Northwestern Prep without Scholarship

[dirtyflaco]

Hello,
I am considering attending Northwestern Prep next semester. I was rejected from both USAFA and USNA this cycle and was not offered a FFS or a USNA foundation scholarship. My ALO/BGO's insist that I was a highly qualified candidate but simply did not make the cut.

The $14k cost of the 6 month NWP course seems like a great investment, especially considering that NWP claims an 85% acceptance rate to academies for it's graduates.

Some questions I have are:

• Does not having a Foundation Scholarship make me a less competitive candidate at NWP?
• Is it difficult to be accepted into NWP/ is it late in the year to apply?
• To any graduates from NWP, how was your experience there?
• Is it really true that near 85% of graduates are accepted into their academy of choice?

Thank you!

 

[ARMARINE03]

Hello,
I am considering attending Northwestern Prep next semester. I was rejected from both USAFA and USNA this cycle and was not offered a FFS or a USNA foundation scholarship. My ALO/BGO's insist that I was a highly qualified candidate but simply did not make the cut.

The $14k cost of the 6 month NWP course seems like a great investment, especially considering that NWP claims an 85% acceptance rate to academies for it's graduates.

Some questions I have are:

• Does not having a Foundation Scholarship make me a less competitive candidate at NWP?
• Is it difficult to be accepted into NWP/ is it late in the year to apply?
• To any graduates from NWP, how was your experience there?
• Is it really true that near 85% of graduates are accepted into their academy of choice?

Thank you!

I can't speak to NWP. DS went to a different SAP program. I don't believe it makes you less competitive, but it's a healthy plan to think that way. Motivates you to work harder. You're still going have to put in the work. DS was self-prep and his approach was to succeed regardless.

 

[Capt MJ]

Hello,
I am considering attending Northwestern Prep next semester. I was rejected from both USAFA and USNA this cycle and was not offered a FFS or a USNA foundation scholarship. My ALO/BGO's insist that I was a highly qualified candidate but simply did not make the cut.

The $14k cost of the 6 month NWP course seems like a great investment, especially considering that NWP claims an 85% acceptance rate to academies for it's graduates.

Some questions I have are:

• Does not having a Foundation Scholarship make me a less competitive candidate at NWP?
• Is it difficult to be accepted into NWP/ is it late in the year to apply?
• To any graduates from NWP, how was your experience there?
• Is it really true that near 85% of graduates are accepted into their academy of choice?

Thank you!

Late in the year - think about what’s happening right now, hundreds of candidates hearing they are not going to a service academy this summer. Prep schools are waiting for these applicants.

I recommend thoroughly researching the prep school’s website, organizing your questions, calling the SAP coordinator at the school, using your adult live communications skills and engaging in a discussion with the primary source. Ask them hard questions. One of them would be, “what is the percentage of your non-SA sponsored prep students who gain academy appointments?”

And, before charging down this path, contact academy admissions to ask for feedback on your application. That is the first step in strategic thinking and developing an attack plan - define and analyze requirements. Are the things you need to work on best done at a prep school? Or will your alternate plan at U of X do the same thing, especially if you take and excel in first-year-like courses and perhaps participate in the service ROTC program to develop leadership and compete for a nom from the unit? Your reapplication strategy should assess the alternative paths for the best fit.

Good luck!

 

[BlinzN]

Hello,
I am considering attending Northwestern Prep next semester. I was rejected from both USAFA and USNA this cycle and was not offered a FFS or a USNA foundation scholarship. My ALO/BGO's insist that I was a highly qualified candidate but simply did not make the cut.

The $14k cost of the 6 month NWP course seems like a great investment, especially considering that NWP claims an 85% acceptance rate to academies for it's graduates.

Some questions I have are:

• Does not having a Foundation Scholarship make me a less competitive candidate at NWP?
• Is it difficult to be accepted into NWP/ is it late in the year to apply?
• To any graduates from NWP, how was your experience there?
• Is it really true that near 85% of graduates are accepted into their academy of choice?

Thank you!

NWP has an astounding program. I just graduated there, and the instructors and people are amazing; it is an excellent environment, and I highly recommend it. However, not having a foundation scholarship makes you less competitive. Still, if you make the effort and show dedication to attend a service academy, you should have no problem. It is definitely not too late to apply, and you shouldn’t have trouble getting in, but I would apply immediately. I was not admitted to an academy for reasons I won’t share here, but I would say there was more than 85% of the class accepted to a SA this year; they have more pull with USAFA but are held in high regard in all SA.

 

[Texark147]

NWP has an astounding program. I just graduated there, and the instructors and people are amazing; it is an excellent environment, and I highly recommend it. However, not having a foundation scholarship makes you less competitive. Still, if you make the effort and show dedication to attend a service academy, you should have no problem. It is definitely not too late to apply, and you shouldn’t have trouble getting in, but I would apply immediately. I was not admitted to an academy for reasons I won’t share here, but I would say there was more than 85% of the class accepted to a SA this year; they have more pull with USAFA but are held in high regard in all SA.

Were you a falcon Scholar or self prep at NWP?

 

[franknd]

My son considered both NWP and MMI and chose MMI. I can tell you that MMI was an excellent choice. My impression is that NWP mostly caters to AFA Foundation scholars, so I wouldn't expect as much support for self-preps and all the more so to other SAs; but I'm happy to be corrected on that if it's inaccurate. In any event, to that end, I thought MMI was much more of a "full spectrum" prep program.

Additionally, NWP requires you to arrange for your own spring semester studies. Not necessarily a big deal, but just something else to have to worry about.

Finally, I think a semester at NWP was at least as much as a full year at MMI.

 

[BlinzN]

Were you a falcon Scholar or self prep at NWP?

self-prep, not a reapplicant

 

[Firstgo]

My daughter was a Falcon Scholar and did go to NWP because she wanted to have the experience to attend a civilian university for one semester just to see what it would be like, then COVID hit so that was a bust. NWP was a great choice for her and she still is friends with many of the NWP students from 4 years ago. NWP curriculum is designed to help position you for your reapplication process but the down side is the one semester at NWP you do not earn college credit. Some of the other prep schools you do earn college credit so if you decide not to go to the academy at least you have earned a few college credits towards a degree. They are all good choices so do a little research and see if any are a good fit for you. Our DD is graduating from USAFA in May and we are so excited for what is next for her. Good luck with your path. It will work out.

 

[snarfly]

• Does not having a Foundation Scholarship make me a less competitive candidate at NWP?
• Is it difficult to be accepted into NWP/ is it late in the year to apply?
• To any graduates from NWP, how was your experience there?
• Is it really true that near 85% of graduates are accepted into their academy of choice?

* Not having a FS makes you less competitive than those with a FS in general. Where you go doesn't necessarily matter.
* It's not too late to apply. It's not so much as difficult to get into but more of a space available thing. NWP is held at a camp in San Bernardino National Forest in CA. There are only so many cabins and beds there and they can't haul in more, so once they're full, they're full. NWP tends to be USAFA candidates' choice due to location and elevation. They are over 5000 ft above sea level (USAFA is 7258'.)
* I'm a parent of a NWP grad who raved non stop about it. Absolutely LOVED her time there, and wished that it was a year-long program. She grew and improved in every aspect, had amazing support from the Durbecks, and made many friends that will be going to USAFA, USNA, and USMA. Naturally, as a parent, I could only live vicariously through her, but my ah ha moment came when we did an Appointee Tour (meaning, yes, she received an Appointment upon returning from NWP) at USAFA, she got to talk to quite a few cadets, not as part of the planned tour, but just organically at lunch, and learned that many of them are NWP alums. They definitely had a lil je ne sais quois bond about them that was very warm, and welcoming in what would've otherwise been a bit of a nerve wracking environment.
* No but admissions truly know the numbers. It's been said, however, that if you're sponsored, the Appointment is yours to screw up and lose. Free agents have a bit more of a mixed results. Some years, everyone gets in. Other years, some free agents don't. Unfortunately for free agents, it's more of a dice roll, and that goes for all prep.

The pros of being a free agent is that you can cast a wider net and still apply to all 5 SAs again whereas sponsored (Foundation Scholars) only have that one choice, and you're bound by contract to complete the program, including taking your 2nd semester at an accredited college (where credits should transfer) and accept the Appointment if offered, or you must repay the Foundation for the scholarship.