Having a hard time deciding between USAFA, USMA, and USNA

Throw a dart and see how you feel.

That gut level is what you need to listen to, because there are only a few Saturday football games. Because the food is adequate or awful or great everywhere and there's little you can do about it. Because every service beats up your body, be it too many takeoffs and landings, moldy barracks, or spending too much time around odd chemicals or loud things. Because home is always where the service puts you and you're going to miss some weddings, little league games and family dinners. Because you're going to have a bunch of career options after you retire the first time. Because you might stay 5 or 25 years in any service. Because you could get killed by bombs or drunk drivers in any of them.

They aren't all the same, but in many important respects they kind of are so you need to feel for where your heart is going. That'll make a big difference when things get really hard or really boring and you need to dig a little deeper to hold your ground. Don't rush this, you've got a long time and this choice is one you've earned. There's no wrong answer, so have some fun with it. Good luck.
 
I think you are looking at this wrong. What do you want to do once you commission? Want to be pilot, join the AF. Want to be on a ship, join the Navy. Whatever you looking to do, one of them will be the better branch.
 
Go to a random number generator for numbers 1 2 3 (correspond them to each SA) convince yourself that the number it picks is where you will accept.


After the number is selected think about how you feel. If you are happy then the number picked is the right one. If you feel like "that's not the number I wanted" then take that number out and try again. The place you accept should be the number that you don't have bad feelings about.
 
SeePower said:
With all due respect, can you just pick an academy and then decline the other two spots and move on....so that some of us can maybe see an Offer of Admission? :)
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The thrill is in the wait!
 
Congrats. How prevalent is an appointment to all 3? Could one guess the majority of the yield is due to appts to multiple SAs? IE 150-200 out of the 300 "Declines" at each SA? I know when you decline they ask "why?"; is that something they publish?
 
Congratulations @smokey% - you must have worked hard and having a choice among all 3 service branches is just a terrific "problem" to have. With regards to any urgency to decline as if you're taking someone else's spot until you do - as soon as you're ready, sure, decline the other 2. But take your time - this moment and time to complete due diligence is yours and you're deciding what you're going to do potentially for the next 12 to 24+ years of your life. Congrats and good luck in your choices. I like your approach of getting boots on ground/ going to each academy - try to speak with cadets/ midshipmen away from the presence of their leadership to get a sense of life there- taking them off base for a meal can help. I'm sure your community/ family/ guardians or whatever are very proud of you.
 
Devil Doc said:
At USNA you would have to ride the bus to Navy Marine Corps Memorial stadium from the Yard for home games.
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Wow! Maybe it really has gotten too easy. . . . [/SarcasmOff]

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The Brigade of Midshipmen march the very arduous half mile or so from Bancroft Hall to N&MC Stadium before the games. After the game, they are left to their own devices to get back and MOST are successful in doing so.
 
Already some very good advice above. Think long term. Consider the branch more than the academy. Seek your tribe and gravitate toward the mission. Avoid surface judgments. All wise and true.

Here's another very good test, based on the truth that the military's needs will always trump your desires. So if you don't get your first and second choice of MOS, how happy will you be with your third? And maybe even your fourth?

Yes, it's a worst-case-scenario exercise. But worst-case scenarios do occur. Which is why the SAs ask you to list more than three preferences. Your career will largely be in the hands of the military. So ask yourself how you'll feel if your best-case scenario doesn't materialize.
 
I'd say the fact that you posted this question here tells you where your mind is lol. Mildly kidding though.

I kind of wish this site had a generic "All academy" catch all area for our questions like this, and others that apply to all academies, but probably after a few years there'd be nothing else to post there since we could just go there and see what people have said in the past. I know the search function here exists, but sometimes it's pretty difficult to find what you are looking for, even if there have been bunch of threads on it.
 
Thegirlinthefireplace said:
I'd say the fact that you posted this question here tells you where your mind is lol. Mildly kidding though.

I kind of wish this site had a generic "All academy" catch all area for our questions like this, and others that apply to all academies, but probably after a few years there'd be nothing else to post there since we could just go there and see what people have said in the past. I know the search function here exists, but sometimes it's pretty difficult to find what you are looking for, even if there have been bunch of threads on it.
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We pretty much use USNA forum for that. ;)
 
The academies are more alike than different. The services are more different than alike. I would focus on what service you want to be in, and then based on the exciting future you envision, select the SA that gets you the JOB that you want in that service. Why? Because your 4 years at an SA is PRIMARILY about getting an undergraduate degree. They even allow grads of one SA to "cross-commission" to other services at graduation. Once you graduate and are a 2d Lt (or Ensign), then you have your service commitment which either sets you up for a great career in the military, or sets you up for a career in civilian life. Either way, you want the skills and experience that sets you up for either. Football games and winters are nice to haves but should not be driving your decision.
 
Firstly, congratulation on receiving your appointments to all 3 SAs.

If you are talking about football, you know what they say right, the Navy and Army play for second. Go Falcons!

Football aside, why do you want to join the military? How much do you know about military life? What do you enjoy doing the most? And the most important question, what do you want to get out of life? Your statement about not wanting a desk job in the Air Force suggests more homework to be done. There are many professions available, from the obvious Pilot to aircraft maintenance to PJs (These Things We Do, That Others May Live), and everything in between. I would recommend that you ask yourself those questions and be honest to yourself.

I wish you all the best.
 
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