Mick -
The short list as it stands on the cusp of senior year:
1. US Naval Academy. He's getting ready to send in his congressional nomination packages. Last month he spent a week in Annapolis at their summer seminar. Loved it and he passed the CFA with flying colors. Great score - maxed out on three tests and ran a 5:40 mile at the end in what he called 'air molasses'. To those of us versed in East Coast weather, that would be 'humidity'. Liked system engineering, ME, or naval arch. Of course this is uber competitive.
2. US Coast Guard Academy. Nice visit in New London and I guess there is something about boats that floats his. He'll spend some time at the Alameda CG Station this summer. Also has naval arch and ME, but could do CE there. (He's working for me this summer and seems to have a good basic aptitude for figuring out how to move dirt and water around.) He could possibly pitch for them. (Lefty with some dirty stuff, albeit not particularly flame thrown.) Also uber competitive, but a nomination is not required. They (admissions officers, cadets) were universally cool when we visited a month ago.
3. US Air Force Academy. Lovingly referred to by the Midshipmen he trained under as the "Chair Force". Still, planes, missiles and stuff. He is going to wear out the welcome of some of his references. Already has the game day polo. Ready to roll.
4. Boston University. NROTC or AFROTC on campus. Great visit. Right by Fenway and they have something like five stops on the T. Loved Boston. Pulled some hot NROTC coed email and number at lunch, so that may be it more than anything. We watched the Bruins clinch in a Beacon Hill Pub. Interesting evening to say the least. Good ME program. Their NROTC consortium with BC is well regarded.
5. Worcester Poly. NROTC at Holy Cross or AFROTC on campus. Probably his favorite school, but the slight edge to BU because Worcester just isn't Boston. Although his Sharks jersey would fit in there. (Minor league farm team.)
6. George Washington. NROTC. Really liked DC and Foggy Bottom.
7. Marquette. NROTC. Good Jesuit Engineering. Not so sure about Milwaukee. Kinda fallbackish. Also might be some Jesuit money through his HS connection independent of ROTC.
8. UCSD. NROTC (at USD). They make you list a state school on the ROTC application. So Berkeley, UCLA or San Diego?
9. U of Portland. Sister's school. AFROTC is good there. I kind of like their small engineering program and I like Portland. But going to school with his sister? This is probably the safety school. They'll give him whatever money ROTC won't.
10. UC East Bay Poly. A great engineering school and there are worse places than SLO. Only have Army ROTC and he really wants to get out on the sea or in the air. But we could almost afford this without aid (there won't be any)
11. If there is a problem on DoDMERB and/or a favorite short listed school has no money, Loyola (Md), Regis (CO), and U Chicago have been all over him, including phone calls to the house. Unfortunately they really don't have engineering and the thought of studying math or physics on a 3/2 isn't so appealing. (The /2 seems to be the University of Spoiled Children or Washington STL.)
Recently tossed to the curb, although I suppose subject to resurrection: UW, Lehigh, Villanova, West Point. It doesn't cost money to apply to a service academy, but we are looking at a cool grand here, or close.
He is hyper-focused on becoming a naval officer some way, some how. NROTC calls him often and they have him on some fast-track process, so he should know if he has a scholarship in early Sept. I think the Coast Guard would be cool, but he's driving the bus. Or ship.
The short list as it stands on the cusp of senior year:
1. US Naval Academy. He's getting ready to send in his congressional nomination packages. Last month he spent a week in Annapolis at their summer seminar. Loved it and he passed the CFA with flying colors. Great score - maxed out on three tests and ran a 5:40 mile at the end in what he called 'air molasses'. To those of us versed in East Coast weather, that would be 'humidity'. Liked system engineering, ME, or naval arch. Of course this is uber competitive.
2. US Coast Guard Academy. Nice visit in New London and I guess there is something about boats that floats his. He'll spend some time at the Alameda CG Station this summer. Also has naval arch and ME, but could do CE there. (He's working for me this summer and seems to have a good basic aptitude for figuring out how to move dirt and water around.) He could possibly pitch for them. (Lefty with some dirty stuff, albeit not particularly flame thrown.) Also uber competitive, but a nomination is not required. They (admissions officers, cadets) were universally cool when we visited a month ago.
3. US Air Force Academy. Lovingly referred to by the Midshipmen he trained under as the "Chair Force". Still, planes, missiles and stuff. He is going to wear out the welcome of some of his references. Already has the game day polo. Ready to roll.
4. Boston University. NROTC or AFROTC on campus. Great visit. Right by Fenway and they have something like five stops on the T. Loved Boston. Pulled some hot NROTC coed email and number at lunch, so that may be it more than anything. We watched the Bruins clinch in a Beacon Hill Pub. Interesting evening to say the least. Good ME program. Their NROTC consortium with BC is well regarded.
5. Worcester Poly. NROTC at Holy Cross or AFROTC on campus. Probably his favorite school, but the slight edge to BU because Worcester just isn't Boston. Although his Sharks jersey would fit in there. (Minor league farm team.)
6. George Washington. NROTC. Really liked DC and Foggy Bottom.
7. Marquette. NROTC. Good Jesuit Engineering. Not so sure about Milwaukee. Kinda fallbackish. Also might be some Jesuit money through his HS connection independent of ROTC.
8. UCSD. NROTC (at USD). They make you list a state school on the ROTC application. So Berkeley, UCLA or San Diego?
9. U of Portland. Sister's school. AFROTC is good there. I kind of like their small engineering program and I like Portland. But going to school with his sister? This is probably the safety school. They'll give him whatever money ROTC won't.
10. UC East Bay Poly. A great engineering school and there are worse places than SLO. Only have Army ROTC and he really wants to get out on the sea or in the air. But we could almost afford this without aid (there won't be any)
11. If there is a problem on DoDMERB and/or a favorite short listed school has no money, Loyola (Md), Regis (CO), and U Chicago have been all over him, including phone calls to the house. Unfortunately they really don't have engineering and the thought of studying math or physics on a 3/2 isn't so appealing. (The /2 seems to be the University of Spoiled Children or Washington STL.)
Recently tossed to the curb, although I suppose subject to resurrection: UW, Lehigh, Villanova, West Point. It doesn't cost money to apply to a service academy, but we are looking at a cool grand here, or close.
He is hyper-focused on becoming a naval officer some way, some how. NROTC calls him often and they have him on some fast-track process, so he should know if he has a scholarship in early Sept. I think the Coast Guard would be cool, but he's driving the bus. Or ship.
Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working .I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. Peter Gibbons