VMI questions?

[23Lt]

Hello all,

I am a junior in HS currently applying to USAFA, USNA, and USMA as a first choice. My end goal is to commission into the military, and nothing will stop me. I have been looking at VMI for quite some time as a second plan because it seems phenomenal. I have a few questions that I’d like to be answered before applying to VMI...

1. If not on any ROTC scholarship, is commissioning difficult overall, and do you get to decide which branch/MOS you want while in the institute? When do you get to decide your major/branch when not on scholarship? Please elaborate.

2. Is there financial aid for cadets not on ROTC scholarship to VMI? If so, how much? Again please elaborate on details. I know VMI with absolutely no financial support would cost around 200k for 4 years, which would be difficult for me/my family to afford.

3. If not on ROTC scholarship (even if on scholarship), is reapplying to an Academy from VMI an option/a popular thing to do?

4. Does VMI (or any SMC) superscore ACT? What is the average ACT for admitted personnel?


Thank you so much for reading thing and answering these questions.

 

[emwvmi01]

Try to answer a few of your questions based on what I have seen from VMI and particularly admissions.
1. Branching is non school specific for Army/AF/Navy and you don't get your billet for USMC until TBS. If you are seeking a commission in the Army then there is a slight edge in achieving active duty based on Title 10 (Federally mandated) authorities as a Senior Military College. Basically this allows the PMS discretion to grant active duty in years where that cut is tighter (it won't be based on Army growth rates in the next 3-5 years). This serves to maintain SMC capability during drawdown as SMCs are seen as a force generation enhancer if we had to grow the Army quickly. (basically a lesson learned from WW2 and modified in the cold war drawdown).
2. Financial Aid is phenomenal in supporting cadets. If you go to the VMI website and research it you will find upwards of 80% of out of state cadets and over 90% of instate cadets are on some form of financial aid. The other is rate of investment a good metric on earnings potential after VMI which shows 5-10 years earning after graduating VMI in the top tier nationally and with lower debt yields.
3. Every year a handful (2-4) cadets out of class of 500 or so apply and are admitted to service academys. It happens but most cadets are content to pursue commission in one less year by staying at VMI and not doing a rigorous freshman experience twice.
4. VMI admissions website has a class profile not sure on superscoring but don't think they do. Attached document provides profile for new VMI class of 2021.

Hope this helps. I will add as a VMI Alum who recruited a lot for VMI, counseled cadets who withdrew and served on cadre to examine VMI carefully. Don't go if it is not something you want to do or if you want to "try it out". If you don't want it you won't like it and you will struggle. It is a great thing to be a graduate of VMI but it is a hard way to spend 4 years even for those who really do want the challenge.

 

[23Lt]

Try to answer a few of your questions based on what I have seen from VMI and particularly admissions.
1. Branching is non school specific for Army/AF/Navy and you don't get your billet for USMC until TBS. If you are seeking a commission in the Army then there is a slight edge in achieving active duty based on Title 10 (Federally mandated) authorities as a Senior Military College. Basically this allows the PMS discretion to grant active duty in years where that cut is tighter (it won't be based on Army growth rates in the next 3-5 years). This serves to maintain SMC capability during drawdown as SMCs are seen as a force generation enhancer if we had to grow the Army quickly. (basically a lesson learned from WW2 and modified in the cold war drawdown).
2. Financial Aid is phenomenal in supporting cadets. If you go to the VMI website and research it you will find upwards of 80% of out of state cadets and over 90% of instate cadets are on some form of financial aid. The other is rate of investment a good metric on earnings potential after VMI which shows 5-10 years earning after graduating VMI in the top tier nationally and with lower debt yields.
3. Every year a handful (2-4) cadets out of class of 500 or so apply and are admitted to service academys. It happens but most cadets are content to pursue commission in one less year by staying at VMI and not doing a rigorous freshman experience twice.
4. VMI admissions website has a class profile not sure on superscoring but don't think they do. Attached document provides profile for new VMI class of 2021.

Hope this helps. I will add as a VMI Alum who recruited a lot for VMI, counseled cadets who withdrew and served on cadre to examine VMI carefully. Don't go if it is not something you want to do or if you want to "try it out". If you don't want it you won't like it and you will struggle. It is a great thing to be a graduate of VMI but it is a hard way to spend 4 years even for those who really do want the challenge.

Thank you, this really helps!

 

[USMMA2021]

Hello all,

I am a junior in HS currently applying to USAFA, USNA, and USMA as a first choice. My end goal is to commission into the military, and nothing will stop me. I have been looking at VMI for quite some time as a second plan because it seems phenomenal. I have a few questions that I’d like to be answered before applying to VMI...

1. If not on any ROTC scholarship, is commissioning difficult overall, and do you get to decide which branch/MOS you want while in the institute? When do you get to decide your major/branch when not on scholarship? Please elaborate.

2. Is there financial aid for cadets not on ROTC scholarship to VMI? If so, how much? Again please elaborate on details. I know VMI with absolutely no financial support would cost around 200k for 4 years, which would be difficult for me/my family to afford.

3. If not on ROTC scholarship (even if on scholarship), is reapplying to an Academy from VMI an option/a popular thing to do?

4. Does VMI (or any SMC) superscore ACT? What is the average ACT for admitted personnel?


Thank you so much for reading thing and answering these questions.

I would also take a look at USMMA, its quite different than those four but offers much more possibilities upon graduation such as the possibility of commissioning into any of the seven uniformed services, the ability to receive a actual license along with a diploma upon graduation, real job hands on job training over sea year, and to travel the world for free.

I also considered USNA, and VMI as my top choices but at least for me once I learned of USMMA my view point changed and KP became my top choice and lead me to were I am today.

Good luck on your long journey ahead!

 

[C76706340]

Try to answer a few of your questions based on what I have seen from VMI and particularly admissions.
1. Branching is non school specific for Army/AF/Navy and you don't get your billet for USMC until TBS. If you are seeking a commission in the Army then there is a slight edge in achieving active duty based on Title 10 (Federally mandated) authorities as a Senior Military College. Basically this allows the PMS discretion to grant active duty in years where that cut is tighter (it won't be based on Army growth rates in the next 3-5 years). This serves to maintain SMC capability during drawdown as SMCs are seen as a force generation enhancer if we had to grow the Army quickly. (basically a lesson learned from WW2 and modified in the cold war drawdown).
2. Financial Aid is phenomenal in supporting cadets. If you go to the VMI website and research it you will find upwards of 80% of out of state cadets and over 90% of instate cadets are on some form of financial aid. The other is rate of investment a good metric on earnings potential after VMI which shows 5-10 years earning after graduating VMI in the top tier nationally and with lower debt yields.
3. Every year a handful (2-4) cadets out of class of 500 or so apply and are admitted to service academys. It happens but most cadets are content to pursue commission in one less year by staying at VMI and not doing a rigorous freshman experience twice.
4. VMI admissions website has a class profile not sure on superscoring but don't think they do. Attached document provides profile for new VMI class of 2021.

Hope this helps. I will add as a VMI Alum who recruited a lot for VMI, counseled cadets who withdrew and served on cadre to examine VMI carefully. Don't go if it is not something you want to do or if you want to "try it out". If you don't want it you won't like it and you will struggle. It is a great thing to be a graduate of VMI but it is a hard way to spend 4 years even for those who really do want the challenge.

VMI does superscore. During my visit, I asked COL Tom Mortenson (Associate Director of Admissions), and he said that VMI superscores both the ACT and the SAT. I hope this helps. I was confused at first too because whether VMI superscores or not isn't specified on Princeton Review.