<p>A lot of people apply to the academies without considering rotc for this reason. If we are to make a career of the military, the only way to go is to the academies. The training you get is unmatched to any rotc program (lets not have an academy vs rotc debaccle) hands down. However, many of us are trying to decide if thats what we really want to do. There are some of you who know exactly what you want, which is great. But i feel unprepared to make a decision that will dictate the next 9 years of my life while im still 17. Ahhh..enough ranting. Anyway good luck to you all who are trying to decide..civilian or military. Its tough but in the end it'll work out (i hope).</p>
<p>I have a question for you Ivy people. Why do you want to go to them? Because of the name of the school? Please don't mistake my question for any bitterness, I considered a couple Ivies until I visited and scrapped the idea because of the experience I got. I also consider the undergrad programs only par with many other universities. I applied and was accepted to the number one undergrad engineering school as well as several others. I dunno, maybe my personality just didn't click with places like Cornell, MIT, or Columbia.</p>
<p>I loved the Midwest! The colleges I visited were awesome, the people were very moderate, even the college kids, and I felt so relaxed. My second choice to the AFA. </p>
<p>I can't imagine what it's like for so many of you who live where people question your commitment so much. I suppose its a strength builder as well. But here, I have 3 friends applying to Academies, I met after they had chosen, I know of 5 others doing it too. I know several ROTC applicants and accepted (One is doing AFROTC at Texas Tech), and I know a few enlistees! The military support here in Katy/Houston is phenominal, I receive nothing but support and people think its awesome what I've chosen. Such a different atmosphere!</p>
<p>The whole Harvard/ROTC thing is a little weird. Harvard does not provide $0.01 of support for ROTC, in fact many of the professors will ignore the ROTC commitment when scheduling things, so you get a little of the "can't do it all' syndrome similar (although not nearly the same intensity and frequency) to the academies. All your ROTC activities are conducted away from the Harvard campus (mostly at MIT). So youv'e also got the transportation and extra time associated with getting to drills, PT, AND NROTC required classes across town (city, actually).</p>
<p>People do it though. It's just that "Harvard" and it's unique required core corriculum really has to be your thing to make it worth while I would think. There is always Tufts if you wan't a little less retoric along political lines, and they have some great medical and other engineering programs. Of course there is MIT if your up for the techno-challenge.
Don't forget that your Harvard ROTC scholarship is usable at Tufts and MIT without a change request. So if Harvard is a long shot...definitely apply to Tufts...or MIT. (MIT by the way, is a lot more well-rounded these days than most people think.) They want passion and talent, and not just engineering talent by any means. And in my opinion, MIT's location beats any other college in metro Boston area, maybe any college anywhere!</p>
<p>The MIT/Harvard/Tufts NROTC unit has a good rep. And there are definitely marine and airforce available also.</p>
<p>Best of luck to all of you in your decisions. My son is going to be in a similar predicament (hopefully), and he will definitely have fun choosing...although right now he is heavy into USNA!!!</p>
<p>I've always wondered about this....</p>
<p>You want to be an engineer more than a Naval Officer? Go MIT, or CalTech, or whatever.</p>
<p>You want to be a businessman or a lawyer more than a Naval Officer? Go to Yale, or Harvard, or Brown, or whatever.</p>
<p>You want to be a Naval Officer? GO TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY!</p>
<p>Simple, really...</p>
<p>Ahh...The key for which to choose...??</p>
<p>I think CAREER is the most important word if it comes down to NROTC and USNA. Unfortunately, career is not defined the same by everyone. For some, a career is 10 years or less; for others, 30 years or more.</p>
<p>But if you honestly believe you want to command ships, lead warriors, AND command large chunks of US military forces...then USNA is THE best way to go.</p>
<p>If you just wan't to work in a think tank at NRL, or The Pentagon, drive subs/ships and/or command nuke propulsion plants or the like...ROTC is probably your best bet.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I have a question for you Ivy people. Why do you want to go to them? Because of the name of the school? Please don't mistake my question for any bitterness, I considered a couple Ivies until I visited and scrapped the idea because of the experience I got. I also consider the undergrad programs only par with many other universities. I applied and was accepted to the number one undergrad engineering school as well as several others. I dunno, maybe my personality just didn't click with places like Cornell, MIT, or Columbia.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>no, i am not one for 'names' as a priority for schools. really. i understand your point though, and you dont' seem bitter. i visited a lot of schools...A LOT...and i picked the ones that i knew i would enjoy there. i mean, i am applying to some very small, unknown schools, that are just excellent. But i know where you are getting at, and that makes me bitter, if you go for namesake. my school is very big on that, well, students at the top, minus me. </p>
<p>i did, however, get into MIT yesterday, which, was a back-up school, they've got no personality, and i need a school with an actual athletics program...my 5 year old cousin bats better than the girls varsity softball o_O. </p>
<p>like many others in this thread, we're in a tight spot. we dont know where we will get what we need as individuals in our next four years. academy, or not, i think 90% of seniors have this problem. i mean, i'm going crazy here! i've been accepted to: usna, usafa, mit, chicago, berkely (which, i strongly dislike, WAY too liberal, but my family wanted me to apply, just to see...eh), ucla, and have been gaurenteed admission to Columbia, Dartmouth, usc, and Yale (also dislike this school)</p>
<p>"If we are to make a career of the military, the only way to go is to the academies"
I strongly disagree. Where did Tommy Franks go? Colin Powell? Definitely not the academies. </p>
<p>As my Summer Seminar squad leader says "The man makes the man!" I've talked to many ROTC and USNA alumni who've said they've seen some good ROTC officers and some bad ones, and they've seen some good academy officers and some bad ones. </p>
<p>Would I agree that the academies are the best place to train to become an officer? Yes. Would I agree that they are the only place? No! </p>
<p>"lets not have an academy vs rotc debaccle"
Then don't say such statements :P</p>
<p>
[quote]
Would I agree that the academies are the best place to train to become an officer? Yes. Would I agree that they are the only place? No!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I never said anything different.</p>
<p>usna_aviationgirl -</p>
<p>"I did, however, get into MIT yesterday" ??</p>
<p>usna_aviationgirl</p>
<p>I'm going to come off sounding like a mom - which is my full intention.</p>
<p>I would strongly encourage you to stop, take a very deep breath, and re-read your last few posts.</p>
<p>Imagine reading the accomplishments that you have achieved, if you were someone else. Think of all the schools that have already accepted you. There are probably 1000's of young people all across the country who would give their eye teeth to get into ONE of the schools you almost cavalierly mention in passing as options available for you. </p>
<p>Clearly you are an intellectually gifted young woman. I salute you, your gifts, your talents and your amazing achievements in your brief 17/18 years on this planet!</p>
<p>It is my prayer that you relax enough to recognize with deep gratitude God's blessings on you and your family in this situation. </p>
<p>Especially in this month where many of us celebrate Christmas/Hannukah with the recognition that God does indeed guide, visit and direct His people....I will pray that you can hear and sense His leading for you - and feel confident and blessed with whatever path you are going to choose.</p>
<p>I hope to meet you someday. A young woman of your caliber is someone I am deeply grateful wants to use her gifts in military service for our country. </p>
<p>Here I am sounding like a mom again, but relax, smile, enjoy your upcoming school vacation, and....</p>
<p>I am immensely proud of you, usna_aviationgirl. :-)</p>
<p>usna_aviationgirl: Congratulations on MIT, and your admission letters to usna, usafa,chicago, berkely, ucla, Columbia, Dartmouth, usc, and Yale! I bow before you! Talk about tough decisions!!! Your parents must be so very, very proud of your achievement! I hope you frame them all!
Wishing you nothing but the absolute best whichever path you take! Job well done~ you go girl!</p>
<p>My son did get his MIT EA acceptance "tube" today. One option down, one to go.</p>
<p>Today was a good mail day....finally!!</p>
<p>I like you guys. And I totally agree. I actually think its funny how many academy kids ALSO apply to Notre Dame. It would be an interesting statistic: "number of kids admitted into Notre dame who elected to go to a service academy instead". </p>
<p>I am in a liberal Chicago suburb and all my friends are either going to U of I or east coast or stanford. And I gotta tell you, they all question my decision. They think I'm crazy. I'm "Ivy material", too and I never wanted anything but to not go to one of those. I just like knowing there are other kids who feel the same way.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am in a liberal Chicago suburb...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You mean there's actually a Conservative one? :confused:</p>
<p>Wow, AvGirl, no doubt many would kill for your "hard decision" shall we say . ;) Excellent work on upholding the honor of Texas! lol. But really, I hope I can meet you one day!</p>
<p>I wasn't quoting you Zaphod.</p>
<p>Dad2b'2010: i was contradictory to my last paragraph, regarding big name schools. and congrats to your son for MIT!!!!! i'm sure it was a great moment! dont you love the mailman sometimes!?! :)</p>
<p>peskemom: <em>sniff</em> thank you so much for your kind words, i cried reading them! i feel so, special that someone outside of my family, that i know through a college forum would speak such words of kindness & caring! i am indeed, grateful to God's many blessings on my family. since second semester of junior year, my spirituality has risen 10 fold (although, i have always been religous). all of these fantastic doors have been opened for me, every night i'm on my knees praying and thanking God for what He has done for me and that He would bless all young people of this world as well so that we as a country, and as a world can serve him and make things great. ah, i am rambling.... i thank you for your prayers, it touches my heart that someone i hardly know and never met is praying for me. and i hope to meet you also in that you wound intentially be mom-like for me! <em>sniff</em></p>
<p>navy2010: thank you for your kind words! </p>
<p>hornet guy: thank you also for your words!</p>
<p>my gracious, i feel so special. this board is just incredibly amazing, and has helped me so much!</p>
<p>and just for reference, i am calling MIT, Berkely, and Chicago monday to tell them i will not be attending, and to please let someone on the wait list get in. and also: i have been leaning very heavily on usna lately, i dont know why, but i find myself thinking/talking about it a lot, and i find myself praying really hard for someone to nominate for usna (i only have an loa & med stuff done). my parents think that right now (since it changes so often) my first choice is usna.....but i promse to tell all of you where i'll be! </p>
<p>and i want to thank EVERYONE on this board to be so supportive of everyone applying to the academies. no one at my school, not even my friends (except a few members of the swim team who have asked & i trust wont say anything, and the principal, counselours, & 3 teachers (who did my recs)) know that i even applied to these academies. they'd all think "why would you do something stupid like that?!" particularly because our school is the 'rich kids' school of the area, and 99.999999% of boys & girls here don't even realize what the academies are about. they think its just some place for war-mongers and big buff macho guys struttin around in a uniform, it's very distressing knowing if anyone knew, horrible rumors would occur, and i just wouldnt be able to stand for it. </p>
<p>...this is a grossly long post...</p>
<p>My advice is to reconsider your decision about NROTC.</p>
<p>Our son had a similar dilemma and chose the civilian college and NROTC. He is extremely happy with his choice--and very hard-core Navy, happily attending presentations about service selection. </p>
<p>NROTC produces perhaps half of the new officers in the Navy. You can have an excellent Navy career without attending Annapolis. </p>
<p>So, my advice--if you aren't too late--is to give NROTC a chance. Why give up one of your two beloved choices when you don't necessarily have to?</p>
<p>Your happiness is key. Follow your heart, if in doubt, time will tell. No matter where you go, you will excel. Sit down and ask yourself where you want to be in 10 years. If you don't know, join the rest, welcome to the crowd. ;) </p>
<p>If you look for the comraderie, even the CC forum gives insight, think hard on an Academy! </p>
<p>Let us know YOUR decision, we're excited for you! Keep on truckin'!</p>
<p>I will admit one thing, though. Knowing what I know now, if I'd gotten into MIT, I would have grabbed it.</p>
<p>Tough call. VERY tough call.</p>