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J

Johnson 32

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Anyone have any experience with Northwestern Preparatory school as a free agent? I am under waiver review but thinking about it for next year to make me more competitive.
 
Future Falcon said:
I’m currently attending NWP as a free agent. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the process or what it’s like.
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I cant message you but would like to know how the chances are for free agents and what's the process like for getting in?
 
Your chances depend on how hard you show the Durbecks(owners of the prep school) that you are working on top of what you get on the SAT/ACT, CFA, etc. Your scores need to be at least passing because you obviously can't get in with failing scores. Aim to max out your CFA, 1400+ for the SAT and 30+ on the ACT. Your chances also depend on your district. There is no definite way of knowing your chances of getting an appointment, but that doesn't matter if you're submitting the best possible application you can put out. That being said, from what I’ve heard, free agents have a good shot at getting an appointment coming out of NWP, assuming your evaluations speak highly about your work ethic, drive, camaraderie, and overall character while on the mountain. If I remember correctly, 11 out of the 13 free agents got in last year, and the two didn’t because they couldn’t get positive evaluations. The year before, 9 out of the 11 free agents got in, and it was the same story for those who didn’t get in; they couldn’t secure evaluations that would benefit their application due to them slacking off. If you want to get in, show your instructors you’re serious about getting an appointment, but take it one step further by excelling in everything you do. Remember, your instructors are always watching.

As for getting in, after talking with my ALO about going to NWP, I did my application online back in April. If you look up Northwestern Preparatory School, it should be one of the first links that show up. I also strongly recommend calling the office and speaking with Mrs. Durbeck. I will say that you should not consider going to NWP, assuming you didn’t get an appointment, without talking to your ALO. If you are already strong academically, you may benefit from attending college instead since NWP aims to raise your SAT/ACT scores and strengthen your academics. However, again, you should speak with your ALO as they know your current situation. Classes started for my class at the end of August, although I know they began in early September in some years. I was notified that I was accepted a day or two after submitting my application. The tuition is around $14,000, but there is a scholarship available that you can apply for. However, that information comes after you get your acceptance email. The scholarship value is between $250 and $3,000.

Overall, it will be hard work when you come to prep, but don’t let that discourage you. Some days, it will feel like you can’t balance everything, but remember that everyone at prep, including your classmates, wants you to succeed and get to the academy of your choice. If you're struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help. Likewise, if others are struggling, it would be a good idea to help them out, too. Everyone shares each other's struggles to some extent, which will contribute to the camaraderie I mentioned earlier. In short, work hard and talk to your ALO before starting your application to NWP. You got this!

Oh goody! Another day in which to excel.
 
Future Falcon said:
Your chances depend on how hard you show the Durbecks(owners of the prep school) that you are working on top of what you get on the SAT/ACT, CFA, etc. Your scores need to be at least passing because you obviously can't get in with failing scores. Aim to max out your CFA, 1400+ for the SAT and 30+ on the ACT. Your chances also depend on your district. There is no definite way of knowing your chances of getting an appointment, but that doesn't matter if you're submitting the best possible application you can put out. That being said, from what I’ve heard, free agents have a good shot at getting an appointment coming out of NWP, assuming your evaluations speak highly about your work ethic, drive, camaraderie, and overall character while on the mountain. If I remember correctly, 11 out of the 13 free agents got in last year, and the two didn’t because they couldn’t get positive evaluations. The year before, 9 out of the 11 free agents got in, and it was the same story for those who didn’t get in; they couldn’t secure evaluations that would benefit their application due to them slacking off. If you want to get in, show your instructors you’re serious about getting an appointment, but take it one step further by excelling in everything you do. Remember, your instructors are always watching.

As for getting in, after talking with my ALO about going to NWP, I did my application online back in April. If you look up Northwestern Preparatory School, it should be one of the first links that show up. I also strongly recommend calling the office and speaking with Mrs. Durbeck. I will say that you should not consider going to NWP, assuming you didn’t get an appointment, without talking to your ALO. If you are already strong academically, you may benefit from attending college instead since NWP aims to raise your SAT/ACT scores and strengthen your academics. However, again, you should speak with your ALO as they know your current situation. Classes started for my class at the end of August, although I know they began in early September in some years. I was notified that I was accepted a day or two after submitting my application. The tuition is around $14,000, but there is a scholarship available that you can apply for. However, that information comes after you get your acceptance email. The scholarship value is between $250 and $3,000.

Overall, it will be hard work when you come to prep, but don’t let that discourage you. Some days, it will feel like you can’t balance everything, but remember that everyone at prep, including your classmates, wants you to succeed and get to the academy of your choice. If you're struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help. Likewise, if others are struggling, it would be a good idea to help them out, too. Everyone shares each other's struggles to some extent, which will contribute to the camaraderie I mentioned earlier. In short, work hard and talk to your ALO before starting your application to NWP. You got this!

Oh goody! Another day in which to excel.
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WOW thank you for all this!
 
Future Falcon said:
You are welcome. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions.
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I do have one question. Why spend $14,000 to go to NWP when I can just go to a community college and not pay as much and get my SAT up on my own and I am very good physically that wont be a problem. Does USAFA look at NWP better than they do a basic community college?
 
From what I’ve heard, the Durbecks have a lot of pull with admissions, so doing well at prep can help strengthen your application. As you said, community college is cheaper. There are pros and cons to both.

Community college is cheaper, and you can get credits for those classes. Even better would be if your college of choice offered ROTC because then you would be on track to commission. Furthermore, you can validate some of those classes so you don’t have to take them at the academy. As far as I know, that does not apply to every class, but in courses like calculus, it can be helpful. The con is that you may not have the structure and a schedule similar to one at the academy, but I’ll explain that more when talking about going to the prep route.

For NWP, your structure is similar to the academy, so you’ll be used to early mornings, late nights, hours of studying, etc. NWP has a track record of getting standardized test scores up and stronger CFA results. Their evaluations could help your application greatly, but in contrast, a bad evaluation can significantly hurt your application. You will be adequately prepared for the academy. The cons are that even though your classes are at a college level, you cannot receive college credit while on the mountain. On top of that, you will not be on track to commission, assuming you don’t receive an appointment during your second attempt since you cannot do ROTC at NWP. A risk involved is that you may be behind if things don’t work out. Going to college and doing ROTC isn’t as risky since you’ll still be earning credits for your degree and progressing to commission, assuming you don’t receive an appointment while doing ROTC.

As for how USAFA views a prep school compared to a community college, there’s not much difference for free agents. Remember, if you choose to go to NWP as a free agent, although that is a viable option at your disposal, chances are the academy did not send you there. Even if you chose NWP, you would still need to get good grades, just like if you chose community college. I’m careful when talking about Durbeck's connections with admissions because I know some people who thought their chances were guaranteed as long as they got good evaluations. That is NOT how it works. USAFA expects the same from free agents at Falcon schools and those who choose the college route. Historically, those who received good evaluations typically received an appointment. In short, the academy doesn’t generally care where you come from. Prep might be better for you, or community college could be more appropriate. That’s why I emphasize that you speak with your ALO to develop a plan that will be most successful for you and secure an appointment the next time. Hopefully, you won’t need to do that because you may get an appointment this year. It’s good that you’re thinking ahead.
 
Another good thing to consider is the risk of wildfires since prep is in California. My class is currently doing school from home until our forest order gets lifted since the school is on forest land. All my stuff is still on the mountain, but hopefully, we’ll be able to return next week after being home for almost a month. It’s just something to consider, especially if money is an issue. Getting a flight to go to prep is expensive, and it wasn’t fun trying to find a last-minute flight back home after being evacuated. It might not happen next year, but it’s something to think about.
 
@Future Falcon Thank you for sharing! This is very helpful information. How did you manage to get your Math, English, and Consular evaluations while at NWP, given that you started in late August at NWP and were applying to the USAFA around the same time? Did you ask your high school teachers again?

Thank you
 
You are asked to use your math teacher at NWP for the math evaluation. For English, you can choose to use NWP’s English teacher, or you can use the teacher from back home. For counselor information, you will use your high school counselor. I emailed my high school counselor to submit my high school information, but I used the teachers here at NWP for the evaluations.
 
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