SomeKid2006

I have an acceptance to a pretty good college. I heard somewhere that schools that take federal money have to allow kids to defer their acceptances up to 7 years if they are going to join the military. If any of the recruiters on here could either tell me if this is true or point me in the direction of this actually be stated somewhere official I would appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

A while ago, I read on this forum about someone deferring their son/daughter's acceptance to a civilian college, in order that they had insurance in case their son/daughter left the academy.

The post said something about since when you're active duty military, your spot in a college has to be waiting for you under some law. I've been accepted to a pretty good school, that there's no guarantee I would be accepted as a transfer applicant to.

If 1 in 4 people who enter the academy don't graduate, for whatever reason, it seems reasonable that I should keep a backup if for instance I became medically DQ or something.

I tried to defer my acceptances to this school for one year and was honest with them that I'm going to USAFA...they claim they will not hold my spot because it’s not legitimate that I plan to matriculate to a different institution. I tried to explain it as joining the military....

If anyone knows anything that might help me keep my acceptance, I'd appreciate it...

I guess I just should say that USAFA is my first choice, and I don't intend to leave if it gets hard or whatever, but at the same time I don't want to be stupid about this and lose opportunities later on.

Thanks!

UNcynical

While I'm not an expert on this and I may be wrong, I don't think there's anything saying a civilian college has to hold a slot open for you. They all have admissions numbers they aim to meet and there really isn't any reason they would keep those slots vacant just because you may eventually come there sometime in the next few years.

Also, think of it this way: If you choose to go to a service academy, do you think it'd be fair to occupy (in the sense that no one else can fill it if they hold it for you) a slot at another place too, taking it from someone else who'd be using it?

Yes, academies tend to have a high attrition rate. My class started with over 1200 and nor we're in the 800s, but that's a risk we all took. You don't come here expecting to wash out and not make it (although that may happen for one reason or another).

The people I know who have left here and want to attend school elsewhere have had to apply there once they made the decision.

SomeKid2006

...doesn't really seem unfair to me.

This college has quite a large waiting list. Asking them to hold me a spot for me in the class of 2011 isn't going to hurt anyone at this point. If I say I dont' want to go there, my spot gets filled up by someone who does.

My parents want me to have backups and it seems reasonable. I know a guy from my high school did this with a college and had no problem.

The thing that would say this would be something about how if I kid gets into a college and he decides to go enlist in the military the college can't take away his acceptace because he wants to first go serve his country in the military for a few years before attending college.

Shines

Well, if you "want to first go serve" your country for a few years, it'll be a minimum of nine years through the Academy...That's a long time to hold a slot open. Plus, if you do end up washing out of here, having "I went to USAFA for a year" is a big plus on any application, so I wouldn't worry about getting accepted somewhere else.

SomeKid2006

Thanks...yea I guess I don't know how well USAFA kids do at transfering out.

The college at first said it wasn't possible, but now they're researching it and it looks like there may actually be some hope.

I wouldn't see any point of going back for another Undergrad in 9 years. The "serve your country" scanario is for kids who decide to enlist outta high school...some colleges really do guarantee their spot when they come back.

Thanks for the Reply!

UNcynical

As a couple others have mentioned, if you come here and decide to leave and apply somewhere else, the chances of getting accepted are pretty good (and it should look favorable that you were of a high enough caliber to get in here to begin with).

falconhopeful06

I'm holding a backup just in case something happens ( break a leg ) during BCT.

SomeKid2006

The college dean of admissions gave us a call today. I have a place in the class of '11 at the college. Additionally, they said that kids who defer are normally required to enter as "new students," but that they would give me transfer status should I choose to attend there with the class of '11.

Thanks for the replies!

momof3boyz

SomeKid2006- I can't help wondering if you are TRUELY committed to the AFA. Your backup plan seems different than falconhopeful06's. You seem to want the best of BOTH worlds. Falconhopeful06 is leaving a backup in place for the possible misfortune of injury or illness. You on the other hand have referred to a transfer at some point in time ("I have a place in the class of '11 at the college."). What is your REAL motivation for having the "other college's" admissions office stop everything to answere your "pipe dream". It is my opinion you seem more focused on "your rights" to attend this "pretty good" college with "quite a large waiting list". Even though you have what it takes to get into the AFA, do you have what it takes to stay there?

My intention of this post is not to minimize your accomplishments. I do want what is best for you and all the other 2010 cadets that report on I-Day.
Maybe this is a wakeup call to reconsider your acceptance to the AFA.

All the material that has come from the AFA since the Offer of Appointment clearly states they want a LONG TERM committment. I am begging you to take a serious look at where you want to be in 9 years. You may be denying another nominee a spot at the AFA. You can't have your cake and it it too.