Are service academies like West Point considered prestigious?

[Anonymous]

I’m no expert of any kind, but as an ordinary person, it seems to be that being being accepted into a service academy is a prestigious honor, but graduating from one is a much greater one.

Academically, I would consider it comparable to any college (including Ivies). I think differences at that level are probably attributable more to the specific student, classes/major, and professor, than to the institution (obviously, every school has strengths and weaknesses). I think, however, the demands on students at any of the service academies are far more comprehensive than those at any other college, extending beyond academics.

[Anonymous]

They are more STEM focused than regular schools and heavy on engineering. I think I read somewhere that WP had more options for liberal arts degrees than the others.

[Anonymous]

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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

They may be able to pass a physical exam. But part of the process involves answering Q and A and making medical records available. Taking aderrall for example will ding you.

[Anonymous]

Couldn’t help but be reminded of this thread when I saw the Rhodes Scholars list for 2023 today. 4 academy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes very

Honestly I'd consider them up there with Harvard and Yale too. In addition to needing great grades, you need the athletic ability to be there.

Plus the commitment to a service career, risk of going to war, etc.

There's a reason why a lot of future politicians come from the academies.

This

[Anonymous]

Service academies may be hard to get into because of the work to get the nomination but once you do, you are built in with a network for life. Academy graduates will have a notch up in the service as well as post service because of their built in network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Service academies may be hard to get into because of the work to get the nomination but once you do, you are built in with a network for life. Academy graduates will have a notch up in the service as well as post service because of their built in network.

It's not just the work to get the nomination that's hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Service academies may be hard to get into because of the work to get the nomination but once you do, you are built in with a network for life. Academy graduates will have a notch up in the service as well as post service because of their built in network.

It's not just the work to get the nomination that's hard.

Exactly. These schools are a complete different level of hard. They are academically challenging, but beyond that, just getting through to graduation requires physical and mental strength, stamina, and grit that even the Ivy schools can’t compare with. What is asked of these students is so far beyond the expectations and experience of any other college program.

[Anonymous]

The military worship on this thread is gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Couldn’t help but be reminded of this thread when I saw the Rhodes Scholars list for 2023 today. 4 academy kids.

I saw that - the academies do a very good job every year of post-grad scholarships, including Rhodes - they really promote these opportunities and help identify and assist students in applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The military worship on this thread is gross.

They only protect the freedom and liberty you clearly take for granted, but go on keep being grossed out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like to an average layman? Maybe not as prestigious as Harvard and Yale, but up there with Penn and Brown? Just curious. This really impressive great-at-everything senior boy in our son’s school is heading to one and I sense parents are not impressed. And most kids don’t seem to have a clue what a service academy is, how selectivity, process of getting in, and commitment. I honestly think most sort of conflate it with just enlisting?

West Point is more respected globally than the Ivies. And the delta is only increasing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The military worship on this thread is gross.

I think it's a good thing for our democracy to have a highly educated officer corps in the military. The service academies have extensive courses on things like ethics and the role of a military in a democracy.

[Anonymous]

Do athletic recruits have to be nominated or do they get a pass? I know a few kids who are not stellar students get admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do athletic recruits have to be nominated or do they get a pass? I know a few kids who are not stellar students get admitted.

NP with DC in the application process now.

Everyone needs a nomination. They can be from a variety of sources; if an applicant is not military-connected, it can be from your congressperson, your state senators, or the Vice-President. Each of those requires a separate application and letters of rec, transcripts, essay. There are limited spots.

Nominations are a separate process from Admissions; Admissions can really want you, but the nominations are up to the (nominating body, like the congressperson). And politicians have their own reasons for choosing whomever they choose.

Another separate process is the candidate fitness assessment (CFA), if you don't pass that, you can't get in. The really rough one is the medical process which is not connected to admissions. It's done by the Dept. of Defense Medical Review Board (DoDMERB) and it goes back to your birth. You can get disqualified for an incredible amount of things, and Admissions can ask DoDMERB for a waiver but it's up to DoDMERB.

So if one of those pieces is not there, the applicant does not get in. If all the pieces are there, the applicant still might not get in but they at least have a shot.

Re: Athletics...every applicant must be an athlete. I suspect if someone is being recruited for football or some other high-profile sport, the grades can be lower, just like in civilian colleges.