Plan B

Q

quick

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As April 15th rapidly approaches I'm beginning to look towards my plan B's. I have a couple questions regarding my plan B's directed towards anyone who might have any knowledge on this subject, primarily the BGO's who scan the forums.

My two backups that I'm considering are Virginia Tech and their Corps of
Cadets, and Boston University. Would it be better to attend a VTCC so i have a military styled background heading into my second application, or would it be better to go to Boston University in order to have a stronger academic background? I'm not saying VTCC is not challenging academically as I understand freshman year very closly mirrors plebe year at USNA, I just know that Boston University is a very good school with a very strong academic program. Cost is not an issue is considering these two schools as I received a substantial amount of money to Boston University lowering the cost to less than VT.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

P.S. I plan on taking the plebe year courses no matter which college I attend.
 
I'll leave the specifics to others, but allow a thought or 2. Both are fine schools, and in your comparison, I'm wondering where your perceptions have come from? Do you live in the NE? I'd quibble with you on that point. Now, if you are talking about specific programs w/in each? Well, at least for year #1, it's a moot point since you plan to take the same courses at either place. But I think you could be a bit too close to the New England/Boston mirror. On the basis of academics, especially engineering, science, ag, tech programs, not sure we'd agree.

More important ... what if you don't make it this year or next? What is your end game? Do you want to be a USN/USMC officer? If that's the case, the difference and potential value of your experiences at these two would be vastly different. BU would likely be playing sailor a day/week and you'd run the risk of being viewed as odd-person-out. Ever wonder why Harvard disallows recruiters on campus? Why Penn State gladly inherited the major military research in aquatics from Harvard? Well, BU's alot closer to the Hahvad Yard than the USNA Yard. Literally and figuratively. Conversely, if you're seeking more of a military immersion experience, supportive student body culture, and/or preparation for either USNA and/or USN, your choice, imo, is quite clear.
 
You should go to the school that you would want to attend for 4 years and will be proud of that diploma. Always go with your heart, because you need to be happy where you are.

In a perfect world, if you do not receive an appointment this year, you will apply to the academy again and be a Plebe next summer. However, we all know that this is not a perfect world, so choose what is best for YOU.

The best thing about life is that if you are true to yourself, your life falls into place. Try not to second guess. If you were my child, I would tell you to follow your heart, kick a$$ at that school and present a great transcript with your application next year..... and don't give up just yet on this year!! :smile:
 
Thanks for the great advice from both. After hearing both your opinions I think VTCC will be my route ase end game is USN officer, preferably SEALS. With that said VTCC will derinitely provide better prep for that route.
 
VA Tech and BU are two very different schools/campuses, but I would put them equal in terms of academics. Hopefully you will have visited both before enrolling. I agree with Singapore Mom that you should pick the school where you think you would be happiest. Good luck!
 
I guess I would disagree with many on this Forum that "In a perfect world, if you do not receive an appointment this year, you will apply to the academy again and be a Plebe next summer." If you really want to go through the cumbersome and stressful process of reapplying to USNA during your freshman year and spend a fifth year in college, that is great. But, I think I would rather move on, enjoy college for four years, and apply for an ROTC scholarship at VA Tech or BU, if you still want to go into the military. Because the VA Tech Corps of Cadets is so proactive, I am guessing you might have a better chance at an ROTC scholarship there, but I don't have any facts to support that opinion.
 
btw, I have to offer one more thought ... NEVER go where you think you'll be happy, or your heart takes you. Neither emotion is trustworthy. Go where your BRAIN tells you makes the most sense. Happiness is a function of what you do with what you've got and where you are placed. It's a choice, a decision ... not an outcome or magical by-product of being in Boston vs. Blacksburg.

I'll come back to this, as you're asking this on an SA/military forum ...there is literally NO choice to be made IF you are serious about a military career. BU is a very decent university, altho not deemed one of the top-shelf places in the Boston market of higher ed beyond some specific programs. Conversely, VPI is one of the fast-rising land-grant universities, with world class engineering, sciences, agriculture and beyond. And never in the history of humankind has BU been even mentioned as hotbed or seedling for nurturing military masters. I'm sure there must be a very decent BU "who's who" but I can say in total candor, I'm unaware of any major military figure calling Terrior U alma mater.
 
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You should go to the school that you would want to attend for 4 years and will be proud of that diploma. Always go with your heart, because you need to be happy where you are
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I second this.

My advice on reapplying to USNA . . . there is no downside other than your time invested, if your heart is still in it. There are many candidates with 1, 2, 3 or more years of college prior to USNA.

However, as the year progresses, you may well find that you love your current college and your passion for USNA has diminished or that you no longer want to "start over" as a plebe/freshman. That's fine, too. And that's why you pick the college you most want to attend. Give yourself a chance to love IT because it may happen.:smile:
 
Any constructive thoughts between BU and UW? I've heard the ROTC program at BU is an exceptional one, but haven't heard anything pertaining to UW.
 
While A: I still haven't heard from usna and B: it is early to tell, I'm 99% set on reapplying should I not get in this year. My ultimate goal is to be either a SEAL officer or USMC officer and usna is defintely where i want to end up even if i have to start over again as a freshman. Of course I do realize I am not at any or my desired colleges yet and therefore have not experienced what they have to offer. Despite this my heart, and brain for whistle pig, is set on usna. Call me a fool but i truly do believe that I will be an overall better person having gone through training at usna.
 
UW v. BU: I have no experience with their ROTC units, but my child and I have visited both campuses. (hopefully others will know more about these NROTC units.) In my opinion, the colleges themselves feel very different from each other. If possible, I hope that you have visited or can visit both before deciding. (I know that is expensive from San Diego, but could be worth it to be comfortable with your decision.) We made the time and investment to visit people in each NROTC unit and campus where my child applied and was accepted, (and, unfortunately, they are on both coasts!) Those visits, while costly, have really helped us feel comfortable with our child's plans. He now has a priority list of colleges #1 through #7, and is waiting for the USNA and the NROTC wait list process to play out. (Unfortunately, he was rejected at his original first choice NROTC college in Feb.)

Regarding WhistlePig's comments, we try to make decisions in our family with our hearts AND our brains combined. While three people in my family received appointments to the Naval Academy, only one went. The others selected NROTC. All enjoyed healthy careers in the military. Seems like there is not one right decision for everyone.
 
Allow one minor but not totally insignificant observation about BU's Navy ROTC website ... with confession that this one made me smile and more.

The story begins watching BU's Navy ROTC website and specifically the first of 6 or 7 slides with key words such as "honor" ..."courage" ... "duty" ...

Well the #1 term outta the power-point profile ... "COMMITTMENT" ...

At first, I thought p-poor proofreading! :thumbdown:

Then I got to wondering if there might be some special meaning or definition of which I might be totally ignorant. And the Urban Dictionary reveals indeed a very particular definition, reading as follows:

Committment – this word, used in the context of an emotional relationship between a couple, in this case heterosexual, used to mean a man and woman professing undying L-O-V-E (spelled out so that the people who don’t recognise this word can look it up and know it’s not really a dirty 4-letter swear word, but some may think otherwise) between themselves and swearing that no man or woman would put asunder the connection between the two. (Translation - the man would not BLEEP-around with another woman/women). This Love usually transpired in the bond of matrimony, but gradually has been accepted in a more casual and non-permanent relationship (which has actually caused the meaning of the word “Commitment” to be diluted and used very loosely but gimme a minute… I’m getting to that).

Currently, the word Committment (also the word L_O_V_E , a word that some men have even been known to self-strangulate in an attempt to say i.e., lying to get laid for example) has absolutely no relevance to the male species. He may have verbally stated commitment to a woman long term and may have even said out-loud the L-O-V-E word, indeed they may even be cohabiting and sharing the ownership of property. Some very very strange males have even been known to marry a woman (this is very rare nowadays).
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So, I'm at a loss:confused: ... was the use of COMMITTMENT, a covert operation among BU diversity proponents? Or just bad spelling? In any case, someone w/ BU connects might wanna offer a shout-out to the USNROTC fellas.:wink::biggrin::cool:
 
If I am rejected from USNA I am either going to Illinois Institute of Technology or BU.

I did NOT receive an NROTC scholarship unfortunately but hopefully I can workout with their units and try for the 3-year.

Whistle Pig: your comments about BU worry me a bit about the school. I visited the school and I really liked it. I also had the opportunity to talk to one of their NROTC members. I didn't get the impression that it wouldn't prepare me to be a strong leader in the military.

IIT and BU are two very different schools, but I am having an extremely difficult time trying to decide bewteen the two. I do plan to reapply for USNA.
 
There is nothing wrong w/ BU. It's a really fine school! Really! All I'm saying is ...any comparison in considering military matters between VPI and BU ... well it's similar to comparing VPI and USNA. There is none. And all are terrific!

You've a very simple litmus test ... ask how many and who from the BU unit have become SEALs and USMC officers. Then ask the question of the VPI unit.

It sounds to me like you have a clear picture of what you want your end game to be. Do all you can to stack the deck in your favor of getting there. And the decks are not even close to being similar. Skip the warm fuzzy. IF you are bent on doing what you say you are? A no-brainer. Don't make something tough that isn't.
 
Now correct me if I'm wrong but I can still take ROTC classes even without the scholarship, right?
 
Well, maybe. ROTC units can nominate students to the SAs.

btw, I'm sure the OP must be aware that BU's ROTC unit is a "regional" type unit with students from 2 other area campuses accessing the unit.
 
But only a small number (i heard 20) ROTC nominees will get appointments. besides the nomination aspect will it be a significant factor if i take all the recommended courses and get A's and do ECs to show I can handle my time regardless if they are military oriented or not?
 
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