Recently, I heard some talk about a 'First Program' in the context of US military colleges? I'm not sure what it is and couldn't find much online. Could someone please help demystify this? Thanks!
The "First Program" that you may have heard about is very likely the Firstie Program offered at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. The term "Firstie" is the term used at USMA to denote a senior cadet, or a cadet in their final (fourth) year of study at the academy.
The Firstie Program provides a substructure of specialized mentoring and guidance to these senior cadets, as they approach graduation and commissioning as officers in the U.S. Army. This includes comprehensive professional development sessions, individualized academic advising, mentorship from commissioned officers, and other support resources to aid with their transition from student life to active military service.
It's been reported to be an effective part of cadet training, helping to ensure that West Point graduates are ready to lead their soldiers immediately upon commissioning. Please note that not all military academies have a similar program, so it's unique to West Point.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.