Are service academies like West Point considered prestigious?
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Anonymous
I would consider UVA McIntire more prestigious either for VA or non-VA But these are different animals and kind of absurd to compare |
Anonymous
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College prof here (not at a service academy). Students who successfully qualify for, apply to, are accepted to, study and train at, and graduate from the service academies--all of them!--are *extremely* impressive in their commitment, drive, organization, and leadership, to say nothing of their intellectual and people skills and their generosity in agreeing to serve their country. They have to be extremely mature even to organize towards and train for a *nomination*--and that while they are still in high school.
Comparing these students and their experiences to students at other schools is simply apples and oranges. Students at other colleges and universities can be top-notch fantastic in their own right, but in completely different ways. Let's concentrate on appreciating and honoring the differences, and on cultivating many forms of excellence in the next generation, both inside and outside the service academies. |
Anonymous
It is so annoying how every single god damn thread turns into how UVA is just as good or better. It doesn’t matter what school it is. Uva is better. I remember someone recently wrote how it is equal or harder to get into uva out of state as an ivy. |
Anonymous
That is the most ignorant thing I have read on DCUM. You must be punking us. |
Anonymous
You sound like an angry child. |
Anonymous
Ha! This thread is silly. I guarantee service academy grads are not sitting around on DCUM debating whether the academies are "considered prestigious." |
Anonymous
| Do they have to serve and get enlisted or can leave after they finish college? Are they on the hook to serve as they went to college for free? |
Anonymous
UVA boosters are always on here 24-7. |
Anonymous
They do have to serve, but they do not enlist, they are commissioned as officers. They receive a BS and a commission at graduation. During their years at the academy, they are studying for their college degree while also training to be and learning how to be military officers. It is a lot of work and there is very little time for hanging out and partying with friends while they are cadets. |
Anonymous
Yes, they have to serve. Yes, they are on the hook if they graduate. |
Anonymous
No. Service Academies, particularly Navy and West Point, are very impressive but not quite as selective as Ivies. It’s a different process but Ivies still harder admissions. Still no slight to the Academies, they are absolutely top notch. It’s a different kind of applicant however. Different life goals, strengths and character - less solely intellectually focused, more well rounded with high academic combined with athleticism and desire to serve a higher purpose. Academies are also 100% free - but the student pays it back through service so it’s not for everyone. |
Anonymous
Agree. UVA boosters turned my kid off completely before applications were even due. Such an arrogant cult. |
Anonymous
Again, as stated in this thread, yes and no. Maybe harder if strictly measuring academics and scores, but that is just one part of entrance to a service academy. You also need to demonstrate leadership ability, athletic ability, pass a fitness test, pass a medical screening, not be on meds, and do well in standardized testing (they are not test-optional). Obviously, not everyone who is admitted to an Ivy would also excel in those other categories. But yes, not everyone admitted to a service academy would be admitted to an Ivy. |
Anonymous
+1. As an employer, I know I'm getting much more than just a degree from those graduates. |
Anonymous
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I just wanted to point out that the Coast Guard Academy does not require congressional appointments.
There are a lot of blanket statements about what gets a person into an academy. The cadets gain acceptance on the basis of their application. |