Which Academy

DalzellM

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
8
I am very fond of the military and love each branch with its unique aspects. However, I am not sure which academy fits my strengths more. I am interested in a Social Science major and/or aviation. Which academy do you think fits my resume more as well as my career choice?

Academics:
3.9 GPA
top 10% class
trilingual
5 years math
AP Gov, AP Bio, AP French
(waiting for SAT/ACT Scores)

Extra Curricular:
Commanding Officer of NJROTC Unit
Community Service Chair of Youth Advisory Board (2009-2012)
Captain/Coach of Varsity Unarmed Drill Team
Varsity Color Guard Co-Captain
Best female PFT Scores at NJROTC Leadership Academy
over 200 hours volunteer
Honor Society

Honors:
Given Youth Leadership Award by City
JROTC Daedalus Medal
Honor Cadet for NJROTC Leadership Academy
Student of the Year
Col. V Cherry Leadership Award 2010

Thank you so much.
 
Although it seems like four years is a long time, what matters is the commission afterward. You're going to have to do some reflecting and researching to match your professional aspirations to the professional possibilities unique to each service.

You've given us your academic quals, and it seems you're well within admissions ranges. However - forgive the familiarity, it's not at all mocking - but what do you want to be when you grow up?
 
No one can tell you which is for you based off your high school stats. All the Academies have programs that could lead you to an aviation career, some more directly than anothers, and most have humanities programs.

What you need to do is talk to people: mids, cadets, and alums from the different academies and find out what they're like. I'm sure the other academies are the same way, but USNA has a very distinct personality and culture, and mids reflect that. It may not seem like a big deal now, but you will live, eat, study, sleep, and train with these types of people for four years and serve with them for 5+. If you meet a bunch of mids (please don't base your opinion off of one or two) and hate them/have little in common, then USNA might not be for you. The reason I'm focusing on that aspect is because you said you saw positives in every service's mission, and so lifestyle is something to think about.
 
Those are very good points and I will make it a goal to try to talk to as many people as I can over this summer. As for your question regarding what I want to do, I would really love to be part of the political aspect of the military, that is why political science is my top choice for a major. Law, government, all of those are things that I have a passion for.
 
[I'm sure the other academies are the same way, but USNA has a very distinct personality and culture, and mids reflect that.

What is USNA's "distinct personality and culture" that different from the other SAs? I'm just curious.
 
Keep in mind these are sweeping generalizations, and you're going to get a lot of opinions, some of which will conflict with one another - which could be just what you need. Disclaimer: I'm long past petty rivalry stuff, so my observations are NOT quality judgments - they are observations.

USNA: more cosmopolitan, urban; USMA more blue-collar, one might say; USAFA is the newest and probably most conservative (in many senses) student body. Annapolis certainly has the closest access, geographically, to the nation's centers for law and government. Each of the academies has excellent, exceptional professors in law, government, political science, both from military and civilian backgrounds. When I was there (USNA), they were quite circumspect about distinguishing between their personal political beliefs (and there were a wide range of them) and political theory/history supported by evidence. Many years later, that still reverberates with me in that I make a practice of seeking opinions that are different from my own.

Recreation in Annapolis obviously tends to focus on the water (sailing, crew, as well as training opportunities). Obviously you're going to get a different experience in Colorado Springs, with different seasons and climate and its snow culture. Don't know as much about West Point - others can chime in here.
 
[I'm sure the other academies are the same way, but USNA has a very distinct personality and culture, and mids reflect that.

What is USNA's "distinct personality and culture" that different from the other SAs? I'm just curious.

My Mid had a very different experience at the AFA summer seminar than she did at NASS; for her (this is not meant as a slam, just one person's observation), it was enough to convince her to drop her application there. She has also commented over the past few years that exchange students from USMA tend to "fit in" to the USNA culture better than AFA Cadets do. My point is not that one place is better or worse, just that Hurricane's comment that each place has a different "culture" has been noted by others.

(Of course, being a Navy mom, I DO know which is "better!" :shake:)
 
My Mid had a very different experience at the AFA summer seminar than she did at NASS; for her (this is not meant as a slam, just one person's observation), it was enough to convince her to drop her application there.
Some details on what her experience(s) were might be helpful to the OP.
She has also commented over the past few years that exchange students from USMA tend to "fit in" to the USNA culture better than AFA Cadets do.
Again....some details might be helpful.
 
You should ask what do I want to do when I graduate from a SA

You can major social science at any SA. One SA might be better than other, but other things (life style, being close to home, etc) will even things out.

You can fly after you graduate - Army, Navy, AFA, ane CG. Differences are what types of flying objects and numbers. I believe most aviators back me that if you stay in the military longer, you will fly less (unless you are the exception).
 
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