Best Colleges....

1) Am i the only one who feels insulted when people say it is free to attend the academies?
2) the writer in this particular article makes no mention of the appointment process and corresponding prerequisite requirements. He makes it sound as easy as walking into 7-11 and choosing something off the roller grill.

I'll take great pub, but there's a lot missing from the short paragraph, as well.
 
1) Am i the only one who feels insulted when people say it is free to attend the academies?

1. If I wasn't paid as a cadet and then as an officer once I graduated, I might feel insulted. Otherwise, instead of feeling insulted, I felt more appreciative of the fact that people (including myself) paid for my education out of a portion of their hard-earned money.

Yes, you owe time after.... but you have a job and you're paid, and the pay isn't bad.

Is an academy education free? No. It's paid for by your fellow Americans.

2. Readers don't really care.

Applicant: "But I had to talk to a Congressman's staffer! And then I had to throw a basketball over my head without moving my feet. And then I had to go to the doctor."

Reader: "Yep, that sounds pretty stupid and by extension.... so do the schools."
 
1) Am i the only one who feels insulted when people say it is free to attend the academies?
2) the writer in this particular article makes no mention of the appointment process and corresponding prerequisite requirements. He makes it sound as easy as walking into 7-11 and choosing something off the roller grill.

I'll take great pub, but there's a lot missing from the short paragraph, as well.

No, because it's free. Service in the military is not indentured servitude. Believe it or not, many people just plain join up with getting four years of college beforehand. So yeah, free is pretty darn close to being accurate.
 
The article is misleading in what it doesn't say or only mentions as an afterthought. If you main reason you are applying to any service academy is the fact they don't charge a tuition..........you are applying for the wrong reason.

If you don't intend to pursue a career in the military, then you are applying to the wrong college. And yes, I realize everyone does NOT make this their career, but if you are primarily thinking about how this will look on your resume BEFORE you even apply.........this isn't the place for you.
 
1) Am i the only one who feels insulted when people say it is free to attend the academies?
2) the writer in this particular article makes no mention of the appointment process and corresponding prerequisite requirements. He makes it sound as easy as walking into 7-11 and choosing something off the roller grill.

I'll take great pub, but there's a lot missing from the short paragraph, as well.

What do you feel insulted about? IT IS FREE. Do you see any threads on here or anywhere else bemoaning the tremendous college debt burden of Academy graduates? :rolleyes:How about all of those threads about the high unemployment rate of Academy grads? :rolleyes: I actually feel a little insulted by someone making out Military service- especially military service as a commissioned officer- to be some kind of penance that must be endured. If that is the case then the ones who should really feel insulted are the folks who sign up for virtually nothing up front (you know - all of those nonscholarship ROTC grads who are taking on a service commitment in exchange for a relatively small stipend). Instead - you are complaining that someone describes your "all expenses paid along with a salary, guaranteed post graduation employment" college experience as free? You are right, they misdescribe it- more than just free, it generates a profit for those fortunate enough to be selected.
If you are at an SA now, you are the beneficiary of a phenomenally good deal- a great college education that costs you nothing at one of the most exclusive colleges in the country, with a guaranteed well paying job leading and working for some of the finest people in the country in a position that truly makes a difference. So- if you are looking for a sympathy vote on this score I won't pull that lever.
 
What do you feel insulted about? IT IS FREE. Do you see any threads on here or anywhere else bemoaning the tremendous college debt burden of Academy graduates? :rolleyes:How about all of those threads about the high unemployment rate of Academy grads? :rolleyes: I actually feel a little insulted by someone making out Military service- especially military service as a commissioned officer- to be some kind of penance that must be endured. If that is the case then the ones who should really feel insulted are the folks who sign up for virtually nothing up front (you know - all of those nonscholarship ROTC grads who are taking on a service commitment in exchange for a relatively small stipend). Instead - you are complaining that someone describes your "all expenses paid along with a salary, guaranteed post graduation employment" college experience as free? You are right, they misdescribe it- more than just free, it generates a profit for those fortunate enough to be selected.
If you are at an SA now, you are the beneficiary of a phenomenally good deal- a great college education that costs you nothing at one of the most exclusive colleges in the country, with a guaranteed well paying job leading and working for some of the finest people in the country in a position that truly makes a difference. So- if you are looking for a sympathy vote on this score I won't pull that lever.


It is not "free" and I said nothing of military service being a "penance." It's a voluntary proposition, right? I made no complaint about the service obligation, yet you felt free to put something there that wasn't said.

My initial post was rooted in the level of commitment required to fulfill the obligation of service, that isn't possessed by everyone, especially in today's world. Just because there isn't a huge financial burden doesn't remove the "cost" of attending a SA. I take issue with folks who choose to measure the value/ cost that way. It implies that there is no investment by those who attend the SAs. Yeah, they're just really lucky...as if they won the lottery or something.
 
The article is misleading in what it doesn't say or only mentions as an afterthought. If you main reason you are applying to any service academy is the fact they don't charge a tuition..........you are applying for the wrong reason.

If you don't intend to pursue a career in the military, then you are applying to the wrong college. And yes, I realize everyone does NOT make this their career, but if you are primarily thinking about how this will look on your resume BEFORE you even apply.........this isn't the place for you.

And yet how many officers applied for those very reasons and then realized they liked it. Maybe it's not for love of country or patriotism. Maybe they just like flying or shooting or getting dirty or dressing pretty.

I had my mainstream patriotic reasons for joining. I'm not sure I feel as strongly now, but my reasoning was purely "do something for the safety and security of Americans." That wasn't the reason for everyone.... not by a long shot.
 
It is not "free" and I said nothing of military service being a "penance." It's a voluntary proposition, right? I made no complaint about the service obligation, yet you felt free to put something there that wasn't said.

My initial post was rooted in the level of commitment required to fulfill the obligation of service, that isn't possessed by everyone, especially in today's world. Just because there isn't a huge financial burden doesn't remove the "cost" of attending a SA. I take issue with folks who choose to measure the value/ cost that way. It implies that there is no investment by those who attend the SAs. Yeah, they're just really lucky...as if they won the lottery or something.

You seem to imply that nobody other then cadets have an obligation after graduating college. Every college grad I have known has felt obligated to find a job after college, cadets have just chosen a different job, a job they wanted and had the good fortune of knowing what job that was before starting school.

Most of these students had to pay for school and still they are obligated to find a job. SA grads and ROTC scholarship cadets have the added bonus of getting that college education for free.

Both my sons had 4 year scholarships, and both felt lucky to get what they both feel was a free education.
 
Finding a job after graduating from a civilian college is an entirely different issue from the service obligation you have to the military upon graduation. In a civilian college, you are under no obligation to remain associated with the institution or find a specific job in the area where you got your degree. I really don't think those are at all comparable.

You can't simply 'change your mind' upon graduation from a service academy and decide to pursue some other interest, however, in a civilian college you can.
 
I believe he was saying that just because the service academies are free should not be the reason they are number 1 on that list. Yes, they are free and they provide an excellent education. The reason is that the service academies should not be number 1 because they are free; They are one of the finest institutions in the world.


Just my interpretation of the comment. :D
 
I think a lot of folks misuse the word 'Free'. For example, when you go to a hotel that offers a 'free breakfast'. It's not free....it's 'included'. If it were free....anyone off the street could just walk in and help themselves. This would go a long ways towards ending hunger....

Now we all the academies are not free...... It will cost you 5 years of your life in exchange for an education, 9 if you consider that cadets are not really free to go out every night, or even heaven forbid.... have a t.v. in their room while they are there.
 
I think a lot of folks misuse the word 'Free'. For example, when you go to a hotel that offers a 'free breakfast'. It's not free....it's 'included'. If it were free....anyone off the street could just walk in and help themselves. This would go a long ways towards ending hunger....

Now we all the academies are not free...... It will cost you 5 years of your life in exchange for an education, 9 if you consider that cadets are not really free to go out every night, or even heaven forbid.... have a t.v. in their room while they are there.
 
I think a lot of folks misuse the word 'Free'. For example, when you go to a hotel that offers a 'free breakfast'. It's not free....it's 'included'. If it were free....anyone off the street could just walk in and help themselves. This would go a long ways towards ending hunger....

Now we all the academies are not free...... It will cost you 5 years of your life in exchange for an education, 9 if you consider that cadets are not really free to go out every night, or even heaven forbid.... have a t.v. in their room while they are there.

A little off-topic, but televisions are allowed (probably not to plebes). My brother is in his 3rd year at Annapolis and he and his two roommates bought a 50 inch tv to put in their room.
 
I don't remember the year or size of the screen for CGA, but I think it was an extra monitor (not so much watching TV in your room as a movie or playing N64).... 50 inches is overkill, by any standard.
 
For the average reader of their publication who probably know nothing about service academies, saying something is 'free' requires a LOT more explanation so it can be considered in the entire context of what this involves. Reading the article makes it sound like ....'oh yea, you have to do some stuff with the military....but your resume will look great after that'.

Either the author has no real knowledge of service academies or has grossly understated the benefit of 'free' tuition.
 
DevilDog,
Thank you for sharing this. I really pray that his family and friends receive consolation and know how brave he really was.
Yes...his education came at a price but I think all graduates understand the sacrifice that must be made, or at least I hope. Thanks again for sharing it was an eye opener.
 
DevilDog,
Thank you for sharing this. I really pray that his family and friends receive consolation and know how brave he really was.
Yes...his education came at a price but I think all graduates understand the sacrifice that must be made, or at least I hope. Thanks again for sharing it was an eye opener.


My son graduates from USAFA in May. The reality of what he got into is really starting to hit me at this point. All I can do is hope and pray God keeps him safe. don't ever let anyone tell you that a Service Academy education is free. Go look on the wall in Bancroft Hall at Annapolis of all the grads that have died in combat. I am sure West Point has something like it and so does USAFA.
 
My son graduates from USAFA in May. The reality of what he got into is really starting to hit me at this point. All I can do is hope and pray God keeps him safe. don't ever let anyone tell you that a Service Academy education is free. Go look on the wall in Bancroft Hall at Annapolis of all the grads that have died in combat. I am sure West Point has something like it and so does USAFA.

There's a wall of rememberance at CGA too, in Chase Hall.
 
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