Spring Break Visit to the East

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wmap

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Hello, all.

My father and I are taking a trip to the East Coast to visit some of the SAs, specifically West Point, USCGA, and USMMA. Would it be worth it to see NAPS as well? I've visited USNA already too. Moreover, are there any other recommendations of what we should try to see while there; for example, any specific ROTC schools that aren't too far out of the way? For the sake of it, we may also visit USNA again and DC, so any other recommendations of what to do when around those parts are also appreciated. In addition, are there any recommendations for what to do when we're actually at the SAs?

I'd love to hear some more input to make the best out of my time. Thanks.
 
wmap said:
Hello, all.

My father and I are taking a trip to the East Coast to visit some of the SAs, specifically West Point, USCGA, and USMMA. Would it be worth it to see NAPS as well? I've visited USNA already too. Moreover, are there any other recommendations of what we should try to see while there; for example, any specific ROTC schools that aren't too far out of the way? For the sake of it, we may also visit USNA again and DC, so any other recommendations of what to do when around those parts are also appreciated. In addition, are there any recommendations for what to do when we're actually at the SAs?

I'd love to hear some more input to make the best out of my time. Thanks.
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What do you hope to major in? What criteria do you have for an ideal college? - City, large, small, religious, any specific majors you are seeking? Please share a bit more so others can help in a focused fashion. Thanks.
 
The ROTC units have a standard course of instruction leading to a commission.

Focus on the school first, with all the criteria that seem applicable to you - size, special programs, location, urban-suburban-rural, college town, etc. Find the school that seems a good fit for you, where you feel you could thrive. If you are happy at the school, you should be fine with the unit.

NAPS is a Navy schoolhouse on a controlled access base, very different from USNA which allows walk-ins with Real ID and offers walking tours, has a Visitor Center and Admissions briefs. You don’t apply for NAPS. It’s an opportunity offered as Admissions sees fit.

Compare NROTC at GWU, a large consortium at an urban campus in the nation’s capital to NROTC at a classic state flagship campus like UMD in College Park. What you are really comparing are the schools.

I’ll always put a plug in for my own alma mater, Wake Forest University, with an AROTC unit, set in the rolling Piedmont outside Winston-Salem, NC, and an undergrad student body about the same size as a DoD SA.

I second the idea of visiting SUNY Maritime, as one of the several state maritime academies in the NE.

You an also explore the SMCs, Senior Military Colleges. You are looking for your people, your place, where you feel “just right.”
 
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wmap said:
Hello, all.

My father and I are taking a trip to the East Coast to visit some of the SAs, specifically West Point, USCGA, and USMMA. Would it be worth it to see NAPS as well? I've visited USNA already too. Moreover, are there any other recommendations of what we should try to see while there; for example, any specific ROTC schools that aren't too far out of the way? For the sake of it, we may also visit USNA again and DC, so any other recommendations of what to do when around those parts are also appreciated. In addition, are there any recommendations for what to do when we're actually at the SAs?

I'd love to hear some more input to make the best out of my time. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Just a quick idea, you could do a tour of Georgetown while in DC. It is a fantastic school with a great ROTC program. I did a tour recently and I was blown away.
 
Norwich University, in Northfield, VT is one of the 6 Major Military Universities in the US, and the originators of ROTC back in 1800's.
We toured last summer. While it may be a 4+ hour drive from West Point, Vermont is unbelievably beautiful, and mostly unspoiled territory to view explore, and worthy of the sidetrack. Norwich will provide you with a short briefing and walking tour of their remarkably nice campus. And we had scheduled a meeting with an AFROTC representative in their offices on campus., which was also very informative. (They have Airforce, Army, and Navy ROTC programs).
We were VERY impressed with how well organized and well prepared for our scheduled visit they were.
The school itself may sound expensive, but offered my son a 30K scholarship (no application) to start with just based on his HS GPA. With more scholarships available to apply for. If you have an ROTC scholarship, (or earn one while your there), they will match your free tuition from the Gov't, with their own campus ROTC scholarship for Room and Board. In this case you would be attending for free, plus your ROTC stipend.
It is a well regarded University, with strong stem and other majors. Also well regarded ROTC units, and Corp of Cadets on campus. There are also civilian students there, but the corp of cadets greatly out numbers them.
Also of note: They have rolling admissions. They accepted my son for last fall, in early Aug of last summer, after our visit. He chose MMI in AL and their Service Academy Prep program. He'll be at USAFA or USMA this fall instead. Still deciding....But otherwise he was headed for Norwich! (PM me for all the great things I have to say about MMI😉)
 
You are not applying to NAPS. No need to visit. If you are not selected for a service Academy and are offered a slot at NAPS or USMAPS, then you can request a visit. Spend your time looking at places to which you are applying.
 
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