<p>I have only applied to the USNA out of the service schools. It was the only one that I would be serious about attending, especially after going to the summer seminars. However, just out of curiosity, does anyone have a definitive answer on which academy is the hardest to get into? I have done tons of research on all the academies during my time in high school, and had the understanding that it was the Naval Academy, but now I check rankings and see the USMA ranked ahead of it. IS there a real answer to that question?</p>
<p>This question comes up every year-
and the bottom line is - it doesn't matter.</p>
<p>They are all highly selective- bottom line.
Get an appointment to any one of them - fantastic!</p>
<p>Get an appointment to more than one- you have some decisions to make.
Pick the one that gets you to your end goal-</p>
<p>Want to fly a plane, go marines, dive in a sub, swim with the seals, command a ship? Go Navy.
Want to dive a tank, or a helo, or play with the big guns? Go Army.<br>
Want to fly? Go airforce.
Dive ships to move goods? Go Merchant Marine. (it can also give you a commission to any one of the other services, or no commission at all- your choice)
Protect the waterways? Sea rescues? Go Coast Guard.</p>
<p>So my "real question" to you is why is it important to know which one is the hardest to get into? Should the question not be "what do I want to do with the next 10+ years of my life?" Think about it-</p>
<p>(btw- with all due respect to the other service academies, USNA has it's fair share of jets, helos, the really big guns, and it has the largest campus of all of them- combined!!! Oh- and it has the best football team too!!!! ;) )</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply. What you said is absolutely correct. </p>
<p>My answer to your "real question" is simply that I am competitive and like to think that the college I would be attending is the best of its kind. It would in no way affect my choice to attend USNA over any other even if I found out it was considered the 'worst' of the academies, but I can't help but wonder. :)</p>
<p>So my answer to you is simple:
They are ALL THE BEST.</p>
<p>Unless you are on the gridiron, they are all your brothers in arms- never, ever forget that. To this day I stand every time USAFA or USMA marches on to the field, the same way I do when Navy takes its turn- and I cheer just as loud for all of them.</p>
<p>There is not a "bad apple" amongst any one of them- they are all steller schools that will offer you a steller education- my Mid got into 3 of them- I don't think it mattered to him one iota which one was the "hardest" to get into- his struggle was how to pick the "right one" for him with 3 great choices before him.... </p>
<p>so if USNA dropped down a few slots on the "10 best list," would that change your decision to attend? How about USAFA? USMA? USMMA? USCGA? if so, perhaps you need to "rethink" your reasons for applying- or what you are basing your decision on. If you have been fortunate enough to have more than one appointment offered to you, then visit them both- do an overnight stay at each- find the one that is not the "best" on some arbrituary paper measure, but the one that is a "Best fit" for YOU! Trust me that it will declare itself.</p>
<p>Just remember that rankings are not always what they seem- even Havard and Yale have their fair share of of dirtbags....and they vie for the #1 spot all the time! So if your competetive spirit demands "only the best," and if you determine that by the #1 ranking of USNews and World Report or the Princeton Review, then go Harvard and NROTC or ROTC and rest assured you are on the top of that heap! </p>
<p>Or...put your ego in check...pat yourself on the back for your appointment, no matter which academy it is for- your ego will swell enough without having to know which is the "best" of the "best".... spitting hairs if you ask me.... as long as USNA has the best football and lacrosse team, I am good go go!</p>
<p>But here is the real answer-
it doesn't matter which one of them is the "best"... what matters is how you do.... the effort you put into it, the extent you take advantage of the opportunity before you.... you only get out what you are willing to put in.... don't lose sight of that!</p>
<p>That's all definitely true, and again, *no * statistic would deter my interest. I've wanted to go to USNA forever. You made a lot of good points, and I'll keep giving my full effort to be accepted. Thanks!</p>
<p>you are most welcomed, and best of luck!</p>