I have found this thread very interesting. I do not work in the USNA Admissions Office - but, do work in a college admissions office - and in terms of "competitiveness" of the USNA vs any other college/university (with the exception of other service academies) - 2 very important things must be taken into account;
1.) Nomination process.
USNA - like the other service academies - except for USCGA - require a two step enrollment process - Nomination and offer of acceptance. Those two steps are required for an appointment to the USNA. Most of you all know that. What you may not know - is what I found out while serving on my congressional district's nomination committee...there are some very good students out there - who do not earn a nomination.
2.) Service.
The USNA is called a "Service Academy" - because USNA graduates SERVE our nation upon graduation.
In my profession as a college admissions officer - I have come to understand that the vast majority of high school students have no clue about what they want to study. They do not have an idea of what career they may be interested in after graduation.
They should not be expected to know.
High school students who go through the process of nomination/appointment are confronted by the realization that - if offered an appointment - they would not just be choosing which college they will be attending...they will be choosing to serve our nation.
The majority of high school students would either not be qualified (physically, mentally) to serve our nation as a commissioned officer - or would ever be interested in serving - even if qualified.
That is where the "competitiveness" comes into play. As opposed to most colleges/universities - students who go through the nomination/application process - have already self-selected themselves away from their peers. As the president of my academy (who is a USNA graduate) likes to say - they have decided to try to take "the road less travelled."
Due to the fact that USNA applicants must go through the Nomination process AND must review their own persnal desire to serve our nation - when total number of applicants vs accepts gets shared/compared - let's say from UCLA vs USNA - it is not comparing apples and oranges - it is comparing apples and elephants.
It is my sincere hope that all students who have a sincere interest in serving our nation get to do so - either at a service academy or through some other road similarly less travelled.
Fuji
Fuji,
I sure did know what I wanted to do, even though I never did it (a physical limitation). Sometimes just wanting to do something and finding it impossible, is just one of the best things that happens to you.
I really value your thoughts and eloquent way of making the point. From what USNA1985 and you have said about very good kids without nominations, I can only empathize with their disappointment.
If our nominee does not receive a USNA offer this year, he's just the kind of committed young man who will pick it up and re-apply next year, as he attends his 2nd favorite choice. He took a lot of time to research and think about applying before deciding to do so. Yeah, quite unusual.
We never encouraged or urged him to apply, but when he decided to do it, we were 150% behind him. Although I may have an inner and silent "Thank you, God." if he gets a TWE, I will also tearfully share his joy if he gets the Blue folder. Hey, I'm a VN era vet. I'm still emotional about the 57,000 KIA's, some of whom I knew well. Many more who came home are still living with that war.
Now we are in two wars with more likely to come. But if I were to be in any future combat, our son is one who I would want in my foxhole, for sure. Cool calm, thinking with vision.
Fuji, thanks again for those words of clarity.
D o N