Struggling with my decision

acgeaux7

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I got into USMA but I'm really having trouble deciding whether or not I want to go the academy route or just do ROTC here at LSU. I do plan on going for an overnight visit to West Point within the next month or two. But if anyone could give me insight on how they made their decision, etc., that would be great.
 
Even though the end goals of ROTC and an SA are the same, I elected to attend West Point because I think its going to be a much more rewarding and rich experience than ROTC. And from what I'm told, there are so many benefits to attending and graduating from West Point. There really was no way for me to pass an opportunity like it for even a top state public university. I know in my heart that if I chose to attend a civilian college, I would live forever with wishful thinking and regrets for my decision. Life would not be fun if that happened. No one in my family has ever gone to an SA and I like to regard it as an adventure on "virgin territory". I enjoy the 100% military environment. Money was a smaller factor as well - I have a twin brother who will be entering U of M this year and the financial strain on my family was evident if I chose to do the same as well.

Some other reasons to attend West Point for me is the fact that the campus is in relatively close proximity to a city that I really love - NYC. Michigan (where I live) is extremely boring. Not saying that West Point would be exactly any more "fun", but getting out of my home state for once sounds much more refreshing. The state school I was considering (University of Michigan) is located in Ann Arbor, a small city and a suburb of Detroit. I dont know what Baton Rouge and Louisiana is like but I find small cities to be boring and Im tired of suburb life.

Both ROTC and service academies have their flaws and benefits. I happen to think that USMA has benefits that overshadow the flaws and that the flaws are worth living with it in the long, long run.

Good luck deciding and hope to see you on R-Day!
 
Go on your overnight visit, then decide. Relax, it will come to you, either way.
 
Well...Do you want to go to a 100% military environment, or have a normal college experience? Do you want to have an active duty commitment or do want to serve in a reserve component? It's really up to you.
 
USMA Cadets have opportunities ROTC cadets will not have. You will meet people who will be important in your career as an officer. You can travel world-wide while in school...at no cost. There are benefits to both...make a T chart and start the pro/con list...then visit...then follow your heart. Sometimes in life there is just a decision...not a right or wrong one...just a decision. Ultimately, you are going the same place...you are just choosing how to get there. Sometimes you should choose the less-traveled path.
 
I got into USMA but I'm really having trouble deciding whether or not I want to go the academy route or just do ROTC here at LSU. I do plan on going for an overnight visit to West Point within the next month or two. But if anyone could give me insight on how they made their decision, etc., that would be great.

Hey acgeaux7,
If you want to trade a 4yr ROTC scholarship to LSU for your WP appointment, my son will gladly switch.:smile::smile:

By "here at LSU" does that mean you are currently a student? If so, then you know what the college life is like. And if you've experienced football in Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night then you know what that is like. Would you do okay in a much more rigid environment with limited "freedoms"? Were you glad to "get out of the house and on your own"? What are your career goals? If you plan on doing your commitment and then getting out, does WP have an academic major that will prepare you for your desired civilian career? These are just some of the questions I asked my son as he began the SA application process.

Take Just_A_Mom's advice and go on the visit with an open mind. Obviously you have a lot going for you since you made it into WP. I have no doubt you will make the right decision.

Best wishes!
 
I just got back from my overnight- it was an amazing experience and really backed up my choice to go to USMA. Schedule one as soon as possible.
 
I just got back from my overnight- it was an amazing experience and really backed up my choice to go to USMA. Schedule one as soon as possible.

Did you go to the O'Flipper Dinner?

Most of those Dinners are wild, not formal like that one. :biggrin:
 
Did you go to the O'Flipper Dinner?

Most of those Dinners are wild, not formal like that one. :biggrin:

Yes, I did. I really liked the part where we all got up on our chairs. Also, nearly everyone in my cadet's company thought dinner was at 7, except one platoon that started calling minutes. Then they all checked their e-mails and started to rush. It was kind of funny.
 
It all depends on what you want. I would strongly recommend that you go visit before you make any definite choice one way or the other.

I wasn't really sure whether or not I wanted go to USMA until I visited. I knew I wanted to be in the Army, but I wasn't sure what route I wanted to go. Once I visited USMA I was sold. The atmosphere is great, the whether is great (don't get me wrong, I love Cali, but it's just too hot all the time), and it was all in all a great experience. Plus, it doesn't sound that hard from what I've heard.

I would recommend that anyone who is considering USMA visit before making any conclusive decision about going there.
 
Hey acgeaux7,
If you want to trade a 4yr ROTC scholarship to LSU for your WP appointment, my son will gladly switch.:smile::smile:

Is your son considering LSU?

By "here at LSU" does that mean you are currently a student? If so, then you know what the college life is like. And if you've experienced football in Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night then you know what that is like. Would you do okay in a much more rigid environment with limited "freedoms"? Were you glad to "get out of the house and on your own"? What are your career goals? If you plan on doing your commitment and then getting out, does WP have an academic major that will prepare you for your desired civilian career? These are just some of the questions I asked my son as he began the SA application process.

Not currently a student, but I did get in and got some pretty nice scholarships. I actually didn't apply for an ROTC scholarship because I didn't want to take a slot from someone who would need it more. I plan on going into the program if I go to LSU, though. And, yes, I have experienced Tiger Stadium on multiple Saturday nights, and I'm a huge fan.

I have talked to people who have definitely encouraged me to attend and I have also talked to some officers who went through ROTC and strongly discouraged going to West Point based on what they have heard from grads there. Of course I would miss out on the whole party school deal, but that's not all that important to me. I have been in a relationship for much of my high school career, and it may be stupid and naive, but it's still important to me. Much of the decision will probably be based on what I can do in the real world after the military. It's mostly about furture career plans, and if going through the 4 years West Point is going to be worth it in the long run. It's going to be a tough decision, but I do feel very blessed to have this "problem." I do know that if I do decide to go, however, I will make sure I'm fully committed.

Thanks for the advice, and good luck to you and your son.
 
Is your son considering LSU?

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Thanks for the advice, and good luck to you and your son.

Yes, he is geared up and ready for LSU. Sent the AROTC scholarship acceptance to Cadet Command last week. He will not be able to attend Spring Invitational as district track meet is that week. His orientation is set for June 14-15. The cadre at LSU were very helpful and encouraging. They also showed a lot of "school spirit" which at first seemed a little odd; but I guess they are recruiting for both the University and the ROTC program. We live in the Houston area but have much family in Louisiana and lived there for a number of years.
 
My son will be attending Tulane on ARTOC. We live in Minnesota, so it will be a huge change for him!! Most of his friends are headed to UND - University of North Dakota - and have big plans to visit him during Mardi Gras - lol!
 
As so many have already said, Overnight= check yes.

Think about what you want to get from the non-military side of your education, also. If you already know what you want to major in, you can get a good idea of how the departments at LSU vs. USMA stack up.

For instance, an edge USMA cadets have in the undergraduate education arena is near-constant access to their professors/instructors, small section/class size, and some paid-for study-abroad slots. LSU might offer a chance to dig really deeply into some industry-funded niche research and devote all your time to doing that without having to come up for air. Opportunities exist at both places, you just need to determine which is a better fit, and where you want to be in life after four years.

And some things to keep in mind -- cadets are not lacking in inventive ways to party, and LSU students still have to study to graduate.
 
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