Anonymous
04/29/2026 08:29
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have several close friends with children in either T5s, Berkeley, West Point, or Annapolis.
The students at the T5s and Berkeley had parents and admissions consultants that curated their ECs and applications.
The service academy students genuinely lived their ECs. They were authentic.
Service academies like volunteering, ROTC, Scouts, not the "fancy" EC's Ivies like. Is it correct? Do they also like research and publishing paper?
The service academies are liberal arts institutions.
Anonymous
04/29/2026 07:48
Subject: Re:What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote: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.
In today’s world, not many with the choice of college want to go into the military. Too many senseless wars started by complete idiots with zero care for life. I respect the people that do enter military life, but would not want it for my own kids.
Anonymous
04/29/2026 07:43
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.
I feel that the nomination is the hardest part. How can RPTC help it?
Whether the nomination is "the hardest part" is heavily dependent on how many candidates there are in your congressional district and state.
After securing a nomination, you then need to be a top pick on that list or "slate" because each member of Congress only has 5 spots at an academy at a time (over the 4 years). So only 1 or 2 come off that list unless the academy has other sources for open spots (they find them for recruited athletes).
Anonymous
04/15/2026 06:32
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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?
Connections. All the kids I know (kids now or kids when I was coming up) had relatives in high military or political places. Every single one. Especially for Naval Academy.
It's more like influence from the family environment/tradition.
A kid from military family is like 10X more likely to apply.
Do they have priority in admission, similar to legacy for some private colleges?
If you have a direct (parent or grandparent) family member alum you get 1 extra point, out of a total of 100. They figure you’re more likely to know what you’re getting into so less likely to quit freshman year. It’s something, but doesn’t really move the needle that much. One of those “all other things being equal” things.
It’s more of a kids of alum things are more likely to want to go (just like civilian schools) and know the process.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 04:45
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:Great kids with intelligence, integrity, fitness, and a love of this great country. Godspeed.
+1 I wish more parents would impart a love of our great country to their offspring. Not common in DC.
Anonymous
04/14/2026 22:44
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
It’s the pinnacle of college ‘fit.‘
Kids that get in are committed to the career path, and have the determination to stick out the unique application process. The hurdles, neither academically nor physically, are individually high but collectively it’s a long road.
Acceptance rates include everyone who starts an application. It’d be interesting to know the acceptance rates by stage.
Kids that get in are committed to the career path, and have the determination to stick out the unique application process. The hurdles, neither academically nor physically, are individually high but collectively it’s a long road.
Acceptance rates include everyone who starts an application. It’d be interesting to know the acceptance rates by stage.
Anonymous
04/14/2026 21:25
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.
I feel that the nomination is the hardest part. How can RPTC help it?
I believe ROTC is another nominating source. Whether the nomination is the hardest part depends on how many in your district/state apply. If you receive a nomination, then you compete against the others who also got the nomination from the same nominating source bc the congressperson only has 1-2 spots opening up at an academy that year. If someone else on the nomination list edges you out, you then have the nomination but no appointment (admission).
Anonymous
04/14/2026 21:06
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
I only knew one girl a couple of years ago. She was absolutely exceptional in both academic and sports. Besides, she was more mature than many others at that age. BTW, she was the first one to college in her family. I don't know whether Naval prioritizes first generation or not.
Anonymous
04/14/2026 20:54
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote: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?
Connections. All the kids I know (kids now or kids when I was coming up) had relatives in high military or political places. Every single one. Especially for Naval Academy.
It's more like influence from the family environment/tradition.
A kid from military family is like 10X more likely to apply.
Do they have priority in admission, similar to legacy for some private colleges?
Anonymous
04/14/2026 20:47
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:I have several close friends with children in either T5s, Berkeley, West Point, or Annapolis.
The students at the T5s and Berkeley had parents and admissions consultants that curated their ECs and applications.
The service academy students genuinely lived their ECs. They were authentic.
Service academies like volunteering, ROTC, Scouts, not the "fancy" EC's Ivies like. Is it correct? Do they also like research and publishing paper?
Anonymous
04/14/2026 20:40
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.
I feel that the nomination is the hardest part. How can RPTC help it?
Anonymous
04/14/2026 20:29
Subject: What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?
Anonymous wrote:Great kids with intelligence, integrity, fitness, and a love of this great country. Godspeed.
+1000