VFMC vs NMMI conflict

I'm currently a cadet at Valley Forge. A sponsored prepster, but I have many good buds who are self-prepsters. They do like the school, but many feel cheated by the prepster program. They were sold on the assurance that they had a very good shot at admission into their desired Academy, but in reality less than 50% of all SP receive their BFE. VF similarly promised constant communication between them and the academies to update on the sp's status. Rarely do they do, and the 'group' in charge of the prepsters are more concerned with the needs of the sponsored preps.
It's is easy to slack of at the school. After plebe system, things die down considerably. It's only more relaxed now that the second semester has hit.
Prepsters are 'required' to attend pt three times a week. We do a ton of running, pushups, pullups, etc...whole nine yards.
So before you make a decision, speak to the cadets. They aren't trying to sell you a 45 grand education. They'll tell you the truth, how things really are.

In many ways, I think you're being unfair. I don't know anything about VF, but know what I see with our self-ies here at NMMI. 50% chance?! As an unsponsored prep?! That's not bad at all. What's the national average, like 12% acceptance? So going from below 20% to almost 50% is a huge jump. If I was a self-prep I certainly wouldn't think I was being cheated. Maybe I took what you said wrong, but I wouldn't "diss" the prep program just because self-preps have a lower acceptance average than sponsored. Maybe you're just arguing about the prep program doing some false advertising there at VF...?
Best wishes!
 
To CoBra32:

I know my peers at the other military prep schools and none would "promise" something they couldn't deliver.

The facts, hard as they are to "swallow", are these: application rates to all the academies are up, attrition at all is down, and there are budget cuts that are affecting the overall size of the cadet corps. The bottom line is that there are more people competing for fewer slots. I don't think things will get better in the near future and I don't like to use past appointment rates (for self preps) as an indicator of current or future sucess. The situation right now is too dynamic.

I publish on open letter on the NMMI website to all self preps. Here is an excerpt:

"Gaining admission to a Federal Service Academy is something you will have to work at and earn. There are a few things you can do to help yourself get an appointment and a few things that you may do to slow the process down, or halt it altogether. The service academies are very competitive and highly selective. Entrance quotas vary by academy, and vary year-to-year at any of the specific academies. Please do not think that gaining an appointment to a service academy takes a “cook book” or “checklist” approach. The service academies do not guarantee that you will receive an appointment. The decision is solely up to the academy and how you compare to other candidates in your district, state and on a nation-wide scale involving tens of thousands applicants."

You can read the full version at: http://www.nmmi.edu/prep/welcome.htm

I'm not trying to be argumentative here. Any self prep, at any prep school, should have a "B" and "C" plan (including ROTC) to help them achieve their goal of being a commissioned officer in the branch of service they choose. To do otherwise is an invitation to disapointment and failure.

On the positive side: Some self preps (at all the prep schools) ARE competitive and do have a good chance of obtaining an appointment. You can only do your best and try! You won't know unless you do.
 
My son is a self-prep for USMMA and USCGA at NMMI. It is the best decision he ever made to attend NMMI, whether he is accepted to a service academy or not. He has a solid plan C and will be a success no matter what he does. The academics and discipline at NMMI have prepared him well.
Best regards,
Ozzy's Mom
 
I’ll pass on my sons experience from last year when he attended NMMI as a sponsored prep for USMMA. He has told both my wife and I had he not attended NIMMI he would never had made it through USMMA. Today he is very grateful for NMMI the faculty has taught him a lot not just academically but a lot of good life lessons. I could not speak more highly of NIMMI and what they did for my son. Today he is doing very well both academically and athletically at USMMA and I am sure without NIMMI that wouldn’t be the case.
 
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@ usafa 2016

You're right. Many selfs came to the school having little doubt they wouldn't get in. Yes, Valley Forge false-advertising is partially to blame. And yes, 50% is good, but I'm not completely positive about that number. It's what everyone agrees on here.
 
VFMC Self Prep Option

Valley Forge Military College is dedicated to ensuring that all of our students are aware that attending Valley Forge Military College will not guarantee acceptance into any service academy. In fact, the Office of College Admission and the Director of the Service Academy Preparatory Program closely evaluates each application and if necessary will, in an open and honest discussion with the applicant, identify that a particular applicant may not be suited for or successful in the self-prep program.

Presently, anyone enrolled at Valley Forge Military College can participate in the self-prep program. In the future, we are considering a separate application process for the self-prep program since it is so popular.

It is a 50/50 shot, just like all other self-prep programs. Ultimately it is up to the cadet to do everything in their power to make the most of our program, and gain entrance into the service academy of their choice.
 
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