Are the Service Academies Prestigious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, U.S. News ranks West Point at #12 among Liberal Arts colleges, tied with Colby and Colgate.
Do you consider Colby and Colgate "prestigious?"
The Naval Academy is at #21, so deemed somewhat less prestigious.

West Point is not a little break arts school. All graduates receive bachelor degree in science. So, of course it will be ranked low in arts.

WP ranked number four in chemical engineering program.

? U.S. News has two categories only: a) national universities, b) Liberal Arts colleges. WP and Naval Academy are ranked in the second category. I don't pretend to know where they would rank if placed in the first category; presumably much lower than 12th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, this country could really culturally benefit if it incorporated a 2 year mandatory National Service program for all citizens during age 18-30. You could do military if you're up for basic training, physicality and teamwork, or you could do a Department desk job. This could really create unity and teamwork and understanding among the ever-heterogeneous America.

Right now all sides just talk over or across each other, the lack of understanding is awful. The lack of understanding of civics, the military, geography, U.S. history, and each other in this country is also awful.

TOTALLY AGREE. Wish someone in politics would put this forward, it's been needed for the last 20 years of cultural and unity decline here.

Norway, Israel, Italy, Singapore, S Korea, Sweden, Brazil, Turkey, Swiss, Denmark all have compulsory military/gov't service programs that work well at building cohesiveness, as well as leadership, teamwork and community skills.

If you think its so important, why don't you go serve? I love how people say that when they have never served. My husband did his 20. NO way do I agree with mandatory service.

[Anonymous]

This thread is ridiculous. If you want to go into military service, the academies are the most prestigious college option by far. Though ROTC at civilian colleges have produced more junior officers than the academies for decades, the academies dominate the upper ranks of the military. And no one questions that the top students are as academically impressive as those anywhere. But, the standard for admission and success is very different than other colleges. MIT may want/prefer the student who codes all day and night in his/her room but the odds that student is capable of leading a platoon is low. And Princeton doesn't mind if the future philosopher can't lift anything heavier than a book. The academies need students who can go to war and we've been at war continually since 9/11.

In some ways, the academies are the ultimate "holistic review" admissions process. The minimum academic requirement to be considered "fully qualified" at Annapolis is a very low -- 600 combined SAT and a B average -- but the other criteria are tough. They push a large portion of their students to go to summer and prep schools to see their potential in real life, not just on paper. But, their admission rates are low only because they include many students who never complete the application process (70%) because they learn they probably aren't cut out for it.

[Anonymous]

No they are not OP unless you are in the military world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is ridiculous. If you want to go into military service, the academies are the most prestigious college option by far. Though ROTC at civilian colleges have produced more junior officers than the academies for decades, the academies dominate the upper ranks of the military. And no one questions that the top students are as academically impressive as those anywhere. But, the standard for admission and success is very different than other colleges. MIT may want/prefer the student who codes all day and night in his/her room but the odds that student is capable of leading a platoon is low. And Princeton doesn't mind if the future philosopher can't lift anything heavier than a book. The academies need students who can go to war and we've been at war continually since 9/11.

In some ways, the academies are the ultimate "holistic review" admissions process. The minimum academic requirement to be considered "fully qualified" at Annapolis is a very low -- 600 combined SAT and a B average -- but the other criteria are tough. They push a large portion of their students to go to summer and prep schools to see their potential in real life, not just on paper. But, their admission rates are low only because they include many students who never complete the application process (70%) because they learn they probably aren't cut out for it.

You have to get sponsored and much more for an application. Its very hard to get sponsored so that is probably the high drop out rate. I cannot imagine those with 600 SAT and B average are going to the academy in less its for sports or something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, this country could really culturally benefit if it incorporated a 2 year mandatory National Service program for all citizens during age 18-30. You could do military if you're up for basic training, physicality and teamwork, or you could do a Department desk job. This could really create unity and teamwork and understanding among the ever-heterogeneous America.

Right now all sides just talk over or across each other, the lack of understanding is awful. The lack of understanding of civics, the military, geography, U.S. history, and each other in this country is also awful.

TOTALLY AGREE. Wish someone in politics would put this forward, it's been needed for the last 20 years of cultural and unity decline here.

Norway, Israel, Italy, Singapore, S Korea, Sweden, Brazil, Turkey, Swiss, Denmark all have compulsory military/gov't service programs that work well at building cohesiveness, as well as leadership, teamwork and community skills.

If you think its so important, why don't you go serve? I love how people say that when they have never served. My husband did his 20. NO way do I agree with mandatory service.

Sorry to hear ma’am. Hope you and your husband find some happiness. Do you happen to read the newspapers nowadays or for the last 9 years of domestic upheaval?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, this country could really culturally benefit if it incorporated a 2 year mandatory National Service program for all citizens during age 18-30. You could do military if you're up for basic training, physicality and teamwork, or you could do a Department desk job. This could really create unity and teamwork and understanding among the ever-heterogeneous America.

Right now all sides just talk over or across each other, the lack of understanding is awful. The lack of understanding of civics, the military, geography, U.S. history, and each other in this country is also awful.

TOTALLY AGREE. Wish someone in politics would put this forward, it's been needed for the last 20 years of cultural and unity decline here.

Norway, Israel, Italy, Singapore, S Korea, Sweden, Brazil, Turkey, Swiss, Denmark all have compulsory military/gov't service programs that work well at building cohesiveness, as well as leadership, teamwork and community skills.

If you think its so important, why don't you go serve? I love how people say that when they have never served. My husband did his 20. NO way do I agree with mandatory service.

I’m not clear what you’re disagreeing with. You disagree the nation is not so Unified? You disagree national service programs build national camaderie? Or you just hate your husbands first career so much you have to post here and miss the main point?

[Anonymous]

They are prestigious in a different way from Harvard Yale etc. The main goal of services academies is to train the next generation of soldiers and officers, not the next generation of Albert Einstein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up on the West Coast and attended a private prep school and frankly never heard of West Point or Annapolis until I moved to Washington, DC.

Who is hiring their grads?

Well, perhaps, the military???? Then, after their service ends, defense contractors, IT shops, engineering firms. Take a look at how many Presidents came from the service academies. In general, grads tend to be very goal oriented, work well in teams, willingness to relocate, etc etc etc. Those traits are attractive to corps.

[Anonymous]

Not only are they smart.

They are also in shape and able to take mental / physical rigor.


More prestigious than any in my opionion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not only are they smart.

They are also in shape and able to take mental / physical rigor.


More prestigious than any in my opionion.

I agree!

Not only are they smart, but disciplined, mission oriented, and will follow an order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, U.S. News ranks West Point at #12 among Liberal Arts colleges, tied with Colby and Colgate.
Do you consider Colby and Colgate "prestigious?"
The Naval Academy is at #21, so deemed somewhat less prestigious.

West Point is not a little break arts school. All graduates receive bachelor degree in science. So, of course it will be ranked low in arts.

WP ranked number four in chemical engineering program.

? U.S. News has two categories only: a) national universities, b) Liberal Arts colleges. WP and Naval Academy are ranked in the second category. I don't pretend to know where they would rank if placed in the first category; presumably much lower than 12th.

If placed in the national university category, West Point and Annapolis would be tied for first place, followed closely by the Air Force Academy and then the Coast Guard Academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, U.S. News ranks West Point at #12 among Liberal Arts colleges, tied with Colby and Colgate.
Do you consider Colby and Colgate "prestigious?"
The Naval Academy is at #21, so deemed somewhat less prestigious.

West Point is not a little break arts school. All graduates receive bachelor degree in science. So, of course it will be ranked low in arts.

WP ranked number four in chemical engineering program.

? U.S. News has two categories only: a) national universities, b) Liberal Arts colleges. WP and Naval Academy are ranked in the second category. I don't pretend to know where they would rank if placed in the first category; presumably much lower than 12th.

If placed in the national university category, West Point and Annapolis would be tied for first place, followed closely by the Air Force Academy and then the Coast Guard Academy.

LMAO. No they wouldn't. The rating components for the national universities and LACs are exactly the same; US News just separates them out because few would take them seriously seeing Williams ranked in the top 10 among all colleges (even though it deserves it). That the military academies rank as low as they do means they'd rank even lower in the university category, given that their peer schools have testing/stats/finances in the range of schools like Wake Forest and Brandeis. Cool story though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, U.S. News ranks West Point at #12 among Liberal Arts colleges, tied with Colby and Colgate.
Do you consider Colby and Colgate "prestigious?"
The Naval Academy is at #21, so deemed somewhat less prestigious.

West Point is not a little break arts school. All graduates receive bachelor degree in science. So, of course it will be ranked low in arts.

WP ranked number four in chemical engineering program.

? U.S. News has two categories only: a) national universities, b) Liberal Arts colleges. WP and Naval Academy are ranked in the second category. I don't pretend to know where they would rank if placed in the first category; presumably much lower than 12th.

If placed in the national university category, West Point and Annapolis would be tied for first place, followed closely by the Air Force Academy and then the Coast Guard Academy.

LMAO. No they wouldn't. The rating components for the national universities and LACs are exactly the same; US News just separates them out because few would take them seriously seeing Williams ranked in the top 10 among all colleges (even though it deserves it). That the military academies rank as low as they do means they'd rank even lower in the university category, given that their peer schools have testing/stats/finances in the range of schools like Wake Forest and Brandeis. Cool story though.

The intellectual and academic demands experienced by cadets and midshipmen far surpass than that required at any other university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, U.S. News ranks West Point at #12 among Liberal Arts colleges, tied with Colby and Colgate.
Do you consider Colby and Colgate "prestigious?"
The Naval Academy is at #21, so deemed somewhat less prestigious.

West Point is not a little break arts school. All graduates receive bachelor degree in science. So, of course it will be ranked low in arts.

WP ranked number four in chemical engineering program.

? U.S. News has two categories only: a) national universities, b) Liberal Arts colleges. WP and Naval Academy are ranked in the second category. I don't pretend to know where they would rank if placed in the first category; presumably much lower than 12th.

If placed in the national university category, West Point and Annapolis would be tied for first place, followed closely by the Air Force Academy and then the Coast Guard Academy.

LMAO. No they wouldn't. The rating components for the national universities and LACs are exactly the same; US News just separates them out because few would take them seriously seeing Williams ranked in the top 10 among all colleges (even though it deserves it). That the military academies rank as low as they do means they'd rank even lower in the university category, given that their peer schools have testing/stats/finances in the range of schools like Wake Forest and Brandeis. Cool story though.

The intellectual and academic demands experienced by cadets and midshipmen far surpass than that required at any other university.

How so?