<p>Crimson, you could do community college. Several people on these boards went that route. It’s generally cheap enough that you could send yourself if you worked. You could also look at New Mexico Military Institute. My son was going to go there as a “self prep” if he didn’t get an appointment or USNA Foundation/USMA AOG prep slot. We visited there last Spring and heard from them that they had pretty good success getting kids in academies that way. The tuition is pretty affordable.
See <a href=“http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/Business/charges.html[/url]”>http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/Business/charges.html</a>.</p>
<p>They have a “simultaneous member” program where you do ROTC and participate in the National Guard (as a Jr Officer). You get your tuition paid for! Check out <a href=“http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/rotc/SimultaneousMembershipProgram.htm[/url]”>http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/rotc/SimultaneousMembershipProgram.htm</a></p>
<p>Worth looking into, huh? You could take the exact classes the official preps take and if you excel, what academy wouldn’t take you for 2011?!!</p>