Are service academies like West Point considered prestigious?

[Anonymous]

I know a kid with a 1200 SAT score headed to Harvard for a sport. I also know a kid going to Westpoint next year. More impressed with Westpoint kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know quite a few service academy grads and I think of them as hard-working, goal-oriented, self-disciplined, athletic doers who generally have their acts together, but I don't necessarily find them particularly smart, creative, or innovative as a whole. Bright enough for sure, and nothing to look down on, but if they didn't go to the academies, most of them wouldn't have gone to a top academic university or college. I mean, does Mike Pompeo really strike anyone as the sharpest tool in the shed? Or Roy Moore? Or Oliver North? So academically, I don't think they are that prestigious; their prestige comes from other qualities. It's really apples and oranges.

I have also worked with one, and noticed that the guy could work in a pressure cooker, but did not stand out as very smart. The guy was very friendly and pleasant to work with.

Agree. They aren't smart but they're very patriotic and mission-driven. Since most corporations were built on a military model of chain of command leadership ... military guys can do well in corporations. That just means they know how to follow orders and buckle down ... not that they have high IQs or anything. Your examples are good. Pompeo seems as dumb as a brick and so did North.

OP .. they are not "prestigious" ... that is the wrong word choice.

Around here, the academy grads I know did their 20+ years in the military, had grad school paid for (one of DH's best friends went to Harvard's Kennedy School), and now work for management consulting companies, drawing a big salary on top of their officer's pension. Makes for a nice life.

Is a 20 year military pension a decent chunk of change annually -- it also includes free VA health care for life? Does the 20 years to earn a pension start at age 18yo when you get on campus or not until you graduate at 22yo? What's the minimum required to serve after graduating from West Point? Do you still get a small pension if you only serve for the minimum?

Fee VA health care for life!!
That is scary
VA health care has had so many scandals

Rather move to Canada and get free health care for life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If my son made the independent free thinking choice to go through the rigorous application process for the service academies, (while his peers and their parents looked down their noses at his free thinking choice) and was accepted and decided to go I would be incredibly proud and impressed and relieved that whatever he ended up doing career wise he will will have made unbelievable connections.

It is important to know your kid. If he is smart, dedicated and is good at coloring inside the lines, he will do great at a military academy. I have a friend who is the smartest guy I know. Making incredible contributions in science and I won’t be surprised if someday he wins a major prize/award. He went to a military academy but was a bad fit because he never accepted boundaries or lines. The think that makes him creative and pushing human knowledge made him not be happy at the academy (even though he could do all the work with no effort).

[Anonymous]

Good at following the orders is a must. Is your kid good at following orders without thinking or questioning? If so, He/she will be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know quite a few service academy grads and I think of them as hard-working, goal-oriented, self-disciplined, athletic doers who generally have their acts together, but I don't necessarily find them particularly smart, creative, or innovative as a whole. Bright enough for sure, and nothing to look down on, but if they didn't go to the academies, most of them wouldn't have gone to a top academic university or college. I mean, does Mike Pompeo really strike anyone as the sharpest tool in the shed? Or Roy Moore? Or Oliver North? So academically, I don't think they are that prestigious; their prestige comes from other qualities. It's really apples and oranges.

I have also worked with one, and noticed that the guy could work in a pressure cooker, but did not stand out as very smart. The guy was very friendly and pleasant to work with.

Agree. They aren't smart but they're very patriotic and mission-driven. Since most corporations were built on a military model of chain of command leadership ... military guys can do well in corporations. That just means they know how to follow orders and buckle down ... not that they have high IQs or anything. Your examples are good. Pompeo seems as dumb as a brick and so did North.

OP .. they are not "prestigious" ... that is the wrong word choice.

Around here, the academy grads I know did their 20+ years in the military, had grad school paid for (one of DH's best friends went to Harvard's Kennedy School), and now work for management consulting companies, drawing a big salary on top of their officer's pension. Makes for a nice life.

Is a 20 year military pension a decent chunk of change annually -- it also includes free VA health care for life? Does the 20 years to earn a pension start at age 18yo when you get on campus or not until you graduate at 22yo? What's the minimum required to serve after graduating from West Point? Do you still get a small pension if you only serve for the minimum?

Fee VA health care for life!!
That is scary
VA health care has had so many scandals

Rather move to Canada and get free health care for life

My sister lives on the American side of the border very close to the Canadian border. Many Canadians come to America for their healthcare. There are large bill boards for the local American hospital as you drive over the border. Come see us for your elective surgeries. We can get them scheduled. Knee replacement Canada--2 year wait or more. Knee replacement US 30 days to get all your bloodwork etc. Canadians even come over the border for the American Vets. Virtually no Americans driver across the border to Canada for health care. There is a significant percentage of Canadians that cross the border for US health care. You get doctro choice (rather than assigned to a specialist as in Canada and you get in faster, many times years faster).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just a matter of grades and test scores, either, OP. Applicants have to be nominated by their member of Congress, senator, or the VP.

Yes, they're very prestigious!

I actually wish they would do away with this. It forces preferential treatment that has unintended effects.

The US military is one of the most integrated, least rascist of any organization or business I've ever encountered. I attended a lunch with my sister, a US marine,
my sister is Caucasian. The other marines at the table were: Hispanic American, Native American (real Native American- not the fake Liz Warren type), African American (2), Asian American, and a couple more Caucasian. What other entity to get that diversity at your day to day business lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No only if you are middle class or poor.

Uh no. Many kids from 1% high net worth families are in the military. Some go to the academies and some enlist. They are proud to serve their country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very much so.

Bump

All the service academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're blue collar and country ...they're great. If you come from a white collar, rich family ... they are horrible. To each his own.

Uh no. Many white collar kids and kids from wealthy families value a service academy college education.

My sister joined the marines after she graduated from Wharton Business School. Several of her classmates from Penn and Wharton Business School joined the
marines after graduation. The US Marines and US military really like grads from the Ivy league schools. Not all of the officers come through the academies.
My sister had really good assignments with the US Marines at a young age. In her mid 20's she was flying all around Europe meeting and networking with military professionals at former Soviet Union countries who wanted to join NATO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why go to college to learn to kill or be killed. Depressing.

Or learn strategy to help with peace?

This is a lot of what the US military is about nowadays. My sister (former US Marine officer) worked with military at a lot of countries that used to be our enemies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're blue collar and country ...they're great. If you come from a white collar, rich family ... they are horrible. To each his own.

Uh no. Many white collar kids and kids from wealthy families value a service academy college education.

My sister joined the marines after she graduated from Wharton Business School. Several of her classmates from Penn and Wharton Business School joined the
marines after graduation. The US Marines and US military really like grads from the Ivy league schools. Not all of the officers come through the academies.
My sister had really good assignments with the US Marines at a young age. In her mid 20's she was flying all around Europe meeting and networking with military professionals at former Soviet Union countries who wanted to join NATO.

Yeah, I’m sure many UMC kids are turning down offers from MBB or bulge bracket firms to enlist in the marines. Get a clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know quite a few service academy grads and I think of them as hard-working, goal-oriented, self-disciplined, athletic doers who generally have their acts together, but I don't necessarily find them particularly smart, creative, or innovative as a whole. Bright enough for sure, and nothing to look down on, but if they didn't go to the academies, most of them wouldn't have gone to a top academic university or college. I mean, does Mike Pompeo really strike anyone as the sharpest tool in the shed? Or Roy Moore? Or Oliver North? So academically, I don't think they are that prestigious; their prestige comes from other qualities. It's really apples and oranges.

I have also worked with one, and noticed that the guy could work in a pressure cooker, but did not stand out as very smart. The guy was very friendly and pleasant to work with.

Agree. They aren't smart but they're very patriotic and mission-driven. Since most corporations were built on a military model of chain of command leadership ... military guys can do well in corporations. That just means they know how to follow orders and buckle down ... not that they have high IQs or anything. Your examples are good. Pompeo seems as dumb as a brick and so did North.

OP .. they are not "prestigious" ... that is the wrong word choice.

Around here, the academy grads I know did their 20+ years in the military, had grad school paid for (one of DH's best friends went to Harvard's Kennedy School), and now work for management consulting companies, drawing a big salary on top of their officer's pension. Makes for a nice life.

Is a 20 year military pension a decent chunk of change annually -- it also includes free VA health care for life? Does the 20 years to earn a pension start at age 18yo when you get on campus or not until you graduate at 22yo? What's the minimum required to serve after graduating from West Point? Do you still get a small pension if you only serve for the minimum?

Fee VA health care for life!!
That is scary
VA health care has had so many scandals

Rather move to Canada and get free health care for life

My sister lives on the American side of the border very close to the Canadian border. Many Canadians come to America for their healthcare. There are large bill boards for the local American hospital as you drive over the border. Come see us for your elective surgeries. We can get them scheduled. Knee replacement Canada--2 year wait or more. Knee replacement US 30 days to get all your bloodwork etc. Canadians even come over the border for the American Vets. Virtually no Americans driver across the border to Canada for health care. There is a significant percentage of Canadians that cross the border for US health care. You get doctor choice (rather than assigned to a specialist as in Canada and you get in faster, many times years faster).

We have wait times too. It takes 4-6 months to get a physical with my doctor.

[Anonymous]

They are considered as prestigious probably because America has been constantly at war. In fact, America Has Been at War 93% of the Time – 222 out of 239 Years – Since 1776.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/america-has-been-at-war-93-of-the-time-222-out-of-239-years-since-1776/5565946

Image if there had been no war, then the military would have less important roles, and no one would care about their academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a kid with a 1200 SAT score headed to Harvard for a sport. I also know a kid going to Westpoint next year. More impressed with Westpoint kid.

West Point. Two words, not one.