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Considering FUMA for our son
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 12:02pm
We have a rising freshman and are considering the idea of sending him to FUMA. I would be so thankful to hear from any parents who have their boys at FUMA. We would like to know why you chose to send your son to FUMA. We would also love to hear any stories that will give us both positive and negative aspects of the decision you have made. Thanks so much!
Sat, 08/29/2009 - 10:58am
#1
FUMA a choice
My son was a freshman when he started. At high school the negative influences won out. At Fuma his Ds and Fs turned to As and Bs and the honor role and the deans list. He discovered he could do well. He took the leadership course. It has made an impact on him. Before we knew it, he's now going into his senior year. We hear no complaints from him about going back to the school. He gets it. We made the right choice.
...Brian Hill. Virginia Beach
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 6:42am
#2
Thanks!!
Thank you for all the testimonies about FUMA! Keep them coming and continue to "spread the word" to others! Who knows best than a parent how the Academy can put your son in the right direction and prepare him for the future! There is a reason, "Success Stories Begin Here."
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 4:17pm
#3
Considering FUMA for our son
I can confidently say that sending our son as a Junior to FUMA was the best decision we ever made concerning his schooling. We have a very bright young man who was slipping terribly academically in high school due to lack of discipline and motivation to strive for his best. He has dreams for his future that were not going to come true, if he continued on the same path. We sent him to summer school at Hargrave Military and then to FUMA's summer school the following summer, and saw such a change, we knew we had to send him to FUMA. Out of the two schools, FUMA proved a much better match, and we were drawn to it's Christian heritage. He has experienced a complete change in his grades, that we are now in the process of applying for those colleges and academies that he once just dreamed of going to. Now he actually has the possibilities opening up to him! I hope that you are finding the comments of those who have made this decision in the past helpful to you!
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 10:10am
#4
Considering FUMA for our son
We started in 6th grade now going 8th. My son says diffently send your son to FUMA best experince he can get. Mine is already looking to get back in the swing of things. God has truly blessed us with FUMA staff beginning with those in Hathcher Hall to the Infrimamy to all the middle school staff there wonderful and know this year will be better than all the others becauce the cadets grow more each year under the leadership. Pray and go with God!
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 4:16pm
#5
considering FUMA for our son
Hello, I very much understand your decision. It is a very hard one to make. Our son, Mike was struggling with ADHD, but is a very bright boy. We saw him bringing his grades down starting in 5th grade, but didn't know what to do. By 8th, he barely scraped by at our local Catholic school. He is a great kid, but just couldn't study. We enrolled him in FUM in 9th grade and when they say they are in the life changing business, they really know where of they speak. He is flourishing there in a safe, non distracting school. His first year saw him receive distinguished cadet and all A's. It was as if he had become a completely different person. He held his head up high, and became so confident. He is now a rising Jr.and he looks forward to being back and getting the A's which for so long eluded him. As he has said many times, you have to almost be sleeping to not get A's. He is now talking about college (a subject he never even considered), and people who see him now say how changed he is for the better. I cannot say enough about FUMA. Yes, it is a financial burden, but knowing he will have a succsssful future, it is worth every penny. The teachers and staff care, and now that his entire attitude has changed, it is a pleasure to watch him grow into manhood. Pray about your decision - I did and the answer was yes for us and hopefully it will be for you. :D
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 8:49pm
#6
Considering FUMA for our son
Our son enrolled FUMA in January his freshman year. This year will be his senior year at FUMA. We have found that FUMA knows young men. Our son required the discipline, routine and daily structure that FUMA offers. In public school there was no motivation for academics ~ FUMA creates motivation. The public school system had no consequences and our son's mindset was "it's cool to fail" (and most of the time he did). FUMA has specific consequences for each behavior and each cadet is very aware of the consequences and FUMA is an environment where "it's cool to be smart". The staff at FUMA lives amongst the young men. They get personally involved in their lives.
There are many opportunities for the young men at FUMA. There are academics, athletics, leadership, band, choir ~~~ the list goes on.
FUMA is definitely not a reform school. I believe the stereotype of FUMA amongst some people is that FUMA is for "troubled kids". Not true. FUMA's motto is "Success Stories Begin Here" ~ FUMA also uses the Body, Mind, and Spirit comparison. FUMA creates independent young men.
What else could a parent want for their son?
Best of luck with your decision ~
P.S. On the FUMA main page there are several podcasts you can view. I recommend viewing all of them. They are very good as well as informative about the topic.
Wed, 07/15/2009 - 10:44am
#7
Thankful for FUMA
As other parents have expressed, we also struggled with a level of heartache in raising our two boys...bright underachievers who were not in trouble but not rising to their potentials. We finally placed our youngest at FUMA for summer school '08 and he proudly graduated this past May. Our only regrets are that we did not send both boys and that we waited until our youngest's senior year to enroll him. A hard decision...emotionally and financially, but the very best one we could have made. We visited when Ben was in 9th grade and his dad just could not say yes...he felt we would be "sending our boy away" so we continued at our county specialty leadership high school and then moved on to homeschooling per our son's request. Long story short, a smart young man (2170 on SAT) was not applying himself and time was passing. And our son was maturing enough to see he was drifting. Ben and I visited again in Feb. '08 and he was enrolled for summer school...a glorious month with great instructors, discipline, and new opportunities. Ben actually looked forward to returning in August for his senior year. He would tell you that the young man has to "buy into the system" in order to succeed...I hope some of that is growing maturity to realize one might thrive in FUMA's environment that strengthens body, mind, and spirit with clear expectations and consequences, opportunity, and outstanding faculty and staff...not a perfect place (anything involving us humans is not) but, in our experience, a wonderful place. Ben has made friends for life (cadets and faculty) and greatly honed his writing and reading skills. FUMA has helped him develop the inner strength, drive, and confidence to strive for his best. May God help you see clearly what is best for your son in a culture that makes more difficult the raising of true men.
Blessings to you,
Sue Wood, mother of graduate Cadet Ben Wood '09
Sun, 06/21/2009 - 9:44am
#9
Thinking of joining the FUMA family
A year ago, my husband and I wanted to get the same answers you are searching for, knowing that the only real answers lyed within us. Through opportunity are we able to affect the "Body, Mind, Spirit" of our young men. At 12 years of age (one year ago) I called my son a boy. I can't wait until 2014 to see the man he will become. Through education, sports, extracurricular activities, church (all religions), and once again the infamous word of opportunities. School has only been out for exactly 30 days. I thought he would not miss it. WRONG! He misses the faculty & staff more than the students. They have become a part of this family as we have become a part of theirs. I could go on and on and on but I would like to give someone else a chance to speak.
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 3:34pm
#10
Considering FUMA for our son
The perception that a Fork Union Military School is like a "reform school" remains one of those misconceptions that we work to overcome. This sort of stigma has been attached to "military school" in popular culture, but it is not true of Fork Union. Fortunately, the way we overcome that misconception is by the success of the young men who go here.
In the past two years alone, our senior classes have earned over $16 million in college scholarships and have received 11 appointments to our nation's service academies (known for their high admissions standards). With about 100 students each year in our graduating class, you can do the math and see that these young men excel at a high percentage.
This is a school based on high quality academics, outstanding athletics, and a reputation for helping young men develop in body, mind, and spirit.
This school is far more demanding than most public school programs, and outstanding performance is the expectation, not the exception. Students learn how much they can accomplish when they apply themselves, and achievement becomes its own reward. That and the feeling of pride and self-confidence they earn by their positive results.
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:58am
#11
considering PG admission
i am currently considering enrolling my son in the Post Grad program at FUMA. could you shed more light on this program with regards to academic requirements as well as what to expect as a prospective cadet.
Thu, 01/21/2010 - 8:06pm
#12
From the Admissions Director
Greetings. The category of "PG" covers several different types of cadets at FUMA. In the most basic sense there are 2 types - While all PG's (short for post graduate) enroll to improve themselves academically, there are many who are also looking to improve themselves athletically. The one subject nature at FUMA places cadets in a unique environment where focused and directed study can take place within specific academic concentrations. Since FUMA is a college preparatory school, all of our course work is geared toward either preparing for the rigors of college level work or actually taking college level classes in the form of AP or dual-enrollment classes. A complete listing of courses can be found here.
FUMA has much to offer individuals in terms of personal growth. The structure provided, along with a supervised study period each night, social development through peer interaction and leadership, living away from home surrounded by dedicated adults place the young man in an environemnt where "good enough" is never the goal.
For the PG, FUMA offers the challenges of being educated away from home, but without the normal distractions that may be found at many colleges. I believe focusing on academics and personal growth for a PG year sets a young man up for a more disciplined transition to college.
I would encourage you to call our admissions office at 434.842.4205 and speak with one of the staff who can discuss your specific situation.
Sun, 06/14/2009 - 8:31am
#13
sending your rising freshmen to fuma
Last year our son started his freshman year at a very large
public high school, we knew that this was not a great fit
however it seemed for many reasons to be the best option
at the time so we crossed our fingers and moved forward.
The first 9 week grading period went just fine but soon after
that things started to change grades,friends attitude.
We restricted,took things away,threatened did everything
we thought we could to get him going in the right direction
but nothing good was happening, and we certainly were
not going to watch this great kid continue down the path
he was headed. In mid Feb we on a friday morning we
kept him out of school and drove to fuma for a tour, really
our intention was to let him know we weren't kidding, I
don't think I really ever thought we would send him away
to school, he started at fuma the following Tuesday.
I am from va and had heard of fuma for as long as I can
remember but I thought of fuma as a reform school, that
friday visit has very enlightening. Getting our son away
from all the distractions of public high school life, even
in just these few months we can see a difference in him.
He did not want to go, and for his father and I it was very
hard to let him go, but if I had it to do over I would have
started him in september. I hope this is helpful to you.
Thanks so much for the replies so far. I hope to hear from even more families. This is really a tough decision to make and getting tougher by the day. We never envisioned this as an option for our family. It is comforting to know that most parents have felt similar feelings and have made the decision for their son to attend FUMA and are feeling like it was a good choice. Thanks again!