Are service academies super competitive?

[Anonymous]

We want you
We want you
We want you as a new recruit!

[Anonymous]

The competitiveness seems pretty heavily dependent on the level of interest in your district/state, unlike other really competitive schools.

[Anonymous]

I did a deep dive on service academies and ROTC scholarships last summer. This ROTC Scholarships podcast has information about both and helped me understand what the military is looking for and the selection process.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rotc-scholarships/id1505358064

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The competitiveness seems pretty heavily dependent on the level of interest in your district/state, unlike other really competitive schools.

Not really that different. It is harder to get into HYPS from a major metro area than from rural South Dakota. And harder to get into UVA from the DC suburbs than rural VA.

[Anonymous]

Yes, competitive. People look at them as less competitive bc of academic stats, but not everyone with perfect academic stats can pass the physical fitness test and medical requirements AND is willing to be in the military, so it's a different group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The competitiveness seems pretty heavily dependent on the level of interest in your district/state, unlike other really competitive schools.

Not really that different. It is harder to get into HYPS from a major metro area than from rural South Dakota. And harder to get into UVA from the DC suburbs than rural VA.

Meh, some private schools in NYC seem to have nearly everyone going on to an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Academic stats are also skewed by athletes and former enlisted they may send to prep schools for a year if not deemed academically ready.

[Anonymous]

They are very popular now with the price of college so high. Lots of kids from DMV go through the process so the academies have their pick and it isn't just rural kids trying to get out. ROTC super competitive too now.

What is different is that once you get in you have to stay in. That is also a lot of work for 4+ years. Kids going either academies or ROTC want it. So yes you should be impressed with those kids.

[Anonymous]

At our OOS private(not a feeder type school but it is rigorous), we had 2 girls accepted to the Naval academy. Neither were in the top 20% of the class and were not the highest rigor either. They took maybe 5-6 AP classes total( our school limits AP to junior/senior year- The top students take 8-9 ). They were good students but not NMF level test scores. 1 was recruited to play Lacrosse so that makes sense but the other was not a recruited athlete. She got injured and had to get knee surgery, so had to defer her acceptance. She ended up at Pitt.

[Anonymous]

It's quite competitive and the most competitive piece is the medical exam. If your kid has been on any psychotropic medication they will not pass. If they are more than slightly overweight they won't pass. If they have multiple allergies they will not pass. You can ask AI for more info but your kid shouldn't even start down the road unless s/he is sure s/he can pass the medical exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are very popular now with the price of college so high. Lots of kids from DMV go through the process so the academies have their pick and it isn't just rural kids trying to get out. ROTC super competitive too now.

What is different is that once you get in you have to stay in. That is also a lot of work for 4+ years. Kids going either academies or ROTC want it. So yes you should be impressed with those kids.

Not true. You can leave before your junior year with no obligations. They know it is not for many people so totally get it.

A lot of people who would normally be applying do not want to serve under the current commander in chief, even though he will be done before current applicants graduate. This includes the children of many senior military officers who were historically fairly conservative Republicans but are horrified by the lack of respect for the values they had sworn to uphold and hate how he is destroying this country. The military tends to be much more Republican than the rest of America but many senior officers are not supportive of Trump. They hate that he put a clown like Hesgeth in charge. However, the enlisted love him. I know students who would have considered an Academy in the past who want nothing to do with it. Which is a shame.

Insert your TDS comments here. To better prove my point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our OOS private(not a feeder type school but it is rigorous), we had 2 girls accepted to the Naval academy. Neither were in the top 20% of the class and were not the highest rigor either. They took maybe 5-6 AP classes total( our school limits AP to junior/senior year- The top students take 8-9 ). They were good students but not NMF level test scores. 1 was recruited to play Lacrosse so that makes sense but the other was not a recruited athlete. She got injured and had to get knee surgery, so had to defer her acceptance. She ended up at Pitt.

I feel like it may be slightly less competitive for girls to get in but can't say for sure. I think the academies are still 70-80% male.

[Anonymous]

Off topic, but one of the attractive factors can be the emphasis on leadership training that you don't find at other universities. This can transfer over to the corporate world, if grads go that way after service obligation. Leading starts at academy and continues afterwards during the service obligation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Off topic, but one of the attractive factors can be the emphasis on leadership training that you don't find at other universities. This can transfer over to the corporate world, if grads go that way after service obligation. Leading starts at academy and continues afterwards during the service obligation.

Definitely true. I went to a top MBA program and was very impressed by the academy alums in my class and most of them were very successful after business school. There are lots of academy alums in very elite positions in corporate America. They are smart, well-trained, disciplined, and the network is very tight.

That being said, it is a huge commitment, including potentially being sent to war, so I'm not sure if it is the ideal way to get there for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very popular now with the price of college so high. Lots of kids from DMV go through the process so the academies have their pick and it isn't just rural kids trying to get out. ROTC super competitive too now.

What is different is that once you get in you have to stay in. That is also a lot of work for 4+ years. Kids going either academies or ROTC want it. So yes you should be impressed with those kids.

Not true. You can leave before your junior year with no obligations. They know it is not for many people so totally get it.

A lot of people who would normally be applying do not want to serve under the current commander in chief, even though he will be done before current applicants graduate. This includes the children of many senior military officers who were historically fairly conservative Republicans but are horrified by the lack of respect for the values they had sworn to uphold and hate how he is destroying this country. The military tends to be much more Republican than the rest of America but many senior officers are not supportive of Trump. They hate that he put a clown like Hesgeth in charge. However, the enlisted love him. I know students who would have considered an Academy in the past who want nothing to do with it. Which is a shame.

Insert your TDS comments here. To better prove my point.

No one applying now will serve under this administration.