West Point vs Annapolis

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>What are the differences between the two, besides the obvious (West Point = Army; Annapolis = Navy)?</p>

<p>Is there a greater mathematics emphasis at Annapolis in comparison to West Point?</p>

<p>I am interested in both instiutions. I would love to fly, I would love to be a Marine, or an Army solider, and I would love to practice law after my tour of duty.</p>

<p>Where is the best place for me? I do not know an awful lot about the differences. Please help me out.</p>

<p>Once I decide I will be part of the class of 2011</p>

2

<p>Like you were told in the west point forum, you have to apply and get in first. Apply early and pray they like you because it is not easy to get in. AFTER that you need to decide which branch of the military best suits you, and that is something no one can tell you. Someone else may elaborate on differences between the services. They are both great places with incredible reputations and you can't go wrong either way.</p>

<p>I however must say that USNA is by far the better choice...hehehe</p>

<p>but thats up to you</p>

3

<p>My chances will not be hurt at either school if I apply to both? Will I have to meet with the same senator for BOTH nominations? Or am I killing two birds with one stone?</p>

4

<p>UMich10,</p>

<p>You might want to look at all five service academies. They all have their strengths and will provide you the tools to serve your country well.</p>

<p>Each of them are academically challenging and the mathmatics emphasis it pretty significant at all of them. </p>

<p>Air Force is all about flying but, Army, Naval and Coast Guard aviators fly very serious missions as well.</p>

<p>As for options to serve, the US Merchant Marine Academy provides the broadest choice. Upon graduation, you can take an active duty commission in any of the services or a Naval Reserve Commission and serve any where in the US Maritime industry. Admiralty lawyers with undergraduate degrees from USMMA are very much sought after.</p>

5

<p>thank you.</p>

6

<p>UMICH10</p>

<p>
[quote]
My chances will not be hurt at either school if I apply to both? Will I have to meet with the same senator for BOTH nominations? Or am I killing two birds with one stone?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would agree to look at all the academies- do your homework and research their websites for starters- </p>

<p>as for applying to more than one, many do. Our son applied to 3 (USNA, USMMA and USMA) and got into 3 (2 direct appointments, and one through the foundation program). You will need a seperate nomination for each (our son got 2 from our congressman, and one senator nom)...he did have to interview before 3 different panels for the 3 academies in the process.</p>

<p>hope that helps. Do get the Smallwood books..."Candidates guide to....USNA or USMA or USAFA"....they are a good place to start- you can order from Amazon.com. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

7

<p>Thank you for the information. I will get those books.</p>

<p>You mentioned a foundation program... they help one's chances of getting admitted? How can I apply for those programs?</p>

8

<p>Every single question you ask is available on this forum or at the Academy website. Look it up. We're not here to answer a thousand questions that've been asked and answered before, nor questions that're easily answered at the Academy websites.</p>

<p>Look at the top bar on the forum. See the search? Use it.</p>

9

<p>Jeez, TN! Take it easy on the poor kid!</p>

10

<p>TN: What is your problem? Don't answer the question if you don't want to be involved. Every year there are a thousand questions that have been asked and answered before. </p>

<p>The Navy, most would surmise, is a more technical force these days than the Army. Accordingly, there is a greater scientific emphasis in the Navy, e.g. nuclear power, thermodynamic transfer, etc. I think many would agree that the Academic emphasis, while in school, is very different.</p>

<p>The Army is more oriented towards leading men into battle--on the ground--some would argue that "leadership" skills are more heavily emphasized in the Army. I would probably not agree. At the moment, there is no Navy that compares to ours, so the battle-skill-set of a Naval officer [assuming you do not volunteer for a land-based duty, e.g. corpsman or EOD] are very different than that required of an Army officer. If you want to be a Marine, then the eventual job and skill-set needed is somewhat similar to the Army.</p>

<p>It really is about the eventual job you want to do.</p>

<p>Keep asking away . . .just don't ask anybody on here to evaluate your chances. They don't really know. "Do the best you can do cause you cant's do no more."</p>

11

<p>i kind of wonder why, if you're going to usafa, you spend so much time on this forum anyways tn. i would think you'd just want to savor the important zoomie discussions on their board, such as which civvies to bring as a doolie. of course, in naptown we don't get them til 2nd class year but i'm sure that has nothing to do with the comparative toughness of our plebe year.</p>

<p>lol of course im kidding i enjoy your comments.</p>

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<p>Bill, if you have a problem, PM me.</p>

<p>On a final note, UMICH10, don't make duplicate threads. That's annoying.</p>

13

<p>smart move editing your post.</p>

14

<p>Aw, MAN! I always miss the good ones! :(</p>

<p>What Bill said above is correct. Your decision as to which Academy to attend should be based in large part on what kind of work you wish to do afterwards, and in what branch.</p>

<p>If you can run dow some of your interests for us, we'd be happy to help walk you through it.</p>

<p>Warning: I have a bias toward USNA. It comes with that Academy being the best of them! ;)</p>

15

<p>Now, to answer UMICH10's question:</p>

<p>There aren't that many differences between the two. They're both quite inferior to the Air Force Academy.</p>

16

<p>And that, UMICH, is a classic example of Air Farce's refusal to face the reality of their position in the great Academy Totem Pole. ;)</p>

<p>As for the Totem Pole order, it's USNA on top. The other four can fight for the scraps. :D</p>

<p>Just remember a few things:</p>

<p>Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and MMA all have uniforms with hundreds of years of tradition behind them.</p>

<p>Air Force's uniforms are normally seen with a BUS behind them! ;) :D</p>

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<p>Naval Academy: over 200 years of tradition unhampered by progress.</p>

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<p>Zaph, is right again! </p>

<p>Never forget that John Paul Jones was first a Merchant Mariner, before he became the Father of the Navy!</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
If you can run dow some of your interests for us, we'd be happy to help walk you through it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My interests:</p>

<p>-Law
-Government
-Politics
-Reading, and writing
-Science, and math
-Learning how things work.
-Being valuable. (Being a good leader)
-Going to Law School after serving (the best of the best law schools... Stanford, Harvard, and the like).
-Staying fit.
-Flying... it would be nice if I can get to fly a jet, or something.
-I'm very flexible; I like a lot of things.
-I enjoy playing sports (swimming, tennis, football, basketball and soccer)
-I want to be in a leadership position. I am responsible.
-I have always idealized serving my country as a kid, and I still do - before practicing law.</p>

<p>...if I recall anything else of importance, I will post.</p>

20

<p>Well, it looks as if we're going to have to guide you through the thought process of choosing a career, too. No biggie. Glad to help.</p>

<p>First off, let's trim your list down a bit...</p>

<p>
[quote]
-Law
-Government
-Politics
-Going to Law School after serving (the best of the best law schools... Stanford, Harvard, and the like).
-Flying... it would be nice if I can get to fly a jet, or something.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You'll notice I took out reading, writing, science, math, learning how things work, being a good leader, staying fit, being flexible, enjoying sports, wanting to be in a leadership position, and wanting to serve your country. </p>

<p>Why? Because you HAVE to have all those to even CONSIDER applying to a Service Academy, so as prerequisites they do nothing to help you choose a career when compared to the rest of your list.</p>

<p>With me so far?</p>

<p>Okay, based upon what's left, options may include:</p>

<p>USAFA, Political Science Major (If they have it), followed by flight school (if you qualify)
USNA, Political Science Major (They DO have it), followed by flight school (if you qualify)
USMA, Political Science Major (They DO have it), followed by flight school (if you qualify, and you'll most likely be restricted to rotary-wing)</p>

<p>BUT....</p>

<p>If what you want to be is a lawyer, then perhaps you should consider what another member here did, which was apply to and get into Harvard and do ROTC. Why? Because Harvard pre-law is a better selling point for a law school than a Service Academy, and you may even be able to go JAG straight from school, which is near-impossible from a Service Academy.</p>

<p>Note: Legal careers are not my area of expertise, so I may be off on a few details, but I think the general jist will be right.</p>

<p>Answer us this: Forgetting your desire to be a lawyer, what would you most like to do if you were a military officer?</p>

<p>I'll offer you a gentle reminder that the Service Academies are in business to build LEADERS, not lawyers or businessmen. Depending on your ultimate goal, you may be looking in the wrong place.</p>