Are service academies super competitive?

[Anonymous]

We have DC at 2 private Catholic schools and know a number of other students at our local Diocesan high school. Looking across the graduate classes of the past 4 years all the SA students are smart, athletic, service oriented and have some leadership. They are not the tippy top in all four, some are better athletes, others better leadership positions, etc. IMO they are an exceptional group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Within the first year, about half quit and don’t continue rotc even on scholarship (quitting before 2nd year don’t have to payback anything) and afrotc only about 75% are selected between 2nd and 3rd to go to field training to continue. It’s tough

You have no idea what you're talking about.

Each service academy enters 1200 kids. Around 1000 graduate. That's hardly "half" quitting.

ROTC

ROTC is tough, tougher than the academies if you think about it. At the an academies you are surrounded by everyone doing the same thing. In ROTC you are a regular college kid who has to also do ROTC.

I would think retention is cadre specific. I was also surprised that the Air Force ROTC kids can do 2 years then not be selected for camp. Ouch.

So yes everyone should be impressed with these kids.

[Anonymous]

No one applying now will serve under this administration.

But will the United States still be separate from China when its out?

If Putin or Xi takes over, the U.S. military officers might have to serve the Russian or Chinese empire. Or Russia or China could simply kill all of the military academy graduates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very popular now with the price of college so high. Lots of kids from DMV go through the process so the academies have their pick and it isn't just rural kids trying to get out. ROTC super competitive too now.

What is different is that once you get in you have to stay in. That is also a lot of work for 4+ years. Kids going either academies or ROTC want it. So yes you should be impressed with those kids.

Not true. You can leave before your junior year with no obligations. They know it is not for many people so totally get it.

A lot of people who would normally be applying do not want to serve under the current commander in chief, even though he will be done before current applicants graduate. This includes the children of many senior military officers who were historically fairly conservative Republicans but are horrified by the lack of respect for the values they had sworn to uphold and hate how he is destroying this country. The military tends to be much more Republican than the rest of America but many senior officers are not supportive of Trump. They hate that he put a clown like Hesgeth in charge. However, the enlisted love him. I know students who would have considered an Academy in the past who want nothing to do with it. Which is a shame.

Insert your TDS comments here. To better prove my point.

No one applying now will serve under this administration.

Will they serve in the department of war or the department of defense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very popular now with the price of college so high. Lots of kids from DMV go through the process so the academies have their pick and it isn't just rural kids trying to get out. ROTC super competitive too now.

What is different is that once you get in you have to stay in. That is also a lot of work for 4+ years. Kids going either academies or ROTC want it. So yes you should be impressed with those kids.

Not true. You can leave before your junior year with no obligations. They know it is not for many people so totally get it.

A lot of people who would normally be applying do not want to serve under the current commander in chief, even though he will be done before current applicants graduate. This includes the children of many senior military officers who were historically fairly conservative Republicans but are horrified by the lack of respect for the values they had sworn to uphold and hate how he is destroying this country. The military tends to be much more Republican than the rest of America but many senior officers are not supportive of Trump. They hate that he put a clown like Hesgeth in charge. However, the enlisted love him. I know students who would have considered an Academy in the past who want nothing to do with it. Which is a shame.

Insert your TDS comments here. To better prove my point.

No one applying now will serve under this administration.

Will they serve in the department of war or the department of defense?

Department of War under President Eric Trump (who is serving as a puppet for Donald) patrolling the Gulf of America on the USS Trump, which will be gold plated using the tax dollars that we don't have to provide people with food, health care, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was reading Air Force's official website. In their admission page, they clearly state that they generally require the applicants' GPA to be top1% in their graduating class to be admitted. There are only 2 exceptions: one is the high school's ranking used UWGPA instead of WGPA. The other is the high school is super competitive.

I was shocked to see it. I had thought service academies admit great but not the tippy top students. I mean, GPA. I know overall those students are in the top tier because they also emphasize character, leadership, fitness, and etc. But for GPA, I had thought probably top10% but not top1%.

Does anyone know real cases? Do service academy so selective nowadays?

Are ROTC scholarships in the same selective level?

LOL, no. The academic cutoff is "decently strong." Top 1% is definitely not required. If you have more As than Bs while taking a relatively rigorous schedule and a 1300+, it won't be academics that keeps you out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know personally were all decent to strong students, but not highest level academically. Similar athletically.

My child was a NMF. Many of his friends at his service academy were also NMFs, so yes, many service academy students are highest level academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know personally were all decent to strong students, but not highest level academically. Similar athletically.

My child was a NMF. Many of his friends at his service academy were also NMFs, so yes, many service academy students are highest level academically.

There are also plenty of NMFs at the University of Alabama but that does not mean you need to be an NMF to get in there. There are many very bright kids at the service academies. They are not easy to get into. But it is possible to get in there while being below the top 1%, particularly as a recruited athlete, but also as a NARP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know personally were all decent to strong students, but not highest level academically. Similar athletically.

My child was a NMF. Many of his friends at his service academy were also NMFs, so yes, many service academy students are highest level academically.

There are also plenty of NMFs at the University of Alabama but that does not mean you need to be an NMF to get in there. There are many very bright kids at the service academies. They are not easy to get into. But it is possible to get in there while being below the top 1%, particularly as a recruited athlete, but also as a NARP

If a kid has no "hook", such as recruited athlete, from veteran families, etc, does he need to be around top1% to get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know personally were all decent to strong students, but not highest level academically. Similar athletically.

My child was a NMF. Many of his friends at his service academy were also NMFs, so yes, many service academy students are highest level academically.

There are also plenty of NMFs at the University of Alabama but that does not mean you need to be an NMF to get in there. There are many very bright kids at the service academies. They are not easy to get into. But it is possible to get in there while being below the top 1%, particularly as a recruited athlete, but also as a NARP

If a kid has no "hook", such as recruited athlete, from veteran families, etc, does he need to be around top1% to get in?

No. They can't be an idiot and they need to be near the top of the class but top 1% is generally not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious? Yes, they are looking for the best of the best.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was reading Air Force's official website. In their admission page, they clearly state that they generally require the applicants' GPA to be top1% in their graduating class to be admitted. There are only 2 exceptions: one is the high school's ranking used UWGPA instead of WGPA. The other is the high school is super competitive.

I was shocked to see it. I had thought service academies admit great but not the tippy top students. I mean, GPA. I know overall those students are in the top tier because they also emphasize character, leadership, fitness, and etc. But for GPA, I had thought probably top10% but not top1%.

Does anyone know real cases? Do service academy so selective nowadays?

Are ROTC scholarships in the same selective level?

Where on earth did you read that it's in the top 1%?

https://www.academyadmissions.com/requirements/academic/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's quite competitive and the most competitive piece is the medical exam. If your kid has been on any psychotropic medication they will not pass. If they are more than slightly overweight they won't pass. If they have multiple allergies they will not pass. You can ask AI for more info but your kid shouldn't even start down the road unless s/he is sure s/he can pass the medical exam.

You must run in a weird circle because 90% of my kid's friends would have no issue with the medical exam. You seem to think being overweight or on psych meds is typical for America teens when it's very much the minority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's quite competitive and the most competitive piece is the medical exam. If your kid has been on any psychotropic medication they will not pass. If they are more than slightly overweight they won't pass. If they have multiple allergies they will not pass. You can ask AI for more info but your kid shouldn't even start down the road unless s/he is sure s/he can pass the medical exam.

You must run in a weird circle because 90% of my kid's friends would have no issue with the medical exam. You seem to think being overweight or on psych meds is typical for America teens when it's very much the minority.

So you think. Get back to us when these 90% of your kid’s friends have had a complete DoDMERB review, not to mention the CFA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our OOS private(not a feeder type school but it is rigorous), we had 2 girls accepted to the Naval academy. Neither were in the top 20% of the class and were not the highest rigor either. They took maybe 5-6 AP classes total( our school limits AP to junior/senior year- The top students take 8-9 ). They were good students but not NMF level test scores. 1 was recruited to play Lacrosse so that makes sense but the other was not a recruited athlete. She got injured and had to get knee surgery, so had to defer her acceptance. She ended up at Pitt.

They admitted from our high school last year were 2 girls too, and both Asian. I don't know their stats. Just curious whether SA also try to balance gender, race, region, etc.

Not anymore, though this was true in the past. They can no longer try to create a more balanced class using gender out race. In the nomination process, lawmakers can do whatever they want-- so one could put forward a slate entirey of women and URMs, but that only guarantees one getting in and would generate complaints.