<p>Here's a question out of left field. On the apps for the various academies, they ask you what your "likely" major would be. Does anyone think this plays any part in whether you are appointed or not. Does picking the "fuzzy" majors, i.e. History, PolSci, etc. reduce your chances as opposed to one of the engineering majors. I realize these choices aren't binding but can you imagine a board saying "we don't need 400 history majors here at the Yard?" Just a thought.</p>
<p>Don't just imagine it. Out of the three academies, USNA is the one with the highest need for technical majors. It's part of the assessment in the skills inventory, and is part of the "subjective" points awarded to the whole candidate score. If they don't have enough midshipmen selecting technical majors once at USNA, they'll force some of them to take technical majors to get the total balance correct.</p>
<p>Lots of need for officers with technical backgrounds, given all the technology in the Navy.</p>
<p>"and is part of the "subjective" points awarded to the whole candidate score. "</p>
<p>This doesn't sound right, and it certainly doesn't seem like the type of info that USNA would reveal. Where did you hear this? </p>
<p>DeepThroat</p>
<p>I looked back in the old threads and found I was incorrect. The subjective points are based on something else (more at the end). The technical interest enters in the following way (credit to aspen):</p>
<p>
[quote]
Thought some of you might find this interesting. I read a research paper entitled : Predictors of Plebe Summer Attrition at USNA by Michael Hollenbach in June 2003.</p>
<p>In his paper he describes the USNA admissions board evaluation process using a metric know as the Whole Person Multiple (WPM). This "score" is calculated based on a candidate's application information. It is designed to be a predictor for successful completion of freshman year at USNA. Qualifying candidate multiples fall between the ranges of 58,000 to greater than 80,000. The paper set forth the components of the WPM and their weighting:</p>
<p>Highest SAT verbal score - 15 %
Highest SAT math score - 31 %
High School Class rank - 21 %
Teacher Recommendation - 8 %
X-curr. activities/athletics - 10%
strong interest inventory technical interest score - 12 %
strong interest inventory career interest score - 3 %
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The subjective points (up to 9000) are allotted by the board based on:
-subjective data (essay/BGO interview/GC evaluation/personal observation)
-secondary school/course rigor
-leadership
-interest level/familiarity with USNA (points for summer seminar attendance)
-unique background/skills (athlete, minority, languages, adversity)
-part-time job</p>
<p>One caveat on this info - it's several years old. However, given that USNA is forcing mids into technical majors, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that they'd put a preference for mechanical engineers over history majors in their process.</p>
<p>"One caveat on this info - it's several years old. However, given that USNA is forcing mids into technical majors"</p>
<p>This is one of those things that the administration always threatened the mids with--the "forced major change!!" I didn't know a single mid who was ever in this boat during my time at the academy. Have the times been a changing? Are mids really being forced into engineering disciplines?</p>
<p>DeepThroat</p>
<p>Yes. Started with the class of '07. All mids required to choose a technical major as a second choice if a fuzzy major was the first choice. Stats I've heard refer to the %of mids that get one of their top 2 choices.</p>
<p>I don't know for sure how many have actually been forced...but I was led to believe it was greater than zero for '07.</p>
<p>Wow. That's pretty crazy. We were also required to pick a second and I believe a third potential major--none of which could be from the same Group (Humanities, Eng and Hard Science)--but nobody got anything other than their first choice. If you can find a % of mids forced to change, I would be interested. I will also contact my current USNA sources to see if I can get one . . . </p>
<p>DeepThroat</p>
<p>OK, went to go find my original source on forced majors and can't find it. I did find this (USNA Plebe Advisor guide, '04-'05), which contradicts what I said earlier:</p>
<p>
[quote]
While completion of a major is a graduation requirement of the Naval Academy, the selection of a major is not entirely free. The availability of resources, both personnel and material and the needs of the Naval Service could constrain choices. In past years, a very high percentage of plebes have been assigned their first choice of major. Because of the needs of the naval service for graduates with strong backgrounds in mathematics, science, and engineering, plebes who have an interest and ability to succeed in such studies will be encouraged to select majors in Divisions I and II. Plebes will not be coerced into majors they do not desire.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If I can find my original source, I'll return.</p>