a student is a reasonably good SA candidate to start with. They don't do majic. And kids who show up thinking they're gonna be "all set" like the sponsored preps, may be disappointed in the end. You'll still need to stand out, and find ways to show that you belong.
As far as the"military angle", NWP does not practice military parade nor deportments to my knowledge. And while they do have room inspections, and a dress code of sorts, it's not really the same as being in a corp of cadets like at GMC, MMI. Does this matter? Probably doesn't really mean that much, but certainly doesn't hurt if you're a candidate without JrROTC CAP, etc... Draw your own conclusions.
As a free agent member of the NWP class of ‘22, I don’t think there’s anywhere better to be.
I can’t speak to the % of free agents that gain appointments, but I was able to be accepted into USAFA, and I feel a fair amount of our free agents made their first or second choice, or both.
What I can speak to is that NWP was an absolutely phenomenal experience. I have no doubt that the friends that I made and the memories we have will not fade for many years. Looking back as an appointee, I am so so so glad I went to NWP. If I was not to lucky to gain an appointment, I very well may have been disappointed that I used a semester for no college credit. But if you make it to the end and gain an appointment, there is nowhere else that you wish you would have been, I promise.
I wish I had a more statistically-based answer, but based purely on my experience, I do not believe there is a better option for service academy preparation.
I can’t speak to the % of free agents that gain appointments, but I was able to be accepted into USAFA, and I feel a fair amount of our free agents made their first or second choice, or both.
What I can speak to is that NWP was an absolutely phenomenal experience. I have no doubt that the friends that I made and the memories we have will not fade for many years. Looking back as an appointee, I am so so so glad I went to NWP. If I was not to lucky to gain an appointment, I very well may have been disappointed that I used a semester for no college credit. But if you make it to the end and gain an appointment, there is nowhere else that you wish you would have been, I promise.
I wish I had a more statistically-based answer, but based purely on my experience, I do not believe there is a better option for service academy preparation.
My DS went to NWP Fall 22 as a free agent/self-prep. His academics were fine but needed a bit more on ACT/SAT scores and always could improve on CFA. He also needed a medical waiver for a knee injury- reason he didn’t receive an appointment the first time. He went in with the knowledge there is no guarantee as a self prep but was willing to give it his best, learn everything he could academically and physically, be a leader, make lifelong friends, speak with all the amazing people the Durbeck’s brought into NWP to learn about military life in a SA. With hard work and determination he received a waiver and his appointment. NWP prepares them to attend an SA by providing structure, time management, and character development. Even though they did not wear a uniform, they were taught some military formalities, and held accountable at a high standard for academics, fitness, and daily life there. For the spring semester, my DS is attending our local community college and doing great academically and also played on their men’s volleyball team. It’s all what you make of it and put into it that counts. Go in with an open mind and believe in yourself. Good luck!