Perception of Service Academies

[Anonymous]

i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

[Anonymous]

Admission is extremely competitive, they are academically rigorous, have very strong alumni networks, pay their students to attend and guarantee them employment after graduation, provide leadership and management training, instill discipline, and provide an opportunity for public service.

[Anonymous]

I would say that being accepted to and attending a service academy is extremely difficult and prestigious. Good on your friend’s child for wanting to serve our country.

[Anonymous]

I call troll. Really obvious. Or, a really dumb q / poster. I hope troll, for OPs sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

They are harder to get into than the Ivy League. They are well regarded everywhere.

[Anonymous]

If you understood how difficult it is to get into one of the service academies, you would realize that yes, it’s prestigious. Plus, free tuition/room and board and a guaranteed job after graduation. Even if your friend’s kid does only their obligation after school, having military officer on their resume is huge. Plus, the security clearance for future fed/contractor jobs and a ton of other incentives. Or, they can be an officer for much longer and reap all of the benefits that come with that.

It’s an amazing deal for kids who have the will and desire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

It's considered a "prestigious route" in ALL circles. Except, maybe, the ignorant ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call troll. Really obvious. Or, a really dumb q / poster. I hope troll, for OPs sake.

I don’t know. There’s a huge military presence in this area, so it seems suspect. But I am starting to realize how little a lot of people know and/or understand about the military if they don’t have a family connection or friends/colleagues who have served. It’s still a relative unknown for a lot of people in this country.

[Anonymous]

When applying to a service academy you are required to obtain a Congressional nomination from one of the following sources:

A member of the U.S. Senate
A member of the U.S. House of Representatives
The Vice-President of the United States
The Governor or Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The Secretary of the Army

Each MOC possesses five nomination slots per year across all five service academies. Each senator has the same.

[Anonymous]

I get it, OP. I come from a part of the country where I didnt know a single military member/vet other than my drafted grandfathers. Not a single person from my graduating class of 550 went into the military. When my sister’s boyfriend ended up attending the naval academy the following year, we were all fairly shocked—it wasn’t a typical path. (To be completely transparent though, he had applied to a handful of civilian schools and didn’t get in—USNA was the only option he had once decisions came out).

It worked out well for him, but it wasn’t until moving to DC that I learned it’s considered prestigious. I assumed at the time it had been his safety school since it was the only one he got into, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

It's considered a "prestigious route" in ALL circles. Except, maybe, the ignorant ones.

OP here - I'm willing to claim ignorance. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if the family were conservative, but given that they are left-leaning it was surprising. It sounds like I'm the one who needs schooling in this though. My kids are much younger and I'm from the midwest if that serves as any sort of explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When applying to a service academy you are required to obtain a Congressional nomination from one of the following sources:

A member of the U.S. Senate
A member of the U.S. House of Representatives
The Vice-President of the United States
The Governor or Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The Secretary of the Army

Each MOC possesses five nomination slots per year across all five service academies. Each senator has the same.

Really? How can there be so many applicants, then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

It's considered a "prestigious route" in ALL circles. Except, maybe, the ignorant ones.

OP here - I'm willing to claim ignorance. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if the family were conservative, but given that they are left-leaning it was surprising. It sounds like I'm the one who needs schooling in this though. My kids are much younger and I'm from the midwest if that serves as any sort of explanation.

I grew up in the Midwest too, OP and had never heard of it. When meeting my now WP attending husband and he told me where he went to school clearly trying to impress me, I completely blew him off and flippantly said “oh, I’ve never heard of it”. I truly had never heard of it. What a moron I was. Yes, it’s very prestigious.

[Anonymous]

In addition to the academics, there's also rigorous fitness and health requirements. A service academy would have been perfect for DS but his stupid peanut allergy excludes him from admittance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In addition to the academics, there's also rigorous fitness and health requirements. A service academy would have been perfect for DS but his stupid peanut allergy excludes him from admittance.

Do they specifically exclude students with medical issues?