Preps
- Thread starter foamspoon
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Herman_Snerd
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
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- 1,429
Not a direct answer to your question, however, If I can recommend, if I could only choose a couple , the data points if exploring the various prep programs I'd pursue are:
To the prep school contact: "What percentage of people who attend this prep school are accepted into/ attend an academy after completing this program? Please anonymize but show me actual numbers from the past 5 years".
I'd also use the transfer portal at say the top 3-5 civilian colleges your young adult may attend if not offered admission to an SA after a prep program year, to confirm. To the civilian college you may transfer to as plans B, C,D: "Exactly what credits for what specific courses will I be granted if I transfer to your university after a year in prep elsewhere".
There's a lot of assurance across the various prep program sites about the individualized championing / connections / prior success stories, customs and courtesies foundations, readiness you will achieve - yes, yes, great, and yet... "What percentage of people who attend this prep school are accepted into/ attend an academy after completing this program?" One of my son's good friends attended a prep program after graduating HS in 2019. He did not gain admission to the SA he was pursuing and wasn't the only member of his cohort to have this outcome. I'm sure there will be some who ad hominem assume he dropped a ball, but he didn't. Nor was he an outstanding standout in that program - ,middle of the pack... the civilian college he attended took little credits from his prep year - the same result he found when explored options at a few colleges. He'll graduate college next month after 4 years a regular college, and 1 year of prep. He will make good money in the maritime industry but I wish he had asked these two questions before going to the prep route for a year. HIs parents can afford the extra year easily, but he definitely did not expect a "no" from the academy when it came.
There are prep programs (NAPS et al) that have a higher success rate as feeders to SAs - no argument or challenge, but there are other prep programs that, well, do not necessarily match that. It's not a guarantee. Hope that helps.
To the prep school contact: "What percentage of people who attend this prep school are accepted into/ attend an academy after completing this program? Please anonymize but show me actual numbers from the past 5 years".
I'd also use the transfer portal at say the top 3-5 civilian colleges your young adult may attend if not offered admission to an SA after a prep program year, to confirm. To the civilian college you may transfer to as plans B, C,D: "Exactly what credits for what specific courses will I be granted if I transfer to your university after a year in prep elsewhere".
There's a lot of assurance across the various prep program sites about the individualized championing / connections / prior success stories, customs and courtesies foundations, readiness you will achieve - yes, yes, great, and yet... "What percentage of people who attend this prep school are accepted into/ attend an academy after completing this program?" One of my son's good friends attended a prep program after graduating HS in 2019. He did not gain admission to the SA he was pursuing and wasn't the only member of his cohort to have this outcome. I'm sure there will be some who ad hominem assume he dropped a ball, but he didn't. Nor was he an outstanding standout in that program - ,middle of the pack... the civilian college he attended took little credits from his prep year - the same result he found when explored options at a few colleges. He'll graduate college next month after 4 years a regular college, and 1 year of prep. He will make good money in the maritime industry but I wish he had asked these two questions before going to the prep route for a year. HIs parents can afford the extra year easily, but he definitely did not expect a "no" from the academy when it came.
There are prep programs (NAPS et al) that have a higher success rate as feeders to SAs - no argument or challenge, but there are other prep programs that, well, do not necessarily match that. It's not a guarantee. Hope that helps.
basketball101
USNA Foundation '29
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2024
- Messages
- 273
I'm doing foundation, and ig I'll talk abt Mercersburg from when I visited. I would say it's more of a "fun" prep school. You get to have fun within the community, go to games, go out to eat, all that stuff. It's hard academically, but it's meant to be that way. I found that the PG students had a lot more freedoms than the students there, but also at the same time the faculty really do care about their students.
Well having had a son and his friends go through NAPS I can definitely say zero percent thought it was fun lol. A very valuable experience which definitely helped them during their 4c year but during their NAPS 10 months it was a definite struggle with a ton of restrictions. On the flip side his girlfriend who also was a CGAS attended GMC had a much more normal time with liberty most days in the evening and every weekend. Difference between NAPS and GMC would seem to be that NAPS was more a year in the military then others. Most Napsters in the officer ranks of Coast Guard or Navy always remember those 10 months lol sort of like a brotherhood who survived and are very proud. Good luck with your choice!