USAFA vs. USNA vs. USMA

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>USAFA vs. USNA vs. USMA?</p>

<p>I am 16, going into my Junior year. I can not decide which service academy would be best for me. I like mechanical engineering, I wanted to become an inventor. But I can't seem to find whether it is right for me. If I were to go to USAFA I would probably serve my allotted time and then quit and become an inventor for 3M or something. If I were to go to USNA, I would most likely become a Marine. If I were to go to USMA, I would want to become a ranger in the 75th Ranger Regiment. If it is possible for a marine to become a ranger, I would probably want that too. </p>

<p>I have a 3.9 GPA, I haven't taken my SAT or ACT yet. I will be taking college classes next year through the College in the Schools program. I am in the top 10% of my class of 107. I am also very active. I hope this is enough to get in, but I still need to know which academy is best. Can you help me?</p>

2

<p>Well, you are asking questions at a good time.</p>

<p>Where to start- here are 10 suggestions!</p>

<p>First, I would read through the catalogs offered for each of the service academies you are interested in- all can be found on-line, and it would be a good first-step.</p>

<p>Second, I would contact the USNA admissions office to see if there will be an information session near your area, or if USNA will be attending any college fairs in your region- then go and speak to one of the representatives about the academy. Ditto for West Point and Air Force. </p>

<p>Third, I would strongly recommend visiting, if it is at all in your means to do so. If one picture is worth a thousand words, one visit is worth millions. Visit, take a tour, attend an admissions brief- all good places to start after you have read through the catalogs.</p>

<p>Forth, if the above sparks your interest, I would look into- and apply [when the time comes] to the summer programs offered by each academy (at USNA, it is called NASS- Naval Academy Summer Seminar- and the applications will be on-line on Feb 1, 2010). If selected, it will give you an opportunity to see what the academy experience is like, to a degree that is. </p>

<p>Fifth- make sure you are taking the right coursework at school, and do well. Chemistry, calculus, English lit, history- all should be on your radar screen to complete before you finish HS.</p>

<p>Sixth: get involved in sports now, if you are not already doing so. Don’t neglect strength and conditioning.</p>

<p>Seventh: Leadership- try and get a leadership position in an area that sparks your interest, be it team captain, school government, boys state (when the time comes), etc- something that gives you exposure as to how to lead others.</p>

<p>Eight: for the USNA, find out who your BGO (Blue and Gold Officer) is assigned to your school, and contact them to let them know your interest. Your school guidance office should be able to help you with this.</p>

<p>9th: let your parents know of your interest. Better yet, ask them if you can all take a trip to visit.</p>

<p>10th: mechanical engineering- any of the service academies will give you not a great education, but a stellar one, no matter which one you decide on. Look at them all if you can- each has it’s own feel, and while there is a military commitment at the end of each, they differ in where that gets served. So visit, ask questions, do some research on each- your time will be well-spent!</p>

<p>and 11th- just for good measure-
stay focused on grades, prep for the SATs, stay healthy, and stay out of trouble.</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much. For number 1, thanks I didn’t know they had catalogs, I will look for them. Number 2, will do. Number 3, I am planning on visiting sometime in december. Number 4, I am planning on trying to do all three seminars (USAFA, USNA, USMA). Number 5, I will look at my schedule and make appropriate changes. Number 6, Well, I have been a dancer for 5 years. I know it sounds girly, but it isn’t. The problem is that it took so much time that I couldn’t play any other sports, I was dancing 7 hours a day. Also, my school doesn’t have sports, or any extra-curricular activities at all. What do you suggest doing. Number 7, I am joining the Civil Air Patrol i hopes that it will help the academies see the leadership side of me. Number 8, I am going to!! I really want this and I am going to work hard to get in</p>

4

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</p>

<p>All three? :rolleyes:</p>

<p>FYI - There are FOUR summer Service Academy programs. You are forgetting one.</p>

<p>[AIM</a> Summer Program (Academy Introduction Mission) - United States Coast Guard Academy](<a href=“http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=2942]AIM”>http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=2942)</p>

5

<p>Well, I am not interested in the Coast Guard Academy. Sorry for the confusion</p>

6

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</p>

<p>Yes, I was confused when you asked the following question:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I was just giving you the answer you sought.</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

<p>:cool:</p>

7

<p>Luigi…he did not want your best of the best! Just the best of the rest! ;)</p>

<p>And as we might agree about this one, this competition is like a beauty contest. I like green-eyed redheads. As the gentleman you are, you prefer blondes. :cool:</p>

<p>And they’re all gorgeous, brilliant, and make their own clothes …sort of. :confused: But none can cook much. :(</p>

8

<p>What kind of career field do you want to be in? </p>

<p>If you want to be in a ground combat role, USMA is probably the best choice (based on the numbers).
If you want to run an R&D program or be a pilot, USAFA would be a VERY good choice.
If you want a large variety of options, USNA will do that (naval aviation, surface warfare, subs, support, R&D, Marines, etc)</p>

9

<p>Well, I depends. I kind of want to be a ground troop, but my mind changes alot so I was thinking maybe USNA because they have marines (ground troops), but also air and sea. Depending on what my mind may change too.</p>

10

<p>my experience has been those that go to the service academies with the intent to do “five and dive” usual end up being lifers and those that go in thinking they will be lifers end up getting out after 5 yrs…(I would be the first example - went in thinking I would only do 5yrs but just reached 8yr mark and most likely will do 20yrs)</p>

<p>it’s great you have a plan, but remember “semper gumby” (always flexible)</p>

11

<p>I think as you research each and visit, your choices will declare themselves. Apply to all that are of interest to you. Visiting each will help you to differentiate the differences between them, for despite many similarities, there are distinct differences between all three. </p>

<p>I am not sure how realistic it is to attend all three summer programs (you can certainly apply, but at least at USNA, it is a selective process)- but even attending one can give you an idea of what a military environment is like, at least during the academic years. </p>

<p>USNA’02 brings up a good point, in that it is good if you can give some thought as to where you want to end up- and USNA certainly offers you a land, sea and air option- but beyond that, chances are you will change your mind several times before deciding on what service community you want to join, and that happens well into your firstie (senior) year, and after you have gotten to experience each service community in the 3 years prior to that. So plenty of time to figure it all out.</p>

<p>But before you do any of the above, you need to 1. Prep, 2. Apply, and 3. Get an offer. Right now it would be in your best interest to concentrate on #1- prep, meaning grades, the right course work, leadership, physical conditioning, SAT/ACTs, etc; and add to that, doing the research suggested on what the academies have to offer. </p>

<p>I want to come back to your dancing. Certainly, dance can get you conditioned, for sure. But I am not sure how that will be viewed at USNA in particular; which is not to say you could make a case for dancing, but it is a very sports-centered environment. True, there are those that get appointments without a background in sports, but the majority come in with some sports background.</p>

<p>If your school does not offer some organized sports, then contact your YMCA- they might offer swimming, or your local PAL-they often host sports leagues (Soccer, basketball, lacrosse if you live in the north east)- but do what you can to join an organized sports team. Even the smallest of schools offer some type of sport- soccer, track- all worth investigating. </p>

<p>Civil air patrol- sounds good- you can also investigate JNROTC programs that might be offered in your area.</p>