Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:35     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They are not top students. Average SAT is relatively low.
Also the physical test is not that hard that most of the average athlete should be able to pass.


You have no idea what you're talking about. The physical tests (plural!) are very challenging. For the Naval Academy last year, even recruits scoring in the top group of the physical tests weren't guaranteed admission.

I know one female who scored in the top 5% overall who was waitlisted and got in over the Summer. She was an excellent student and serious athlete who was in the top group for all the physical tests. The academies are elite.



They are not top students. Average SAT is relatively low.
Also the physical test is not that hard that most of the average athlete should be able to pass.




It's not a simple pass/fail. Where you rank in the physical tests matters. This isn't like going down to your local enlistment office and just meeting minimum requirements.

But just keep making up stuff to denigrate the academies, loser.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:29     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They are not top students. Average SAT is relatively low.
Also the physical test is not that hard that most of the average athlete should be able to pass.


You have no idea what you're talking about. The physical tests (plural!) are very challenging. For the Naval Academy last year, even recruits scoring in the top group of the physical tests weren't guaranteed admission.

I know one female who scored in the top 5% overall who was waitlisted and got in over the Summer. She was an excellent student and serious athlete who was in the top group for all the physical tests. The academies are elite.


Does your ranking on the physical tests actually factor into admission, or is it just you have to meet the minimum threshold...so it's really just bragging rights?
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:28     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They are not top students. Average SAT is relatively low.
Also the physical test is not that hard that most of the average athlete should be able to pass.


You have no idea what you're talking about. The physical tests (plural!) are very challenging. For the Naval Academy last year, even recruits scoring in the top group of the physical tests weren't guaranteed admission.

I know one female who scored in the top 5% overall who was waitlisted and got in over the Summer. She was an excellent student and serious athlete who was in the top group for all the physical tests. The academies are elite.



They are not top students. Average SAT is relatively low.
Also the physical test is not that hard that most of the average athlete should be able to pass.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:23     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The military doesn't want the absolute smartest people. They want people good at following orders, not people who are Big Thinkers.


I am far more impressed with Service Academy grads than I am with Ivy grads. They are two very different types of people.


+1 The Ivies admit a lot of impressive people but they also admit a lot of weak weirdos.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:20     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:They are not top students. Average SAT is relatively low.
Also the physical test is not that hard that most of the average athlete should be able to pass.


You have no idea what you're talking about. The physical tests (plural!) are very challenging. For the Naval Academy last year, even recruits scoring in the top group of the physical tests weren't guaranteed admission.

I know one female who scored in the top 5% overall who was waitlisted and got in over the Summer. She was an excellent student and serious athlete who was in the top group for all the physical tests. The academies are elite.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:09     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
What separates?

The separations is people who are ok with military life style vs everyone else.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 09:08     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:The military doesn't want the absolute smartest people. They want people good at following orders, not people who are Big Thinkers.


I am far more impressed with Service Academy grads than I am with Ivy grads. They are two very different types of people.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:36     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Actually, lots of the kids don‘t have the very best grades and scores. They need to be good, of course. Two people we know going this fall were fit but not fit enough to pass their physical testing and “failed” many times but its administered by someone like a gym teacher who can let them retake it. This is what they did, repeatedly.


I am this poster. No idea why people think it requires top test scores. See for yourself:

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf


Agree.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:33     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My experience to answer OP’s question is that successful applicants knew they wanted to do it around freshman/sophomore year and joined ROTC, cultivated a relationship with their congress person for the rec, etc.

You can’t just decide to lob in an apllication to a service academy.

Only exception to the above was recruited athlete at Navy who never really thought about it until talking with coaches junior year. For that kid, the process kind of works in reverse…you still need a nomination but the coach/staff make sure you get it easily.

+1. If you're a recruited athlete and stay out of trouble, they will make it happen for you. You may get referred to a military prep school for the first year if your academics are not up to par.

For everyone else, a lot depends on where you live and how competitive it is in your area. You have to secure a congressional nomination for 4/5 of the academies. In some districts, that is a challenge; in others, it may not be. Then, from that slate of nominations (10-15 names), you have to be top 1 or 2 (each congress person has around 5 spots at an academy at one time); if not, you are thrown into a national pool of applicants, and they see how you stack up from there. This is roughly how I think it works, anyway.


Yep you nailed it.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:29     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:My experience to answer OP’s question is that successful applicants knew they wanted to do it around freshman/sophomore year and joined ROTC, cultivated a relationship with their congress person for the rec, etc.

You can’t just decide to lob in an apllication to a service academy.

Only exception to the above was recruited athlete at Navy who never really thought about it until talking with coaches junior year. For that kid, the process kind of works in reverse…you still need a nomination but the coach/staff make sure you get it easily.

+1. If you're a recruited athlete and stay out of trouble, they will make it happen for you. You may get referred to a military prep school for the first year if your academics are not up to par.

For everyone else, a lot depends on where you live and how competitive it is in your area. You have to secure a congressional nomination for 4/5 of the academies. In some districts, that is a challenge; in others, it may not be. Then, from that slate of nominations (10-15 names), you have to be top 1 or 2 (each congress person has around 5 spots at an academy at one time); if not, you are thrown into a national pool of applicants, and they see how you stack up from there. This is roughly how I think it works, anyway.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:26     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am 24 now, so I am too old. But I wish I knew about the service academies when I was young. It blows my mind so many people in them were top students and top athletes in school. Many people can’t even pass tryouts for JV sports teams here let alone be a varsity captain, and many top athletes aren’t great academically. I personally find it more impressive if someone goes to a service academy versus an Ivy League. How do people get into them? Are they just built differently?


You have to want to serve in the Military. If you do, it can be a great option.


I have a couple friends from high school who went to the Coast Guard Academy so if you're interested in a different service branch, it's not a bad choice.

I went to a small private school in Florida and we always had at least one class member go to the service academies so I suspect our college counselor was also good at advising. I was approached a couple times but elected not to apply (my Dad was a retired Navy officer but I decided I didn't want that life for myself).
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:19     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:I am 24 now, so I am too old. But I wish I knew about the service academies when I was young. It blows my mind so many people in them were top students and top athletes in school. Many people can’t even pass tryouts for JV sports teams here let alone be a varsity captain, and many top athletes aren’t great academically. I personally find it more impressive if someone goes to a service academy versus an Ivy League. How do people get into them? Are they just built differently?


You have to want to serve in the Military. If you do, it can be a great option.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:12     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
My experience to answer OP’s question is that successful applicants knew they wanted to do it around freshman/sophomore year and joined ROTC, cultivated a relationship with their congress person for the rec, etc.

You can’t just decide to lob in an apllication to a service academy.

Only exception to the above was recruited athlete at Navy who never really thought about it until talking with coaches junior year. For that kid, the process kind of works in reverse…you still need a nomination but the coach/staff make sure you get it easily.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:07     Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
The biggest piece of it is the knowledge that it exists and may be a good fit, and having the adults around you support that goal. No one ever brought this up when I was growing up/at my HS.

You just didn't know. If you have kids, you get to consider it for them, or their friends!
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 08:05     Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Actually, lots of the kids don‘t have the very best grades and scores. They need to be good, of course. Two people we know going this fall were fit but not fit enough to pass their physical testing and “failed” many times but its administered by someone like a gym teacher who can let them retake it. This is what they did, repeatedly.


I am this poster. No idea why people think it requires top test scores. See for yourself:

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/ClassPortrait.pdf


+1

I once blindly thought they were like top 1% academically and should pass navy seal type physical test, but in reality they have relatively low test scores compared to competitive colleges and physical test is not that much of a big deal.