Tell me about VMI

[Anonymous]

Texas A&M is abbreviated TAMU

-TAMU Aggie

[Anonymous]

Only about 50% of graduates go into the military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Athletes are exempt from a LOT of the standard PT etc. They get a lot of "outs". My daughter is there for soccer.

Their soccer is not true D1 experience. Definitely not men's. They play mostly D3 teams and they still lose most of their games.
I think they are ranked bottom of Men's D1.
No serious players go there.

[Anonymous]

My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

This is a great example that bolsters the general tone of the other comments. If your daughter is medically unqualified and has no desire to join then do not do this, it quite frankly might traumatize her. I'm a USMA grad and watched strong people brought to their knees both physically and emotionally in the first two years. Plebe year is no joke and at VMI you are a Rat and part of the Rat line. Google it and watch some of the Youtube videos. Trust me, you have to want it to go through that in college.

[Anonymous]

looks like a prison

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

God damn.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it’s a military school - first and foremost, military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

This is a great example that bolsters the general tone of the other comments. If your daughter is medically unqualified and has no desire to join then do not do this, it quite frankly might traumatize her. I'm a USMA grad and watched strong people brought to their knees both physically and emotionally in the first two years. Plebe year is no joke and at VMI you are a Rat and part of the Rat line. Google it and watch some of the Youtube videos. Trust me, you have to want it to go through that in college.

VMI builds character. We need more people like this in our country. If your daughter does not want to join the Military she probably will not be happy at VMI. Would you (and she) be willing to explore the options of a career in the Military? We need more good people who are dedicated to serving our country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) The service academy inferiority complex manifests itself everywhere.

2) read the WaPo multi part series and the independent investigation report by Barnes and Thornburg

3) the alumni network is amazingly strong. Strong in the same way that all trauma bonded persons like abused spouses can connect.

4) you are far better off doing ROTC at a civilian school if you want military.

Sounds like someone who didn't make it through the Rat Line

[Anonymous]

On the positive side and I hate to sound old fashioned but....... the chances of meeting a great guy at VMI are pretty high.VMI is 13% women and students aren't really allowed an outside social life. Just sayin'.......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

This is a great example that bolsters the general tone of the other comments. If your daughter is medically unqualified and has no desire to join then do not do this, it quite frankly might traumatize her. I'm a USMA grad and watched strong people brought to their knees both physically and emotionally in the first two years. Plebe year is no joke and at VMI you are a Rat and part of the Rat line. Google it and watch some of the Youtube videos. Trust me, you have to want it to go through that in college.

VMI builds character. We need more people like this in our country. If your daughter does not want to join the Military she probably will not be happy at VMI. Would you (and she) be willing to explore the options of a career in the Military? We need more good people who are dedicated to serving our country.

Seems odd to pay for this privilege vs going to a service academy or just enlisting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

This is a great example that bolsters the general tone of the other comments. If your daughter is medically unqualified and has no desire to join then do not do this, it quite frankly might traumatize her. I'm a USMA grad and watched strong people brought to their knees both physically and emotionally in the first two years. Plebe year is no joke and at VMI you are a Rat and part of the Rat line. Google it and watch some of the Youtube videos. Trust me, you have to want it to go through that in college.

VMI builds character. We need more people like this in our country. If your daughter does not want to join the Military she probably will not be happy at VMI. Would you (and she) be willing to explore the options of a career in the Military? We need more good people who are dedicated to serving our country.

Medicated ADHD is disqualifying for serving in the military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's got to want to be at VMI and even that is not enough to make you enjoy VMI.

This. VMI is brutal even for military-motivated kids who want to be there. Even more so for females. If she doesn’t really, truly, want to go to VMI and into the military, don’t consider it.

+100 and Brutal is the right word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My opinion is that of an outsider, because it is only my neighbor that I know who goes there for swimming.

This kid wanted engineering and D1 sports at an affordable price (instate VA or thereabouts in price--so places like Lafayette, Lehigh, Drexel--out of price range, VaTech/UVA out of reach academically or for swim). Here comes along a very very shiny new 40 million dollar pool and promise of both D1 competition and an engineering major. What's not to love--oh wait, someone is going to scream in your face for 6 months, even while you eat so you skip meals. Less than half of people make it through the engineering program, 10-15% drop out of the school in the first 6 months.

You can't leave overnight but you can leave on non football Saturdays or Sundays with your parents (or anyone over 23) if you don't have demerits. Football games are required and the parents get there at 5 am to set up their tents for the tailgating so they can feed their kids and their friends who don't have parents there. You live 4-5 in a room and roll up your bed every morning.

I think it will be very difficult to make it thru the sports season and engineering and the ROTC commitments. Just seems overwhelming.

This is a great example that bolsters the general tone of the other comments. If your daughter is medically unqualified and has no desire to join then do not do this, it quite frankly might traumatize her. I'm a USMA grad and watched strong people brought to their knees both physically and emotionally in the first two years. Plebe year is no joke and at VMI you are a Rat and part of the Rat line. Google it and watch some of the Youtube videos. Trust me, you have to want it to go through that in college.

VMI builds character. We need more people like this in our country. If your daughter does not want to join the Military she probably will not be happy at VMI. Would you (and she) be willing to explore the options of a career in the Military? We need more good people who are dedicated to serving our country.

Seems odd to pay for this privilege vs going to a service academy or just enlisting.

Yeah no one turns down a service academy to go to VMI.