Civil Prep Offered Yesterday

Hoffy600

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
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52
Hello Everyone!

I received a manilla folder from USMA Association of Graduates yesterday, and I understand that I have been selected for a Civil Prep scholarship this year.

While I still am hoping, praying that a beautiful black folder is coming my way for 2016, I would like to get some consensus from all the knowledgeable people on this website.

1.) Which of the 5 Junior Military Colleges is the best? I would certainly want to go to the one that makes plebe year easiest (understanding that plebe year will never be *easy*).

2.) I am required to apply for a nomination again. I would hate to go through with this process and *not* get nominated. Is there any perspective on nominations for civil prepsters?

Who knows, maybe this won't matter by next week, :smile:

Thanks everyone!
 
I think for West Point scholars the best place to go is probably Marion Military Institute. They usually have a lot of west point scholars attend there every year. And Marion is pretty cheap with the scholarship. But you should check out the schools for yourself. Only you know what your financial situation is and what type of experience you want for your year of prep.
 
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I'm in the same situation as you, but for the Naval Academy instead. I"ll be going to New Mexico Military Institute sponsored by their Foundation scholarship this fall, unless I hear back from USNA for an offer for 2016. I'm not sure which is the best, but regardless you will end up at WP no matter what school you go to.
 
Hello Everyone!

I received a manilla folder from USMA Association of Graduates yesterday, and I understand that I have been selected for a Civil Prep scholarship this year.

While I still am hoping, praying that a beautiful black folder is coming my way for 2016, I would like to get some consensus from all the knowledgeable people on this website.

1.) Which of the 5 Junior Military Colleges is the best? I would certainly want to go to the one that makes plebe year easiest (understanding that plebe year will never be *easy*).

2.) I am required to apply for a nomination again. I would hate to go through with this process and *not* get nominated. Is there any perspective on nominations for civil prepsters?

Who knows, maybe this won't matter by next week, :smile:

Thanks everyone!

Generally acquiring a nom again isn't an issue. I don't know of any sponsored preps for any academy that *didn't* get one this year. There's no reason your nominating source shouldn't give you one.

As for schools, I'd recommend talking to the prep director here at New Mexico Military Institute (his screen name is NMMI PREP DIRECTOR). We only had 3 sponsored WP preps this year, but all of them are incredible individuals who thrived here. Congrats on your sponsorship! :thumb:
 
Being offered an AOG scholarship is an honor! :thumb:

Only about 45 of these are offered each year. Think of it as less than 1 person per state are offered AOG scholarships.

Yes you do need another nom but I've never heard of that being a problem. MOCs are usually very willing to nominate a sponsored CP cadet because they are guaranteed an appointment at USMA if successfull at the CP school (pass all classes, pass CFA and remain medically q'd).
And you do not have to be the #1 on the slate - you just have to be nominated.

If you want to go to WP and are offered an AOG scholarship - take it!
It is the next best thing to an appointment.
Slots are reserved for the sponsored CP cadets in the next year's class. The appointment is theirs to lose.
 
Hoffy600,

The AoG Prep program is a great opportunity! Nobody (repeat NOBODY) who ever went through it would trade their experience for anything. At least from what I heard.

I am far too opinionated to answer your first question. :rolleyes: However, I will say that you should visit all the schools either in person or via the Internet. Find the one that's the best fit for you. Cost is not the only criteria to consider; ease of access to home for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, climate, first-hand experience of those that went before you, and your "gut feel" are equally important. Please do your homework.

As to your second question: You need to apply to both Senators, your Congressman, and the VP. That is true. However, you should go back to the person who gave you the nom this year, explain your current situation, and request they keep your file open for next year. Generally speaking, the "staffers" that work the nominations for the "elected official" understand what a sponsored prep is and will work with you.
 
Congratulations, Hoffy600! If you want an appointment to USMA, the Civil Prep program will get you there if you study hard and keep your nose clean. With regard to reapplying for a nomination, the AoG director will offer to write letters of recommendation to your MOCs on your behalf (at least he did last year for my DS)...take him up on the offer if you accept the scholarship. The letters will explain the basics of the Civil Prep program, let the MOC know that you are obligated to accept an appointment if one is offered, and point out that USMA considers you to be a highly competitive candidate. Having the scholarship and letter of recommendation is not quite like walking into a MOC interview with an LOA in hand, but my guess is that it is pretty close. The MOC knows that USMA wants you and will give you an appointment if you do what is asked, and MOCs seem to brag a lot about how many cadets they have in the service academies from their district, so they are probably more likely to give you a nomination as a Civil Prep student than as a first-time applicant. As the RC told my DS last year, they've had Civil Prep candidates in the past who did not receive an appointment, but it was never because the candidate could not obtain a nomination. Good luck!
 
MD Dad:

Well said. The AoG, the Falcon Foundation, the USNA Foundation, and the USMMA Admissions Office are very good at explaining the circumstances of their civil preps to the MOC.

However, it is the candidate's responsibility to seek the nomination and obtain one. Since most of the MOC now have websites open for nomination applications these Preps need to start working the noms now.

I don't know how many candidates and their parents I speak to every year that say, "I already receivied my nom. this year." Or, "You mean I have to go through all that again?" I respond with, "Your nom was for the Class of 201X, you need a nom for 201X+1. Start now, while the candidate is still in high school and get all the necessary letters from school officials, final transcripts, current SAT/ACT scores etc."

Generally speaking, when a sponsored prep for the AoG goes to one of the military colleges they very "busy" at first. They should have their nom packages complete (except for the interview) when they arrive at their civil prep school.

The other major question I get is, "Should I wait until I get there to send in the letters of recommendation from teachers?" The answer is always, "No, get them from your old high school. They know you better. We will supplement those letters for you if you want."

Please understand that I'm not taking issue with what you said. It is certainly easier for a sponsored prep to obtain a nom than a "first timer" but they still have to work at it.
 
Please understand that I'm not taking issue with what you said. It is certainly easier for a sponsored prep to obtain a nom than a "first timer" but they still have to work at it.

Absolutely! I did not mean to imply that Civil Prep students should not put as much effort into obtaining a nomination as other candidates...just that it isn't worth excessive worrying about it (the normal level of worrying will do :wink:). And I completely agree with your advice to get your ducks in a row before beginning your prep experience to the extent possible. My DS was completely without contact to the outside world from mid-August to the end of September last year at Valley Forge ("plebe period")...so glad he got just about everything out of the way before then. There were only a few loose ends to tie up in October before his nomination applications were due.
 
Please, whatever you do, DO NOT take the nomination for granted even if you are sponsored prep. It seems that there are cases every year where a sponsored prep from one academy or another does not receive a congressional nomination. There was at least one this year at USAFA, and one last year (our DS). For some reason, MOCs do not always nominate sponsored preps. Be sure to apply for a vice presidential nomination--they are used by academies in cases where a sponsored prep has no other nomination (based on personal experience).
 
Thanks for the input, everyone!

I sure have a lot to think about. It is good to know that there is essentially a spot in USMA 2017 waiting for me, contingent upon A's or B's and re-nomination.

I just *hate* the thought of going through the nomination process again. I would hate going the Civil Prep route and *not* getting the nom. Ugh......... :bang:

Anyways, I got 2 pretty nice folders from Marion and NMMI today. Better do my homework. :biggrin:
 
Hoffy600,

Should should also get a letter from me that's less "generic" than what Admissions sends out. I know what you're going through decision wise. Please send me a PM and I'll set you up with some folks who were in your same position last year. Maybe hearing it from a peer will help you decide.

Based on your sign in name, I'm guessing you are from CA with a zip of 94556 - correct?
 
It's been about 6 years since my son was offered civil prep by the West Point AOG but I'll put my 2 cents in anyway. It is an honor and if you want the academy take the offer! Basically your appointment for the next year is yours to lose. Make sure you stay out of trouble, get good grades, excel at your physical fitness test, and get that nomination.

My son accepted the AOG's offer to write a letter of recommendation to the MOCs. It certainly can't hurt to add it to your nom packet. Because he was at NMMI for his prep year the MOC nom committee did his interview over the phone. It was less formal than the prior year but you still have to go through the process and impress them. Apply for all the noms you qualify for because you can't take it for granted, but in my experience with my son and his prep friends, the MOC's were more likely to nominate preps because they knew the academy wanted them.

My son went with NMMI because it was closer to home but I have heard good things about MMI too. Talk to the prep advisors at both schools, read over their websites and if possible talk to current civil prep cadets at both schools, then pick the one that appeals to you more. Good luck to you!

FYI - my son thrived at NMMI, graduated in the top 15% of USMA class of 2011, has passed IBOLC and is now in Ranger school.
 
West Point Preparatory Scholarship Program

My DS also recently received the civil prep offer. He can't wait to start the program. I've been a long time reader/sometime poster on SAF and have read wonderful things about what the extra prep year can do for our kids. He's looking forward to all that the prep year offers and is counting his blessings that he was fortunate enough to be chosen for this opportunity.
-SK
 
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