Why are the service academies so selective?

[Anonymous]

They are a great way to get into med school too if that is of interest to your kid!

[Anonymous]

West Point has 2 presidents as alums (Navy 1) and an impressive history of producing CEOs, which doesn't hurt.
https://envzone.com/learn-from-west-point-grads-on-the-winning-leading-and-the-triangle-principle/

The perceived leadership training and attention to detail stand out at the academies.

[Anonymous]

As we know around here, the federal government loves to hire vets and top tech companies and other Fortune 500 employers have recruiting programs specifically for veterans. The academy grads are viewed as the cream of the crop within that talent pool. They also have comparatively strong alumni networks. I'm not from a family with any military connections, but now seems like a great time to attend a service academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

I wonder how many incoming VT freshman could pass the medical and physical fitness portion

It's not like normal healthy kids are rare thing at all.
physical fitness portion is not too difficult at all.

And how do you know what’s in their medical records? All my kids and their friends look fit and healthy. Not one of them would pass the medical board part of the process.

Just taking anxiety meds disqualifies you - and that's very many "normal, healthy looking" kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH graduated #1 in his school class and was selected for both West Point and The Merchant Marine Academy. He chose the latter. He served in the reserves for 6 years but started with a DoD position directly after college, with 4 years of federal service already credited to him. Top-level clearance. His family was so poor he could never have dreamed of getting such a fabulous education completely for free.

The Merchant Marine Academy is often overlooked, but really does set one up for success.

Unless you're talking about a woman, then it sets you up for abuse and trauma.

Wut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

It's a very intensive application. They'll know. I had one that went through it. Color blindness. So that was the end of the navy. Army is more accommodating.

You can't hide anything on an academy app. Absolutely everything gets tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

They ask you and you need to tell the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

You must authorize release of your medical records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

The medical portion is intense. They send you to a military hospital where you go to pretty much every department and are checked inside and out. DC was at the hospital for 4 hours. They have all of your previous records and double check everything. Broke your arm in 3rd grade, they're checking to see if it healed properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

You must authorize release of your medical records.

Thanks, that’s interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

The medical portion is intense. They send you to a military hospital where you go to pretty much every department and are checked inside and out. DC was at the hospital for 4 hours. They have all of your previous records and double check everything. Broke your arm in 3rd grade, they're checking to see if it healed properly.

And a past mental health issue is a non-no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admission stats at the Naval Academy are nearly identical to Virginia Tech. So, stats wise, it’s not selective. But they put up a bunch of hoops that make it difficult to be accepted.

Stats are the easiest box to check in the application prices for sure. And I don’t mean they’re easy- just relative to the rest of the requirements. 4.5 and 1550 is totally irrelevant if you’ve taken ADHD meds, antidepressants, aren’t an athlete, or have any health issues at all.

How will they know what medications anyone has taken, or what health issues there are?

The medical portion is intense. They send you to a military hospital where you go to pretty much every department and are checked inside and out. DC was at the hospital for 4 hours. They have all of your previous records and double check everything. Broke your arm in 3rd grade, they're checking to see if it healed properly.

And a past mental health issue is a non-no?

Past mental health issues are automatic disqualifiers

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how the service academies are, but in the other parts of the military you can get a waiver for a wide variety of physical & mental issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s not a normal experience. Most people couldn’t/wouldn’t tolerate it (myself included).
Are you willing to shave your head? Be scheduled from sun up to sun down? Do basic training? Not be allowed to come and go from campus at will? Commit to being deployed once college is over? Nothing is free. You pay for it somehow.

What does that have to do with the question?

Seriously?