<p>I have been accepted to both USMA (accepted my appointment) and MIT (just got the acceptance letter), and I am trying to figure out where to go. I am an Army Brat, and have always thought of going only to West Point until lately. I believe that I now have a firm grasp on both schools (my dad's a USMA grad), and I find that both are equally amazing.
I would like to major in Mech. or Civil Engineering, and serve in the Army before heading into the civilian world (for the first time). MIT possesses a top-notch ROTC school in which I would enroll, and I would like to serve as an Army officer for at least some time. I further understand that MIT has unparalleled research and academic opportunities, but USMA is untouched when it comes to military training, leadership and character development, and rich tradition. Plus, its math and engineering programs aren't too shabby, even when compared to MIT. What do you suggest I do?
Please share your thoughts.</p>
<p>I'd go for MIT since it would allow you to pursue your military dreams while also letting you expand your horizons (since you refer to yourself as an Army Brat)</p>
<p>I'd go to West Point because nows your only shot and there's literally no other place in the world like it. You can always go to MIT for your graduate degree, but the same isn't true of West Point.</p>
<p>I'm having to make a similar USMA vs civilian school decision...
USMA or MIT?
Do you want to be surrounded by predominantly male, brilliant, eccentric nerds who want to make a scientific discovery? or predominantly male, bright, athletic guys who want to make a jihadist explode (that's me :) ) ?
Do you want to have more freedom than you've ever had, or have every aspect of your life conform to regulations?
Get much smarter or become (in my view) a better person?
I guess partying isn't much of an option at either place :)
Do you want your freshman 15 to be positive or negative?</p>
<p>congrats on both schools, hope to see you at beast!</p>
<p>Congratulations! You're in an enviable position. When my daughter was researching West Point to see if it was what she really wanted, she connected with an old grad. He is a high-level engineer and answered a lot of her questions very enthusiastically. He loved his Army career and his WP experience (in retrospect). </p>
<p>However, he was stymied by her last question. She asked him if he could do it over again, would he still choose West Point for school - knowing what he now knows. It wasn't easy for him, but he finally said that it would depend on what he wanted to do. For an Army career, West Point couldn't be beat. However, if he wanted the finest engineering school possible, he would have to choose MIT. In looking back, he really thought he should have gone to MIT. Why? Because he really wanted to be an engineer rather than an Army officer.</p>
<p>What does that mean to you? It's just my 2 cents because so many people will be offering you the same. However, you really need to think about what you want to do. Make sure you do your overnight visits at both schools. You're obviously smart enough but it can be tough to make a clean decision, especially with loved ones and so many others telling you what's best. The good news is that you have time before you have to decide.</p>
<p>WPSON made an excellent point. You can always go to MIT or any other university for grad school later on. Best of luck to you! And please let us know what you decide.</p>
<p>I would ask, "What are your goals?" I do not mean simply what major or school you want, but your goals for a career and style of living. Then, ask yourself, "Which school will help me achieve those goals better?"</p>
<p>Both schools will be different, so which would you like more? MIT is a bit heavier on the academics, and USMA is more serious about...well...just about everything else. </p>
<p>Son was is the same position last year, WP with early appt. and MIT with a full ROTC scholarship (in EA). He was torn for quite some time and what really helped him make his decision were visits. He was at WP for 4 full days and MIT for 3. He also visited USNA, Penn, Dartmouth, Emory, Vandy, Harvard and Princeton. Before his visits he had a pretty structured order of which school for which major and career choice. M & T program at Penn, biochemical engineering at MIT and so on. After visiting and with all his acceptances in hand he made his decision. He also consulted with his liason officers for WP, USNA and USAFA. After much discussion with them he made his decision. He did not make that decsion til late, late April. It was agonizing for him, saying no was hard. But he realizes with the decision he did make he allowed himself the opportunity to still exercise some of those options after he graduates.</p>
<p>You need to be a minimum of 17 years of age to be admitted to WP.</p>
<p>thunderbird1990: A difficult decision for sure. MOT offered you great advice. My son was also given great advice from the head of Duke ROTC (a West Point grad). He told my son that at Duke he would be a student first and a soldier second; at West Point he would be a soldier first and a student second. Which undergraduate college experience do you want? Both are great schools, both will get you to the same endpoint (officer in the Army) but the journey will be very different. Only you can decide which journey is for you.</p>
<p>T-bird: West Point. For these reasons - you mention that you're interested in Civil or Mechanical Engineering - West Point actually ranks higher than MIT in these fields. Were you interested in Chemical or biotech etc. - you might think about MIT. Other thing to think about - do you really want to be an engineer your whole life or would you like to use it as a foundation in business. Companies are always looking for West Pointers with technical backgrounds. </p>
<p>Good luck - not a bad choice. Make your decision and never look back. Wasted energy.</p>
<p>By the way, don't think you'll have more fun at MIT - it's as rigorous as West Point in its own way.</p>
<p>West Point's stated mission is that it is looking for career officers---if your intention is to do your minimum service and get out, go to MIT/ROTC. It sounds a bit abrupt, but the academy is not there to train civilian leaders or captains of industry. Obviously not everyone makes it a career, but make sure your goals are aligned with those of the school you choose to attend. Good Luck and congrats on your choice!</p>
<p>"To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army."</p>
<p>T-bird: I didn't mean to imply that you choose West Point as a starting point for five and out and then a business career. Even if you put in 20 years - you'll only be in your early 40's and have a whole worklife in front of you. </p>
<p>I do agree with Shogun that WP is about service as is ROTC. If you truly want to be a career military office, then WP is your choice.</p>
<p>thanks a lot guys...I know I have to visit both schools before deciding...I attended USMA SLS, so I'll schedule a trip to MIT and their ROTC program here shortly before I waste anymore energy on trying to make a final decision.</p>
<p>A 2LT out of West Point is typically just as clueness as a 2LT out of ROTC. Once (or if) they start to know what they're doing, it really doesn't make a difference where they came from except for politics later in their careers. Case in point, the current CSA is an ROTC grad from the University of Wyoming. That would be the highest ranking officer in the Army.</p>
<p>Merit and job performance count for alot more than it used to for the officer corps.</p>
<p>That said: West Point has it's history behind it, and it's "free." MIT is one of the best schools in the world, in alot of areas.</p>
<p>My opinion: If you're a self-server with no real leadership potential, West Point may amplify your negatives, and you can still slip through and graduate. If you suck, but want to stay in the Army, the buddy network will shuffle you around and you'll still have a nice little career. A clique (West Pointers) within a clique (officers.) If you have a good set of values coming in, you'll get a damn good education, and if you're meant to succeed in the Army, you will.</p>
<p>At MIT you'll have a more normal college life, and a commission is a commission. Your butterbar is worth just as much as the next guy. If you're meant to succeed, you will.</p>
<p>I suspect you wouldn't have trouble finding a job out of the Army being a graduate of either school...</p>
<p>okay, i've done about as much research and soul-searching on either school as possible and am still not sure as to which school I will decide to attend..does anyone have any last comments/suggestions? thanks.</p>
<p>What do you think you would "lose" by attending West Point. If you place alot of weight in having/being ____ , go to MIT. Still an amazing education.</p>