VT Housing and Dining Contract

[USMAHopeful_Mom_2026]

My DD is waiting to hear back from USMA and USAFA still. She's fully qualified with a nomination just like so many other hopefuls out there. She also received a 4 year AROTC scholarship to Virginia Tech. We did the recommended...accepted the offer for attendance, accepted the scholarship, and paid her matriculation fee. Now we're getting an e-mail that we have to sign her dining and housing contract by 6/1. Let's say, worse case, she still doesn't have an appointment by 6/1, but hasn't gotten the TWE either. If she signs the housing contract to hold her place at tech and then gets one of the last appointments available after 6/1 and after signing her housing contract, is she still obligated to pay the first year R&B at tech? I'm sure someone else has been through this before. Looking for any and all advice as always.

 

[DrMom]

You child will know by the 1st of June. She will know by 1 May.
Is there any advantage to signing up before 1 May?

 

[USMAHopeful_Mom_2026]

You child will know by the 1st of June. She will know by 1 May.
Is there any advantage to signing up before 1 May?

The only advantage is roommate selection...I think. I'm not sure if they even get to select a roommate in the corps or if they're just assigned. My son is a senior at tech. Your chances of being able to find a room available for you and your roommate together get slimmer by the day. It's a non-issue for her anyway. She's heard horror stories of people picking their roommate and it sucks (her older brother) and horror stories of going in random and it sucks. There's no guarantee either way, so she really doesn't care too much.
Sounds like we're going to hold out until the last possible moment (hopefully won't be necessary...fingers crossed) and then sign the contract if necessary.

 

[hokiesfan]

Don't worry about waiting to sign the housing contract. Since your daughter will be in the VTCC she is guaranteed housing and her roommate will be assigned depending on which company she is in.

 

[DrMom]

The only advantage is roommate selection...I think. I'm not sure if they even get to select a roommate in the corps or if they're just assigned. My son is a senior at tech. Your chances of being able to find a room available for you and your roommate together get slimmer by the day. It's a non-issue for her anyway. She's heard horror stories of people picking their roommate and it sucks (her older brother) and horror stories of going in random and it sucks. There's no guarantee either way, so she really doesn't care too much.
Sounds like we're going to hold out until the last possible moment (hopefully won't be necessary...fingers crossed) and then sign the contract if necessary.

Again. She will know by 1 May. So plenty of time.

 

[DrMom]

Also you may end up losing a deposit. When we have this happen to us we think ‘cheaper than college.’ Wait until you see the prices of the school pictures you will be buying at USMA. (Maybe just plebe and firstie year but yowzah!’

 

[USMAHopeful_Mom_2026]

Also you may end up losing a deposit. When we have this happen to us we think ‘cheaper than college.’ Wait until you see the prices of the school pictures you will be buying at USMA. (Maybe just plebe and firstie year but yowzah!’

I will lose the deposit, but in the grand scheme of things I figured it wasn't much if she ends up at West Point...now I'm wondering though. Are we talking "I could have bought a new car" pictures or just "these pictures aren't even that great I can't believe they cost so much" pictures.

 

[USMAZoo98]

We went through the same thing last year with our son. He also had a 4-year AROTC scholarship to Tech. We paid the initial deposit, even after he received his offer of appointment as a guard against any unforeseen thing that could happen and cost him his appointment. We did not lock in with the housing contract. We simply decided after June 1 that he would have to be especially careful to protect against getting himself injured (about the only thing that could cost an appointee their offer after June 1). Your DD should absolutely know by June 1 if she has an offer of appointment to the Academy or not.

 

[USMAHopeful_Mom_2026]

We went through the same thing last year with our son. He also had a 4-year AROTC scholarship to Tech. We paid the initial deposit, even after he received his offer of appointment as a guard against any unforeseen thing that could happen and cost him his appointment. We did not lock in with the housing contract. We simply decided after June 1 that he would have to be especially careful to protect against getting himself injured (about the only thing that could cost an appointee their offer after June 1). Your DD should absolutely know by June 1 if she has an offer of appointment to the Academy or not.

Thank you! That was exactly the information that I was looking for. Someone else in our shoes and what they did. We're going to hang tight and keep checking the portal!

 

[DrMom]

I will lose the deposit, but in the grand scheme of things I figured it wasn't much if she ends up at West Point...now I'm wondering though. Are we talking "I could have bought a new car" pictures or just "these pictures aren't even that great I can't believe they cost so much" pictures.

The pictures are over the top fabulous—like you cannot believe your child looks so inspirational—and then you drop more than $150 for school pictures.

 

[Cookiemom]

We never bought the pictures. We took some of our own.

 

[USMAZoo98]

The pictures are over the top fabulous—like you cannot believe your child looks so inspirational—and then you drop more than $150 for school pictures.

I think the $150 option was only for a single digital download. They escalate quickly from there. But if you get your timing right and are good with a camera, you can get some pretty spectacular pics of your own.

 

[JCSDVM1]

Also you may end up losing a deposit. When we have this happen to us we think ‘cheaper than college.’ Wait until you see the prices of the school pictures you will be buying at USMA. (Maybe just plebe and firstie year but yowzah!’

Yep. Just got the text from Legacy Studios for DS plebe photos. Yowzah is right!!!

 

[DrMom]

OK Daddy-Oh...you know you are buying a packet of some sort...You need an 8/x10 in a frame (my mother always has me give her the 8.x10), a 5x7 for your office, maybe another 5x7 and a bunch of wallets. Only pick one pose...either smiling, serious, or dreamy...and always get it with the flag in the background (which can be added to the picture). If you asked on the West Point Dads or have your bride ask on the West Point Moms page or on your class page, someone may have a coupon...or you an pay $100+ for the digital picture and print everything.

When it arrives it comes in a fabulous box--like you won't believe how posh the box is...however, I would rather pay less and have it come in a reinforced envelope...

You know you are buying the plebe year picture--and then when they are firsties, there is a picture in full regalia: tarbucket w/ massive plume--like a proper dead rooster on the head--in one hand, ring & saber in the other...and the smile of victory!

For the yuk and cow years, the sample picture from Legacy was enough...Maybe I am cheap...

All of it is 'cheaper than college'!

Yep. Just got the text from Legacy Studios for DS plebe photos. Yowzah is right!!!

 

[JCSDVM1]

OK Daddy-Oh...you know you are buying a packet of some sort...You need an 8/x10 in a frame (my mother always has me give her the 8.x10), a 5x7 for your office, maybe another 5x7 and a bunch of wallets. Only pick one pose...either smiling, serious, or dreamy...and always get it with the flag in the background (which can be added to the picture). If you asked on the West Point Dads or have your bride ask on the West Point Moms page or on your class page, someone may have a coupon...or you an pay $100+ for the digital picture and print everything.

When it arrives it comes in a fabulous box--like you won't believe how posh the box is...however, I would rather pay less and have it come in a reinforced envelope...

You know you are buying the plebe year picture--and then when they are firsties, there is a picture in full regalia: tarbucket w/ massive plume--like a proper dead rooster on the head--in one hand, ring & saber in the other...and the smile of victory!

For the yuk and cow years, the sample picture from Legacy was enough...Maybe I am cheap...

All of it is 'cheaper than college'!

Great minds think alike. That is exactly what we decided on.