Military Academy Vs Cadet School

[Ryder70]

My son is applying to West Point and also a cadet school where he would apply for the ROTC scholarship. I am curious on everyone’s opinion on choosing West Point and going after a Degree that he some what likes vs going to a Cadet school with a Major that he is really interested in? In the Army is attending West Point that much of a leg up Vs a Cadet School. I’m my experience with working along side Air Force officers it doesn’t seem as much of a leg up if you attend the AF Academy vs other schools.

Thanks

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

West Point is one of the most recognized and admired schools in the world.

West Point may not give someone a giant step up as far as an Army career but it’s going to open doors after AD and get attention that the grads of State, U or Tech may not get.

To many Americans West Point is a WOW school.

In my family we have had grads of many fine schools including MIT. No one cares. The show stopper for those outside the family is our SA grad.

And they were just a grad of the USNA

 

[OrlandoMom]

West Point is one of the most recognized and admired schools in the world.

West Point may not give someone a giant step up as far as an Army career but it’s going to open doors after AD and get attention that the grads of State, U or Tech may not get.

To many Americans West Point is a WOW school.

In my family we have had grads of many fine schools including MIT. No one cares. The show stopper for those outside the family is our SA grad.

And they were just a grad of the USNA

So true and funny

 

[USMA*DAD*2026]

West Point is the Top Military school in the world #1. Please read published reports on this. WP does offer over 30+ different choices of study. ROTC is good but any student want to be WP wants keep that as stand by option. Getting into SA is not easy. Let your son do some research. Forcing an option on him may not work. Let him read lot on this. Also getting into SA and rigor required to complete entire process requires lot of work. Many do that but 10% get in.

 

[Ryder70]

I believe if he is offered a spot at West Point that is his first choice. He is in a spot where he will have earned about 30 College credits by the end of his Senior year and the chance to graduate early from college to go into the service is weighing on him. I was just curious about the Army’s view on Academy vs other schools. I know as far as Quality of schools the Academy is hard to beat. Working with Air force officers through the years I can tell you effort after college is what gets their career moving.

 

[Capt MJ]

He can look at his college credits another way - at USMA, he may have the chance to validate courses, do a double major or other interesting things. If he feels like he would be a good fit at USMA, those 4 years will mold him into what the Army is looking for in a new green officer. After that, it’s performance, performance, performance.

 

[DDmom]

West Point is one of the most recognized and admired schools in the world.

West Point may not give someone a giant step up as far as an Army career but it’s going to open doors after AD and get attention that the grads of State, U or Tech may not get.

To many Americans West Point is a WOW school.

In my family we have had grads of many fine schools including MIT. No one cares. The show stopper for those outside the family is our SA grad.

And they were just a grad of the USNA

My OG is my youngest child, the others are an oral surgeon, an orthodontist and a senior in dental school. But when we tell people it's the west point grad that gets the most ooohs and awhhs.

 

[Walman888]

West Point is the Top Military school in the world #1. Please read published reports on this. WP does offer over 30+ different choices of study. ROTC is good but any student want to be WP wants keep that as stand by option. Getting into SA is not easy. Let your son do some research. Forcing an option on him may not work. Let him read lot on this. Also getting into SA and rigor required to complete entire process requires lot of work. Many do that but 10% get in.

This sounds as if you are discounting ROTC Cadets and Officers somewhat. I doubt that you are, but Academy admission often comes down to timing and circumstance during the admission process. MANY fine Officers have come from the ROTC ranks and other sources of commission. In the end, the rank and the money are the same. Many ROTC folks at West point as we speak contributing to the education and training of the new pool of Old Grads. Conversely, many Old Grads out there across the country contributing to the ROTC programs. It's a big Army with contributors from everywhere.

 

[MidCakePa]

I know as far as Quality of schools the Academy is hard to beat.

I say this as the parent of a USNA grad: It depends on how you define “quality.” SAs indeed offer a top-end education. But they're not for everyone. Quality also goes to “quality of life,” so make sure your DS sees a real fit between the college experience he wants and the one WP provides. It needs to be a good fit, not just an opportunity to derive “oohs and ahs” from family and friends.

Working with Air force officers through the years I can tell you effort after college is what gets their career moving.

I say this as the parent of an AROTC scholarship cadet: Once on active duty, no one gives a diddly how you got your commission — only that you’re competent. After a few months, any meaningful difference between USMA, ROTC and OCS 2LTs has been washed away and it’s performance that actually matters. Knocking your WP class ring on the table won’t make that life-or-death decision any easier to make.

There’s a saying at my kids’ former high school: “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” That goes for officer accession programs too.