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 .

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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.

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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 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’.

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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.

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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.

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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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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 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.

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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 wrote:

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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 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.

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.

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.