MMI Self-Sponsored Chances?

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FaiM13

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I am currently applying to USMA with MMI Service Academy Prep as one of my back up plans. I was notified of my acceptance to MMI SAP earlier this week. This question may have already been asked, but I cannot find it, so I'm asking myself. Do the students who are self-sponsored have a lower chance of being admitted to their chosen service academy than those who do receive an AOG scholarship? Or is it based only off of how hard students are willing to work?

I asked this question to the director of the SAP program and he responded that there was no difference and both types of students had an equal chance. However, he could have been slightly biased due to his affiliation with the school. Though I mean no disrespect towards him, I believe he was genuine. I just want to confirm this with those who have gone through the program or know someone who did.
 
An AOG scholarship is referred to as a Golden Ticket. The reason is AOG scholars (my DS was one) are guaranteed a spot in the next class as long as they don't "fail a class or get arrested" as he was told by his RC..

MMI has a very good record of success with self sponsored cadets as well but it is definitely not an "equal chance".

Good luck on your journey..
 
FaiM13 said:
I am currently applying to USMA with MMI Service Academy Prep as one of my back up plans. I was notified of my acceptance to MMI SAP earlier this week. This question may have already been asked, but I cannot find it, so I'm asking myself. Do the students who are self-sponsored have a lower chance of being admitted to their chosen service academy than those who do receive an AOG scholarship? Or is it based only off of how hard students are willing to work?

I asked this question to the director of the SAP program and he responded that there was no difference and both types of students had an equal chance. However, he could have been slightly biased due to his affiliation with the school. Though I mean no disrespect towards him, I believe he was genuine. I just want to confirm this with those who have gone through the program or know someone who did.
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My DS is a self-sponsored cadet at MMI currently. If you are sponsored by an academy then you have what is known as a "golden" ticket but there have been a couple of cadets who lost their golden ticket this term due to grades and behavior. Last year, every cadet who finished the program received an appt - sponsored and self-sponsored and the majority had multiple appointments. They have a proven track record. Like anything else in life, if you take it seriously and put forth effort you can achieve great things. I feel very confident my DS will be appointed for the class of 2024. My DS was a little disappointed that he didn't receive an for 2023 but has stated that MMI has been a blessing in disguise. He feel that he will be better prepared for the academy because of the demands of MMI, course rigor, and learning time management/self discipline.
 
Parent of 4 said:
An AOG scholarship is referred to as a Golden Ticket. The reason is AOG scholars (my DS was one) are guaranteed a spot in the next class as long as they don't "fail a class or get arrested" as he was told by his RC..

MMI has a very good record of success with self sponsored cadets as well but it is definitely not an "equal chance".

Good luck on your journey..
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Thank you for your reply! Did your DS notify his RC that he was interested in an AOG Scholarship or was he chosen?
 
18Hopeful said:
My DS is a self-sponsored cadet at MMI currently. If you are sponsored by an academy then you have what is known as a "golden" ticket but there have been a couple of cadets who lost their golden ticket this term due to grades and behavior. Last year, every cadet who finished the program received an appt - sponsored and self-sponsored and the majority had multiple appointments. They have a proven track record. Like anything else in life, if you take it seriously and put forth effort you can achieve great things. I feel very confident my DS will be appointed for the class of 2024. My DS was a little disappointed that he didn't receive an for 2023 but has stated that MMI has been a blessing in disguise. He feel that he will be better prepared for the academy because of the demands of MMI, course rigor, and learning time management/self discipline.
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That is so great to hear! If I am not appointed this year, I plan to work as hard as I can at MMI to receive an appointment next year. From what I have heard MMI SAP does seem like one of the best options. It wouldn't hurt for me to get extra training and work on my time management skills if I do not get in for the class of 2024.
 
FaiM13 said:
Thank you for your reply! Did your DS notify his RC that he was interested in an AOG Scholarship or was he chosen?
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Actually he had never heard of it when it was offered.. I do know of others in his class at MMI and now at USMA that did make their RC aware that they would be interested in an AOG scholarship if not offered an appointment..
 
This comes up every year and the answer is that it depends on the candidate. I have never seen statistics for MMI or any other civilian prep schools success rate in Academy preparation but I can assure you the results are not the same between sponsored and self. The sponsored candidates would get an appointment regardless of the school they pick as long as they do their part and complete the program. There are many variables for non-sponsored candidates and while the prep schools do a good job, they cannot take a below average candidate and magically turn them into strong candidates.

If you are a strong candidate that has a good educational foundation and is mature enough to handle a challenging course load in college, admissions would recommend that you attend a four year college, take a plebe like schedule and do well.

If you lack the educational background or the maturity to succeed on your own, the self prep may be a good option.
 
My son was sponsored prep at MMI for USCGA. I can't remember how many self-preps there were at MMI for USCGA that year, no more than 5, could have been just three. At least the three self preps that I remember graduated from USCGA with him.
 
18Hopeful said:
My DS is a self-sponsored cadet at MMI currently. If you are sponsored by an academy then you have what is known as a "golden" ticket but there have been a couple of cadets who lost their golden ticket this term due to grades and behavior. Last year, every cadet who finished the program received an appt - sponsored and self-sponsored and the majority had multiple appointments. They have a proven track record. Like anything else in life, if you take it seriously and put forth effort you can achieve great things. I feel very confident my DS will be appointed for the class of 2024. My DS was a little disappointed that he didn't receive an for 2023 but has stated that MMI has been a blessing in disguise. He feel that he will be better prepared for the academy because of the demands of MMI, course rigor, and learning time management/self discipline.
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I’m sending you a pm. My DS is self prep in MMI right now.
 
I can only speak for USNA and not the other SAs. USNA recommends that h.s. applicants who are unsuccessful applying to USNA attend a 4-year civilian college. That is their recommendation and, therefore, for most, that provides the best path to being appointed to USNA. A prep school is helpful for some -- typically students who had poor high school preparation (due to a poor high school), those who need to improve their study skills and/or time management, and/or those who need more/better instruction in key courses (chem, calc, English). Prep schools MAY also help candidates in terms of preparing their package (i.e., teachers have experience writing recommendations, help on essays, etc.).

The above said, MOST students are best off attending a 4-year civilian college. If you are considering self-prepping, be sure that the info you get from the prep schools regarding their success rate for SA applicants is for SELF-PREP, not sponsored prep. Huge difference in odds of admission.

Bottom line: (for USNA) attend a prep school because you want the benefits of the prep school, not because you think it is a better/easier/more certain path to obtaining an appointment.
 
usna1985 said:
I can only speak for USNA and not the other SAs. USNA recommends that h.s. applicants who are unsuccessful applying to USNA attend a 4-year civilian college. That is their recommendation and, therefore, for most, that provides the best path to being appointed to USNA. A prep school is helpful for some -- typically students who had poor high school preparation (due to a poor high school), those who need to improve their study skills and/or time management, and/or those who need more/better instruction in key courses (chem, calc, English). Prep schools MAY also help candidates in terms of preparing their package (i.e., teachers have experience writing recommendations, help on essays, etc.).

The above said, MOST students are best off attending a 4-year civilian college. If you are considering self-prepping, be sure that the info you get from the prep schools regarding their success rate for SA applicants is for SELF-PREP, not sponsored prep. Huge difference in odds of admission.

Bottom line: (for USNA) attend a prep school because you want the benefits of the prep school, not because you think it is a better/easier/more certain path to obtaining an appointment.
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This is the exact same advice from USMA admissions.
 
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