Current Self Prep at Marion Military Institute- ask any questions!

HereToLearn said:
Sir,

Asking due to your knowledge of MMI…is it possible to be a self-prep SAP Cadet and in the ECP simultaneously? (Trying to determine how much overlap in coursework…for all the backup plans.)

Your advice on all the boards is appreciated!
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Because MMI is a college, academically all courses are available to take. Any student can apply to the service academies. I know of a couple who were not in SAP but also applied and got in.

So, you can enroll in MMI as an ECP cadet. This way you take the Military Science courses that would lead to a commission. Academically, you'd take English, Math, Chemistry, and US History which are the same courses that AOGs would take. Your math placement would determine what math you'd take, so depending on your SAT/ACT score you may need an extra semester to come up to speed on math.

If you get appointed to West Point, you can apply to get out of your ECP contract. That shouldn't be a problem since you're going from one Army program to another. If you don't get in, you'll be on a path to get an Army reserve or NG commission in two years.

Please contact our admissions people. They'll have more information on how this can be done.
 
I am a current MMI Self-prep student who has received appointments to USAFA, USMA, and USMMA. I am going to USAFA, ARMY AND NAVY PLAY FOR SECOND! Coming to MMI is the best decision I could have made for myself. I was given the opportunity to grow as a person and was given multiple opportunities to explore all the different opportunities I had at each service academy and in each respective service beyond. The faculty and staff here genuinely care about each and every student, helping us to succeed in all aspects of life. I also have made lifelong friends who I know that I will be in contact with for the rest of my life. If you're doubting whether to choose MMI or even the self-prep route in general route in general, don't. It is the best decision you will make, as it has been for me.
 
gsowner2 said:
I am a current MMI Self-prep student who has received appointments to USAFA, USMA, and USMMA. I am going to USAFA, ARMY AND NAVY PLAY FOR SECOND! Coming to MMI is the best decision I could have made for myself. I was given the opportunity to grow as a person and was given multiple opportunities to explore all the different opportunities I had at each service academy and in each respective service beyond. The faculty and staff here genuinely care about each and every student, helping us to succeed in all aspects of life. I also have made lifelong friends who I know that I will be in contact with for the rest of my life. If you're doubting whether to choose MMI or even the self-prep route in general route in general, don't. It is the best decision you will make, as it has been for me.
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Them "self-preppers" at MMI coming HOT!
 
gsowner2 said:
I am a current MMI Self-prep student who has received appointments to USAFA, USMA, and USMMA. I am going to USAFA, ARMY AND NAVY PLAY FOR SECOND! Coming to MMI is the best decision I could have made for myself. I was given the opportunity to grow as a person and was given multiple opportunities to explore all the different opportunities I had at each service academy and in each respective service beyond. The faculty and staff here genuinely care about each and every student, helping us to succeed in all aspects of life. I also have made lifelong friends who I know that I will be in contact with for the rest of my life. If you're doubting whether to choose MMI or even the self-prep route in general route in general, don't. It is the best decision you will make, as it has been for me.
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Congratulations on your accomplishments!! I can't message you yet because you need one more post. I will post my question here. I noticed you had a VP nom for West Point. My DS was turned down by West point in February, but then found a VP nomination in his WP portal. We don't know when it showed up. No appointment has come from this and he has moved on to his Falcon Scholarship to USAFA. We still have questions though.....Can you give me any details of when your VP nom showed up and how long after you were offered an appointment? Were you given a time limit to decide? Were you contacted by admissions? Feel free pm me when you are able, or posting here is fine too.
 
Texark147 said:
Congratulations on your accomplishments!! I can't message you yet because you need one more post. I will post my question here. I noticed you had a VP nom for West Point. My DS was turned down by West point in February, but then found a VP nomination in his WP portal. We don't know when it showed up. No appointment has come from this and he has moved on to his Falcon Scholarship to USAFA. We still have questions though.....Can you give me any details of when your VP nom showed up and how long after you were offered an appointment? Were you given a time limit to decide? Were you contacted by admissions? Feel free pm me when you are able, or posting here is fine too.
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Hi, send me a message!
 
Ahh, well I can share that I found about my VP nom in late March. I then heard from USMA on 26 April 2024. I was given until 1 May 2024 to make a decision. I was contacted by admissions via email and by phone. Once I have DM ability I would be happy to share more with you.
 
gsowner2 said:
Ahh, well I can share that I found about my VP nom in late March. I then heard from USMA on 26 April 2024. I was given until 1 May 2024 to make a decision. I was contacted by admissions via email and by phone. Once I have DM ability I would be happy to share more with you.
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Thanks so much for that info and again, congratulations!
 
Do we have an idea at this point how many SAP cadets from MMI received appointments this year for each Service Academy?
 
Estab34 said:
Do we have an idea at this point how many SAP cadets from MMI received appointments this year for each Service Academy?
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I've not heard specifics, but this time next week we'll know for certain. I know 10 to USNA, still waiting on any NAPS appointments
 
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Here is a preliminary appointment breakdown from MMI's (unofficial) list of SAP cadets. I'm sure it's not 100% accurate, as some cadets have moved around (I also wasn't completely sure of some of our USMMA appointments), but it should provide a general idea of how the year went.

MMI SAP '23-'24 Stats.png

To give context to the number, I'd say there are three main groups of cadets that did not receive appointments from my experience:

1. Those who worked against themselves.
Joining the SAP program alone will not get you an appointment. Completing the program certainly may. A cadet who doesn't strive to meet basic physical, academic, and/or character standards will not find success.

2. Those who had medical/DODMERB hiccups.
Many cadets worked through these issues and received appointments, but unfortunately others couldn't; they were victims of circumstance. As is discussed on these forums, I'd recommend that incoming cadets approach the DODMERB process carefully and ensuring you stay healthy before reporting to your academy.

3. Self sponsored USCGA cadets.
MMI is a good school for all the academies, but competing for one of only about 350 offered appointments is a tough numbers game. Especially since around 20% of each USCGA class has already spent a prep year through CGAS, I suspect college re-applicants are fighting a real up hill battle. If you want to go to USCGA, Marion is a viable path that lead to multiple appointments this year (and will possibly lead to more). However, as LTC Bowen will advise, apply to multiple academies. As I understand it, USMMA midshipmen can commission as Coast Guard officers, and several MMI cadets with "big three" appointments were waitlisted for USCGA, so it is very possible to not get into USCGA, but still get into other academies.

While there will always be exceptions, it was my personal experience that cadets who put in true effort and adhered to LTC Bowen's advice while completing the program found overwhelming success. I would echo the sentiments of other posters and strongly recommend MMI for re-applicants, but with the caveat that you get in what you put out. Like anywhere else, accountability is a prerequisite to success at Marion.
 
Horatius said:
Here is a preliminary appointment breakdown from MMI's (unofficial) list of SAP cadets. I'm sure it's not 100% accurate, as some cadets have moved around (I also wasn't completely sure of some of our USMMA appointments), but it should provide a general idea of how the year went.

View attachment 16064

To give context to the number, I'd say there are three main groups of cadets that did not receive appointments from my experience:

1. Those who worked against themselves.
Joining the SAP program alone will not get you an appointment. Completing the program certainly may. A cadet who doesn't strive to meet basic physical, academic, and/or character standards will not find success.

2. Those who had medical/DODMERB hiccups.
Many cadets worked through these issues and received appointments, but unfortunately others couldn't; they were victims of circumstance. As is discussed on these forums, I'd recommend that incoming cadets approach the DODMERB process carefully and ensuring you stay healthy before reporting to your academy.

3. Self sponsored USCGA cadets.
MMI is a good school for all the academies, but competing for one of only about 350 offered appointments is a tough numbers game. Especially since around 20% of each USCGA class has already spent a prep year through CGAS, I suspect college re-applicants are fighting a real up hill battle. If you want to go to USCGA, Marion is a viable path that lead to multiple appointments this year (and will possibly lead to more). However, as LTC Bowen will advise, apply to multiple academies. As I understand it, USMMA midshipmen can commission as Coast Guard officers, and several MMI cadets with "big three" appointments were waitlisted for USCGA, so it is very possible to not get into USCGA, but still get into other academies.

While there will always be exceptions, it was my personal experience that cadets who put in true effort and adhered to LTC Bowen's advice while completing the program found overwhelming success. I would echo the sentiments of other posters and strongly recommend MMI for re-applicants, but with the caveat that you get in what you put out. Like anywhere else, accountability is a prerequisite to success at Marion.
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This all tracks with what I gleaned from my son, who is just finishing there as a self-prep.
 
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