West Point or Air Force or Navy academies? Anyone with experiences to share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:D1 sports and ROTC would be difficult in my experience, but it depends on the ROTC leadership at the school. The upside to ROTC is a more normal college experience, and seems like nowadays different service requirements? Mine was 4 years active duty, but we were in a war at the time. I was on a full scholarship and majored in a non-technical discipline. I really appreciate and value the experiences I had because a college education would not have been possible otherwise, and having the extra stipend money and guaranteed employment was a relief.

I have tons of family and friends that went to the service academies, a few regretted not doing ROTC for the flexibility, holidays and full summers off, etc. but definitely didn’t regret being in the military. Most all became pilots, and if that had been my interest, I probably would have pursued an academy. I think sports would possibly provide more flexibility at an academy vs. a typical cadet, but that’s a question for the student-athletes.

Why would it only be d1 sports and ROTC? There are D3 and ROTC options too, no?

Yes, due to time commitments D3 and ROTC is doable especially if you run Track but I highly doubt there are that many D1 athletes doing ROTC especially in the Power 5 conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

Are the academic requirements at other schools as high? Also, look at what all cadets have to do; that's not going to all be excused just because the cadet is playing a sport. Also, you can do whatever you want after graduating from other schools, as opposed to active duty then the reserve requirement after a service academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The service academies have around a 33% dropout rate and outcomes for droup outs are not great. Look to your left look to your right one of you won't be here at graduation.

If your child is a borderline case it's better they don't go and become a dropout. After sophomore year you owe big $$$ if you don't finish as well.

The academies are a great place to be from there's no denying that. If you're on this forum debating which one has the better undergraduate experience you are approaching this from entirely the wrong mindset.

The drop out rate in general for all colleges is about 25 to 30 percent. I’ve personally never heard of a drop out from an academy struggling all that much. The few I know who decided they weren’t a good fit moved on to top schools. One is at BC, another ended up at Northwestern. I’m sure it was a hard and stressful decision but to act one shouldn’t consider an academy bc the drop out rate is high and one is destined to be a life long loser if it doesn’t work out is just silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The service academies have around a 33% dropout rate and outcomes for droup outs are not great. Look to your left look to your right one of you won't be here at graduation.

If your child is a borderline case it's better they don't go and become a dropout. After sophomore year you owe big $$$ if you don't finish as well.

The academies are a great place to be from there's no denying that. If you're on this forum debating which one has the better undergraduate experience you are approaching this from entirely the wrong mindset.

The drop out rate in general for all colleges is about 25 to 30 percent. I’ve personally never heard of a drop out from an academy struggling all that much. The few I know who decided they weren’t a good fit moved on to top schools. One is at BC, another ended up at Northwestern. I’m sure it was a hard and stressful decision but to act one shouldn’t consider an academy bc the drop out rate is high and one is destined to be a life long loser if it doesn’t work out is just silly.

Yeah and I think it's silly people on this thread all think their children are the exception instead of the one that proves the rule. You said lifelong loser now me fwiw. I just said worse outcomes. Dropping out of any college instead of finishing what you started is a worse outcome unless you are bill gates. Circle back to the exception that your child probably isn't but everyone believes their snowflake is.

Snowflakes will melt at the service academies. Heed the warning or don't. 🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

Lol, lmao even

No amount of parent jockeying will make things easier for your children at a service academy. The fact that your mind goes there is telling. 🥴

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

I posted very early on in the thread and suggested OP take a lot of info here with a grain of salt. There's a lot of misinformation, but it's tiresome to try to correct it all.

The greater DC area is one of (if not the hardest) area from which to get an appointment and then be selected to a service academy. We (no joke) considered sending DS to my mom for his last year of high school because she lives in an area with much less interest where it's significantly easier.

DH is on a panel for one of the Senators who reviews the applications of the kids seeking nominations. He says if he were applying today he'd have no shot. The kids are unbelievably impressive and polished.

DH is a C level exec at a Fortune 50 tech company, so he's not exactly a dud either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

Lol, lmao even

No amount of parent jockeying will make things easier for your children at a service academy. The fact that your mind goes there is telling. 🥴

Not once they are there, but in helping them get there, sure it does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

Lol, lmao even

No amount of parent jockeying will make things easier for your children at a service academy. The fact that your mind goes there is telling. 🥴

Not once they are there, but in helping them get there, sure it does.

Missed my point entirely. It's not like HYPSM. Getting in is not the bottleneck. Getting in is the easy part. A lot of students get pushed by families to go that get in and don't make it through. The prep school for athletes often doesn't work out for cadet candidates.

If your student is a borderline case they will likely be much better off matriculating elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

Lol, lmao even

No amount of parent jockeying will make things easier for your children at a service academy. The fact that your mind goes there is telling. 🥴

Not once they are there, but in helping them get there, sure it does.

Missed my point entirely. It's not like HYPSM. Getting in is not the bottleneck. Getting in is the easy part. A lot of students get pushed by families to go that get in and don't make it through. The prep school for athletes often doesn't work out for cadet candidates.

If your student is a borderline case they will likely be much better off matriculating elsewhere.

My DH and I are both academy grads. I know exactly what the academies are like--and yes, getting in is hard. Much harder now than it used to be. DS would likely not have gotten in if not for his sport and having two parents who are grads.

Legacies are a minority, although obviously there are some, and some that are multi generational (rare but happens at many schools). People who don't want to be there are sniffed out pretty early on in the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the basic answer is that outcomes are as good as they get, but you need to be sold on what it entails. It’s a very tough college experience and they’ll need to fulfill their service obligation. For the right person it’s an amazing opportunity, but for most it will be a tough sell over a more normal experience.

I don’t need a basic answer. I need to hear from people who have done it, their dc have done it or close family members have. Not ‘general impressions’.

My DD was a recruited athlete (and I am a former athlete at USNA) The recruiting path is a bit easier, but you still have to meet all of the medical requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the basic answer is that outcomes are as good as they get, but you need to be sold on what it entails. It’s a very tough college experience and they’ll need to fulfill their service obligation. For the right person it’s an amazing opportunity, but for most it will be a tough sell over a more normal experience.

I don’t need a basic answer. I need to hear from people who have done it, their dc have done it or close family members have. Not ‘general impressions’.

My DD was a recruited athlete (and I am a former athlete at USNA) The recruiting path is a bit easier, but you still have to meet all of the medical requirements.

Hi there! Sport and year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've toured USMA/West Point a couple times, and the tours were led by graduates who had also done a sport. One quit the sport after freshman year; the other stuck it out all 4 years but considered quitting. It's a big time/travel commitment on top of other cadet requirements. If your kid doesn't have the academic stats, they'll frequently admit to a prep school first.

Is that so different than athletes at all schools?

It's somewhat different, as other schools don't have the same academic and non-academic requirements, have a wider choice of majors, etc. You don't really hear about athletes at other schools not making it through due to grades anymore. It seems to be about the transfer portal and NIL$ today, if you're "that" good -- none of that is an option at a service academy. At USNA, for example, I think everyone gets the equivalent of an engineering degree bc of the class requirements. Not sure what sport OP's child plays or what caliber athlete they are. If they need to be a recruited athlete to gain admission and really want to go, then I guess it's worth a try.

My DH has a BS in History from the Naval Academy. Not too many history grads also took Differential Equations and Thermodynamics. I actually majored in Enginnering (elsewhere) and he had many but not all of the same classes I did.

DP. Interesting info. I am starting to think some people on here are posting purposely incorrect and negative info to discourage people from looking into academies. Probably have a dc applying and want to keep the field as clear as possible for them.

Lol, lmao even

No amount of parent jockeying will make things easier for your children at a service academy. The fact that your mind goes there is telling. 🥴

Not once they are there, but in helping them get there, sure it does.

Missed my point entirely. It's not like HYPSM. Getting in is not the bottleneck. Getting in is the easy part. A lot of students get pushed by families to go that get in and don't make it through. The prep school for athletes often doesn't work out for cadet candidates.

If your student is a borderline case they will likely be much better off matriculating elsewhere.

My DH and I are both academy grads. I know exactly what the academies are like--and yes, getting in is hard. Much harder now than it used to be. DS would likely not have gotten in if not for his sport and having two parents who are grads.

Legacies are a minority, although obviously there are some, and some that are multi generational (rare but happens at many schools). People who don't want to be there are sniffed out pretty early on in the admissions process.

I guess if you compare admissions before the 2000s making assumptions about your timeline. Most students that can get into a service academy has a lot of good choices. You aren't a failure if you don't go to an academy.

I'll share a specific example about a cadet that was pushed through within the last decade.

My husband was on the same floor as a "Princess" legacy case had two general parents. She didn't make it past freshman year. All of her peers and instructors knew she couldn't cut it. Lots of strings pulled. Finally failed out but it took a full year. They slammed her door so hard at recognition it broke.

Admission should be hard but lots of people squeak by that shouldn't and if they make it through go on to be terrible officers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Coast Guard Academy. You don’t need a nomination and to me it seems the safest branch of the military to be in .

Coast guard is part of DHS