R-Day Backup

EmperorQin

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Nov 27, 2015
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Does anyone know how tuition payment at a backup school works?

I'm planning to pay the deposit and submit a housing application to backup school in case I end up getting injured before or during Beast.

I don't want to end up paying the tuition for the first year if it is automatically charged, as I will have limited access to internet during the summer (thus being unable to withdraw my enrollment in time).

Any advice? Thanks!
 
In my experiences, the tuition deadline is usually sometime around the end of the 1st week of classes or a similar timeline. I am pretty sure unless you set up the payment system it won't get charged to you automatically. Idea: give your login info to your parents so they can submit the withdrawal when you think is appropriate.
 
When Cortez reached the new world, he burned his ships, so his men would be properly motivated. Seriously though, beast injuries seldom lead to permanent separations from the academy. I think you are insuring yourself against the zombie apocalypse.
 
When Cortez reached the new world, he burned his ships, so his men would be properly motivated. Seriously though, beast injuries seldom lead to permanent separations from the academy. I think you are insuring yourself against the zombie apocalypse.

It's the influence of the board. I am the lone voice in the forum that advise candidates to give a serious consideration on what's called the back up plan. There are numerous forum members will recommend it and says there is noting wrong with it. I am not saying it's wrong. I am only trying to present an different view on the subject.

I got it as some schools are very understanding and even will give you refund of the deposit. Having a back up plan is not about money or taking someone else's slot and not using it, but rather what it means when you send in a deposit to a school to hold a spot you won't be using. To me the deposit signifies your commitment to the school. I got it also that it's a business transaction and people can change their mind for whatever reason.
 
I have witnessed new cadets do CBT on crutches. Not the optimal way, but it happens, and if it is a short term injury they finish CBT on move on to the academic year. If you have a long term injury that forces you to leave, then unless it is a DQ type of injury, they will admit you in the next class. Also if your injury is severe enough then you should probably concentrate on rehab instead of starting a rigorous new college experience. You can have back-up plans for everything, but would you not play a spring sport you love because of the fear of getting hurt? CBT is hard enough and it is even harder when you have one foot in another college plan just in case this is not for you. Commit to it, don't fret about all of the possible horrible things that can happen. I have a friend who got into a bad car accident on the way to starting at a civilian college....guess what she had to postpone her start by a year in order to recover...bad things happen to good people. Finally, I would say there is a less than 1% chance that you will get hurt severely enough to get separated.
 
I'm not sure why an injury during CBT would cause you to leave WP. What am I missing? WP cared for cadets who get injured.
 
Heard somewhere that if you get even anything as minor as a shin splint, twisted ankle, etc. during Beast, there is a chance you would be turned away and given another chance the following year to try again. Is this just another false rumor on the Internet?
 
If you are unable to physically complete CBT, then there is a process. You are not turned away. You are medically cared for at Keller Hosp and then sent home to heal. You then will have to be medically cleared by a doctor and also pass the APFT. You do not have to try to get back to WP you are already in. But you must be medically cleared and pad the fitness test. That's it.

You don't reapply and you don't need another nomination. That would be the case if your injury happened Before CBT.

You have to complete CBT before starting classes. So if your injury prevents you from completing CBT you will come back the next year. Complete CBT and start classes.
 
Thanks for helping me understand the situation, haha. I guess I was just stressing out over nothing.

Never thought about the whole motivation thing (or lack thereof) associated with having a back-up in place...it may be best after all to just burn the ships and not look back.

Thanks for the advice!
 
I'm not sure why an injury during CBT would cause you to leave WP. What am I missing? WP cared for cadets who get injured.

Not injury per say, but it you miss too much training and if those training cannot be made up, you might be turned back. Say you have a bad case of shin splints, you could participate in most training events but won't be able to participate in certain training events (i.e. road march, AFPT, and etc). I don't know how much training you can miss and still move on.
 
If memory serves me right, you can miss up to 5 days of CBT. The amount of time missed may change. But the important thing to remember is that WP has a procedure and they want to retain you. So if you are hurt and end up missing too many days of CBT, you will simply be sent home to heal (do physical therapy) and then you come back the following year. If you follow what WP requires, you can and will return.
However, when this happens, some cadets lose their momentum and end up quitting WP. This is not the fault of WP. It falls on the shoulders of the cadet who can not deal with waiting an additional year. WP will wait for you to come back.
 
To me the idea of a backup plan would also be for insurance for the two months between now and R Day. It would mean that for any type of injury or anything else that would be DQ to WP, he could still go to college next year.
Is it common that there is a plan B school, especially if your cadet-to-be has received ROTC scholarship offers?
 
@MomfromVA - it is my understanding that once you accept a spot at any Service Academy, that you lose your ROTC scholarship. It has been discussed on this board, so you may want to poke around here a bit. This was the case for my son.
 
We never considered NOT having a plan B school (plan A for us). It was all about having a place to go in the fall. Our son confirmed his spot at his plan B school and kept it until A-Day. Unfortunately, he ended up at USMA ;), but I'm sure the plan B spot went to another deserving (lucky) individual. No one was harmed in the execution of this plan.

Edit: Ooops, sorry, cannot comment on ROTC scholarship status.
 
@MomfromVA - it is my understanding that once you accept a spot at any Service Academy, that you lose your ROTC scholarship. It has been discussed on this board, so you may want to poke around here a bit. This was the case for my son.

I don't think you lose the ROTC scholarship until you show up at Rday.
 
Okay, thanks. It seems worth the deposit to the Plan B school to have that peace of mind ... does USMA have any issues with a cadet-to-be having a plan B school, does anyone know? My DS is 100% committed to WP -- the plan B would only be in case of injury, etc. before he gets there --
 
Any SA would not know or care if you have a Plan B school. It is considered by most to be cheap insurance in the event of injury or a change of mind. It WILL happen to at least one person in the class of 2020. Just don’t let it be you!
 
I would be interested to hear from parents/cadets who have done the "backup plan" then cancelled upon attendance or completion of CBT. We are debating this right now in our household. Plan B Ivy does not require a deposit but seems to have stern words about committing to more than one "college" on May 1. I am guessing WP won't care, but would hate to get into legal issues from the Ivy and potentially NCAA. Any thoughts from those who have done this? I have heard some schools will agree to a delayed admission of a semester or two, which may work...I am just afraid to call the Ivy to ask the question in case it raises a red flag.
 
Having a backup plan in place is an understandable move as insurance against injury or some other "disaster" and I don't fault those who choose to have a Plan B. An extra year is a big price to pay for an unexpected event before R day; it changes a major factor upon which the decision was made. Just as West Point has the right to move a new cadet to the next class if it is in the academy's best interest, each individual has the right to decide if that move is in their interest.

It is, however, selfish as a hedge against a change of heart close to or after R day. By then that spot at the backup college is probably not going to some other individual on the wait list. Most competitive colleges notify remaining wait-listed applicants of their status in June, although some spots may still be offered later; a wait-listed student who would have accepted an offer in May or June is less likely to change their plans in August. There is collateral damage to a backup plan.
 
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