Falcon Foundation Scholarship Advice

Twins4us said:
Leadership from NWP will take care of teacher letters of rec. and essay for the USAFA app, but your child will have to resubmit personal letters of rec. The Durbecks will direct the students when to start the whole process in the fall. One thing our DS did before his prep year began was to get all MOC/VP nomination applications done. Their days are stock-full and getting these finished was a huge positive. Best of luck to the FFS this year.
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Do you know how the kids without the FFS did as far as receiving appointments when going through NWP?
 
ProudAZmom said:
Do you know how the kids without the FFS did as far as receiving appointments when going through NWP?
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I recommend your applicant call NWP and talk with the Durbecks, ask questions like this. Their website claims an 85% acceptance rate for SAs, but that stat doesn’t break out the rate for sponsored vs. non-sponsored prepsters.
 
Capt MJ said:
I recommend your applicant call NWP and talk with the Durbecks, ask questions like this. Their website claims an 85% acceptance rate for SAs, but that stat doesn’t break out the rate for sponsored vs. non-sponsored prepsters.
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We had a good conversation with her for about an hour. However, we just heard the 85% as well and not the breakdown for non FFS. Was hoping to hear personal experiences here.
 
so7 said:
Although I was not a falcon myself, I had the opportunity to attend NWP last fall with a class primarily made up of falcons. Although there are no "official" stats out there (as far as I know at least), you have a high chance of getting in; it really is what you make it out to be though. The Durbecks at NWP told us many stories of falcons not getting in simply because they took the golden ticket as a guaranteed slot into the academy, so they decided to become lackadaisical, slack on their studies, and miss deadlines. You've been given an incredible opportunity to attend a prep school for free! Take it and give it everything you've got. Some of us had to pay full tuition to receive the same education and it is disappointing to see people who've been given this amazing opportunity throw it away. Some of my falcon classmates didn't turn in assignments, didn't study for exams, and just didn't give their full effort, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get in this year. A falcon foundation scholarship is what you make it; give it your all and you have a very high chance of getting in. Hard work pays off!

I don't know a single prepster who isn't grateful that they were able to go to a prep school and spend another year working on themself. Doolie year is a huge learning curve, but the experiences at a prep school make it that much more tolerable. It is such a great opportunity that will help you to thrive at the academy. Take it and run with it.

As far as what you should tell your family, I would take the time and explain prep school in-depth and what it is. I know it can get pretty repetitive and annoying, but you're going to be gone for a few months with pretty limited contact. It'll really help calm their nerves if they truly know what you're up to. Also, it really is a great thing! USAFA likes you enough to drop a few thousand dollars into your education and training. Prep school is basically the "Intro to Service Academies 101" course that you're getting to take for free because they think you have some potential to succeed at the academy.

Now the choice of what prep school you go to is ultimately up to you, but I would highly recommend NWP (I'm slightly partial haha). It is an exceptional institution and you will learn a lot, both academically and about academy life! It's on the top of a mountain in CA and I'm told it has a beautiful view (I wouldn't know because I did NWP online due to covid). The academic will be incredibly challenging and you will be working all day every day, but it will be worth it. You'll get to hear from current and past cadets from all over the country on how they succeeded in the academies. I'm sure that the Durbecks would be happy to give you more information and I'd also be happy to give some as well. Definitely do your own research though and figure out what fits best for you. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors!
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Did you get an appointment? I’m curious how the “free agents”/self-prep” student fare with receiving appointments
 
My daughter went to NWP as a FFS 2019. I don't know how many of the free agents received appointments but I do know several did and several did not.
 
ProudAZmom said:
Did you get an appointment? I’m curious how the “free agents”/self-prep” student fare with receiving appointments
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I recommend contacting Mrs. Durbeck. My DD is fortunate to have FFS this year and reached out to her. They spoke for an hour. From the one sided on and off portion of the conversation I heard, Mrs Durbeck seem like a straight shooter, no nonsense type of person. She would be able to answer your questions. Best!
 
GMC (Georgia Military College) has "self-prep" cadets who make it to the Service Academies
 
Looked up on the NWP prep 18 of the free agents were accepted to USAFA last year. Out of how many? Not sure but that's a number
 
DD received her FFS notification on Saturday morning. She is thrilled because she received TWEs from CGA and USNA. Situation. Has NROTC scholarship to VT and will be in Corps of Cadets. Serving in the Navy is desired(dad retired Marine) but for years the goal was to serve in Air Force (non pilot). Since NROTC notification in February she has begun to embrace the Navy option through a path other than SA. But was holding out for USAFA notification. Taking the gift of a year to prepare(military leadership and academics) for USAFA is palatable at this point but the 1 year delay is causing her to pause in a place of inaction. She’s narrowed the FFS prep school to NWP and RMA. There is plenty of personal insights on NWP. She would benefit from perspectives of RMA preppies. She’s watched the videos and studied websites but personal testimonies from this forum may help move the decision forward and finally out of the “waiting place. “ TIA. Cross posted on the Prep school tab.
 
ProudAZmom said:
Did you get an appointment? I’m curious how the “free agents”/self-prep” student fare with receiving appointments
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I was a free agent/self-prep student with the Class of 2019 and earned an appointment for the Class of 2024. While I do not remember the exact numbers of those who did not earn appointments, I will say that the majority earned at least one appointment and many were fortunate to get two or more. Obviously, unlike FFS, there is no guarantee of an appointment at the end of the tunnel and it will depend significantly on the competitiveness of your district, but of the free agents that I remember, I can't think of anyone who was in a competitive district and didn't get at least one appointment.
 
mach01 said:
I was a free agent/self-prep student with the Class of 2019 and earned an appointment for the Class of 2024. While I do not remember the exact numbers of those who did not earn appointments, I will say that the majority earned at least one appointment and many were fortunate to get two or more. Obviously, unlike FFS, there is no guarantee of an appointment at the end of the tunnel and it will depend significantly on the competitiveness of your district, but of the free agents that I remember, I can't think of anyone who was in a competitive district and didn't get at least one appointment.
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Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experience. We just got notified today that he was accepted into Northwestern Prep. It sounds like a wonderful place. After your semester at NWP, di you attend a community college for spring semester or a 4 year university? If you have any other guidance, all would be appreciated. Feel free to PM me.
 
ProudAZmom said:
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experience. We just got notified today that he was accepted into Northwestern Prep. It sounds like a wonderful place. After your semester at NWP, di you attend a community college for spring semester or a 4 year university? If you have any other guidance, all would be appreciated. Feel free to PM me.
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I personally chose to attend my local community college for the spring semester for several reasons. The two largest were it was close to home and I had already spent several semesters there for dual enrollment so I was very comfortable on campus. I guess I don't have any generic guidance that I can think of right now, but if you have any specific questions, please feel free to reach out!
 
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