USNA v NROTC

[SemperFides]

I should point out that getting into ND now extremely difficult (12%), much more so than getting an ROTC scholarship.

 

[WestCoastRefugee]

Just watch this. This is all you need to know about the extent USNA would go to help the student.

Not surprised, many of the “accolades” coming out of high school are questionable at best. Grade inflation is also a real problem. I am surprised that she was allowed to be on academic probation for 18 months. Is this allowed at service academies? I was unaware that any college would allow you to roll into another academic year on probation.

 

[ProudDadUSNA]

Just watch this. This is all you need to know about the extent USNA would go to help the student.

This story contradicts what it takes to get into USMA, or from the looks of the students pic, USNA. Clearly she did well in high school and the academics were sufficient enough for the student to get into a SA. She probably is in great physical condition, and did very well on her SAT scores. The service academies are challenging in a way the student was not prepared yet provide all the support a student needs to be successful. The subject of the story is completely out of context from the original post.

 

[nuensis]

I am inclined to believe that there would be more academic support provided for a midshipman at USNA vs. a civilian school. Anyone care to agree/refute/opine? I am still hopeful that my DS will have the choice. Thanks in advance!

Biggest difference is class size. Largest class I was in was plebe chemistry, all of 30 MIDN. Towards the end in the advanced courses, I was in sections of 10 and fewer. The professor gets to know your name, your face, and how you learn and react to different teaching styles.

Also, USNA is not a research university. The focus is on teaching, not research. The faculty are under far less pressure to conduct cutting edge research, publish, and vie for funding and instead can focus entirely on teaching and mentoring students.

Not unique to USNA, but something to consider against the big state university systems, which I think is probably on the list somewhere for most NROTC candidates.

Not surprised, many of the “accolades” coming out of high school are questionable at best. Grade inflation is also a real problem. I am surprised that she was allowed to be on academic probation for 18 months. Is this allowed at service academies? I was unaware that any college would allow you to roll into another academic year on probation.

Depends on the situation. Just because a mid is struggling in Calculus doesn't mean the Navy should discard them.

 

[SeePower]

thank you for these very thoughtful responses. for instance, i never considered the research universities, and how different an experience that would be from the student's perspective. this gives such a new perspective to consider.

also, is there a distinction made in some of the top universities between the N/ROTC students and the civilian students? for instance, are they fully embraced among the student body at, say Duke University or Notre Dame? Or is there a gap/difference between the student body?

 

[nuensis]

TAs hosted study halls for their sections, TAs and professors both had lots of office hours where they would help students out (or just chat with them about other things of mutual interest too). Professors and TAs were both passionate about teaching and helping out students.

Another difference: no TAs. The postgraduate arm of USNA moved to Monterey and is now NPS.

When you get EI, it's with the professor directly, not a grad student or doctoral candidate. There's no delegating of that responsibility to teach whatsoever.

 

[SemperFides]

thank you for these very thoughtful responses. for instance, i never considered the research universities, and how different an experience that would be from the student's perspective. this gives such a new perspective to consider.

also, is there a distinction made in some of the top universities between the N/ROTC students and the civilian students? for instance, are they fully embraced among the student body at, say Duke University or Notre Dame? Or is there a gap/difference between the student body?

I do not know about Duke, but at ND, NROTC/ROTC/AROTC all get respect from the student body. Due to the historical connection with the university, ND's admin is supportive. I do think that ND has a more conservative student body than Duke which helps.

 

[Ihavenoidea]

thank you for these very thoughtful responses. for instance, i never considered the research universities, and how different an experience that would be from the student's perspective. this gives such a new perspective to consider.

also, is there a distinction made in some of the top universities between the N/ROTC students and the civilian students? for instance, are they fully embraced among the student body at, say Duke University or Notre Dame? Or is there a gap/difference between the student body?

How ROTC is embraced has alot to do with the school and area. I know the SMC's like VT and TAMU the Corp is really embraced. My DS goes to a college surrounded by military bases, so the school embraces the military likely more than some schools because they have alot of connections to the military in the area. A school that doesn't have these bases or connections in the area might not have the same experience.

That is why it is important to pick the school for what you like about it, and not about the ROTC unit at the school.

 

[Kentucky9]

Neither of my sons like beer….unlike their ancestors. IMO that’s gotta make USNA their obvious choice

 

[A1Janitor]

Neither of my sons like beer….unlike their ancestors. IMO that’s gotta make USNA their obvious choice

My son had one beer in his life before he was inducted. After his junior year he went to his friend’s graduation party. The parents and kids put peer pressure on him to have it. lol - he called me for permission.

Before he graduated from USNA, he acquired the taste.