Perception of Service Academies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

A summary of disqualifiers:
https://www.gainserviceacademyadmission.com/service-academy-dodmerb-physical/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Yes!
My daughter got admitted and nominated and couldn’t pass medical clearance. There are a whole list of common issues like asthma, ADHD meds, stress fractures.

[Anonymous]

How out of touch are you OP??? Both of those are very prestigious schools, and some of the most successful people I know have come out of them. Do you know how hard it is to get in? The naval academy has a less than 10% admissions rate. You are insane.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Yeah, you are really clueless. This is not a political thing. Grow up and get out a little more OP.

[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.

Also from the Midwest. Definitely know about service academies and how hard it is to get in. You are a TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL

[Anonymous]

They provide and excellent education. It's that simple. Of course, that comes with significant strings attached, and you need to be aware of and okay with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They provide and excellent education. It's that simple. Of course, that comes with significant strings attached, and you need to be aware of and okay with them.

It's not "strings attached." They want to sign up.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They provide and excellent education. It's that simple. Of course, that comes with significant strings attached, and you need to be aware of and okay with them.

It's not "strings attached." They want to sign up.

I mean, some do. Many want the free education and are willing to do 4 years afterwards to get it. Same with ROTC.

[Anonymous]

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.

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.

My spouse grew up in the middle of nowhere in Central Flyover Country to parents who didn't go to college. They knew it. You're embarrassing yourself. I wouldn't tell anyone in real life that you didn't know about the service academies.

[Anonymous]

As a professor at an R1 school, I have only vaguely heard of this. I thought it was like community college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They provide and excellent education. It's that simple. Of course, that comes with significant strings attached, and you need to be aware of and okay with them.

It's not "strings attached." They want to sign up.

I mean, some do. Many want the free education and are willing to do 4 years afterwards to get it. Same with ROTC.

No, it's not the same as ROTC. If you're good enough for the service academies, you have plenty of opportunities to go to plenty of excellent colleges and get merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a professor at an R1 school, I have only vaguely heard of this. I thought it was like community college.

Well, you should be ashamed of yourself then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

A summary of disqualifiers:
https://www.gainserviceacademyadmission.com/service-academy-dodmerb-physical/

Ha! DS has three of the disqualifiers.