Interesting Ranking of Service Academies and SMCs

Interesting reading. Thanks for sharing. Curious ranking without clear communication of criteria or purpose (a quite diverse list). I imagine Texas A&M might be offended! And Norwich. And possibly Virginia Tech.
 
Look at the author - not necessarily a scholarly article or one based on consistent criteria and solid data, more of an inventory of assorted info derived from the internet written by a veteran who seems to be a part-time writer.

There are factual errors. Example:
“The academy is fiercely competitive with the need to receive congressional nomination to qualify.” This is in the USAFA section. A nomination is required, not necessarily a congressional.
 
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dadinnc said:
Interesting reading. Thanks for sharing. Curious ranking without clear communication of criteria or purpose (a quite diverse list). I imagine Texas A&M might be offended! And Norwich. And possibly Virginia Tech.
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I thought the same thing about Norwich and TAMU—Virginia Tech is in there though. Interesting read.
 
The fact they have junior colleges mixed in is odd. Yes, they off ECP, but it’s like comparing apples and oranges. Different missions, different year groups being educated. I mean schools that educate 7th graders in many cases compared to a school like VA Tech that offers everything to Doctorates is not comparable.
 
I hate studies like this. There is no data to substantiate the results and as @NavyHoops mentioned, completely different missions amongst the schools ranked. The fact that Norwich and TAMU are not ranked should give pause to anyone reading this article. Any school that has a priority on training young men and women to serve this country is the "Best" in my book.
 
EEBTTF said:
I hate studies like this. There is no data to substantiate the results and as @NavyHoops mentioned, completely different missions amongst the schools ranked. The fact that Norwich and TAMU are not ranked should give pause to anyone reading this article. Any school that has a priority on training young men and women to serve this country is the "Best" in my book.
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True.

At least they got #1 right though.
 
I had a scholarly response written (with actual references)...which would have pretty much destroyed this "paper" for what it is, an opinion piece, nothing more. I even signed it with the Ph.D. title, not the military one...

And then the inner me said, "Don't do it...don't. Just. let. it. go."

So I deleted it.

I need to go have a long talk with my inner me...
 
flieger83 said:
I had a scholarly response written (with actual references)...which would have pretty much destroyed this "paper" for what it is, an opinion piece, nothing more. I even signed it with the Ph.D. title, not the military one...

And then the inner me said, "Don't do it...don't. Just. let. it. go."

So I deleted it.

I need to go have a long talk with my inner me...
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Once I looked at the provenance, I realized it was simply a hodge-podge of stuff from internet sites.
 
“Here is a breakdown of the top 15 military colleges in the United States based on reputation, location, and opportunities.”

I wouldn’t think that location would be a particularly relevant criteria for discerning the best military college. And reputation? With whom?
 
RJB1690 said:
“Here is a breakdown of the top 15 military colleges in the United States based on reputation, location, and opportunities.”

I wouldn’t think that location would be a particularly relevant criteria for discerning the best military college. And reputation? With whom?
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I’m still mulling over this statement in the USNA section:
“It’s within close proximity of Washington, D.C. which is a major advantage for high school students considering the different service academies.”

I don’t understand why the proximity to DC is described as a major advantage for high school students.
 
Capt MJ said:
I’m still mulling over this statement in the USNA section:
“It’s within close proximity of Washington, D.C. which is a major advantage for high school students considering the different service academies.”

I don’t understand why the proximity to DC is described as a major advantage for high school students.
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I take it as something high school students think about when deciding where to go.

From a family perspective - it is nice to visit DC/Baltimore as opposed to Highland Falls, NY for instance. Chesapeake vs upstate NY. The weather is nicer too. ;)

That being said - it is sophomoric and unserious and doesn’t belong in serious publications.

I went to this military nonprofits mission page.

About Us - Operation Military Kids

OMK's mission is to inform young adults on the various military careers available to them, and provide guidance on all things military.
www.operationmilitarykids.org www.operationmilitarykids.org
 
RJB1690 said:
“Here is a breakdown of the top 15 military colleges in the United States based on reputation, location, and opportunities.”

I wouldn’t think that location would be a particularly relevant criteria for discerning the best military college. And reputation? With whom?
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Charleston is way cooler than any of the other locations...location matters. Just saying ..
 
EEBTTF said:
Charleston is way cooler than any of the other locations...location matters. Just saying ..
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And by that I'm assuming (always dangerous) that you mean it's the historic location being "cool." Because you certainly don't mean cooler re: weather.
 
Various college ranking surveys pop up from time to time and the first thing to look at is what criteria they used. Ranking such things is inherently arbitrary and means nothing in terms of deciding where to apply to college. I think they are basically useless.
 
EDelahanty said:
This list does not make it into my Top 25 Lists of Top-Ranked 15 Military Schools.
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I'm going to say this list is crap. #11 is where my son went to HIGH SCHOOL! Great school, but not sure it's coming in just behind USCGA. And also, that picture doesn't even loosely resemble the school.
 
La Salle Institute is a prep school not a college, this alone makes the article a complete joke. These people wouldn't know a stealth bomber from a 747.
 
USAFA beat USNA in football this year, that's all that matters really ;)
 
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