<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>
<p>Umm.....don't enlist first. I think what AD is saying is that its hard to get in and that you can't just decide to join up like you can when you enlist. Both places are great, although I'm partial to USMA ;). It basically comes down to whether you want to be in the Navy or Army afterwards. Apply to both no matter what you think you want right now, because your opinion may change later.</p>
<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>
<p>It sounds like you have a lot of research to do. You will want to explore the websites of all 5 service academies as LFWB dad indicates. As you learn more about the similarities and differences you will be able to determine where your interests lie. </p>
<p>Are you going to any of the summer programs? If so, that will help. If not, you'll still be okay. You should send away for information as soon as possible. And finally, you should think about the reasons why you want to pursue a military career and what you'd like to do in the military.</p>
<p>Good luck and please stick around. The admissions process can be grueling and folks here will be a big help. Also, you have future classmates who are already active on cc.</p>
<p>no really. i think it's good to enlist first. you learn so much, about life. imagine starting westpoint at 17, or starting at 20 after a combat tour. oh and its ADA. </p>
<p>air defense artillery... if it flies, it dies</p>
<p>deff check out the merchant marine academy esp. if you are confused about what you want to do when you get out. you can get your commission in any service or you can go into the maritime industry making a bundle of money.</p>
<p>The answer to your question? You'll seldom, if ever, meet with the senators/reps doing the nominating (except, perhaps, after the event for a photo op). You're more likely to be interviewed by an evaluation board which makes recommendations. Some places have 1 board for all the service noms, some have multiple. It won't hurt your chances to request 2 noms (you just might not get both, depending on the competition).</p>
<p>Enlisting first can be a good route for most people. The most important thing for me has been to be able to feel decisions made by officers at the lowest level. As an NCO or Officer, you can make a soldiers life suck, often not for the better. As an officer though, your decisions affect alot of people, and you don't always get the feedback on the impact of your actions fast enough to make a difference. Having been at the bottom of the ladder does help paint the picture. Starting as a cadet isn't the same, as that's a controlled environment. Too many officers come out of WP thinking they have all the answers. You DO learn to lead at WP, but when you come into the real Army, you've got the start off doing alot of listening. </p>
<p>On the flipside, being an NCO before being an officer can be dangerous, if you don't learn the difference between a Sergeant and an officer. Some mustang officers try act like NCO's, and that just doesn't work.</p>
<p>I agree in that there is some great value to having experienced basic and life in a unit as an enlisted soldier, because being a plebe is no where remotely close to the same thing. It's like apples and oranges. Both are hard, but in different ways. I enlisted knowing it was a way to get into WP, but I also didnt have the most stellar SAT scores and other things, so it was a good option for me. </p>
<p>There is great value in serving time enlisted before going to the academy, but you will be alright if you dont do it. I would advise against enlisting if you want to go to West Point unless your chances of getting in straight out of high school are pretty slim or if you really do want to sacrifice for your country for a few years and are willing to wait to go to WP. Nothing could be more valuable than having that combat experience, but at the same time, you need to ensure that it's really what you want.</p>
<p>Is it better to graduate from West Point, or from Georgetown University? -
Take into consideration: prestige, and my status in the eyes of others (i.e.: recruiting law firms, and law school admission officers).</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>"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."
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</p>
<p>"...prepared for a career of professional excellence..." That sounds good, and all, but all the other schools have something good to say about themselves as well.</p>
<p>This is not advertising. In other words, attending and graduating from West Point will prepare you to be an officer in the U.S. Army. That, in itself, is a laudable goal. A very small percentage of graduates are allowed to immediately attend law school. More likely you will serve a few years of your commitment before applying. </p>
<p>So many schools are prestigous. As a matter of fact there are some small LAC's that have outstanding acceptance rates to graduate/professional schools. You have likely not even heard of them. I would like to humbly suggest that if you are looking for the most prestigous portal into law school, then perhaps you may not have being an Army officer as your priority. You are right to begin the investigation process now, and at the point when you decide what you want to do, you'll know which school makes the most sense.</p>