<p>I certainly wouldn’t characterize your parent’s position as a whim although you should understand that the Naval Academy will demand far more from you across the board than Stanford will. I will say that my husband is in a position to have done a fair bit of hiring for his major corporation and that no applicants are more respected than graduates of West Point and Annapolis, including the always worshiped Iveys ;). A degree from the Academy will position you well for success in whatever your post military career is.</p>
<p>That said, you should make very sure you have what it takes to succeed there because an awful lot of very bright people wash out. It takes a lot of mental and physical toughness to reap the benefits and most people just don’t understand that until they find themselves in over their heads.</p>
<p>"I will say that my husband is in a position to have done a fair bit of hiring for his major corporation and that no applicants are more respected than graduates of West Point and Annapolis, including the always worshiped Iveys.</p>
<p>Stanford is better than any of the Ivies for engineering.</p>
<p>If you are taking on a manageable amount of debt at Stanford – an amount that you feel you can repay yourself while working as an engineer (in other words, the debt won’t be your parent’s responsibility) then you should make the point to your dad and should add to the case for Stanford. Set out a plan for your dad that makes sense-- for example you want to go to Stanford, work as an engineer for a period of time, use the money you earn to pay back loans and only then consider returning to school for a MBA. In essence you can work as an engineer for 5 years after your undergrad degree instead of being a military officer, be happier and end up in a similar place financially.</p>
<p>And I agree with Erin’sdad - aim for a rational discussion not a confrontation with your dad.</p>
<p>Stanford is a top-notch engineering school. On the other hand, service academies come right out and say one of their goals (in the engineering curricula) is to give their graduates the knowledge to supervise design and operation of systems. The emphasis is different.</p>
<p>Any service academy will put more emphasis on leadership development and physical fitness than a civilian school. As a naval officer, you will be put in charge of more people sooner than all but a few civilian school graduates. This could be better preparation for business leadership.</p>
<p>I’m wondering how you got a nomination and appointment without showing some commitment to naval service. Regardless, the level of that commitment should be an overriding factor in your decision. Good luck.</p>
<p>My FIL was a Naval Academy graduate, did his 20 years and retired to private industry. I can’t imagine anyone taking that route who doesn’t have a fire in the belly to be an officer. Respect for the elders is great and all that. My ex did something like this to please his father, washed out, was still processing his resentment decades later. Go to Stanford and have the best 4 years of your young life.</p>
<p>I can’t honestly think of two schools that are more different. One is extremely regimented with an unbending hierarchy, and the other is progressive and relaxed (although academically demanding). Unless you are suffering from multiple personality disorder you need to think about your priorities. If my ultimate goal was business, I think the choice is pretty obvious.</p>
<p>Do NOT go to USNA because your father is pushing you in that direction. Yes, it’s a “free” education, but you owe at least 5 years of your life to the Navy afterwards, and while at USNA, you will not have a lot of free time. Unless YOU want to go to USNA, DO NOT go there. I know people who “wanted” to go there, and left within a couple of years. So go to Stanford if YOU do not TRULY want USNA.</p>
<p>Yeah, as an Academy grad, I only recommend going to a service academy if you want to be an officer in that branch.</p>
<p>For me, going to a service academy was one of the best choices I’ve made. I have a a good paying job, a career I love (helicopter pilot), and no school loans. However, if my goals had been different, it wouldn’t have been the same.</p>
I understand your dilemma. If you want a University experience and want to fulfill your potential and be happy. Stanford is an amazing place. There are few unhappy, unfulfilled Stanford grads.
The only reason to go to USNA is if you want to go into the Military as a career. No other reason.
And you gain no intellectual status or development. And you miss your entire University experience which is an incredible experience in itself. The contacts, the professors, great summer internships…
Stanford meets full demonstrated need, does it not? Why would you have to take on any debt to attend there? That may be a clue why your father wants you to attend the USNA. He may not be in a position to pay his expected contribution.
Ultimately, if you’re talking about accepting Stafford loans to be able to attend Stanford Engineering (which would leave your parents’ finances out of the equation entirely), that seems like a much better choice for a student who’s ambivalent about the Academy and only applied to please his parents.