<p>Hey ya'll, I've signed up for orientation and housing and all at Santa Clara. But through a glitch in the Department of Defence physical exam system, I still have an appointment waiting for me at the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>So I have a choice.</p>
<p>Can someone (who might know what they're talking about) please weigh in on factors that might shape my decision?</p>
<p>These schools are quite different.
Why did you apply to a service academy?
Are you willing to serve your country, in peacetime or at war, for the next 8 years?</p>
<p>Zackaw,</p>
<p>Hubby here next to me is Navy '78, and we have a son who is a freshman at SCU now. I 'll let my husband do the typing now. We too are in the bay area.</p>
<p>SCU is a great school, providing the Jesuit education experience. Great but not the unique experience of West Point or USNA. If you're interest is a career as a naval officer then Navy is the place to start. But remember it's not a college, it's training school for junior officers. My first day there, the Company Commander asked the assembled Plebes (freshmen) if any of us wanted a career as a doctor or lawyer instead of as a combat leader (per policy). The guy next to me admitted that he wanted to be a Navy doctor. That's the last we saw of him, gone the next day. Oddly enough, 23 years later, that Company Commander was my Regimental Commander and a valued friend. You have the first two years at USNA to decide if the Navy or the Marine Corps is the life for you, if not you can leave and owe nothing. If you continue, you are committing to at least 9 years by the time you've graduated and finished your active duty, more if you select flight or nuclear power training. A couple of different ideas you'll see in a military career. You'll see lots of emphasis on academics at Annapolis, but once you're an Ensign or 2ndLt, only performance counts. Leadership is the key to a military career and you'll find that character counts most. A lot of standout military leaders were academically average. Navy believes that sports builds leadership. You'll find that even the intramural sports are very competitive. I was on a touch football team with an all state quarterback and a high school All American receiver. Boxing in PE is mandatory, the final was two rounds, graded. If your interested in a military career, it's worth it. The oddest thing about being a Navy grad is that I regularly see people I've met on the evening news.</p>
<p>Thank you sweetkids mom & dad.
...and yes, mominva I'm want to serve, and Annapolis is the best way, but there are ways to serve out of SCU as well.</p>