VMI vs Citadel

Better option for me?

  • VMI

    Votes: 14 70.0%

  • Citadel

    Votes: 6 30.0%
  • Total voters
    20
Pololive5

Pololive5

Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2019
Messages
38
I was recently accepted into both schools an am having a bit of trouble deciding between the two. Both schools have some big and little advantages over the other. I contacted both ROOs and both said I was competitive for a 3 year AROTC scholarship. My Father said that he is willing to give me his last 2 semesters of GI bill if I do not get a 4 year scholarship (on conditions that I work my tail off to get a campus scholarship or have a 3 year).

VMI
instate (live in VA)
given 7200 in aid
More Focused Computer Science program (less liberal arts, more military + CS)
would matriculate with friends (2 friends are accepted and 1 is waitlisted)


Citadel
Out of state (GI bill negates this)
Given 10500 in aid
Family slightly prefers
Know about 8 upperclassmen (for better or worse)

I just need some help trying to weigh the 2 options on my plate
 
First and foremost, you should choose the school which fits you the best. Visit both schools several times and determine which one brings you the most pride. Don't choose what you think will please your family the most. It is YOU who will be dealing with the Ratline or being a Knob!

Here are some observations from a dad whose son had considered both schools:
VMI
  • Generally tougher standards for acceptance.
  • Closer to home...less expensive commuting back and forth.
  • More spartan conditions (pro and con).
  • Lexington is a small town (can be a con).
  • Weather is colder
  • In-state tuition if the GI Bill doesn't work out, or if you are medically DQ'd from the ROTC scholarship.
  • Army ROTC current winner of the MacArthur award (One of the top 8 Army ROTC programs in the country).
El Cid
  • Charleston is a medium size city with much more activity (Not that you will enjoy it much as a Knob).
  • Larger cadet population
  • Slightly more name recognition out West (Most people have heard of The Citadel, but few are familiar with VMI).
  • Has had more bad publicity in recent years (hazing etc).
  • Warmer weather


Although my DS ultimately attended a non-SMC out west, he preferred The Citadel when he visited both schools. On the other hand, only you can judge best.

My recommendation would lean slightly toward VMI, due to the in-state tuition being a key advantage and a consistently high ranking Army ROTC program.
 
Well, you didn't mention what you wold be paying at each school which is a far more important piece of information than what you provided. I assume VMI is cheaper because you're in-state but I really have no idea. Further, there is absolutely no guarantee of a 3 year scholarship even if you work very hard at it. Others will be doing the same thing and the competition will be fierce, if there is even money to cover a 3 year. So, what will you do if you do not win a 3 year scholarship? Presumably you would transfer to a more affordable school. Perhaps you should attend college there to begin with? Finances are an important part of college decisions. We cannot always follow our heart; sometimes we have to follow our wallet.

Hope things work out for you.
 
Pololive5 said:
I was recently accepted into both schools an am having a bit of trouble deciding between the two. Both schools have some big and little advantages over the other. I contacted both ROOs and both said I was competitive for a 3 year AROTC scholarship. My Father said that he is willing to give me his last 2 semesters of GI bill if I do not get a 4 year scholarship (on conditions that I work my tail off to get a campus scholarship or have a 3 year).

VMI
instate (live in VA)
given 7200 in aid
More Focused Computer Science program (less liberal arts, more military + CS)
would matriculate with friends (2 friends are accepted and 1 is waitlisted)


Citadel
Out of state (GI bill negates this)
Given 10500 in aid
Family slightly prefers
Know about 8 upperclassmen (for better or worse)

I just need some help trying to weigh the 2 options on my plate
Click to expand...

Why does your family prefer the Citadel over VMI? The reason(s) may be compelling as you do the pros/cons of each school. In other words, the fact they prefer one school over the other doesn't have much granularity (so how do you know how much to weigh this factor) as compared to the actual reason(s).

If you're not looking to commission and but considering working for the federal government, there are lots of VMI grads in the NOVA area so networking opportunities are good. Lots of Citadel grads in the NOVA area too, but certainly not as much as VMI.

I completely agree with @kinnem . The bottom line cost of attendance is more important than looking at the aid you've been given.

The relatively rural area of Lexington is something you should consider too. Maybe you like living in a city, so Charleston would be better.
 
it's really a personal decision that nobody can make for you. Have you visited both schools? My son did not visit the Citadel, once he stepped foot on post at VMI he knew that is where he wanted to go. If you have not I recommend visiting both to see which feels right.

Do not pick a school for your family. You won't last at either one of these schools if YOU don't want to be there. Or, if you do last it will be a long miserable 4 years.

They are both great options and you can't go wrong.

I agree that there is no guarantee that you will be awarded an on campus 3 year scholarship if you don't win one from the national board, so you do need to determine how you will pay for either one if you don't get a scholarship.

Best of luck.
 
kinnem said:
Well, you didn't mention what you wold be paying at each school which is a far more important piece of information than what you provided. I assume VMI is cheaper because you're in-state but I really have no idea. Further, there is absolutely no guarantee of a 3 year scholarship even if you work very hard at it. Others will be doing the same thing and the competition will be fierce, if there is even money to cover a 3 year. So, what will you do if you do not win a 3 year scholarship? Presumably you would transfer to a more affordable school. Perhaps you should attend college there to begin with? Finances are an important part of college decisions. We cannot always follow our heart; sometimes we have to follow our wallet.

Hope things work out for you.
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I am very aware that any rotc scholarships are never guaranteed, I have been in the running for the last 2 and denied for both. VMI has a in-state total cost of about 29,000 and a tuition of 9,500. I would be awarded instate tuition for Citadel with the GI Bill, which as about the same total cost as VMI, but out-of-state total is about 58,000. I can't say what I would do in the future if no aid is provided, but I can say with certainty that I would be very distraught if I had to leave after the first year of either school. Thank you and I'm crossing my fingers everyday so it all works out.
 
turtlerunnernc said:
it's really a personal decision that nobody can make for you. Have you visited both schools? My son did not visit the Citadel, once he stepped foot on post at VMI he knew that is where he wanted to go. If you have not I recommend visiting both to see which feels right.

Do not pick a school for your family. You won't last at either one of these schools if YOU don't want to be there. Or, if you do last it will be a long miserable 4 years.

They are both great options and you can't go wrong.

I agree that there is no guarantee that you will be awarded an on campus 3 year scholarship if you don't win one from the national board, so you do need to determine how you will pay for either one if you don't get a scholarship.

Best of luck.
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I visited both schools and felt both were great campuses when I left. Citadel was beautiful from the start and had a very sunshine-happy vibe. I went into VMI on an overnight visit and hated it at the start but loved it by the end. I would be very happy to go to either school so my family definitely isn't picking for me.
 
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/School=The_Citadel_-_Military_College_of_South_Carolina/Salary

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/School=Virginia_Military_Institute_(VMI)/Salary

Some interesting considerations. You really can't lose with either choice. My son chose VMI and it has been fantastic, but for sure difficult. There are a lot of things to consider but one I never thought of, the amount of opportunities to visit. At VMI you have matriculation, New Market, Parents' Weekend, Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, etc. All of the pagentry is magical and worth seeing. My son figured PT (which both schools will have a'plenty) would be slightly better in the cooler weather, although Charleston would have less hills. Good luck and someone on a post a while ago said flip a coin, and then ask yourself if your were happy with the result, that could be your answer.
 
Pololive5 - I cannot speak for VMI, but your comment that The Citadel is $58 grand a year for non-resident cadets is way off base. The current non-resident cadet tuition and other fees is $53,299 for 4th Class cadets and goes down to $48,089/yr for upper classmen. See:http://www.citadel.edu/root/cost-info. You indicated you were "offered $10,500 in aid," so this should bring your first year cost to under $43,000. As a Virginia resident, the cost is likely still cheaper than The Citadel, so then you might consider the equally important objectives - your education and career path.

Your comment that VMI has a more "focused computer science" program is confusing to me. The Citadel has a Computer Science Major as well as being designated a NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber education. See https://www.nsa.gov/resources/students-educators/centers-academic-excellence/#defense. In addition, one of the 4 undergraduate Engineering Majors is a double major in Electric Engineering and Computer Science. The Citadel currently has cadets attending on DOD cyber scholarships and after the military services, a Homeland Security agency is the largest single employer of recent graduates - many of whom majored in computer science, intelligence and security or some combination.

As far as VMI being more "military" this will likely depend on which alumnus you choose to talk to - LOL an endless rivalry topic. Both have distinguished historic Corps of Cadets. Both have long traditions of producing junior officers and large numbers have reached flag officer status in all military services. Both have large ROTC active instructor components and both have won the MacArthur Award numerous times - a non factor when your OML comes out. And as for availability of 3 year and even 3.5 year ROTC scholarships once you are on campus. This will depend on your personal achievements during your first semester in college - academic as well as performance in your ROTC component. Best of luck.
 
glen said:
Pololive5 - I cannot speak for VMI, but your comment that The Citadel is $58 grand a year for non-resident cadets is way off base. The current non-resident cadet tuition and other fees is $53,299 for 4th Class cadets and goes down to $48,089/yr for upper classmen. See:http://www.citadel.edu/root/cost-info. You indicated you were "offered $10,500 in aid," so this should bring your first year cost to under $43,000. As a Virginia resident, the cost is likely still cheaper than The Citadel, so then you might consider the equally important objectives - your education and career path.

Your comment that VMI has a more "focused computer science" program is confusing to me. The Citadel has a Computer Science Major as well as being designated a NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber education. See https://www.nsa.gov/resources/students-educators/centers-academic-excellence/#defense. In addition, one of the 4 undergraduate Engineering Majors is a double major in Electric Engineering and Computer Science. The Citadel currently has cadets attending on DOD cyber scholarships and after the military services, a Homeland Security agency is the largest single employer of recent graduates - many of whom majored in computer science, intelligence and security or some combination.

As far as VMI being more "military" this will likely depend on which alumnus you choose to talk to - LOL an endless rivalry topic. Both have distinguished historic Corps of Cadets. Both have long traditions of producing junior officers and large numbers have reached flag officer status in all military services. Both have large ROTC active instructor components and both have won the MacArthur Award numerous times - a non factor when your OML comes out. And as for availability of 3 year and even 3.5 year ROTC scholarships once you are on campus. This will depend on your personal achievements during your first semester in college - academic as well as performance in your ROTC component. Best of luck.
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What I meant with the "focused computer science" was the year by year curriculum for both schools. To me, VMI had a curriculum that was more focused on computer science and military electives. I did not want to imply that Citadel had a bad CS program or that the Citadel is any less military-like for cadet life, I just wanted to state the differences in curriculum and I slightly prefer VMI's. https://www.vmi.edu/academics/departments/computer-and-information-sciences/year-by-year-curriculum/
http://www.citadel.edu/root/ccs-programs/bs-computer-science

I am getting my cost info from Citadel's very own lesesne gateway portal.
 

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My son is aiming for West Point, but has a 4Yr ROTC scholarship to VMI ( he was also offered admission and ROTC to Citadel and Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets) and will be thrilled to go there if WP doesn't come through. He looked at Citadel. While I love Charleston, he preferred what he perceived to be the more 'rigorous' environment of VMI. Also - it is closer to home so he knows we can get there for some of the fun weekend activities and will have rides home if needed from upper classmen/women. We know a couple of students who have gone there and the alumni network is so darn strong in Virginia. One day when his military career is over we figure this might be an aid. I think the comments regarding In-State tuition are valid. They are both amazing schools - you cannot make a bad decision. Those were just his factors in deciding.
 
Pololive, I have to agree with what Devil Doc said above, I also choose VMI for you. But it's not our choice, it's yours!
I also 100% agree with Shaka's son who observed the more "rigorous" environment at VMI. My DD saw the same. It is definitely an intense and hard-charging 100% military environment at VMI. From our viewpoint, there was nothing quite like VMI out there in terms of the SMCs. At VMI, we saw many tough-looking, sharp cadets who looked like they did a great deal of exercise. Sharp in appearance and very clean and professional in demeanor and communication. Unfortunately it was not the same elsewhere. I've always been impressed with VMI and my DD was too, but sadly she told me, "There is no way in h__ that I will go to VMI and sleep on a cot for 4 years!" Ultimately, she's decided to go the civilian school route ...I wish she had chosen VMI!!!
 
Landy91 said:
but sadly she told me, "There is no way in h__ that I will go to VMI and sleep on a cot for 4 years!"
Click to expand...

Why is this sad?

It is actually great that she realized what she wanted at this early age.

If student senses a parent's disappointment and chooses to attend that school in spite of her own instincts, and ends up with a miserable college experience, that sets things up for far worse results!
 
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