<p>After being accepted to a number of top schools and pre-med programs, I have narrowed my choices down to Harvard and USNA. Very torn between both schools. Would like to become a surgeon and think that eventually I would like to join Med Corp via the Navy. Intrigued by the challenges of both schools and the specifics that set them apart from every other school. Also, weighing the Harvard ROTC scholarship. (Would be a varsity athlete at either, if that's important at all.) If I don't do USNA or ROTC, looking towards the HPSP. Opinions? Please don't spend time bashing, etc. I am looking for credible information, advice, suggestions. Thank you!</p>
<p>Great choices! I believe USNA only sends 10-15 grads each year directly to medical school. There’s a chance you wouldn’t be one of them. Are you ok with that? Here’s a link to a thread that discusses going med school out of USNA:</p>
<p>[Med</a> School after USNA? - United States of America Service Academy Forums](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=17154]Med”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=17154)</p>
<p>What a great a choice you have to make. A recruited athlete to boot. Wow your parents must be very proud. </p>
<p>I would pick Havard over the Naval Academy. You don’t want the needs of the Navy determining your future. Being a recruited athlete is going to put a great strain on you time and may impact your grades. </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone would think you were crazy to give up the Naval Academy for Havard.</p>
<p>No brainer. Navy. Far less likely to get a brain warp. Think value and values! 
</p>
<p>Beyond basketball and debate, I didn’t know they had athletics @ Harvard? 
And once Tommy gets a real coaching slot, only a matter of minutes, hoops’ll hibernate again.</p>
<p>More seriously, IF med school’s your gig, way easier to get there via Harvard. Too much competition for too few spots. If that’s your requirement, your choice really is simple.</p>
<p>I think the U.S. Naval Academy would be the better option. Harvard may look better on paper (or in this case, your computer screen), but the Naval Academy will develop you in more ways than academically. The Academy will provide you with strong academics, strong athletic development, strong personal development (they will show you what it is like to know failure and what it is like to be at the bottom, but, most importantly, they will show you how to be a leader and how to work efficiently with others), and friendships and connections that will last your entire life – in and out of the Navy. In the end, the decision is up to you, and either way, you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>Could hardly agree more. With one glaring exception …he/she who is dead set on becoming an MD. Give or take a few, 10 a year make that grade out of USNA. And they’ve made med school in the midst of a mountain of major “distraction” and academic challenge. jmo. Absent that? A no-brainer for a patriotic young person determined to serve in the Corps or USN. And the education, including and going way beyond the classroom, is unique and spectacular.</p>
<p>If there’s a question, there is no question.</p>
<p>While only of marginal import and tangential to the primary issue, I will once again proclaim the claim I’ve long claimed with 100% certainty. </p>
<p>There are WAY more Mids who could make it into and out of Harvard than there are Crimson cronies who would or could make it into and out of USNA. These “Yards” are yards …no miles … apart.</p>
<p>But the ultimate issues in this discussion seem to be two to me:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The peer group that will morph into one’s lifetime cronies, friends forever after. A world of difference.</p></li>
<li><p>Closely related, but not totally congruent, the values one will nurture. A universe, maybe several, of difference.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Like him or otherwise, Trump asks a confounding question of how an allegedly lousy student gets into Harvard? Certainly not on the basis of basketball … :rolleyes:</p>
<p>WP: explain that last sentence a little to those of us who don’t follow Trump’s every word. [Even if I am a fan of celebrity d-list apprentice.]</p>
<p>How does a lousy student get into Harvard? The same way some lousy students ahve been getting into NA!</p>
<p>If you have two excellent choices before you . . . well, that’s atough call.</p>
<p>I’m going to go with Harvard because it sounds as if you really want to be a doctor and that is probably a better route. ON THE OTHER HAND, it also sounds as if you want to be a Navy doctor . … while NA is not a weak choice in this regard, that is not their primary mission. PLUS, the Navy offers many excellent support choices, i.e.money, to those who are admitted to med school and sign on, i.e. money.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that NA will tell you itself that it is not the best place for those who aspire to medical school.</p>
<p>Oh yeah . . . there used to be a participant on these threads KP2001 who is agraduate of Merch. Marine Academy who attends [may have graduated by now] HPSP. He knows all about becoming a doctor from a service academy. Seek him/her out.</p>
<p>While Trump asked it in a rhetorical fashion, I suspect he had specific scenario(s) in mind. Who knows?</p>
<p>Trump</p>
<p>It seems you’ve answered that ephemeral wondering rightly, it seems, if somewhat left-handedly. The same way USNA admits less-than-stellar scholastic “scholars.” And in another, if not so ironic twist, there might well be linkage between Harvardian grad(s) and USNA’s wandering down this unfortunate path. Orders from above …</p>
<p>Wow, congratulations two great choices. I’d pick Harvard NROTC. I think this gives you the most flexiblity in your college career and beyond. Good Luck and let us know what you decide. If you haven’t already done so a visit to both schools might help you decide which is for you and talk to the NROTC people at Harvard (or are they at MIT right now?) about your life there as a student and a cadet.</p>
<p>Correct. Harvard does not allow ROTC on campus. As noted, think “values.”</p>
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</p>
<p>Incorrect.</p>
<p>In March, Harvard also renewed its formal connection to ROTC after four decades of exile.</p>
<p>[Review</a> & Outlook: ROTC Homecoming - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704677404576285243869357186.html?mod=googlenews_wsj]Review”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704677404576285243869357186.html?mod=googlenews_wsj)</p>
<p>There you go! I stand corrected and 30 days out of date on this one. Thanks Lou! </p>
<p>In any case, the message might be different, but it’s the same. This is only because of the DADT flopperooh. And the need to legitimize the Harvard Dean now on the U.S. Supreme Court. It is what it is.</p>
<p>THe OP asked that no bashing take place on this thread. Let’s respect that. Many elite schools are considering inviting ROTC back on campus. IMO this is good for the student cadets, the officer corps and the nation.</p>
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<p>Help us to know path1 that which you’ve somehow deemed to be “bashing” and uncredible or incredible information? Perhaps your noted opinion about what is “good for the student cadets, the officer corps and the nation” might be some of that? Good knowing you’d think it to be “good” but stick to the credible, perhaps?</p>
<p>btw, it’s “Midshipmen.” OY! :p</p>
<p>I’ll leave this thread to you wp. Again Good luck CEDetermined!</p>
<p>
Wrong again. Imagine that - twice in one thread - hehe.</p>
<p>Actually Drew Faust has been supporter of ROTC and has been trying to get ROTC back on Harvard’s campus since she arrived. She has been a great leader in that regard.
Enough of that silliness - it is what it is.</p>
<p>Good advice on this thread and the one on the Harvard Forum. Interestingly, I was a bit surprised to see such support over there for USNA. In a way it makes sense. You could have both if you pick USNA and get into Harvard Med.
My only advice here is to pick one and hit the ground running. Don’t look back. You can’t lead two lives so live one to the fullest. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice! ^^^ I promise I’m taking it all in. I just haven’t been replying to everything. Just wanted to let you all know that I appreciate it!</p>
<p>CE determined…send me a private message. I know a young lady who chose Harvard over USNA for 2010…she’s now a Marine Officer. Her ‘just been there’ information might be very helpful to you. If you give me your email in private mssg I can forward to her and she can contact you privately. For the record this young lady and my girl met through this forum - became friends and to this day both serve as Marine officers - one from Harvard one from USNA…</p>