If anything, I'm going to apply to USNA, USAFA, and USMA, but I've heard it's not uncommon for people to apply to all 5 SA's, even with no intention to attend a few of them. Does it improve how the admissions office views you? Anyone here done that? Do you mention to your MOC the #of SA's you're applying to? How do the prelims go? Thanks!
Honestly, why would you have admissions review your file and go through all the trouble to complete the applications, and possibly take away another persons position on a congressional slate if you have NO intention of attending the said academy.
I applied to all 5, I was interested in all 5, and until this Novemeber, would have attended any of them. I received nominations to 4 of them (3 Navy, 1 Westpoint, 1, Airforce, 1 MM)
After attending the USAFA Summer Seminar, I had second thoughts about whether I should list AFA it as my top choice or not. My applications turned from a game to see how many Service Academies I could apply to to me seriously considering where I could envision myself after graduation. I dropped my application to AFA and MM (unfortunately after my congressmen made their decisions on noms,) I withdrew my apps so I didn't receive any sort of consideration for an appointment that I would deny anyway.
The army and Navy appealed to me, so I listed them as 1 and two with airforce as 3 and mm as 4 as "backups". Historically in our district, applicants receive their top choice from each congressman. However, I was shocked to receive noms to all 4, and now I feel guilty for taking a slot away from someone else on the slate.
It's up to you to do what you want, however, why waste time on applications to schools you don't intend to attend, when you could be spending time running an extra mile after school or putting more effort into your grades to improve your WCS for one or two academies instead of spreading yourself thin for the sake of appearances.
That's my opinion anyway.
Edit: Sorry for the jumbled post.