<p>Hey everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. I am still feeding off the excitement of receiving my appointment last week; it's an awesome feeling. I tried so hard for so long, and now I'm there. My next goal, of course, is to reach that second weekend in August, when I can finally look back on Plebe summer and tell myself it's over. I've spoken to one of my friends who is a plebe now and he really made me feel a lot more comfortable about it. He said it's actually quite enjoyable if you prepare youself. Sure, they'll be things you hate about it and some of the stuff will seem REALLY stupid, but you'll realize halfway through that it's just a game - the upperclassmen are happy that you are there and they'll sit with you and laugh at it when the academic year comes. </p>
<p>Anyway, I read an interesting passage in a book a while back that claims the service academies have better overall stats than the Ivy's. I was wondering what everyone thinks about this statement. Obviously, the answers will be biased, being it's a Naval Academy board, but hopefully we can get some Harvard and Yale students on to this board as well.</p>
<p>Novastudent: Which have best overall stats? Academies or Ivy's ?</p>
<p>I understand the competitive nature of people but I don't see the point of the comparison. Will your decision to attend or not attend USNA depend on the outcome of the comparison?</p>
<p>Both groups recruit outstanding students and athletes. Both groups have numerous exceptional graduates. Anyone fortunate enough to attend either the academies or the Ivy's should take pride in their accomplishment.</p>
<p>Guess I'm just not in the mood for a "who's the best" exchange. Have at it guys.</p>
<p>I'm ready to start throwing mud!!! I bet USNA has better stats in many regards because they do not recruit for just one thing. Many of the people at ivy schools have one "hook" that got them in. At USNA you need to have "hooks" and excellence in many different areas as opposed to being top notch in just one area.</p>
<p>They are hard to compare. In terms of the incoming classes, I would say the ivies have the academies beat BIG TIME for a couple of reasons. First and foremeost, the ivies are constantly worried about their reputation. If you are a 4.7 GPA and valedictorian of a private school and captain of everything, a 1200-1300 SAT score won't get you in. The ivies thrive of their status as superior, and by taking a 1200 or 1300 SAT, it lowers their averages, which really kills the vibe they are trying to give off. Of course, a minority or exchange student may come along, but for the most part this is the case. The academies are not looking for 1600 SAT's and valedictorians. obvioudls that is a HUGE plus factor, but if these brainiacs show no history of athletic involvement, leadership, or service, they have no chance of getting in. If a valedictorian 1600 that DID do everything says in a interview he's not sure whether the military is right for him/her, that person likely will not get in.</p>
<p>Another big factor in this is the regional appointment process. Not matter what people say, a student in Idaho public schools who gets straight A+'s is not as prepared for college as a B average student in academically stringent areas such as in the Northeast and Northern Virginia. in a system where the guys in Idaho who have more senators then congressman, and there are more nominations available than applicants, the quality of the applicant pool is going to be diminished. Not to say this regional system is bad, it is designed to diversify our military leadership, and certainly many of these rural, less prepared midshipmen/cadets go on to become stellar officers, but again, they wouldn't get accepted to Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>The ivies are looking for numbers, the academies are looking for leaders. If that is what the academies were looking for, they WOULD have all valedictorains and 1600 SAT's.</p>
<p>So in terms of incoming class, the ivies will (statistically) have the academies beat. But when it comes down to undergraduate expierience, quality of the degree, leadership training, and discipline, the academies blow the ivies out of the water. They are difficult institutions with a true purpose that is their foundation. They do not exist to steal people's money and gloat at the status of their school, they exist to produce leaders to protect our nation and ivy leaguers.</p>
<p>"Another big factor in this is the regional appointment process. Not matter what people say, a student in Idaho public schools who gets straight A+'s is not as prepared for college as a B average student in academically stringent areas such as in the Northeast and Northern Virginia."</p>
<p>Sounds like a familiar comment that ususally comes from the same folks that say they have no class rank because their school is "already so competitive." I agree with Aspen, the topic is really meaningless and has no true answer. Academies select "the whole person". From that standpoint it can be argued that their "stats" are better than the ivies. Certainly their students are more qualified in the full "range" of "stats". . On the other hand....well, you all know the arguments already! :)</p>
<p>My school is better than your school; nannah, nannah, na-nah!</p>
<p>School spirit is great. Love where you are, support your choice, cheer for them, say they are the BEST (because of course they are) but don't tear down another's. (Unless it is ARMY!) (Just kidding)</p>
<p>You all know that there are too many subjective criteria to compare. This thread is just silly.
CM</p>
<p>Sometimes it's not necessarily where you are [during your formal education] but rather where you end up. Each person has different dreams, goals, aspirations... hence success defined is different for each person. If a person is focused, committed, passionate, etc..., he/she is more than likely going to be successful regardless of whether the institution attended is a state university, Ivy college or an academy.</p>
<p>Bill Gates-attended Harvard and left junior year to devote time to Microsoft</p>
<p>President Bush-attended Yale and Harvard</p>
<p>Colin Powell-attended city college of NY and joined ROTC</p>
<p>General Zinni (retired)-attended Villanova, former 4 star Commanding Officer US Central Command</p>
<p>LTC Allen- also attended Villanova and piloted the US space shuttle Atlantis</p>
<p>Richard Shatz-attended Duke, co-inventor of the stent</p>
<p>General Hagee-33rd (current) Commandant of the USMC, attended the USNA (distinguished graduate)</p>
<p>Many institutions in the US produce successful people; be the best you can be no matter where you end up!</p>