Perception of Service Academies

[Anonymous]

Not prestigious in all circles. In DC land, sure, but much of the country thinks of it as the same as ROTC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote: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.

Bullshit.

I don’t know how to prove it is true, but it really is. This was 2005 in an area where the closest (tiny) military bases were hours away. It just wasn’t a thing in my life at that time. Totally different mentality in dc adjacent areas, where I now have more military acquaintances than I can count.

I think the bullshit refers to "it was his only option." And I agree. Unless he only applied to Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Stanford.

Right there is 0% chance that his ONLY option was the Naval Academy. 0%.

I don’t know what to tell you. He applied to 3 traditional schools (Harvard was one, the other two were SLACs in our home state) and all 3 denied him. He went to USNA. He should have applied to more safeties, clearly, but 20 years ago applying to 10+ schools wasn’t a thing and I guess he overshot.

[Anonymous]

Of course they are prestigious. Even more so than Ivy schools.

You must have top academic record AND be top athlete AND get a congressional nomination, AND not have any (documented) medical issues including anxiety, depression, adhd, allergies, AND Abe physically and mentally resiliant

This is the equivalent of a unicorn among today’s teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they are prestigious. Even more so than Ivy schools.

You must have top academic record AND be top athlete AND get a congressional nomination, AND not have any (documented) medical issues including anxiety, depression, adhd, allergies, AND Abe physically and mentally resiliant

This is the equivalent of a unicorn among today’s teens.

That made me lol. Yes, it is a unicorn now more than ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Bullshit.

I don’t know how to prove it is true, but it really is. This was 2005 in an area where the closest (tiny) military bases were hours away. It just wasn’t a thing in my life at that time. Totally different mentality in dc adjacent areas, where I now have more military acquaintances than I can count.

I think the bullshit refers to "it was his only option." And I agree. Unless he only applied to Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Stanford.

Right there is 0% chance that his ONLY option was the Naval Academy. 0%.

I don’t know what to tell you. He applied to 3 traditional schools (Harvard was one, the other two were SLACs in our home state) and all 3 denied him. He went to USNA. He should have applied to more safeties, clearly, but 20 years ago applying to 10+ schools wasn’t a thing and I guess he overshot.

Sorry, but I don't buy it.

Name the SLACs. You can easily do that without outing him or yourself.

[Anonymous]

I believe most students at all of the academies have some sort of engineering major.

Here are the majors for the Class of 2019.

Areas of study2019 graduates
Mechanical engineering6.5%
Economics6.1%
Business administration and management6.1%
Systems engineering5.9%
Legal studies5.3%
Computer and information sciences4.5%
Engineering/industrial management4.1%
Military applied sciences3.1%
International relations and affairs3.1%
Geography3.1%
Civil engineering2.7%
Systems science and theory2.7%
Chemical engineering2.6%
American government and politics (united states)2.5%
Operations research2.4%
Environmental science2.2%
Biology/biological sciences2.2%
Geographic information science and cartography2.2%
Cognitive science2%
Sociology2%
Military history1.9%
Mathematics1.8%
Applied psychology1.7%
English language and literature1.5%
Electrical and electronics engineering1.4%
Nuclear engineering1.4%
Physics1.4%
Information technology1.3%
Russian language and literature1.3%
American history (united states)1.3%
Kinesiology and exercise science1.2%
Industrial and organizational psychology1.2%
History1.2%
Chinese language and literature0.9%
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics0.9%
Spanish language and literature0.9%
Environmental/environmental health engineering0.8%
French language and literature0.8%
Portuguese language and literature0.8%
Arabic language and literature0.8%
Philosophy0.8%
Chemistry0.6%
German language and literature0.3%
Political science and government0.3%
European studies/civilization0.2%
Mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician0.2%
African studies0.1%
Latin american studies0.1%
Near and middle eastern studies0.1%
Russian studies0.1%
Show less

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I believe most students at all of the academies have some sort of engineering major.

Here are the majors for the Class of 2019.

Areas of study2019 graduates
Mechanical engineering6.5%
Economics6.1%
Business administration and management6.1%
Systems engineering5.9%
Legal studies5.3%
Computer and information sciences4.5%
Engineering/industrial management4.1%
Military applied sciences3.1%
International relations and affairs3.1%
Geography3.1%
Civil engineering2.7%
Systems science and theory2.7%
Chemical engineering2.6%
American government and politics (united states)2.5%
Operations research2.4%
Environmental science2.2%
Biology/biological sciences2.2%
Geographic information science and cartography2.2%
Cognitive science2%
Sociology2%
Military history1.9%
Mathematics1.8%
Applied psychology1.7%
English language and literature1.5%
Electrical and electronics engineering1.4%
Nuclear engineering1.4%
Physics1.4%
Information technology1.3%
Russian language and literature1.3%
American history (united states)1.3%
Kinesiology and exercise science1.2%
Industrial and organizational psychology1.2%
History1.2%
Chinese language and literature0.9%
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics0.9%
Spanish language and literature0.9%
Environmental/environmental health engineering0.8%
French language and literature0.8%
Portuguese language and literature0.8%
Arabic language and literature0.8%
Philosophy0.8%
Chemistry0.6%
German language and literature0.3%
Political science and government0.3%
European studies/civilization0.2%
Mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician0.2%
African studies0.1%
Latin american studies0.1%
Near and middle eastern studies0.1%
Russian studies0.1%
Show less

In addition, every student, no matter what their major, graduates with the equivalent of a minor in engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised people haven’t heard of old movies set at West Point. There’s a lot but off the top of my head I can think of movies like “The Long Gray Line” and “The West Point Story.”
Pretty classic old movies and part of popular culture.

I think more people watched “Top Gun” and “An Officer and A Gentleman”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Almost the same here - my father was drafted and still refers to those two years as the most miserable two years of his life except for having just married my mom. Where I grew up, the only people who would go into the military are people too stupid to get into college who just smoked weed and were going nowhere in life. When I was in 9th grade, my brother was in 12th and between all four grades of over 1,000 kids, we know exactly ONE kid who went into the Coast Guard.

Interesting. My father was drafted and despite being a Thom Hartmann liberal, speaks nothing of respect and admiration for everyone who chooses to serve, their commitment, and their hard work: from the youngest enlisted to the highest officers.

Note the difference though - my father was drafted along with everyone he was there with. Nobody was CHOOSING to enroll and go to Vietnam. My father had to interrupt his education, his brand new wife had to go on food stamps while she was in college and working two part time jobs, so this was not a choice.

My father was drafted too. He still didn’t raise children ignorant of the prestige of service academies, or who think only dumb people serve.

Of course he taught you that. He didn't want his kids to think he's some dumb loser who didn't make good decisions.

I just don’t get how someone could think that serving one’s country is not making a good decision. Do you also think that other selfless pursuits are bad decisions?

Well, you wouldn’t “get that,” since in 2022 you still think joining the military is “serving one’s country.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I truly cannot believe how ignorant some people are. My parents were both high school drop outs and half of my siblings didn't go to college. But we obviously knew the service academies were prestigious. People on this thread should be embarrassed.

I don't understand the outrage about people who didn't know of service academies in high school. There are a lot of subjects people don't know about in high school/early college that they get educated about. I'm the poster who didn't know what it was when I met my husband. He will retire in two years after 20 years of military service, with me by his side. And you think i should be embarrassed? The people who should be embarrassed are the ones who trash the military, ie cult poster below, or the ones who don't bother to serve. Give me a break.

I think it’s as OP’s combination of “ I didn’t know” with the “thought that was for kids with no options”. It’s pretty cringe. Simultaneously ignorant and arrogant. But yes, it’s surprising for anyone who was college bound to be unaware of this.

Her/his response at 21:04 is far from arrogant. It fact I would say it's the opposite where he/she says "I guess I"m the one who needs schooling". They were quite open minded in listening to the responses unlike half the posters on this forum.
i think it just makes people feel superior to chime in yet again with "I can't believe you wouldn't know that".

It’s really common for people to read only the first post or page of a multi-page post. It’s never safe to assume everyone has read every post.

Then perhaps those people should not be commenting on arrogance or calling people out.[i] Sorry but that’s just an excuse. If you can’t read the posts, assume the best and at least be NICE in your responses[b].

Can you point us to the post where you were elected board monitor? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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 is highly prestigious in all circles.

No they are not.

NP. I will re-phrase: they are highly prestigious in all circles but the ignorant and uneducated ones.

I will rephrase. No, they are not.

[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?

This is truly one of the most pathetic posts on DCUM. Your children aren’t service academy material - so you don’t need to worry about it. Now back to your daytime tv shows. Or whatever it is you do.

No one with a brain is impressed by you or your children being “service academy material.” But please, continue to brag, while we roll our eyes at you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they are prestigious. Even more so than Ivy schools.

You must have top academic record AND be top athlete AND get a congressional nomination, AND not have any (documented) medical issues including anxiety, depression, adhd, allergies, AND Abe physically and mentally resiliant

This is the equivalent of a unicorn among today’s teens.

No SAT average for West Point is only 1270

[Anonymous]

I HOPE my kid wants to go to a service academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I HOPE my kid wants to go to a service academy.

Yea its free