College or Service Academy?

Looks like PinkNPrincess faded away after posting on page 1....I would have faded too, given the tone the thread took.

If CaptMJ’s solid and heartfelt advice was enough to propel Pink, then great! If not, then so many people cannot be wrong when they say you’ve earned this and nobody “gave it to you.” You’ve earned it with hard work, and the same hard work and determination will fuel you to break thru any fear and conquer USNA.
 
Hmmm... when I was a young co-ed, back before electricity and females were even considered "educable," four of the girls on my hall of about 75 were raped our freshman year, walking back from the library. There was no ROTC on campus so one can probably assume it was not some rowdy military-types who were the perpetrators.

Were there kids who cheated? Duh - of course. They even cheated in my high school where we had 13 students in a class (yes, 13). Were there gay marriages? Duh - no. Were there gays? Duh- yes.

Were there kids on campus who drank and smoked pot, even in their dorm rooms, even though it was a "You are expelled" offense? Of course.

None of these is a reason to choose, or not choose, a college, or a path forward for your future. People are sinners and therefore, sin, and it happens all over the world, in every institution.

I think the Service Academies do a better job of keeping cadets/mids safe than say, local community college, but that's based on anecdotal evidence and probably my own biases.
 
Dad: Your post was great. I made a copy and will forward it to my DD. She is leaving USMC after USNA and seven years active and is going to try LSAT. She thought she might be too old but your post is very positive.
 
AF6872 said:
She is leaving USMC after USNA and seven years active and is going to try LSAT. She thought she might be too old but your post is very positive.
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To old for law school, at 30ish ? Of course I'm biased because I did it, but I think it is the best time to go to law school. There are many very smart " kids" going straight from undergrad to law school, but most of those kids don't have any real world experience and don't know how to deal with people. I found law school a lot easier than my younger peers by treating it like a job , keeping regular hours, and working steadily through the semester instead of trying to cram it all in the week before finals. If anything, I had a hard time trying to take much of the law school BS seriously -- some law professors try to intimidate students with their Socratic style , and I was already used to dealing with intimidating people. (Don't get me started on the Law Review staff that would get all worked up over the spacing of periods and comma's in Blue Books citations, treating that as if it was the only important thing in the world!) Job hunting was a breeze -- I pretty much knew where I wanted to go, but with the combination of USNA, military experience, and good grades at a decent (Top 20) law school, I could have gone just about anywhere.
If DD wants to be a lawyer, she should definitely go for it !
 
@justdad THAT WAS TREMENDOUS! I have printed it and put it in my file. Really good perspectives, insights and and guidance. Thank you for taking the time to pen it.

Lots of good advice here. One thing I would add: look back to YOU 4 years ago. A graduating 8th grader (who was a “big man(woman) on campus”) who knew it all! Heading to (gasp) high school!! My own kids’ 8th grade selfs are NOT who they are as graduating 12th graders, yet all of them 4 years earlier thought they had their life figured out. There was a LOT of growth and change during those 4 years in high school. They were also slightly terrified (as well as excited) at heading to high school!! My point is that you, too, will do lots of growing and changing these next 4 years of your life (I have witnessed this growth and change as well in the next 4 yr chunk with my now adults during their time in college). The advice that resonates so well with me, is to BE OPEN MINDED. Whatever you decide, do not do it with a closed mind, one that is positive that you know for certain of who you will be, what you will be doing in 4 (or more) years. Perhaps you have a good handle on that presently, perhaps it will completely change over the next 4 yrs. Be open minded.

A random tidbit: A SA will not close a door for you, but it may open some.

Good luck with your processing of your decision. It cannot be overstated that this is your choice, not anyone else’s. Take your time and be open minded. Good luck!!

BTW...my own DS had a similar choice to make. He is a ‘22 appointee!
 
Old Navy: And Socrates committed suicide didn't he? Not saying or implying that about all Law Professors. Shakespeare might have been correct. So far she is definitely going for it. Can only hope for Fair Winds and Following Seas and a Law School near us.
 
Consider how a potential employer views the USNA. People will view you as an inherently honest, hardworking, and intelligent employee. More over the practical skills that you'll learn at the academy apply to so many other areas in life
 
When they say, "it's not a great place to BE, but a great place to be FROM" they are not speaking about how good it looks on your resume.
There are a lot of shared experiences there which will make you and the relationships you make there, stronger.
Listen to what some of the grads from 30 years ago say about staying in contact with their classmates.

I graduated from college over 30 years ago and I can hardly remember a name, much less ever wanting to see any of them again.
 
If a person isn't 100% fully committed, they will likely be weeded out during plebe summer/beast barracks. Those are 8 weeks of very very difficult requirements, intended to do just that.
 
fencersmother said:
Oh p.l.e.a.s.e.

No one is talking homophobia here - or any other phobia, except SA-SERVICE ACADEMY-phobia. Stop with the attacks.

Fencersmother is riled.
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Did you read the post I was talking about? The user criticised the academies for accepting gay midshipmen/cadets and allowing gay weddings in the chapel. That is homophobia.
 
Who cares? It's that person's opinion and last I checked, s/he wasn't deciding on whether you or your child will be granted an appointment.
 
fencersmother said:
Who cares? It's that person's opinion and last I checked, s/he wasn't deciding on whether you or your child will be granted an appointment.
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Because why should homophobia get a pass? This person is offering advice to a candidate and should not be basing that advice off of bigoted beliefs.
 
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