"Transfers"

[C/ 2nd Lt. McKnight]

If I don't get into one of the academies, another hope would be a school like The Citadel or VMI. Say I were to go to one of those schools, could I apply to an academy from there like from any other college? Or are you required to finish out school there?

 

[bruno]

Well- absolutely you can apply again for admission to one of the academies as a cadet at VMI or the Citadel. I think my son's class had 3 kids leave to go to USAFA & USNA. I believe that it would be a tough decision though as you have really invested a huge chunk of yourself in the Ratline or Knob year, and with that you've become really bonded to your classmates. On top of that - I gotta think it would be somewhat daunting to then think that you will be going thru another year with a similar experience all over again, on top of which no credits will transfer so you truly will be starting from scratch, (although you will have some advantages I suspect over your classmates in a practical way as you will have had a year's practice in things military and more importantly in how to deal with extreme stress and still function successfully). But those are personal decisions that you would have to wrestle with at the time should you re-apply and receive an appointment.

 

[sprog]

As Bruno said, you certainly can transfer to one of the SAs from VMI or The Citadel. They are like every other college in that respect. That said, Bruno rightly pointed out that VMI/The Citadel are not like ordinary colleges with regards to what you invest in them as a cadet there. I have seen other posts where high school students definitively say that they will go to VMI for a year and then will apply again for USNA/USAFA/USMA or whatever. In my opinion, I think those sentiments are premature (and practically speaking, you should never inform your cadre of a desire to transfer if you do end up at one of the SMCs as a Rat/Knob)

Going to VMI and being a Rat is extremely challenging, and it will bond you with the school and with your classmates. It seems, to me, like it would be tough to give up that relationship and go off to a SA unless going to the SA remained the most important thing to you during Rat/Knob year. I would think it might be easier to go to the University of XXXX for a year, with the SA as a goal, then to go to VMI for a year. This is just my opinion, and as Bruno said, it's very much a personal choice. We had one guy in my class go to USNA after Rat year, so he obviously felt different than I did.

 

[Fuji]

I get that question asked - a lot - by prospective students...and my answer - may surprise you...

Students can apply as a transfer applicant into a federal service academy. At my alma mater - Norwich (a college I encourage you to consider as well!) - there is Dewey Hall - named after famous Admiral Dewey, who transferred from Norwich to the USNA. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach transferred from New Mexico Military Institute - to the Naval Academy.

Although there are examples - every year - of students who transfer into a service academy - when asked by a prospective student - I tell them if they are considering attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy - in anticipation of trying to transfer into a service academy...their chances of transferring into a service academy may be better - if they attended their local community college...

I advise that - because the primary concern of the service academy in looking at transfer applicants - will be your academic profile. Yes, they will look at your high school transcripts - which need to be stellar. However - they will also factor in the courses you take and grades you get at the college you attend...

Attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy or The Citadel or VMI or Norwich - are GREAT experiences...however, with all of the challenges you will face at those institutions - there is a chance that your grades in the courses you take at those institutions may go down in comparison to what you did in high school - and that would hurt your chances for a service academy appointment.

One thing that I do not see a lot on this forum; the vast majority of students who would like to attend a service academy - are not going to get an appointment - despite doing everything possible to earn an appointment.

While that is not a nice thing - it does open up the opportunity to consider the senior military colleges of the US and our nation's maritime academies. Just do yourself a favor and cover all of your bases; go through the nomination/appointment process as a high school senior (and as a college freshman) - but, also apply for ROTC scholarships and apply for admission to the institutions mentioned above. Do so in a timely manner (read; as soon as possible) so that you can, hopefully, have the most options possible.

Feel free to email me if you have more questions.

I wish you well through this process.

Fuji
Norwich 84

 

[sprog]

One thing that I do not see a lot on this forum; the vast majority of students who would like to attend a service academy - are not going to get an appointment - despite doing everything possible to earn an appointment.

While that is not a nice thing - it does open up the opportunity to consider the senior military colleges of the US and our nation's maritime academies. Just do yourself a favor and cover all of your bases; go through the nomination/appointment process as a high school senior (and as a college freshman) - but, also apply for ROTC scholarships and apply for admission to the institutions mentioned above. Do so in a timely manner (read; as soon as possible) so that you can, hopefully, have the most options possible.

Well Said!! I have posted similar sentiments in one or two threads and they are mostly ignored by the parents and the applicants on here. I don't know if they read the stuff I posted and just didn't want to comment, or if service academy admissions statistics are the proverbial elephant in the room. I hope that anyone who wants to go to a Service Academy does apply and give it their best in the admissions game. It is, however, a harsh reality that the VAST majority of SA applicants will not get an appointment. This is sad, but there are only so many spots and so many qualified applicants,

I know it hurts to not get the SA appointment, because it happened to me. I didn't get into USMA despite having what I thought was a strong file. My goal was a commission in the Armed Forces, though, and I went to VMI not with the goal of transferring to an SA, but of graduating from VMI and getting commissioned from ROTC. Going through the Ratline and experiencing all things Keydet really helped defined me as a person, and the thought of transferring to USMA (or USAFA as I had enrolled in AFROTC) didn't even cross my mind once I decided to go to VMI. I know that it would be very hard to give up the attachment you form to one of the SMCs/Maritime Schools to go to a SA once you begin your cadetship. I read a lot on here that SAs are special and the kids that go there are special. I agree wholeheartedly, they are great institutions with great kids. SMCs/Maritime Colleges are also special places with great students.

I hope people take your advice Fuji, and do check out places like Norwich, VMI, Citadel, and the Maritime Schools, be it as a "plan B" or as "plan A" if they find it is a better fit for them (many classmates at VMI didn't apply to SAs because they wanted the military education with more flexible post-graduation options).

There are always those who will transfer to SAs from the SMCs (Gen. Patton spent a year at VMI before going to USMA), but I want to point out (not that it has been insinuated) that SMCs are not junior colleges/prep schools for the U.S. Service Academies. The Maritime colleges and places like VMI, Norwich, and The Citadel have, for over a hundred years, produced graduates that have been successful in all walks of life. They have their own traditions, their own proud alumni, and a strong record of service to the nation. Service Academies have all of these things too, of course. Just food for thought...I'm glad this was mentioned!!