Popularity of the Naval Academy with Candidates

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T.Valiant

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I’m surprised at the number of candidates reporting appointments to USMA and/or USAFA and/or USMMA, but still waiting on USNA. Do others believe USNA is currently the most popular (fashionable) with candidates? Does that account for the number of other appointees waiting on USNA? Could the other SAs have released more appointments? I note that the Class of 2020 appointment threads are all similar in number or at least within the normal year-over-year deviation.
 
Whenever I am counseling potential service academy applicants, I always provide the same response into comparing them. "You have all the options at USNA. You can fly (like the Air Force Academy) or be a ground pounder via SEALs or Marine option (like West Point) plus you have the option of Surface ships and Subs. Not to mention when you exit the gates at USAFA or USMA you are in the middle of nowhere. When you exit USNA you are downtown Annapolis, with DC and Baltimore only 30 minutes away... it's a no-brainer." :)
 
usnagrad1988 said:
Whenever I am counseling potential service academy applicants, I always provide the same response into comparing them. "You have all the options at USNA. You can fly (like the Air Force Academy) or be a ground pounder via SEALs or Marine option (like West Point) plus you have the option of Surface ships and Subs. Not to mention when you exit the gates at USAFA or USMA you are in the middle of nowhere. When you exit USNA you are downtown Annapolis, with DC and Baltimore only 30 minutes away... it's a no-brainer." :)
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That said, did I mention we have a much better football team and cooler uniforms!
 
USNAGRAD1988: In your haste to overcome your insecurity regarding the prestige your alma mater, you didn’t read the question. I didn’t ask which SA was “best.” I asked which is currently most popular.


Everyone (including this USMA grad) knows that the best is the United States Military Academy at West Point. Go Army, Beat Navy.
 
My kid chose USNA (appointed) over USAFA because of the campus. Not a great reason, but it is what it is. (He has no idea what he wants to do for a career.)
 
T.Valiant said:
USNAGRAD1988: In your haste to overcome your insecurity regarding the prestige your alma mater, you didn’t read the question. I didn’t ask which SA was “best.” I asked which is currently most popular.

Everyone (including this USMA grad) knows that the best is the United States Military Academy at West Point. Go Army, Beat Navy.
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LOL:)! Even as the dad of a MID, you gotta love this....well done.
 
Some data, flawed, but data
Application (yes I know over inflated) and acceptance rate from Cappex
USNA 19,145 7%
USAFA 12,732 11%
USMA 15,945 11%

US News Ranking
USNA 9
USAFA 29
USMA 22

Popularity is regional also, here in the north east USAFA is the least popular (based on conversations with MOC staffers for my state)
 
During his visit to USNA, my DS absolutely loved the "vibe" of Annapolis. Location does have an influence!
 
My son applied to all three. I can say, although WP is clearly his first choice, the one thing that keeps his interest in USNA is the options. USNA really does have everything, and so many really great career paths. I have encouraged my son to continue to consider USNA for that reason, and he has, but both he and my wife and I really do love West Point, and get a more personal feeling.

I think USNA does seem to be the most popular though, and maybe "cooler". Definitely a better town for visiting parents too. But this kid, and his family just feel WP is a better fit. All SA's are fantastic options. No wrong answers.
 
DD only applied to USAFA. It was not a popularity thing for her, it is "legacy". She is 3rd generation USAF on both sides; 4th generation on DH's side if you count USAAS, USAAC, and USAAF.
 
I tried to go look at stats to see if this assessment is true or not. If you review a class profile for each SA they use different names and different sets of numbers, so its really hard to compare at that surface level. The number 5day posted is a large number that each SA tends to tout, but I hate that number. Its the number that anyone inquires or starts an application. I like to look at 3 numbers... those who complete an application, those who are found 3Q and those 3Q with nom, because that is really who is competing. If you look at those 3Q with a Nom, USNA is around 40+% appointed rate (USNAbgo08 does a great job posting these stats). Looking at USAFA for 2018, they had 2499 Qualified candidates (assuming this means 3Q + Nom) and 1498 appointments, so roughly 60% appointment rate? USMA Army West Point Black Knight Cadets had 2364 Qualified and 1263 admitted (guessing the appointment number was higher). So if the number of appointed is slightly higher than the admitted number that would make it around 60% also. So looking at those numbers USNA statistically has the lowest rate of appointment, but since they didn't define what each of these numbers mean I could be totally off.

I try to be very honest with kids about what I see as the strengths and weaknesses of each school. I see each SA as a reflection of their service and did spend a ton of time in the joint world to help build that picture. A kid who hates dirt, camping or being dirty... won't like West Point. If a kid loves the water I ask if they know about USCGA and USMMA. I see it as my job at school fairs, SA nights, etc to give them the truth, answer questions, open up their eyes to all the opportunities. USNA does provide the most options upon graduation. I think some parents might support USNA a little more also because they see "boats being safer." I think their location does help them too. And let's face it athletics helps to promote the school name, what the school is about, starts conversations. Like I said, I could be off on the numbers. Was pulling directly from the school sites, but they don't define anything.
 
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T.Valiant said:
USNAGRAD1988: In your haste to overcome your insecurity regarding the prestige your alma mater, you didn’t read the question. I didn’t ask which SA was “best.” I asked which is currently most popular.


Everyone (including this USMA grad) knows that the best is the United States Military Academy at West Point. Go Army, Beat Navy.
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haha... no haste about best. All of my answers are ones that I also hear from those considering all 3. Sometimes it's like the football recruit choosing a school because of the cool uniforms or facilities. One of the other issues I hear come up (unfortunately) is the angle of which post SA jobs are the least dangerous. The "I'd like a free education, but don't want to be put in harm's way after graduation," response. For that I tell them, a silo in the Air Force or Ships or Subs in the Navy are pretty safe. Oh... and no insecurities here, but I quick jabs back probably reflect a deep-seeded insecurity :) One of my best friends is USMA '87 and we've been betting on the Army-Navy game since we met 13 years ago... instead of bathrobes, we bet gear of the other school. I've got so many shirts, hats, sweatshirts, coasters, wine stoppers, sports chairs, jerseys etc. with West Point, Black Knights and Army on them you'd think I went there. I just tell people that see me with it on that it's "the spoils of war." ;)
 
USNA is the 'hot' SA in the current cycle. In TN the Combined USMA and USAFA applicants for nominations was equal to USNA's applicants

I have spoken to admissions folks at both USAFA and USNA and though the metrics don't line up perfectly (as to how things are defined), there is no doubt USNA has the largest volume of requests

USMA and USAFA are working to correct that and with all things the pendulum will swing back eventually
 
brovol said:
My son applied to all three. I can say, although WP is clearly his first choice, the one thing that keeps his interest in USNA is the options. USNA really does have everything, and so many really great career paths. I have encouraged my son to continue to consider USNA for that reason, and he has, but both he and my wife and I really do love West Point, and get a more personal feeling.

I think USNA does seem to be the most popular though, and maybe "cooler". Definitely a better town for visiting parents too. But this kid, and his family just feel WP is a better fit. All SA's are fantastic options. No wrong answers.
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Let me encourage him to choose West Point! My son is still waiting and an extra slot would be helpful :)
 
Cerberi said:
USNA is the 'hot' SA in the current cycle. In TN the Combined USMA and USAFA applicants for nominations was equal to USNA's applicants

I have spoken to admissions folks at both USAFA and USNA and though the metrics don't line up perfectly (as to how things are defined), there is no doubt USNA has the largest volume of requests

USMA and USAFA are working to correct that and with all things the pendulum will swing back eventually
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I would think there would be a bias either towards USAFA or USMA/USNA based upon if you live East or West of the Mississippi. I know son's and daughter's of USMA/USNA, who now live out West and chose Air Force due to location.
 
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