<p>Just wondering. Interested in Annapolis but was wondering what it's reputation is and how it stacks up to the others.
Thanks</p>
<p>“nice”???</p>
<p>You surely must only be dabbling with the idea of a service academy because serious and viable applicants are already pretty determined to serve their country and have a good idea whether it’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard.</p>
<p>People who go to Annapolis don’t care what others feel about it. Your other choices are WP, the Air Force or Coast Guard. only 4 to choose from.</p>
<p>By the way: it’s “academies” not “academy’s”</p>
<p>The Service Academies are some of the most selective colleges. Given you have a 5 year active service commitment after graduation, I would suggest you consider what you want to do after graduation - serve on a ship (100% guaranteed from CG), planes, artillery (probably only available from WP), etc. If you have an interest in aeronautical engineering, look at AF, maritime engineering (Navy & CG), marine science (CG). I think you get the idea - each are fabulous schools that will work your tail off (academically & physically), they are not for the casual student. If & when you leave the service you will have many employers knocking on your door.</p>
<p>There are five–there’s also the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.</p>
<p>Each of them is the best.</p>
<p>They are all excellent. Distinctions without a difference.</p>
<p>You should visit here under the college link Service Academies. You can also go to [United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com%5DUnited”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com)</p>
<p>It is important to understand the acceptance rate is @15%. The process is very very long. You not only need to be deemed competitive by any SA you apply to, but you will than need to be medically qualified, plus receive at least one nom from you Member of Congress (Sen or Cong). There other nom sources too, but those are the most common.</p>
<p>It will be 9 yrs of your life. You will report @ 1 month after hs graduation, spend 4 yrs and then owe 5 yrs AD.</p>
<p>Overall the SA’s will look at your Prior academic record when scoring you, along with your EC’s and your physical fitness test known as the CFA.</p>
<p>The avg SAT score is in the mid 600’s on both Math and CR. The ACT composite avg is 31. The majority of cadets also have some form of athleticism in their packet. </p>
<p>They are looking for the WHOLE person, not just the book smart or the jock. </p>
<p>Being from Idaho you do have an edge for noms over candidates from competitive states like, NY, CA, CO, FL, VA or TX.</p>
<p>Also not every SA requires noms, so you need to place that into the equation.</p>
<p>I do agree they all have specific missions, but I would say the SA’s have one thing in common…you will take a lot of Math and Science classes throughout the 4 yrs. SO don’t go down this route if you want a LAC degree.</p>
<p>West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy are among the most selective schools in the country and are rigorous academic experiences. The Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and Marine University tend to be more “task-specific” in their emphasis.</p>
<p>This may help, students attending the Naval, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Academies tend to like boats; the Air Force Academy likes airplanes, West Pointers like dry land and the Marines don’t like anybody except other Marines.</p>
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<p>SO TRUE ;)</p>
<p>If you want to know how it stacks up academically, WP, USNA and AFA all rank in the top 5 Engineering schools in the country, for both private or public.</p>
<p>What is the “Marine University?” The Marines, who certainly like to do things their own way, do not have a service academy. They do get a significant chunk of their officers out of the Naval Academy, but ALL Marine officers must go through The Basic School at Quantico, VA, which is NOT an academy or universlty. (I would call it just the opposite of an institution of “higher” learning [just because of all the mud they crawl through], but my Marine buddies would kill me!)</p>
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<p>Correct.</p>
<p>[Home</a> - MCU](<a href=“http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/default.aspx]Home”>http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/default.aspx)</p>
<p>dapo – why are you interested in Annapolis?</p>
<p>to your specific question: all three have similar prestige, quality leadership and technology training, and quality of student.</p>
<p>Corrections Dept:</p>
<p>several posters have mentioned that if a person likes flying, then Air Force Academy. This is not accurate. Aspiring fly boys tend to choose between the Naval Academy (both Naval and Marine Aviation) and the Air Force Academy. It’s a tough choice and full of nuances. “Naval Aviator”, think Top Gun. </p>
<p>I agree with those who posted above to do some research into what each branch of the military typically does. </p>
<p>Navy: Most are on Surface boats, then some are in submarines, then aviation. The Navy is highly mobile, which is a strategic advantage.</p>
<p>Air Force: don’t know, but most do NOT end up in combat jets… that is a select few. Air Force is not nearly as mobile as Navy, and bases are semi permanent, and on LAND. the Air Force is currently in a time of strategic re-evaluation… why is it a separate Branch? There is very little the Air Force can do or train that the Navy cannot do as well, other than Deep Space stuff.</p>
<p>Marines: Marine Officers are also trained at the Naval Academy. The best of the best out of Annapolis tend to choose either Marines, Marine Aviation, or Naval Aviation. The very smartest tend to get moral-suaded into Nuclear Subs. Marines are the “TIP OF THE SPEAR” in a campaign. The army comes in in greater numbers after the Marines secure an area.</p>
<p>Army: don’t know too much about the Army. The most aviation-heavy area of the army was gutted some 50+ years ago when the “Army Air Corps” became the “Air Force”.</p>
<p>No one has mentioned the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. It is equally rigorous to the other academies but it is much more selective because it has fewer students and secondly, it does not admit students by congressional nomination. Admissions were structured that way generations ago to limit undue influence in the process.</p>
<p>WP>>Annapolis>>AF>>>rest</p>
<p>^^^^Haha, not quite that simple!</p>
<p>It depends on what you want to do, and what service you want to be in.</p>
<p>Gee Dunnin tell us more of how you despise the AF!</p>
<p>Now to dispel the myths that you posted. </p>
<p>Let’s remember this OP wants the Navy, but if he does follow your thought about doing this for a flying purpose, than we need to address what you stated.</p>
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</p>
<p>Obviously, I am tied to the AF if you didn’t realize that already.</p>
<p>SO let’s address all of your AF points.</p>
<ol>
<li> Most do not fly combat jets</li>
</ol>
<p>100% correct. Only the tippy top aviators, just like the Navy. Statistically only 10% of any Pilot Training class (UPT) will get fighters. The rest will be dispersed into other aircraft, such as Transports, refuelers, recon, and yes, pilots for people like Pelosi. </p>
<ol>
<li>Air Force is not nearly as mobile as Navy,</li>
</ol>
<p>False. The AF can be operational anywhere in the world within a matter of days. They are very mobile. The AF is designed with subsets…i.e the 90th in AK is a part of PACAF (Pacific), PACAF also has bases in Korea and Japan full time. If anything arises they will be there in a day. Ramstein is a staging ground to hop over to the desert, they are a part of USAFE (AF Europe). </p>
<p>I know from very personal experience that military members can get a phone call on Sunday morning and be gone by Tuesday 8 a.m. The reason that it takes 48 hours is because like any other branch, the military will insure that all military members have their personal life in order, which means wills and life insurance.</p>
<ol>
<li>bases are semi permanent, and on LAND</li>
</ol>
<p>Not sure what you mean by semi-permanent…you do know the AF, like the Navy has never left the desert since 1990? They have been in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey and Qatar for almost a decade+…not sure if that is what you mean when you say semi-permanent.</p>
<p>However, it should be noted the AF has something called AEF…Air Expeditionary Force. This is where you rotate in for about 4-6 months to what I assume is being called semi-permanent. Active Duty members call this Temporary Duty(TDY)…akin to going out into the field.</p>
<p>ABSOLUTELY CORRECT on they are on LAND.</p>
<p>If you love the water, you will not like the AF. You will go to work and come home to the same place everyday. You will not be traveling to different parts of the world unless you are on TDY or ordered to move there. Seeing the world will be more connected to where they assign you to for 2-3 yrs, than it would be in the Navy.</p>
<ol>
<li>the Air Force is currently in a time of strategic re-evaluation</li>
</ol>
<p>Really, I didn’t know that at all. I am having an issue following this thought since the AF is bringing out 2 new operational Fighter jets. The 22 and the 35. The 22 is only for the AF and due to budgetary reasons they capped it at the original amount ordered. The lead organization in the 35 is not the Navy, but the AF. </p>
<p>I assume you are talking about the re-evaluation is in regard to what is commonly known as the Predator issue. Again, the AF is the leader in this program, not the Navy or the Army.</p>
<ol>
<li>why is it a separate Branch?</li>
</ol>
<p>Many reasons. </p>
<p>It is hard to get a Navy fighter to come in for CAS (Close Air Support) when the Army is under attack if the fighter needs to re-fuel during the flight in the badlands. Meanwhile the AF has jets covering the Stans brothers (that is what they call areas that end in STAN) without needing refueling…can the Navy get as close when the country is landlocked?</p>
<p>The AF has a program with the Army known as ALO (Air Liaison Officers), they actually jump in with the Army and are on loan to the Army so they can call in CAS. The Navy does not have this program. The ALO program includes officers and enlisted.</p>
<p>HMMM…who gives the Army a ride any time they need to get somewhere? AF or Navy. Last time I checked, Ft Rich is connected to Elmendorf, Pope is connected to Bragg, McGuire is connected to Dix. There are no Navy bases near any of these posts/bases to give the Army a ride.</p>
<p>The AF has AEF, that allows them to sit in theater for 4-6 months with all of their aircraft, including fighters, recons, refuelers, and transports. Not only does it take them only a day or two to get to the opposite end of the world, but anyone keenly familiar with the military knows there are regs for what is known as C-Status (combat status). You cannot get C-status until you are in theater…and there is a reg regarding how to obtain C-status. The Navy will take longer to get there, and that means C-status will be delayed. </p>
<p>They exist as a separate branch the same reason the Army or the Navy exists to make sure the military can operate to its best level. The Army is ground, the Navy is Sea, and the AF is AIR!</p>
<ol>
<li>There is very little the Air Force can do or train that the Navy cannot do as well, other than Deep Space stuff.</li>
</ol>
<p>Deep Space Stuff, you mean NASA? The Navy and the AF have statistically the same amount of military members, so I wouldn’t say there is an edge there.</p>
<p>Now if you mean missiles, than yes.</p>
<p>In the end, not everyone goes to any SA to become a flier, they go because something intrigues them about that service. </p>
<p>Yes, many SA applicants have a career field in mind, so think about that mission when you apply.</p>
<p>Currently, right now this argument/debate can all be in vain. To apply to any SA, you must submit a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire (PCQ). The SA will determine if you become an applicant. You CANNOT apply without their say so. You will then have to be what is called TRIPLE Qualified…this means, academically, physically and medically. You will also simultaneously need at least one NOMINATION from your MOC (Cong, or Sen). Traditionally, MOC applications close out in mid-to end of OCT.</p>
<p>If the OP is a current sr he could be SOL since he is behind the 8 ball compared to other SA candidates. </p>
<p>SA applications are not like traditional colleges, there are alot more hurdles than you can imagine.</p>
<p>If the OP is a jr and is remotely interested in this route, I would suggest they apply for what is known as SLS. In January the SA’s open up the application process for summer leadership seminar. They meet a board, and if the board deems them qualified, they will go to the SA for a few weeks during the summer of their rising sr hs yr to the SA (USNA, WP, AFA). </p>
<p>It really depends where the OP is in their hs yr.</p>
<p>If the military is your route and you find out you missed the nom deadline, the plan B can be an ROTC scholarship, where you could not only get tuition, and books paid for at the least, but a monthly stipend. I can’t recall off the top of the head for our DS who is ROTC scholarship, but I think Freshman yr it is 350 a month, it increases every yr, and I believe as a sr it is 450 a month.</p>
<p>For manyyears, Coast Guard was deemed to be the MOST selective university in the US based on number of admitted students/number of applications. It was something like 3-4%! </p>
<p>I’m not sure of the other academies, but CGA has a graduation rate of ~50%. Many drop out in swab summer due to change of heart, then a good number in freshman year due to academics, with another huge drop after Sophomore year before the mandatory service kicks in. </p>
<p>FYI - there are also aviators in the Coast Guard. You need someone to fly the seach & rescue choppers & planes!</p>
<p>I love Deadliest Catch, and if you watch that show you will forever be in awe of what the CG does. Amazing is not even close enough to describe their missions.</p>
<p>CG IMHO has never been given the true due that they are owed. Even go back a few yrs ago and see what they did during Katrina. AMAZING!</p>
<p>nj2011mom – your post motivated me to check on the Coast Guard Academy. It fits quite well into the other three we usually talk about here –</p>
<p>Here are the admissions stats for the four, as reported by collegedata.com (e.g. Naval Academy is this link: <a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg01_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1560[/url]”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg01_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1560</a> )</p>
<p>Name / % Admitted / % enroll / SAT CR+M 25/75 average / % female / % graduating in 4 yrs.</p>
<p>Naval Academy / 8 / 98 / 1280 / 20 / 85%
West Point / 14 / 81 / 1235 / 15 / 80%
Air Force / 14 / 97 / 1250 / 20 / 77%
Coast Guard / 25 / 77 / 1250 / 27 / 80%</p>
<p>There is probably a difference in the way the Naval Academy counts “applicants”, and therefore % admitted, vs. West Point and Air Force, but that is just a guess.</p>
<p>As to the graduation rate, per the same website, the Coast Guard Academy currently has a 4 year graduation rate of 80%, right in the middle of the Academies.</p>
<p>Regarding SATs and ACTs, all the Academies place much more emphasis on the Math portion vs. the other portions.</p>
<p>USNA admits the exact same way as WP and AFA. WCS (Whole Candidate Score) wins the nom. Win the nom, win the Apptment. </p>
<p>The USNA has one dimension that WP or the AFA do not have. The AFA and WP or more generous if medically you are color blind. USNA is the most rigorous regarding this aspect. No DodMerb approval (military medical) and NO ADMITTANCE.</p>
<p>Again, it is important to understand the strenuous process. Take Accutane for acne and you will need to get a medical waiver for admittance to any of the SAs. Have a childhood allergy and you may need to get clearance. </p>
<p>SA’s place much more emphasis on Math because they are known as ENGINEERING schools. </p>
<p>DO NOT apply to any SA to major in journalism, because like it or not you will be taking 4 yrs of Math and Science classes. </p>
<p>It really is important to understand the process from top to bottom. I suggest the OP to visit [United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com%5DUnited”>http://www.serviceacademyforums.com) and post their questions there,</p>
<p>This site is dedicated to SA, ROTC and military colleges like VMI, Citadel, etc. If you chose not to, then I would suggest you go under the college forums here and find the sub forum for SA. They even include USCGA. USMMA is not there, but it is on the other site.</p>
<p>Back on track for the OP and the quality of education that occurs at an SA…please do some research regarding Rhode’s Scholars for 2010, you will be pleasantly surprised that many of them have an SA as their college.</p>
<p>The point you need to question is are you ready for 9 yrs of dedicated life to the military. 4 yrs at the SA and 5 yrs active duty? </p>
<p>Do you understand what SA life is like, or are you just watching the military or discovery channel to make a decision?</p>