Why are the service academies so selective?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The service academies are selective for those who apply. However, the most selective students opt-out so the remaining pool is not as selective as T25 colleges.

Ton of students who can get in T50 or T100 wouldn't choose military life style.

Which is OK because the US military only needs 25,000 lieutenants and there are many more kids than that (about 170,000) who attend top schools. In addition, not every lieutenant is the product of the Service academies - many of them are products of ROTC at non-T100 schools.

[Anonymous]

People are always surprised how NOT easy it is to join the military. Officer candidacy is difficult and getting into it via Academy is an amazing achievement.

[Anonymous]

Parent of a current West Point Cadet who graduated from TJ.

Generally thriving but would say academics have been generally on easy side, as TJ prepared well, while military classes/, physical training/leadership details have been challenging.

Average scores for admission reflect commitment to obtaining geographic and racial diversity while also ensuring a component of enlisted Soldiers (at least 3 years out of HS) and D1 athletes are accepted.

Definitely not everyone's cup of tea but I have been impressed with opportunities, challenges, post grad options.

Admissions brief we attended said everyone would face a "personal crisis" during 47 month experience to overcome and that has been true, starting with required boxing class first semester where you will literally be punched in the face 😀

Class starts with 1200 but typically graduates about 900. Not sure how that attrition rate compares

[Anonymous]

One quirk with Service Academies is that a big chunk of every incoming class is filled with legacies - either a parent or grandparent graduated from one of the Academies. So it's already sort of an insular world and many of these legacies have been groomed since birth to be a stand out applicant.

Children of Academy graduates get preferential treatment in the application process (e.g., they don't need a Congressional nomination).

It would be interesting to know the acceptance rates of legacies vs. completely unconnected kids who go through the Congressional process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One quirk with Service Academies is that a big chunk of every incoming class is filled with legacies - either a parent or grandparent graduated from one of the Academies. So it's already sort of an insular world and many of these legacies have been groomed since birth to be a stand out applicant.

Children of Academy graduates get preferential treatment in the application process (e.g., they don't need a Congressional nomination).

It would be interesting to know the acceptance rates of legacies vs. completely unconnected kids who go through the Congressional process.

Children of active duty service members get the same treatment (and service members who died in service or who are mia).

[Anonymous]

also, extremely rare, but children of MoH recipients do not need a nomination and would have a hard time not being accepted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One quirk with Service Academies is that a big chunk of every incoming class is filled with legacies - either a parent or grandparent graduated from one of the Academies. So it's already sort of an insular world and many of these legacies have been groomed since birth to be a stand out applicant.

Children of Academy graduates get preferential treatment in the application process (e.g., they don't need a Congressional nomination).

It would be interesting to know the acceptance rates of legacies vs. completely unconnected kids who go through the Congressional process.

Children of active duty service members get the same treatment (and service members who died in service or who are mia).

DP and to be clear, they also need the congressional nomination .

[Anonymous]

SCOTUS case on race and admission specifically excluded the service academics from opinion in a footnote. Without much rationale but interesting.

My child experience at West Point has been about 75 percent of cadets have a military connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One quirk with Service Academies is that a big chunk of every incoming class is filled with legacies - either a parent or grandparent graduated from one of the Academies. So it's already sort of an insular world and many of these legacies have been groomed since birth to be a stand out applicant.

Children of Academy graduates get preferential treatment in the application process (e.g., they don't need a Congressional nomination).

It would be interesting to know the acceptance rates of legacies vs. completely unconnected kids who go through the Congressional process.

Children of active duty service members get the same treatment (and service members who died in service or who are mia).

DP and to be clear, they also need the congressional nomination .

No they don't

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Nomination-Sources.php

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One quirk with Service Academies is that a big chunk of every incoming class is filled with legacies - either a parent or grandparent graduated from one of the Academies. So it's already sort of an insular world and many of these legacies have been groomed since birth to be a stand out applicant.

Children of Academy graduates get preferential treatment in the application process (e.g., they don't need a Congressional nomination).

It would be interesting to know the acceptance rates of legacies vs. completely unconnected kids who go through the Congressional process.

Children of active duty service members get the same treatment (and service members who died in service or who are mia).

DP and to be clear, they also need the congressional nomination .

No they don't

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Nomination-Sources.php[/quote

What they don't say on that page is that it is recommended that even if you qualify for a presidential nomination, to apply for a congessional as well. They limit the number of presidential nominations who can attend (I believe it's 100).