Falcon Foundation Scholarship Acceptance Question

RookieDad

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Apr 8, 2021
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11
All,
I am a first time parent with respect to service academy. My DS was offered a Falcon Scholarship this morning. It was a huge relief as he worked for it for last 2 years by joining local Civil Air Patrol. He developed this interest on his own. I would like to get some advice with respect to Falcon Foundation Scholarship.

He has been given only a week notice to accept his scholarship but he needs to select a prep school by then. Since we are new to this process. I am not sure which school to select.

1. Is it feasible to get an acceptance at one of the schools within a week to accept the scholarship.
2. Is the application to these schools an elaborate process like the college admission process after being notified of award of scholarship from USAFA.
3. Since NWP is only one semester program, is it better to select a prep school that offers full year program.
4. Is there a ranking on which schools to select.
5. Is Randolph Macon academy in Virginia a reputed school.
6. Finally, He also has admission offers for Engineering at reputed 4 year public university. He intends to do it by joining AFROTC but awaiting HS scholarship decision. Is it worth it to skip this and accept a Falcon Foundation Scholarship. He is determined to join Air Force and that's his ambition.

Thanks in advance to all your valuable suggestions.
 
I can answer a few questions as a fellow 2021.

2)The application is not long for NWP and most of the time they just want it on record to see that you sent in an application and they have your name, test scores, and other information so they can know your character.
3) This is your DS choice that requires research as different options work for different people. Your Ds should have received a contact sheet and I highly recommend reaching out to those contacts to see which school works for your family.
4)I haven't seen a ranking as again different schools work for different people.
5) Yes
6) If his goal is to be in the air force realize that after he does this year, he'll go on to USAFA ( prep schoolers have a 95%-98% chance if they complete the year). USAFA is a destination for many young people looking to go into the air force as an officer and pilot. Again do the research, if he would prefer to work one more year then go to usafa then accept the scholarship, if not do look into what the ROTC means and the college. Both options will eventually result in him being an Officer and both offer enginnering.
 
Thank you very much for your response. How long did it get you to get an acceptance from NWP? Are you guaranteed an admission to NWP because you have a Falcon Scholarship offer from USAFA. Or should we apply to a few of the listed 5 prep schools. Wait for an admissions decision to accept the scholarship offer at the USAFA portal
 
All,
I am a first time parent with respect to service academy. My DS was offered a Falcon Scholarship this morning. It was a huge relief as he worked for it for last 2 years by joining local Civil Air Patrol. He developed this interest on his own. I would like to get some advice with respect to Falcon Foundation Scholarship.

He has been given only a week notice to accept his scholarship but he needs to select a prep school by then. Since we are new to this process. I am not sure which school to select.

1. Is it feasible to get an acceptance at one of the schools within a week to accept the scholarship.
2. Is the application to these schools an elaborate process like the college admission process after being notified of award of scholarship from USAFA.
3. Since NWP is only one semester program, is it better to select a prep school that offers full year program.
4. Is there a ranking on which schools to select.
5. Is Randolph Macon academy in Virginia a reputed school.
6. Finally, He also has admission offers for Engineering at reputed 4 year public university. He intends to do it by joining AFROTC but awaiting HS scholarship decision. Is it worth it to skip this and accept a Falcon Foundation Scholarship. He is determined to join Air Force and that's his ambition.

Thanks in advance to all your valuable suggestions.
May I ask how was he notified of his Falcon Foundation Scholarship?
 
So once I talked to NWP, I confirmed my scholarship on my portal. Then I received an email from Mrs. Durbeck saying the following "
Today we received official word that you are a Falcon Scholar who has selected Northwestern Prep. Being a Falcon, you will also receive the scholarship from Northwestern Prep that was listed in the information that you were given. After deducting your Falcon and NWPrep scholarships, your fees for the fall semester will be $ 1,146 for tuition, room, and board. A letter from us will contain payment instructions and an outline of your scholarships.

Please complete the Northwestern Prep application at www.nwprep.net. For you, it is a registration for your enrollment in this program. We automatically accept Falcons because they are chosen by the Air Force Academy. Being part of the Falcon program, you belong to a very select group of USAFA candidates! "
 
So once I talked to NWP, I confirmed my scholarship on my portal. Then I received an email from Mrs. Durbeck saying the following "
Today we received official word that you are a Falcon Scholar who has selected Northwestern Prep. Being a Falcon, you will also receive the scholarship from Northwestern Prep that was listed in the information that you were given. After deducting your Falcon and NWPrep scholarships, your fees for the fall semester will be $ 1,146 for tuition, room, and board. A letter from us will contain payment instructions and an outline of your scholarships.

Please complete the Northwestern Prep application at www.nwprep.net. For you, it is a registration for your enrollment in this program. We automatically accept Falcons because they are chosen by the Air Force Academy. Being part of the Falcon program, you belong to a very select group of USAFA candidates! "
Congratulation! Very happy for you. Let's FLY!
 
May I ask how was he notified of his Falcon Foundation Scholarship?
He got an email this morning and to check the admissions portal for more information
So once I talked to NWP, I confirmed my scholarship on my portal. Then I received an email from Mrs. Durbeck saying the following "
Today we received official word that you are a Falcon Scholar who has selected Northwestern Prep. Being a Falcon, you will also receive the scholarship from Northwestern Prep that was listed in the information that you were given. After deducting your Falcon and NWPrep scholarships, your fees for the fall semester will be $ 1,146 for tuition, room, and board. A letter from us will contain payment instructions and an outline of your scholarships.

Please complete the Northwestern Prep application at www.nwprep.net. For you, it is a registration for your enrollment in this program. We automatically accept Falcons because they are chosen by the Air Force Academy. Being part of the Falcon program, you belong to a very select group of USAFA candidates! "
Thank you very much for all your responses.
 
If your DS is looking at NWP (my DS was "virtually" there for 2020), have him call Mrs D. and talk with her. They were great and I'd highly recommend them. Our son liked the chance to get a semester of normal college before heading to USAFA this June. It has given this some freedom and a chance to utilize what he learned at NWP, i.e. study skills, time management, workouts, etc.
 
@RookieDad congrats on your DS getting a Falcon scholarship! It is truly the Golden Ticket into USAFA! I received a Falcon scholarship last year and chose NWP. NWP was virtual this past year, but hopefully, that will change this year! I am a little biased in prep schools, but NWP was awesome (even online) and I was able to meet some awesome friends that will be attending USAFA this year as well. (As a side note, the majority of Falcon scholars attend NWP. I think about 35 attended NWP this past year). I was in the situation as your DS last year. I had a Type 1 AFROTC scholarship and turned it down for the Falcon scholarship. USAFA was always my dream and as an appointee for the class of 2025, I am so glad I chose the Falcon foundation offer. Congrats again on this awesome opportunity!
 
Thank you @MFalcon. Also is it advisable to pay a deposit to 4 year public university that my DS got admission for and request a gap year so that a plan B is available for next year admissions while he focuses on his preparation for next year USAFA. This year he had to focus on application for regular public universities along with his preparation for service academies.
Again Thank you very much for all your help, support and patience in providing the replies to all my questions.
 
@RookieDad USAFA Admissions held a Zoom forum for Falcon recipients a few weeks ago. It may be possible to get a recording of that info session if your DS reaches out to admissions. It was helpful to learn about each school via their reps. Would save you a lot of research time and calls IMO. Mrs. Durbeck also met with my DD and answered lots of questions. She will be at NWP in the fall.
 
My DD received a Falcon Foundation Scholarship in 2019 and now is at the USAFA as part of the class of 2024. She had a type 1 Navy and Type 2 Air Force ROTC scholarships. She chose NWP because of the opportunity to go one semester to a traditional college just for the experience. All of the Falcon Foundation received appointments to the class of 2024 that went to NWP with her. There was one that chose not to attend USAFA and another that left the USAFA mid semester. Even though they are spread out throughout the academy squads the NWP group has stayed a tight friend group. They are all doing well academically and emotionally.
 
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