I appreciate the various opinions! I know we should not mandate his future as this truly needs to be his decision. However, I'm not convinced that he has evaluated the opportunities based on the person he really is instead of the person he fancies himself to be.
He is interested flying crew served planes, not fast movers.
I am sure that CGA is just as difficult as USNA. The CGA scholars program is a little less demanding in terms of GPA. 2.5 CGA vs. 3.0 USNA however.
I am very concerned that with his academic skills that he will not have a good enough GPA at USNA to qualify for flight school. On the other hand, if that were to happen (no flight school), he would have many other opportunities for career choices at Navy than CGA - Yes? No?
My concern is that he is attracted to USNA because of the prestige and other externalities, (e.g. his peers think it's cool, and they are unfamiliar with CGA), the Army Navy game, and it is a bigger school. Why is that a problem? Because with a bigger school he can more easily "get by" and not be noticed, which is not helpful to him. He doesn't yet realize how capable he really is. Either school will be enormously helpful with that. My perception is that since CGA is much smaller, he would have more personal attention geared for his abilities than at USNA.
My biggest concern is that if he truly wants to fly, he will earn that opportunity more readily in the Coast Guard than Navy, given his academics and overall "do the minimum to get by' attitude right now.
BTW he does not play any sports at the D1 level.
Concluding, all the adults who know him, his temperment, his goals and how he is motivated believe CGA is the more appropriate place for him. His heart's desire is Navy though, and it is hard to argue with that. I want him to go to the school where he will be most successful and satisfied with his career. Perhaps I just need reassuring that he will mature during the next few years and find his internal motivation to achieve his dream at Navy.
Any feedback or opinions about his chances of success at Navy? I'm keeping an open mind here.
Here are my views on the bolded elements of your statement:
1. Yes, the Scholars program may require a lower GPA then USNA. However, this is no way equates to an easier academic time at CGA. To be completely honest with you, my class has lost approximately half of its scholars since we began our academy experience in 2010. A lot of those were for grades. So were the several high schoolers who failed out despite having a 4.0 GPA in high school.
Additionally, from several conversations from various exchangers who attended a semester at USCGA including those from USNA, USCGA is the most regimented and demanding in terms of academics and military life. That being said, it would be much easier for him to play on a D3 sport (and actually get to play, rather than just practice) than on a D1 team.
2. Yes, the student to teacher ratio is approximately 8 to 1 but none of the personal attention will come unless your son chooses to get the help. No one will hold is hand and carry him through. As members of his division and class, people will want to help so that he can succeed but he has to want it and therefore will have to ask. If he does, yes, he'll have plenty of personal attention.
3. He won't get Flight School period with that kind of attitude whether it is in the Navy, CG, or any of the other branches of the military. The "do the minimum to get by" attitude you describe won't get your son appointed to Flight School in the Coast Guard. Just because the CG chooses not to select all of its flight school attendees based upon their academics does not mean that he has an easier application process. That attitude will come out quickly in the interview with the flight board and it won't be looked upon as positive. Why would the CG pay for someone to go through the school who will only do the minimum and risk failing out by doing so? Also, I'm sure you didn't intend for me to take it this way but I'm a little insulted you feel that his attitude would be more readily condoned at USCGA than USNA.
4. If it is his heart's desire, then he should go to Navy regardless of what those around him say. If he does not mature enough to recognize the work he has to put in and that getting accepted is the easiest part of the journey, then he very well may not do well. Hopefully, that does not happen.
At the end of the day, I think a lot of people understand where you are coming from as a parent. Perhaps encourage him to come on this forum and read about the different experiences of cadets. Your son is in a tough but positive position but it sounds as though he has already made the decision he wants to make.