<p>I have a good problem: deciding between these two schools.</p>
<p>I want to know which is the better option in your opinion. To provide some background info, i want to get an undergrad engineering degree. Please don't post things like, "oh they are both great options." Just please tell me why you would choose one over the other. Oh, my eventual goal is to end up in business, hopefully for a company--or running a company--that works on a global scale. Thanks for your opinion and help!!! :)</p>
<p>Frankly, if the Naval Academy is in the mix your primary reason should be to serve. Otherwise why have it on the list. If you don’t want to do that, go to Stanford.</p>
<p>If by this you mean that you aspire to be an Admiral in the US Navy (which works on a global scale, but is not like a typical business or company), then go to the Naval Academy. Otherwise, go elsewhere.</p>
<p>This is one of the strangest questions I have ever seen. You are not choosing between MIT and Stanford! You either aspire to serve your country or you don’t. No one can answer that except you, but the fact that you are asking total strangers for their opinions indicates you are not Naval Academy material.</p>
<p>There are more ways to serve your country than just military service.
A business leader, for example, could poossibly have much more impact than a fighter pilot</p>
<p>My husband was in a similar position (many) years ago when he decided between the Naval Academy and Notre Dame. He story is that his decision was made easier when he heard at both the physical for the Naval Academy and again during a visit that the primary objective of the academy is to train officers for a lifetime of service in the Navy (although you only commit for I think 5 years, they hope to keep Academy graduates much longer). After much reflection he realized that a military career was not the life he envisioned for himself so he went to Notre Dame. He did do (non-scholarship) ROTC for two years and always felt that he made the right choice to go to ND. So, my advice is to go to the Naval Academy if your dream is to serve as a Naval officer — otherwise go to Stamford. There is no right or wrong choice here – you just have to do what feels right to you.</p>
<p>I always advise to choose the more standard school in cases where someone’s asking about Standard College vs Unusual U. If you aren’t really drawn to the different one precisely FOR its differences, you’d probably be best served elsewhere.</p>
<p>Impact =/= service. Being a business leader is not serving your country in the traditional sense; businesses typically get more out of the deal than the country or consumers do.</p>
<p>I agree with the rest. If a military career is what you want, then go to the Naval Academy. But it doesn’t sound like that’s your end goal, so go to Stanford.</p>
<p>That’s because it’s a great school to be * from*. Out of many Academy graduates I know, not one would choose their college choice any differently…it was hell for them when they were there, but they had some good times too. </p>
<p>OP, if your main goal is to be in business, why are you considering USNA? You realize you will incur a 5 year active duty obligation to the Navy or Marine Corps, and possibly longer, depending on your service selection (things like aviation have longer service requirements). Yes, there are other ways to serve your country other than military service, but…the whole point of the Naval Academy is, well…MILITARY SERVICE. If you are hesitant about serving, then do ROTC in college and see if you still like the military after experiencing that. </p>
<p>Congrats on getting into two top universities though. :)</p>
<p>Id like to clarify my hasty “business can be service” comment. I do believe that someone serving in the military (putting their life at risk) is making the ultimate sacrifice. Nothing more can be said, and I thank all who serve. I truly appreciate it.
As for why I posted this, my dad is heavily for the naval academy and it does seem to make more fiscal sense–though I am graced with a generous financial aid package to Stanford. He argues that I could do my 9 years and get out. I have been arguing for taking on an average amount of debt in order to attend Stanford.
In asking this question, admittedly, I was looking for a certain answer. For some emotional reason, I just needed to hear it–or read it rather–from someone else’s proverbial mouth. That is, to confirm the fact that if you aren’t looking for a life in the military, you shouldn’t attend an academy. That is the point I will confront my dad with and stand by, lest the next 9 years of my life be decided by my parents’ whim.</p>
<p>Thank you for your input, and feel free to post if you disagree with my conclusion. I thrive on different perspectives.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t shape your conversation with your dad as a confrontation. Just talk through the pros and cons of both excellent institutions with him. With the current conflicts I fully understand being hesitant about attending an Academy (and I am a USAFA grad).</p>
<p>OK, now I get it. Thanks for explaining your situation in greater detail. So, yes, Stanford for sure! As to how to explain it to your Dad, I don’t know… Perhaps just build a persuasive case for why Stanford is your perfect fit. Stanford is so awesome it seems funny to have to talk someone into letting a student go there. I wish you luck in any case.</p>
Couple years ago, I met this guy in the military who got something like $1,500/month living allowance which was more than enough to cover his rent on top of his regular pay and all kinds of nice discounts at various places in DC. He’s working like 7-3 or something like that. He’ll also get Veteran points when he applies to other Fed jobs. I also met this other former military guy at my gym who’s only in his late 40s; he retired, started collecting nice pensions from the military, and then easily got a job with decent pay with a military contractor through connection. A former coworkers’ brother-in-law applied for this patent lawyer position with the PTO beat all other 500+ applicants despite the fact that his JD was from not from a top school and his prior position was not with a major law firm. The coworker thought it’s totally because of the veteran bonus points. Oh, there’s one more: my friend’s former COO (title may be off but a position high enough to be in the company press release) with a major military contractor was at the Air Force before. The only reason he got the position was the company thought he would get them those fat plane/helicopter contracts through his connections. However, the guy was a tool and mean to subordinates, did virtually nothing other than dinning in expensive resturants on company’s expense and trying to impress his friends with his position, and never got any contracts. He was fired after couple years but not after milking pretty good money of course. Not sure if those are representative. But they sound like pretty sweet deals to me.</p>