While my son is a BRAT (Military kid for those who don't know); and after my 20+ years in, I figured he still might not know what he was getting into. No matter how much I asked him about it, he still said he wanted the air force academy. For the service, for the education, for the military career, for the experience, and basically for all the right reasons. Needless to say; i was pleased, but still not 100% sure he knew what he was getting into. I know that no one knows EVERYTHING about what they are getting into. But I promised him if he was serious, that I could help him with getting in. (He had to do all the work to get in, but I knew most of the answers and "How To's" that he would want to know.) He insisted this is really what he wanted.
The day I finally realized that he "Probably" knew what he was getting into, was when he came back from Summer Seminar. The smile on his face and the attitude. But still, I wasn't completely confident that he wasn't just doing this so I and his mom didn't have to pay for his education; or some other noble reason. Then I knew for sure, that he knew for sure, what he was getting into. Or at least as well as he could POSSIBLY know.
Within a 30 day period, my son was accepted to 6 different colleges/universities. All EARLY admissions applications. All completed and accepted by October/November. He received an academy APPOINTMENT and 5 other schools. Just like most of you at the academy and the kids of parents on this forum; he had excellent grades. These schools included names like Michigan State, USC, Tulane, and others.
Well, of the 5 schools, not counting the academy, 2 were offering FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIPS. 1 of them was a 110% (Extra 10% included travel expense home xmas, summer, and spring. As well as a monthly stipend for spending). NOT BAD. Another school offered 100% scholarship on tuition and books. Plus they offered another scholarship he could apply to for dorm and food expense. Basically, the only expense would be for spending money. The other schools had accepted him early admissions, but we hadn't started talking about scholarships or anything else yet with them.
Also involved in all of this was my son's desire and ability to play football. (A jock with a brain, what a concept). Anyway, football could also be an option at a couple of these schools. That wasn't an initial part of his applications, but his success in high school was definitely noticed and became a factor. Including the academy.
The straw that finally made me realize he had the "RIGHT ATTITUDE" and reason for the academy was when I mentioned: A normal college will recruit about 18 football players. If they recruit you, you will be on the team and pretty much guaranteed that for all 4-5 years. At the academy, they recruit 50-60 players because they don't give athletic scholarships. They cut a lot of players before their sophomore year. His response was. "I'd rather go to the academy and not play football ever again; than to go to one of the other schools and PLAY". The fact that the academy accepted him and is giving him the "Chance" to be on the team is just a plus. So, having just about the ultimate choices and selections that any student could DREAM of having; my son choosing the academy was definitely done for the right reasons. At least in my opinion. Later... mike...