1. What's a typical day at NW like?
2. Favorite and least favorite thing about NW?
3. How does the program improve you as a candidate?
4. Do you apply for Nominations in CA or your homestate?
5. For 'self preppies' who had to pay tuition, did you get any financial aid or scholarships from NW?
Those are just a few of my main questions for now. If anyone could give any insight it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
I went to NWP in 2012 and I am now a freshman at USAFA.
1. Days at NWP are busy and really teach you time management.
Breakfast at 7:30am
Vocab test at 8am
Two classes before lunch (I had physics and math)
Lunch at noonish if I remember correctly
Two classes after lunch (I had English and Chem)
PT with Coach
quick shower time before dinner
Dinner at 6:30/7ish?
Mandatory study time (which you will definitely need and use!)
some free time
lights out at 10:30/11ish
Wednesdays are a little different because there isn't PT and there are less classes. You use some of that extra time to help out around with projects around the school and with cleaning, as well as doing your own workout with your friends.
On the weekends, you might have a workout on a Saturday morning but other than that you can just chill. A lot of kids go hiking which is nice because you're located in the San Bernardino National Forest. On SAT/ACT weekends, you are allowed to leave after the completion of the test. A lot of kids go visit San Diego or LA or go with their friends houses who live in CA.
2. Favorite thing: Friends. Many of the friends I made at NWP are at USAFA with me now. Even just seeing them all in their Hawaiian shirts on inprocessing day made the transition into Academy life a little easier.
Least favorite thing: Rodney's Hill. If you choose to go to NWP, you will become quite familiar with this hill during PT class but hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?
3. The program really is successful at challenging you physically, mentally, and academically. Another really cool part about it is the second semester at a local college or university! That gives you the "real college" experience with real college classes but also gives you experiences that many military school/direct entry kids might not have. That goes in with the whole "well-rounded" thing that the SAs look for in applications.
4. You apply for nominations in your home state. That can make interviews tricky since you might (like I was) be on the complete other side of the country for the actual interview. You just have to work with the nominating sources' offices to set up either phone or skype interviews. There will be a lot of kids in the same boat.
5. I was a Falcon Foundation Scholar so I'm not too sure about financial aid/external scholarships but I'm pretty sure that you can use scholarships there. Not too sure about that though.
Hope that helps!