Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get it, OP. I come from a part of the country where I didnt know a single military member/vet other than my drafted grandfathers. Not a single person from my graduating class of 550 went into the military. When my sister’s boyfriend ended up attending the naval academy the following year, we were all fairly shocked—it wasn’t a typical path. (To be completely transparent though, he had applied to a handful of civilian schools and didn’t get in—USNA was the only option he had once decisions came out).

It worked out well for him, but it wasn’t until moving to DC that I learned it’s considered prestigious. I assumed at the time it had been his safety school since it was the only one he got into, lol.

Bullshit.

I don’t know how to prove it is true, but it really is. This was 2005 in an area where the closest (tiny) military bases were hours away. It just wasn’t a thing in my life at that time. Totally different mentality in dc adjacent areas, where I now have more military acquaintances than I can count.

My spouse grew up in the middle of nowhere in Central Flyover Country to parents who didn't go to college. They knew it. You're embarrassing yourself. I wouldn't tell anyone in real life that you didn't know about the service academies.

Sorry you’re so defensive. Many people aren’t impressed by the military or the “service academies.” Get over yourself.

-not the OP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

They are harder to get into than the Ivy League. They are well regarded everywhere.

Not true! I worked on Capitol Hill. The process is really political. For students in downtrodden parts of America, they just have to be the best of the worst.

This is true for Ivy League too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sibling who attended a service academy and did the exchange program to spend a semester at other academies. Overall, the academies are an intense experience that can mess up the most sane person. When I meet a ring knocker, I think two things: you're smart but odds are you have trauma that probably clouds your thinking.

Or at least makes you bad at relationships. Not all, of course.

Interesting you think that. I dated a cadet in college and they were way more respectful of "no" than civilian college boys. Way more focused and just really had that respect driven into them. Why do you feel they are bad at relationships?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly cannot believe how ignorant some people are. My parents were both high school drop outs and half of my siblings didn't go to college. But we obviously knew the service academies were prestigious. People on this thread should be embarrassed.

I don't understand the outrage about people who didn't know of service academies in high school. There are a lot of subjects people don't know about in high school/early college that they get educated about. I'm the poster who didn't know what it was when I met my husband. He will retire in two years after 20 years of military service, with me by his side. And you think i should be embarrassed? The people who should be embarrassed are the ones who trash the military, ie cult poster below, or the ones who don't bother to serve. Give me a break.

I think it’s as OP’s combination of “ I didn’t know” with the “thought that was for kids with no options”. It’s pretty cringe. Simultaneously ignorant and arrogant. But yes, it’s surprising for anyone who was college bound to be unaware of this.

Her/his response at 21:04 is far from arrogant. It fact I would say it's the opposite where he/she says "I guess I"m the one who needs schooling". They were quite open minded in listening to the responses unlike half the posters on this forum.
i think it just makes people feel superior to chime in yet again with "I can't believe you wouldn't know that".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They provide and excellent education. It's that simple. Of course, that comes with significant strings attached, and you need to be aware of and okay with them.

It's not "strings attached." They want to sign up.

They are still strings. You owe them when you graduate. You can't transfer the credits anywhere else,[i][u] which is what a friend's kid ended up doing despite this because it turned out to not be a good match for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly cannot believe how ignorant some people are. My parents were both high school drop outs and half of my siblings didn't go to college. But we obviously knew the service academies were prestigious. People on this thread should be embarrassed.

I don't understand the outrage about people who didn't know of service academies in high school. There are a lot of subjects people don't know about in high school/early college that they get educated about. I'm the poster who didn't know what it was when I met my husband. He will retire in two years after 20 years of military service, with me by his side. And you think i should be embarrassed? The people who should be embarrassed are the ones who trash the military, ie cult poster below, or the ones who don't bother to serve. Give me a break.

I think it’s as OP’s combination of “ I didn’t know” with the “thought that was for kids with no options”. It’s pretty cringe. Simultaneously ignorant and arrogant. But yes, it’s surprising for anyone who was college bound to be unaware of this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly cannot believe how ignorant some people are. My parents were both high school drop outs and half of my siblings didn't go to college. But we obviously knew the service academies were prestigious. People on this thread should be embarrassed.

I don't understand the outrage about people who didn't know of service academies in high school. There are a lot of subjects people don't know about in high school/early college that they get educated about. I'm the poster who didn't know what it was when I met my husband. He will retire in two years after 20 years of military service, with me by his side. And you think i should be embarrassed? The people who should be embarrassed are the ones who trash the military, ie cult poster below, or the ones who don't bother to serve. Give me a break.

I think it’s as OP’s combination of “ I didn’t know” with the “thought that was for kids with no options”. It’s pretty cringe. Simultaneously ignorant and arrogant. But yes, it’s surprising for anyone who was college bound to be unaware of this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sibling who attended a service academy and did the exchange program to spend a semester at other academies. Overall, the academies are an intense experience that can mess up the most sane person. When I meet a ring knocker, I think two things: you're smart but odds are you have trauma that probably clouds your thinking.

Or at least makes you bad at relationships. Not all, of course.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I truly cannot believe how ignorant some people are. My parents were both high school drop outs and half of my siblings didn't go to college. But we obviously knew the service academies were prestigious. People on this thread should be embarrassed.

I don't understand the outrage about people who didn't know of service academies in high school. There are a lot of subjects people don't know about in high school/early college that they get educated about. I'm the poster who didn't know what it was when I met my husband. He will retire in two years after 20 years of military service, with me by his side. And you think i should be embarrassed? The people who should be embarrassed are the ones who trash the military, ie cult poster below, or the ones who don't bother to serve. Give me a break.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the "DC" part of DCUM is evident in some of these replies that assume that all people should know about service academies. In many places, there is no noticeable military presence. In my town, there is no one that I know who is or has been military.

However; years ago, we did a stint in Arlington, VA, and suddenly met teachers/coaches/parents who were former or active military, and many people had a family member who served. At this time, my then-elementary school DC noticed all this, became interested and here we are years later and DC is applying to a service academy.

And yes, we are all fumbling around trying to get it right, even DC's college counselor is on the learning curve, because we are back in our own geographical clueless bubble.

I don't think anyone should be shamed for not knowing about Service Academies. It's just an indicator at how stratified America is, and also, it's a bit of a marketing failure.

This is absolutely absurd. I grew up on a podunk town with no military presence, didn't know anyone in the service, etc. And I knew about the service academies. Why? Because I read a freakin' book a time or two in middle and high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

They are harder to get into than the Ivy League. They are well regarded everywhere.

Not true! I worked on Capitol Hill. The process is really political. For students in downtrodden parts of America, they just have to be the best of the worst.

Anonymous wrote:I think the "DC" part of DCUM is evident in some of these replies that assume that all people should know about service academies. In many places, there is no noticeable military presence. In my town, there is no one that I know who is or has been military.

However; years ago, we did a stint in Arlington, VA, and suddenly met teachers/coaches/parents who were former or active military, and many people had a family member who served. At this time, my then-elementary school DC noticed all this, became interested and here we are years later and DC is applying to a service academy.

And yes, we are all fumbling around trying to get it right, even DC's college counselor is on the learning curve, because we are back in our own geographical clueless bubble.

I don't think anyone should be shamed for not knowing about Service Academies. It's just an indicator at how stratified America is, and also, it's a bit of a marketing failure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They provide and excellent education. It's that simple. Of course, that comes with significant strings attached, and you need to be aware of and okay with them.

It's not "strings attached." They want to sign up.

They are still strings. You owe them when you graduate. You can't transfer the credits anywhere else, which is what a friend's kid ended up doing despite this because it turned out to not be a good match for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i was chatting with a friend who mentioned that their high achieving rising junior was hoping to attend a service academy (West Point or USNA). They don't have a family military background and are certainly not hurting for money. My sense is that the kid could go to any school they wanted. It's not an understatement to say that choosing a service academy path totally floored me. What is the draw here or what am I missing? Is this considered a prestigious route in some circles?

They are harder to get into than the Ivy League. They are well regarded everywhere.