Self-prep or FFS?Thank you so7 for sharing, Great info ! My DS well be attending NWP this fall and I was slightly apprehensive about the program.
Thank you for your thoughtful response.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!"
FSelf-prep or FFS?
FFSSelf-prep or FFS?
NWP great for sponsored preps! They do a fantastic job with FFS and Sponsored preps.F
FFS
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 comeThank 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.
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.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.
"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.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.
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.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.