Original sentence: After having their heads shaved bald, the Rats undergo their first week in a long year of intense military and physical training.Cadet officers and noncommissioned officers have the priviledge of bearing a shash and sabre, while the Institute's regimental band carries instruments for parades and formal functions.It is best described as a longer version of the Marine Corps boot camp combined with the first year of college.It is common for in-state cadets to have their last two years at VMI paid for by alumni.The Virginia Military Institute (VMI), located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state  military college in the United States and the only classical state military college: all VMI students are cadets.VMI alumni were regarded among the best officers of the South and several distinguished themselves in the  Union forces as well.VMI's $290 million endowment is the largest per-capita endowment of any public college or university in the United States
Edited sentence: After having their heads shaved bald, the rats undergo their first week in a long year of intense military and physical training.Among colleges and universities without doctorate programs, U.Cadet Officers and noncommissioned officers have the privledge of bearing a shash and sabre, while the Institute's regimental band carries instruments for parades and formal functions.It is best described as a longer version of Marine Corps boot camp combined with the first year of college.It is common for in-state cadets to have their last two years at VMI paid for by generous alumni.Like the United States Service Academies and unlike any of the other "state military colleges," ALL VMI students are Cadets pursuing undergraduate degrees...there are no graduate programs or civilian students at The Institute.News and World Report also ranked VMI's Engineering program in the Top 20 and its Civil Engineering Department ninth in the Nation.The Virginia Military Institute (VMI), located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state  military college in the United States and the Nation's only classical state military college: all VMI students are cadets.The Virginia Military Institute is world-renowned for the loyalty and discipline of its Alumni and VMI's $290 million endowment is the largest per-capita endowment of any public college or university in the United States.VMI alumni were regarded the best officers of the South and several distinguished themselves in the  Union forces as well