Mine is a Falcon Scholar, and like many USAFA prepsters, narrowed it down between NWP and NMMI largely because the elevation is similar to USAFA. NWP is a one semester non-transferrable school, so for many, that's a turn off and elevation ends up becoming a wash since you'll have to take the 2nd semester at home which for many, is lower altitude. But at least you train, and take the CFA at high altitude, which at the minimum, you'll prove to yourself that you can handle that kind of training and performance at 'thin air.' Mine was offered the FFS at the last minute, and didn't get a chance to explore what the schools are like, so she "toured" each one, and the surrounding areas by Google Maps. She felt NWP was the best choice for her based on environmental location (National Forest), cost (there's still an out of pocket cost for FFS), atmosphere - things like being able to wear civilian clothes vs spending money on uniforms that she'd only wear one year. The down side of NWP is that the 1 semester you spend there, the classes do not transfer any where. The other 4 prep schools are full year, junior military colleges, so credits can transfer. With NWP, you go home after 1 semester (which you spend boot camping yourself to improve on everything you need for USAFA Admissions) because by the time you go home, Admissions will have everything they need from you anyway, and deadline is either closed or near closing. You'll need to take your 2nd semester at any college of choice (most go to a community college for affordability) and those credits can transfer, or be validated at USAFA. So you're really only missing out on 1 semester worth of credits, which will be moot should you gain an Appointment. One perk mine discovered she has over her friends who went to the year-long program is coming home for the 2nd semester, she got get a part-time job to make some spending/gas money, hone some job/life experience, deal with things like banking, DoD required vaccinations general adulting/business, relax a little (however much you can while taking 15 credits) hang out with friends, and be available to attend events at USAFA like Appointee Tours, which ended up being invaluable for her. (I mentioned it in this post:
https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...n-prep-without-scholarship.95130/post-1025873 )
Occasionally, however, mine does kinda wish she was at a year-long prep school, because it's easier to have someone keep her on track vs doing all the planning, time management, and self motivation to finish things up. So if you put that into consideration, you'll have to ask yourself: how good at self motivation are you? Also keep in mind that if and when you get to USAFA, those are essential skills to have in order to succeed. Time management was stressed heavily at the Appointee Tours.
