Majors, Tiers?

[EWNordy248]

I know the academy will not say so directly, but I was wondering if there is an unwritten rule to the selection of majors at USNA. For example... does choosing a tier three major look worse on an application than a tier one major? The only thing I can think of is that Admissions Board might consider candidates by their tiers as a last resort for choosing appointments...
I was wondering how the tiers play a role in appointments?

 

[Kero]

This was recently address in another thread, but you're correct they use it as a tie breaker at most.

 

[usna1985]

I would say it's going to play a larger role going forward than it has in the past. The reason is that the CNO has mandated that 2/3 of USNA grads have a technical major. If they don't get enough people going technical, some may have to be "volunteered" to meet those totals. Thus, they want as many entering mids as possible to have the background for and interest in a technical major.

That doesn't mean that you should be untruthful and say you want to be an engineer when it's the furthest thing from your mind. Obviously, the courses you took in h.s. indicate, to an extent, your academic interests. However, just be sure that you are prepared to major in a technical major (math, science, engineering) because there is a chance you could end up in one.

All the above said, your projected major is not going to be a huge factor in admissions.

 

[parkhurst89]

In a briefing in August of 2009 to Area Coordinators the USNA Academic Dean stated he has not had to force select majors of rising youngsters and does not anticipate the need to do so in the near future. The midshipmen have tended to break out in the mandated distribution between technical and non-technical majors.

I would not worry too much about what major you are selecting as a high school senior. The Board has many other criteria with far greater weight to differentiate candidates with during the selection process.

 

[SteveHolt243]

I don't remember anyone in my class being forced to pick a major (I could be wrong). I know lots of people who were heavily pressured, didn't choose what they wanted to do, and later regretted it. My plebe year academic advisor heavily pushed for me to pick an engineering or science major, but in the end it was purely my decision.