Help! Princeton vs USNA

I have posted this on Service Academy Forums as well. You assumption is correct regarding USNA. The majority of the posters can’t believe you would even consider going anywhere but USNA.
This is exactly what I hoped for when I posted this on College Confidential. Everyone is much more objective. I really appreciate your help.

No, he validated every Plebe course possible. The academies administer assessment tests prior to the start of the academic year and do not waste anyone’s time repeating material or forcing them to suffer below ability level. That serves no one. At West Point, cadets must declare their majors at the end of Plebe year and start their major curriculum sophomore year.

If I show him “Top Gun” on April 30th this may be easy.

“His biggest regret…choosing Harvard over Wesleyan.”

Some Harvard grads are amazingly resourceful when it comes to bringing up the fact that they went to Harvard.

“You can always tell a Harvard grad

You just can’t tell them much. “

Old joke around Boston…

“If graduating from Wesleyan is your biggest achievement in life, then we’ve failed you.”

Often heard around Middletown…

USNA if he wants to be career military. Otherwise, Princeton/ROTC gives the best of both worlds and allows an out if he doesn’t particularly care to pursue becoming a commissioned officer and not have to transfer. Leaning more towards Tigers.

He went to Tiger Tuesday this week.
He really was impressed by Princeton. He found the students kind and down to earth. He went to a class and didn’t feel intimidated and liked how the professor knew everyone’s name.
He ate lunch and became friendly with a group of other future students. One kid was in the same situation he was in. USNA or Princeton ROTC. He told my son that Princeton became his first choice after Tiger Tuesday.

So I know it’s been nearly two months since my last post. Unfortunately, we are still in the same situation.
My son just returned from Princeton Preview and had a great time. I thought he was going to come home and press the accept button but he said he still isn’t sure.

I must be doing something wrong. The more I expose him to Princeton the more he likes it but the same is true for USNA. The scholar in him is attracted to Princeton while the future officer in him is attracted to USNA.

One thing I have found interesting is that most military officers (current and retired) and most service academy graduates (including USNA grads) tell him to pursue Princeton.
Meanwhile, most non-military people are partial to the Naval Academy. Especially conservative ones.

While he was at Princeton he asked the current ROTC students whether they also had to decide between Princeton ROTC and a service academy appointment. Nearly all of them said yes. I guess we know what they chose!

Anyway, I know this thread is old and I might be talking to myself but that’s where we stand.

Thanks for the update. I am following your son’s journey and wish you the best. Please update us once his final decision is made.

Admittedly I didn’t read through all 4 pages - but wanted to offer my two cents. The “boat school” is an uncollege. First year is going to be rough. It won’t be a typical college experience. Is that what he wants? If he isn’t sure, he needs to choose Princeton.

If he doesn’t mind sacrificing the typical college experience, what he will gain at USNA is beyond compare. Suggest you hope on over to www.serviceacademyforums.com and read up over there.

Best of luck!

Tough decision. I agree that uncertainly should default to Princeton… but it sounds as if he just needs to think it through. I hope it doesn’t come down to the wire on May 1st, for your sake!

Service Academy Forums has been a great help.
However, CC users are much more impartial with ROTC/SA issues.

You probably should tell him you prefer usna and he will switch to Princeton. The old double reverse. Lol.

But you do have to remember that it’s his life and we can’t live our lives vicariously through them. Make sure it’s not you who prefers Princeton. I had that problem myself and had to stop coaching my child to the decision. Info and love.

There is a service academy forum website if you google. Lots of info there and maybe some new perspective.

https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php
Didn’t realize I could link!

The OP is already a consumer of the SA forum, but she is correct that the herd over there is less impartial than the crowd here.

Lots of good thoughts have been posted so far, but I do scratch my head a bit over this indecision lasting months when the two choices could not be more different. Both lead to a commission if that’s the main goal, but the college experiences are worlds apart, and I can’t imagine anyone drawn to one being equally drawn to the other. @STF4717’s comment about USNA (any academy) being “uncollege” is an apt description. Navy even sells tee-shirts that say “NOT College.”

Personally, other than cost, I don’t see the attraction to the academies. If officership is the goal, the ROTC programs get the same job done with much less pain and a better college experience. And even the current and former officers who moderate over on the SA forums admit and have posted links to data showing that academy grads in this century no longer have any military career advantage over ROTC officers. And, of course, former USNA professor Bruce Fleming has been vocal in his opinion of the academies for years:

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/opinion/21fleming.html?emc=eta1

@C1nj: The “future officer” in your son will end up with a commission from either source, but he needs to decide if he wants 24x7 military immersion while earning it or a normal college experience. Both can provide him the academic and intellectual challenge he seeks though he may need to find his peers initially and advocate for himself among the faculty brain trust at USNA. But don’t be misled — USNA absolutely can deliver on the intellectual front.

As others, including me, have said upthread, if your son truly is still conflicted, he can try USNA commitment-free for two years and still have Ivy transfer prospects, assuming he retains top academic status amid the relentless physical and military requirements at the academy. If he stays and graduates in the top half of his class, he will also have fine prospects for a top-notch grad program also at government expense.

TLDR: Your son really can’t go wrong either way. He will be intellectually satisfied and a Naval officer regardless of his choice. He just needs to decide which college experience he prefers.

I believe a portion of his indecision stems from the amount of work it took to receive his USNA appointment.
So many interviews, medical tests, medical waivers, physical fitness exams, essays, recommendations etc.
Applying to an Ivy was relatively easy in comparison. With that being said, I do realize the acceptance rate is even lower at many Ivies including Princeton.

In addition, his older classmates at his high school were in a similar situation. One had to choose between Princeton, MIT and USNA and another between MIT and USNA. They both chose USNA. This may be muddying the waters as well.

@ChoatieMom You are correct. He should of come to some conclusion by now. I believe the underlying issue is he really isn’t sure where he wants to be in 10 years. He wants to do something exciting but he really isn’t interested in a career in the military.

Once again, thank you everyone for your input. It is very helpful.

“He wants to do something exciting but he really isn’t interested in a career in the military.” I think here is your answer right off the bat.

@SailingMomof2 You may be correct.
I think he sees himself serving 4-5 years active duty or long term in the National Guard or Reserves. He feels he has an obligation to serve his country. He doesn’t want to do a 20-30 year active duty career.

The choice actually is between Army ROTC and USNA. Army ROTC does have some great advantages. You can choose any major and you have the option between active duty, reserves, or National Guard.
USNA is a 5 year active duty commitment but the Navy has fighter jets and romantic travel. Remember, we are still dealing with an 18 year old.

He lost his Air Force ROTC scholarship due to a medical disqualification. I think that would of sealed the deal for Princeton. He can probably try for a Navy ROTC scholarship next year if he attends Princeton. He ran out of time this cycle applying to all the academies.

It is alot of moving parts.

Like @ChoatieMom said, none of this really matters he has the opportunity to be successful with either option.