VMI vs USMA?

[unknow]

Hello I am new here. I know this has been asked a lot, but I still have some doubts. I read in other forums that USMA is the place if you want to be a professional army officer. I also read that people prefer west point since it is a more reputable school, though I read and saw YouTube videos about VMI rat line and their spartan way of life.
I am a foreigner that has been accepted to VMI and I will be attending the summer transition program. I am very happy. I wanted to be in the military when I was a child, but my interests changed over time and I want to do engineering. I am from south America. I am not going to my country's military because my interests changed and the salary is very low which makes the military corrupted.

My questions out of curiosity are:
Is west point harder/better in military training than VMI?
Is west point academics better/harder than VMI? What about engineering?
Is there something that cadets at VMI miss from no going to west point?

Thank you for your replies and sorry if my English has some mistakes. I am still leveling up with my English writing, even though I have already taken TOEFL and SAT tests.

 

[momofusna1]

Did you apply to USMA for class of 2027? I believe it is quite a process for non-US citizens and you have to be sponsored by a national level government official.

 

[unknow]

Did you apply to USMA for class of 2027? I believe it is quite a process for non-US citizens and you have to be sponsored by a national level government official.

I did not apply to USMA. I do not want to serve in my country's military. People that become military officers here are mainly people that can not get into university. The military academy here is more physically demanding than academics. If I get my government endorsement, I will have to serve at least 10 years in my military with low wage. So this is a no no.

 

[99Gold]

I did not apply to USMA. I do not want to serve in my country's military. People that become military officers here are mainly people that can not get into university. The military academy here is more physically demanding than academics. If I get my government endorsement, I will have to serve at least 10 years in my military with low wage. So this is a no no.

I think this makes VMI your only choice. Being a US citizen is a requirement to attend West Point unless you are a foreign cadet sponsored by your country. The payback of foreign cadets is subject to their government. We have a friend that had no military committment after attending West Point as a foreign cadet.

Another thing to think about is that you must be a US citizen to serve as an officer in the US military. Foreign citizens may enlist but not serve as officers.

 

[Goldenbadge]

If you have any specific questions about VMI or the ratline I'm a current rat and would be happy to answer them if I'm able to.

 

[RBI90VMI]

Goldenbadge - how are you even on here? lol!

my DS is your BR. Congrats on what's about to happen soon!

 

[Cardamom1023]

I think OP just wants informed opinions about the three questions he stated, even though he's made his choice. Sorry, I'm not the one to offer any insight but hopefully others will chime in with some answers.

 

[unknow]

If you have any specific questions about VMI or the ratline I'm a current rat and would be happy to answer them if I'm able to.

Hello friend.

How much emphasis is it given to the academic studies?
I want to study electrical engineering. Is it comparable the level to a civilian college?

 

[Goldenbadge]

Goldenbadge - how are you even on here? lol!

my DS is your BR. Congrats on what's about to happen soon!

I was reading this forum back when I thought I'd be going to a service academy and check back in occasionally when I get the chance. Not as much info on VMI as on some of the other SMCS or academies so if I can put anything out there for somebody who wants to apply, I know I would have appreciated it a year ago.

Thank you, we had our Dyke sweat party tonight and have the 20-mile march tomorrow, so we all know what's coming next.

 

[Goldenbadge]

Hello friend.

How much emphasis is it given to the academic studies?
I want to study electrical engineering. Is it comparable the level to a civilian college?

There's a pretty heavy emphasis on your academic studies here, there are rewards and consequences for your performance if you needed the extra incentive to do well. You're almost always guaranteed about 2 and a half hours straight each night to do your work and more time than that if you have the energy to stay up, but you also create your own class schedule, and I would definitely recommend taking advantage of that to get your work done early. Keep in mind you will have duties that take away time you would get at a civilian school such as the training and everything else that comes with being a rat, as well as mandatory sports games on weekends in the Fall and Winter and of course, anything involving your ROTC program.
I'm not an electrical engineering major but I have heard good things from friends who are and have talked to upperclassmen about the program. Here's the link to the major on the VMI website, it'll list all the courses you'll have to take and give an idea of what your 4 years would look like: https://www.vmi.edu/academics/departments/electrical-and-computer-engineering/
Like at a civilian college, you'll have companies or government agencies willing to bring cadets on part-time or as interns and they do plenty of recruiting on post.

 

[VMI Alum 2006]

VMI is the closest thing you can get to an academy without going to an academy. I did Mechanical Engineering, but I took an electrical engineering elective with COL Squire who is a West Point graduate and has a PHD from MIT. The electrical engineering program is very good from what I got to see.