He has enrolled at a school that does not have an ROTC program. When he came home he didn't seem to be interested in pursuing a military commission at this time. What is your university?
Why does VMI have such a low "returning students precentage"
- Thread starter Thunderbolt
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When I was a Rat going through Hell Week (August 1995), we were about four days into it and out on the Parade Ground (I refuse to call it a "deck"). I started throwing up. I assume it was the combination of the heat, mental, and physical stress, but I was ralphing it pretty good.
<snip> I'd go so far as to say that the little pep talk saved my cadetship. I said "I'd like to go back to Charlie Company, sir."
Some people don't go back, and that's OK too.
Good thing an upperclassman visited and got you feeling better.
When I was a rat (fall '90), I had to go to the post hospital/infirmary because of a pretty bad stomach virus, throwing up blood and ended up getting sent to Stonewall Jackson Hospital, then back for a night in the infirmary. I remember vaguely a third classman corporal checking up on me briefly, but he wasn't as sympathetic as the guy who visited you. When I returned to the barracks, some 3rds in the Charlie Company cadre called me a gimp for a few days - but I anticipated that they would.
To the poster who said the post hospital didn't let her/his son stayed overnight, that could have been because there was no valid medical reason for him to stay there. If he was released but didn't want to go back to his room, then the post hospital couldn't keep him, otherwise it would turn into a sanctuary of sort.
To other VMI parents, one thing I would say is to encourage your son or daughter to always take care of the academics first. All else will follow. In an environment like VMI, it's easy to get distracted and easy for her/him to come up with a million reason why he/she couldn't get good grades. As 2nd then 1st classman, I tutored math, and the cadets who came to me just didn't make the time to prepare for their tests and they expected me to get them ready for tomorrow's test, yet at other times, I would see them lounging around in the px or the library instead of studying. The truth is, it's a college and getting good grades should be their primary focus. Good grades would lead to earned academic days, meaning more chances to get out of the campus for some R&R.
NorwichDad
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Really, really good post which applies to all colleges.
Why such a low returning percentage?
Here's my perspective on this question:
1. I've been to every other service academy/military school in the US and I taught at one for three years. Bottom line: Life at VMI is unlike anything out there I've seen (aside from Thailand's Military Academy). It amuses me every time I hear folks talking about which freshman year is longest, etc. because that alone matters very little in the overall big picture.
2. You sleep on a cot for 4 years at VMI, everyone is a cadet, and the system is extremely demanding. There is no other school out there (in the USA at least) in which a cadet has a more austere and spartan existence.
3. If you come to VMI, you better be ready for academics as demanding as any service academy and a military system that is going to demand every ounce of your strength.
Here's my perspective on this question:
1. I've been to every other service academy/military school in the US and I taught at one for three years. Bottom line: Life at VMI is unlike anything out there I've seen (aside from Thailand's Military Academy). It amuses me every time I hear folks talking about which freshman year is longest, etc. because that alone matters very little in the overall big picture.
2. You sleep on a cot for 4 years at VMI, everyone is a cadet, and the system is extremely demanding. There is no other school out there (in the USA at least) in which a cadet has a more austere and spartan existence.
3. If you come to VMI, you better be ready for academics as demanding as any service academy and a military system that is going to demand every ounce of your strength.
In fairness, the "cot" does have a mattress associated with it. You don't just sleep on a board or on canvas. The "rack" is a wooden board with legs that fold up, but it's only the frame.
Yeah, you have to roll the mattress up and stack it during the day, but the "hay" (to use the VMI term) is actually pretty comfortable and about the size of an extended twin.