Are service academies like West Point considered prestigious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a USMA grad this has all been very comical. In the end no one goes to a Service Acadamy for the "prestige."

+1 and also with a son at USMA. Enjoying the critiques - IFKYK. Go Army! Beat Navy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a school to be truly selective, acceptance rate, yield rate, and student stats all should be all high.
WP has elite level acceptance rate(9%) and HYPMS level yield rate, but student stats are very mediocre.

Limited spots(little over 1k) and Zero cost probably drive up the acceptance rate and yield rate.
Also when you apply for these kinds of school, you have very high interest of committing, thus high yield.
Apparently high stat kids are not interested in the school and the kind of lifestyle.

My kid's Class of 2021 from TJ sent four kids to Service Academies and I know two from TJ Class of 2022. 2021 Rhodes Scholars - 4 from West Point, only Harvard and Yale got more. But I have the feeling nothing would convince you that you might be biased here -

for sure not for everyone, but don't assume all "high stat" kids aren't interested.

We are not talking about certain cases that you know or I know or your bartender knows.
They admit only like little more than 1000 per year, and based on the published data, average or median GPA is 3.7 and SAT is 1300.
Compare it to T50 schools.

Right, but they also reject "higher-stats" people who don't meet their other requirements. You seem to be assuming that 3.7 GPA /1300 SAT represents the very top of their entire applicant pool, but I don't know that this is the case, as other categories separate from academics are considered.

With stats like that you couldn't even get into VA Tech.

I don't know where this person got the 3.7/1300 figure, but it's wrong.

From the CDS, the average GPA was 3.88. 63.5% of admitted students had a 4.0.
I can't find the average SAT (maybe I'm just missing it) but the 75th percentile was a 1440.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/...out/g5/G5OIR_CDS_2020-2021.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a school to be truly selective, acceptance rate, yield rate, and student stats all should be all high.
WP has elite level acceptance rate(9%) and HYPMS level yield rate, but student stats are very mediocre.

Limited spots(little over 1k) and Zero cost probably drive up the acceptance rate and yield rate.
Also when you apply for these kinds of school, you have very high interest of committing, thus high yield.
Apparently high stat kids are not interested in the school and the kind of lifestyle.

My kid's Class of 2021 from TJ sent four kids to Service Academies and I know two from TJ Class of 2022. 2021 Rhodes Scholars - 4 from West Point, only Harvard and Yale got more. But I have the feeling nothing would convince you that you might be biased here -

for sure not for everyone, but don't assume all "high stat" kids aren't interested.

We are not talking about certain cases that you know or I know or your bartender knows.
They admit only like little more than 1000 per year, and based on the published data, average or median GPA is 3.7 and SAT is 1300.
Compare it to T50 schools.

Right, but they also reject "higher-stats" people who don't meet their other requirements. You seem to be assuming that 3.7 GPA /1300 SAT represents the very top of their entire applicant pool, but I don't know that this is the case, as other categories separate from academics are considered.

With stats like that you couldn't even get into VA Tech.

I don't know where this person got the 3.7/1300 figure, but it's wrong.

From the CDS, the average GPA was 3.88. 63.5% of admitted students had a 4.0.
I can't find the average SAT (maybe I'm just missing it) but the 75th percentile was a 1440.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/...out/g5/G5OIR_CDS_2020-2021.pdf

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/west-point-2893/applying
SAT score between 1210 and 1440 or an ACT score of 28 and 33

Will have very hard time getting into VA Tech Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a school to be truly selective, acceptance rate, yield rate, and student stats all should be all high.
WP has elite level acceptance rate(9%) and HYPMS level yield rate, but student stats are very mediocre.

Limited spots(little over 1k) and Zero cost probably drive up the acceptance rate and yield rate.
Also when you apply for these kinds of school, you have very high interest of committing, thus high yield.
Apparently high stat kids are not interested in the school and the kind of lifestyle.

My kid's Class of 2021 from TJ sent four kids to Service Academies and I know two from TJ Class of 2022. 2021 Rhodes Scholars - 4 from West Point, only Harvard and Yale got more. But I have the feeling nothing would convince you that you might be biased here -

for sure not for everyone, but don't assume all "high stat" kids aren't interested.

We are not talking about certain cases that you know or I know or your bartender knows.
They admit only like little more than 1000 per year, and based on the published data, average or median GPA is 3.7 and SAT is 1300.
Compare it to T50 schools.

Right, but they also reject "higher-stats" people who don't meet their other requirements. You seem to be assuming that 3.7 GPA /1300 SAT represents the very top of their entire applicant pool, but I don't know that this is the case, as other categories separate from academics are considered.

With stats like that you couldn't even get into VA Tech.

I don't know where this person got the 3.7/1300 figure, but it's wrong.

From the CDS, the average GPA was 3.88. 63.5% of admitted students had a 4.0.
I can't find the average SAT (maybe I'm just missing it) but the 75th percentile was a 1440.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/...out/g5/G5OIR_CDS_2020-2021.pdf

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/west-point-2893/applying
SAT score between 1210 and 1440 or an ACT score of 28 and 33

Will have very hard time getting into VA Tech Engineering.

Why do you keep ignoring the other criteria? You can go to VT on anxiety and ADHD meds. You can go to VT if you’re out of shape and colorblind. You can’t go to an academy. You are weirdly invested in this. Those of us more familiar with the academies have repeatedly been level headed about the difference and you’re stuck on this as if your step-dad to-be is an academy grad and you’re just mad about it. So weird.

[Anonymous]

Apart from admissions, graduating from a service academy is a big accomplishment that demonstrates a lot of resilience. It's not only about studying and doing well in the classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a USMA grad this has all been very comical. In the end no one goes to a Service Acadamy for the "prestige."

+1 and also with a son at USMA. Enjoying the critiques - IFKYK. Go Army! Beat Navy!

I'm PP and yes...BEAT NAVY! The critiques are awesome, especially by the ones that have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Attending a Service Academy is not about prestige and the fact this is even a thread on page 20 says a lot. It's in the name people it is Service Academy not Prestige Academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a school to be truly selective, acceptance rate, yield rate, and student stats all should be all high.
WP has elite level acceptance rate(9%) and HYPMS level yield rate, but student stats are very mediocre.

Limited spots(little over 1k) and Zero cost probably drive up the acceptance rate and yield rate.
Also when you apply for these kinds of school, you have very high interest of committing, thus high yield.
Apparently high stat kids are not interested in the school and the kind of lifestyle.

My kid's Class of 2021 from TJ sent four kids to Service Academies and I know two from TJ Class of 2022. 2021 Rhodes Scholars - 4 from West Point, only Harvard and Yale got more. But I have the feeling nothing would convince you that you might be biased here -

for sure not for everyone, but don't assume all "high stat" kids aren't interested.

We are not talking about certain cases that you know or I know or your bartender knows.
They admit only like little more than 1000 per year, and based on the published data, average or median GPA is 3.7 and SAT is 1300.
Compare it to T50 schools.

None of the other T50 will disqualify you for needing SSRIs, ADHD medicine, being color blind, being fat, or having 20/800 vision.

+1000. There is so much more required to attend a service academy than just "academics".

[Anonymous]

If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

Looks like we have another clueless person adding their irrelevant two cents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

Applicants have to be willing to serve their country in the military - right now that is less than 1% of the country. The five year Service commitment upon graduation is kind of an important factor in deciding to apply.... certainly not for everyone! Not sure why you have such a grudge against the academies - if you don't want to serve in the military, don't apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

Sweetheart, most kids would wash out. It takes a certain combination of characteristics to even consider four years at an academy and it comes with a lot of sacrifices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

Applicants have to be willing to serve their country in the military - right now that is less than 1% of the country. The five year Service commitment upon graduation is kind of an important factor in deciding to apply.... certainly not for everyone! Not sure why you have such a grudge against the academies - if you don't want to serve in the military, don't apply.

Sense of serving is a factor just like medical school kids would feel sense of serving, zero cost is a factor, job security is a factor.
It's a combination of many factors just like any other school or field.
I don't have any grudge and I think it's prestigious enough.
Just pointing out some facts against blind hype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

Applicants have to be willing to serve their country in the military - right now that is less than 1% of the country. The five year Service commitment upon graduation is kind of an important factor in deciding to apply.... certainly not for everyone! Not sure why you have such a grudge against the academies - if you don't want to serve in the military, don't apply.

Sense of serving is a factor just like medical school kids would feel sense of serving, zero cost is a factor, job security is a factor.
It's a combination of many factors just like any other school or field.
I don't have any grudge and I think it's prestigious enough.
Just pointing out some facts against blind hype.


Just to be clear - not a "sense of serving" but a contractual 5 year active duty service obligation in the military - where you have input, but not choice, in your branch (job), your location (assignment) and deployments. Lots and lots of jobs serve their community - doctors, teachers, first responders.... but typically give you more control over your service. I agree blind hype is out of line - see, e.g. Mike Pompeo - but academies are a very different experience than college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

The USMA has a 9% acceptance rate. The USNA has a 9.1% acceptance rate. The USAA has a 13.4% acceptance rate. I’m guessing your kid could not get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's really prestigious and in demand, a lot more kids would apply, then the school would have plenty of applicants with high stat + all the other stuff to choose from.
Looks like it's not the case.

Applicants have to be willing to serve their country in the military - right now that is less than 1% of the country. The five year Service commitment upon graduation is kind of an important factor in deciding to apply.... certainly not for everyone! Not sure why you have such a grudge against the academies - if you don't want to serve in the military, don't apply.

Sense of serving is a factor just like medical school kids would feel sense of serving, zero cost is a factor, job security is a factor.
It's a combination of many factors just like any other school or field.
I don't have any grudge and I think it's prestigious enough.
Just pointing out some facts against blind hype.