Are service academies like West Point considered prestigious?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

What do you do for the physical fintness exam?
other selection criterion don't seem much different than other highly selective schools.

It is hugely different. You have to be too physical shape, not just able to pass the exam. You have to be one of the best. You also have to pass a very selective medical exam. Allergies, adhd, anxiety, depression, sports related injuries, all can disqualify you. Betting many young adults at top universities are medicated to cope

I'm sure shit ton of kids don't have those medical conditions and able to pass the physical exam

and other schools value leadership and high level of sports

Value maybe, but they are a requirement for a service academy. And their physical requirements are more than “high level” sports.

So what's requriement? I bet any decent athletes would make it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

What do you do for the physical fintness exam?
other selection criterion don't seem much different than other highly selective schools.

It is hugely different. You have to be too physical shape, not just able to pass the exam. You have to be one of the best. You also have to pass a very selective medical exam. Allergies, adhd, anxiety, depression, sports related injuries, all can disqualify you. Betting many young adults at top universities are medicated to cope

I'm sure shit ton of kids don't have those medical conditions and able to pass the physical exam

I’m in the medical field and can tell you I’m sure as sh*t nearly half the kids at top colleges and universities are medicated for anxiety, depression, and/or adhd

so the other 50% would be eligeable which makes it shit ton

Peopple here think that being normal healthy is rare commodity lol

And of those 50%, how many have the physical fitness, character, high GPA, and mental strength to make it? Lots of great, smart, athletic kids wash out every year. It’s hard in every way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

What do you do for the physical fintness exam?
other selection criterion don't seem much different than other highly selective schools.

It is hugely different. You have to be too physical shape, not just able to pass the exam. You have to be one of the best. You also have to pass a very selective medical exam. Allergies, adhd, anxiety, depression, sports related injuries, all can disqualify you. Betting many young adults at top universities are medicated to cope

I'm sure shit ton of kids don't have those medical conditions and able to pass the physical exam

and other schools value leadership and high level of sports

Value maybe, but they are a requirement for a service academy. And their physical requirements are more than “high level” sports.

So what's requriement? I bet any decent athletes would make it

and there are shit ton of decent athlestes in any random high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

What do you do for the physical fintness exam?
other selection criterion don't seem much different than other highly selective schools.

It is hugely different. You have to be too physical shape, not just able to pass the exam. You have to be one of the best. You also have to pass a very selective medical exam. Allergies, adhd, anxiety, depression, sports related injuries, all can disqualify you. Betting many young adults at top universities are medicated to cope

I'm sure shit ton of kids don't have those medical conditions and able to pass the physical exam

I’m in the medical field and can tell you I’m sure as sh*t nearly half the kids at top colleges and universities are medicated for anxiety, depression, and/or adhd

so the other 50% would be eligeable which makes it shit ton

Peopple here think that being normal healthy is rare commodity lol

And of those 50%, how many have the physical fitness, character, high GPA, and mental strength to make it? Lots of great, smart, athletic kids wash out every year. It’s hard in every way.

according to the data less than 50% are in the top 10% of the class. GPA as well as SAT is not that impressive
a lot of decent ahletes in a high would easily make the physical test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

What do you do for the physical fintness exam?
other selection criterion don't seem much different than other highly selective schools.

It is hugely different. You have to be too physical shape, not just able to pass the exam. You have to be one of the best. You also have to pass a very selective medical exam. Allergies, adhd, anxiety, depression, sports related injuries, all can disqualify you. Betting many young adults at top universities are medicated to cope

I'm sure shit ton of kids don't have those medical conditions and able to pass the physical exam

I’m in the medical field and can tell you I’m sure as sh*t nearly half the kids at top colleges and universities are medicated for anxiety, depression, and/or adhd

so the other 50% would be eligeable which makes it shit ton

Peopple here think that being normal healthy is rare commodity lol

Actually it is among teens. So many kids are on meds.

Being medically heathy isn’t enough though. You have to be in top physical fitness and be able to score very high on their tests, as in higher than most of the other applicants which want to get it. Passing isn’t enough. That leaves a very small pool of competitive candidates that would typically be at other top schools. Oh, and natural born US citizen and able to get a security clearance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

I'm one of the prior posters who is admittedly upset that my son did not get an appointment. He did get a nomination. it just seems to me something like success at playing video games demonstrating dexterity, instincts, vision and ability to handle pressure might be more directly applicable to what a typical military person might be doing in today's high tech army. Using the shuttle run as a metric is just a relic from a bygone era.

I think they do a lot of physical activity/training while at the academy. How did he do on the fitness exam?

I totally get that. He was average on the fitness exam. He passed everything including that blasted basketball throw. But certainly did not distinguish himself. He is a varsity athlete in cross country and tennis. But he was told that did not carry as much weight as those involved in the team sports with a heavy emphasis on the helmet sports. Also the fact that he was not a captain apparently is counted against him. I certainly too understand the importance of teamwork and leadership. But still. It's just been a tough grief process. He's moved on and will be at a Top 10 school this coming fall. It'll take me a bit more time to recover. LOL.

Yes, the application process is so long and requires so many different factors and hurdles. Congrats that he is going to a Top 10 school in the fall, though! That is great! I know some applicants do ROTC at "civilian" colleges and then re-apply to service academies as sophomores or maybe even juniors, so that could be another avenue.

Yes, my brother-in-law transferred to a military academy as a sophomore. he had to still be there for 4 years (so 5 years as for undergrad). He went on to have an amazing career in the military and just retired.

If your son is happy, I'd let him continue on, but if he still wants to go to an academy he can try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

I'm one of the prior posters who is admittedly upset that my son did not get an appointment. He did get a nomination. it just seems to me something like success at playing video games demonstrating dexterity, instincts, vision and ability to handle pressure might be more directly applicable to what a typical military person might be doing in today's high tech army. Using the shuttle run as a metric is just a relic from a bygone era.

I think they do a lot of physical activity/training while at the academy. How did he do on the fitness exam?

I totally get that. He was average on the fitness exam. He passed everything including that blasted basketball throw. But certainly did not distinguish himself. He is a varsity athlete in cross country and tennis. But he was told that did not carry as much weight as those involved in the team sports with a heavy emphasis on the helmet sports. Also the fact that he was not a captain apparently is counted against him. I certainly too understand the importance of teamwork and leadership. But still. It's just been a tough grief process. He's moved on and will be at a Top 10 school this coming fall. It'll take me a bit more time to recover. LOL.

Yes, the application process is so long and requires so many different factors and hurdles. Congrats that he is going to a Top 10 school in the fall, though! That is great! I know some applicants do ROTC at "civilian" colleges and then re-apply to service academies as sophomores or maybe even juniors, so that could be another avenue.

Yes, my brother-in-law transferred to a military academy as a sophomore. he had to still be there for 4 years (so 5 years as for undergrad). He went on to have an amazing career in the military and just retired.

If your son is happy, I'd let him continue on, but if he still wants to go to an academy he can try again.

Same. I have a couple friends that didn’t get in first go around and reapplied a year or two later. You have 4 years the academy no matter if you already had college classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know quite a few service academy grads and I think of them as hard-working, goal-oriented, self-disciplined, athletic doers who generally have their acts together, but I don't necessarily find them particularly smart, creative, or innovative as a whole. Bright enough for sure, and nothing to look down on, but if they didn't go to the academies, most of them wouldn't have gone to a top academic university or college. I mean, does Mike Pompeo really strike anyone as the sharpest tool in the shed? Or Roy Moore? Or Oliver North? So academically, I don't think they are that prestigious; their prestige comes from other qualities. It's really apples and oranges.

I have also worked with one, and noticed that the guy could work in a pressure cooker, but did not stand out as very smart. The guy was very friendly and pleasant to work with.

Agree. They aren't smart but they're very patriotic and mission-driven. Since most corporations were built on a military model of chain of command leadership ... military guys can do well in corporations. That just means they know how to follow orders and buckle down ... not that they have high IQs or anything. Your examples are good. Pompeo seems as dumb as a brick and so did North.

OP .. they are not "prestigious" ... that is the wrong word choice.

DCUM, where people think rocket scientists and engineers “aren’t that smart” lol

I don’t like the men you mentioned either, but they’re plenty smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thank the negative Nellie is a troll. Because come on, everyone knows how prestigious they are, especially Naval and West Point. I think they draw exactly the type of student you named, OP - very bright, athletic, community service oriented leader types.

This, I think everyone knows how prestigious Annapolis and West Point are!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not prestigious at all. But respected, certainly.

I'm not really sure how we're defining "prestigious."

The most significant differences in admissions standards seem to be the physical fitness exam requirement, the congressional nomination requirement, and the emphasis on HS sports participation and leadership. Also, candidates have to pass a medical exam.

What do you do for the physical fintness exam?
other selection criterion don't seem much different than other highly selective schools.

It is hugely different. You have to be too physical shape, not just able to pass the exam. You have to be one of the best. You also have to pass a very selective medical exam. Allergies, adhd, anxiety, depression, sports related injuries, all can disqualify you. Betting many young adults at top universities are medicated to cope

I'm sure shit ton of kids don't have those medical conditions and able to pass the physical exam

I’m in the medical field and can tell you I’m sure as sh*t nearly half the kids at top colleges and universities are medicated for anxiety, depression, and/or adhd

so the other 50% would be eligeable which makes it shit ton

Peopple here think that being normal healthy is rare commodity lol

Actually it is among teens. So many kids are on meds.

Being medically heathy isn’t enough though. You have to be in top physical fitness and be able to score very high on their tests, as in higher than most of the other applicants which want to get it. Passing isn’t enough. That leaves a very small pool of competitive candidates that would typically be at other top schools. Oh, and natural born US citizen and able to get a security clearance.

the pool gets smaller eliminating kids with medical conditions and less than decent athlete, but the pool gets bigger in academics

[Anonymous]

Academically not impressive compared to other selective shools

https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/how-to-get-into-west-point/

- The average SAT score for this cohort was 1322 and the average ACT composite was 31
- 43% finished in the top decile of their high school class, 70% were in the top quartile, and 93% placed in the top half. Over two-thirds (63%) had a weighted GPA of 4.0 or better and only 10% earned less than a 3.5. The average high school GPA of a Class of 2024 West Point member was 3.88.

with this it's hard to even get into Virginia Tech engineering.

But I get it that you should not have medical condition and be a decent athlete

[Anonymous]

The difference is that other shools give you bonus points if you have medical conditions and overcome it lol

[Anonymous]

No, like maybe Tufts or UNC prestigious. Only Williams, Amherst, Pomona, and Swarthmore compare to top 25s

[Anonymous]

Did the other service academy thread get deleted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did the other service academy thread get deleted?

One is enough for this topic.
Top service academies are considered prestigious and respected enough.
However it's for a different audience. It has different path and different life style
No need to exaggerate and trying to boost it