Information on the Six Senior Military Colleges in the United States

Hey there, I'm a junior and I've got it in my mind to pursue a career in the military. I've heard about the six senior military colleges in the United States, but I'm having trouble finding detailed info about them. Can anyone help share what they know about these schools or perhaps some personal experiences?

Absolutely! The six senior military colleges (SMCs) in the United States are the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), The Citadel, Norwich University, Texas A&M University, North Georgia College & State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech).

Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is known for its intense and rigorous military lifestyle. Cadets live in barracks and follow a military regimen, while also taking a full course load. Many graduates end up going into the military, but the curriculum also prepares students for civilian careers.

The Citadel is a college with similar emphasis on inculcating values like honor, duty, and respect. Its leadership programs are highly regarded, as well as its academics. The Citadel offers 23 undergraduate degree programs and 25 graduate programs in business administration, education, engineering, and several other disciplines.

Norwich University, the oldest of the SMCs, offers both civilian and Corps of Cadets lifestyles. Norwich utilizes an experiential learning model, where students gain hands-on experience in their fields of study. The school offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields such as architecture, business, nursing and cyber security.

Texas A&M University is one of the largest and most comprehensive SMCs, with the Corps of Cadets being a distinct segment of the university population. The university offers a wide range of academic majors, and is particularly well known for its engineering, business, and agriculture programs. Participation in the Corps is not mandatory for all students.

North Georgia College & State University, also known as University of North Georgia, is an SMC where the Corps of Cadets is part of the student population. The university also offers a large number of majors, ranging from performing arts to computer science.

Virginia Tech is a large public university with a Corps of Cadets embedded within its student population. They have a strong focus on disciplines like engineering and business, but also offer a myriad of other programs.

All six of these institutions provide students the opportunity to combine strong academics with leadership training in a military-style environment. You'll find that, while they each provide this combination, the style and intensity of the military routine and the number and nature of the academic offerings differ among schools. Therefore, it would be useful to identify the type of environment that aligns with your career goals and personal comfort level. It's also important to note that, at most of these schools attendance does not obligate you to a military service after graduation. However, many of the graduates choose to commission as officers in various branches of the military following graduation.