<p>I am applying transfer from NYU and on many of the elite colleges like Harvard they have a spot where you are asked to describe career aspirations after graduation. Currently, I want serve as an officer in the armed forces for a few years after college to serve the country because I feel an obligation and then go into a civilian career after that. Is this wise to mention in an application considering the liberal views of many of the top colleges? Also many of the applications like the common app have a spot where it asks you a major and a possible career track, is it okay to put, history, military officer? and then explain the reasoning for this in the additional information section?</p>
<p>I think what you want to do is very honorable. There is nothing wrong to want to serve your country. Many CEOs have military background. I admire your sense of duty and I think many adcom would also.</p>
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<li>Would you want to attend a school that is anti-military? Could an anti-military school give you an opposing view point that you would not get at an pro-military school. The opposite arguement can also be made. </li>
<li>Do you think that the "liberal" schools are anti-military?</li>
<li>Do you think that "conservative" schools can give a better education?</li>
<li>Is, being a military officer a "political" position in the sense that there is a 'anything goes attitude' vs 'loveit-or-leave attitude'?</li>
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<p>Opposing arguments should be made to the above questions.</p>
<p>Dextr0z, my daughter had/has the same sort of question with regard to her graduate school applications, as she wants a similar sort of career. After asking a million questions, she decided to just go for it, and hopefully it doesn't negatively impact her admissions decisions. </p>
<p>As an aside, though this isn't what you asked, she looked very hard at military service, but, overwhelmingly people advised her not to enter military service as an officer; the opinions being that it's difficult to gain the respect of enlisted personnel if one doesn't come up through the ranks. Two friends of hers who graduated last year joined as enlisted persons even though they could have joined as officers for this reason (but, they want military careers vs. serving one term and then moving on to private industry). D doesn't want to join unless as an officer, so, she decided (for now) to put military service on the back burner. </p>
<p>In your situation, if you wish to serve in the military because of a sense of obligation, if possible in the application format, I would recommend emphasizing the obligation, etc., perhaps that will mitigate any potential negativity. The other thing is, it could actually boost your application, since diversity is always a factor - I will guess that few applicants will list this as a career goal, though more may list public service in broad terms as a career goal.</p>
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As an aside, though this isn't what you asked, she looked very hard at military service, but, overwhelmingly people advised her not to enter military service as an officer; the opinions being that it's difficult to gain the respect of enlisted personnel if one doesn't come up through the ranks.
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<p>wow! that's a POV I've never heard before; my son & his wife were both liberal arts grads who then (contrary to my peacenik views) went through OCS, Basic Training, and flight school. They don't seem to have any problem at all commanding respect of Marine enlisted, though sometimes the sailors act out a bit.</p>
<p>I was a Navy officer for 10 years (OCS grad--no enlisted experience). While most officers do not have enlisted experience, I can assure you that the ones who spend even a couple years as an enlisted man or woman have a much better feel for what is going on around them. Being enlisted for a few years before becoming an officer also has a positive impact on eligibiltiy for retirement and pension.</p>
<p>Liberals, as a whole, are not anti-military. This isn't the 1960s. Every liberal I know (including myself) has great respect for troops and has no issue with people desiring a military career. Don't confuse frustration with leadership with an antagonistic attitude towards the actual on-the-ground military.</p>
<p>Additionally, why would you not be honest about your aspirations? If that is what you plan on doing, be a strong enough person to say it without worrying about what someone might think. I don't think there's any need for a person to be in-the-closet about their military career.</p>
<p>The first rule of college admissions: Be honest about who you are.</p>
<p>If a school doesn't want the person you are, or hope to become, then it is not the right school for you.</p>
<p>I would be surprised if any admissions people consider going into the military an undesirable career path and would feel free to mention it.</p>
<p>My brother was enlisted for two years, then officer for twenty plus before he retired last year. I never heard him espouse that this earned him greater respect, but perhaps it did. He did not take this path as a calculated career move, however, but because his grades in college were too low to get in directly as an officer.</p>
<p>I was enlisted for four years and don't recall thinking much of officers pro or con. We didn't interact because officers didn't have any technical skills (at least in our area--obviously the pilots and medical personnel are an exception but I was never at an air force base with planes and luckily never got sick). The decision on whether to be an officer or enlisted for those with degrees (and I knew a bunch of enlisted who had college degrees) really had to do with what job you wanted to do. Officers were managers and enlisted people were technicians. </p>
<p>During the years I served (1976 to 1980) we weren’t fighting any wars, which is a huge difference from today. Living in military conditions was similar to living in a commune and going from Monterey, California to three years on the island of Crete was not exactly hard duty. Although a few of the rules could be annoying, the job was fascinating. I savor those memories the way most people do their college days. I guess being 17-21 is just good.</p>
<p>Officers have a higher salary, live in much better base housing, and get other perks. If one plans to spend a career in the military they should definitely strongly consider doing it as an officer rather than enlisted.</p>
<p>What are your reasons for wanting to transfer to Harvard? Why Harvard over any other school? Wouldn't a college with an ROTC program better suit your purposes? Why is your idea of serving the country going into the military? Why did you pick this option over other ways in which you can serve?</p>
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Officers have a higher salary, live in much better base housing, and get other perks. If one plans to spend a career in the military they should definitely strongly consider doing it as an officer rather than enlisted.
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<p>I didn't know anything about the military till my middle son joined the Marines. I'm amazed at how good his life is. The training was very difficult, but he never seemed to doubt he'd make it through. He claims he owes it to his country, but frankly I think he just loves the toys. He gets to fly fast fighter jets full of incredibly sophisticated avionics. I remember when I bought him a mountain bike (he was 14 and it was a huge investment for us at the time), thinking he'd ride the trails and enjoy the local flora and fauna. Ha! He used it to speed down mountains and jump off cliffs. Some people just need that sort of thing I guess. I fear for him, of course, as any mother would. But the military suits him well.</p>
<p>If a school doesn't have a specific ROTC program, many times the student can take the program at a nearby school. I think that Harvard kids can take ROTC classes at MIT. </p>
<p>My husband is a career officer. Like many of his counterparts, he never spent a day in the enlisted ranks. This did not diminish their ability to effectively lead their troops even in their young 2LT years. Military officers don't manage their soldiers. They lead them. There is a big difference between a manager and a leader.</p>
<p>I would think any college would respect your military aspirations. I would definitely include it. I am somewhat biased as my S1 is on NROTC scholarship and has always wanted a military career.</p>
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He gets to fly fast fighter jets...
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<p>celloguy:
The son of a colleague of mine just graduated from the Air Force Academy and is now training in T-38 jets. I enjoy listening to the latest on his son because it's certainly adventurous and he's having a blast. You're right, these are toys one just can't get at the mall.</p>
<p>Motherdear:
You're quite correct on the difference between a manager and a leader.</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad, the adventure stories are certainly exciting (like, the time son hit the wrong button in a landing and his instructor had forgotten to set the override; instructor radioed Control to prepare for a crash and then, with seconds to go, S got it under control). I'm sure the kids (son & wife) spare me most of their stories. When S heard he was assigned to a jet with a particularly bad safety history (which I discovered much later surfing the Internet), he cheerfully told me about its great ejection system. Sigh.</p>
<p>No school you are going to want to go to is going to take away from you for wanting to serve. And if they did would you want to go there?</p>
<p>Be honest and maintain your integrity. </p>
<p>Finally, remember what Thucydides wrote in 400 BC: "The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools."</p>
<p>It is as true today as it was then.</p>