Hello--
As the title of this thread probably suggests, I'm debating between USNA and Wharton with the NROTC option. I was admitted to both schools 1-2 months ago (never expected to get into both). I haven't received the NROTC scholarship yet, but my online portal shows that it's at the last step; I think I probably will receive it. If I don't, I'll attend Wharton and just do NROTC without the scholarship, as I received a substantial amount of financial merit aid.
I'm really stuck between these two schools. I guess I should give some background information about myself. I've been in the Sea Cadets (kind of like a Navy JROTC thing) since eighth grade because my friend encouraged me to join, and I've enjoyed being in it. I never had a passion to join the Navy, but Sea Cadets made me go to trainings, and I grew to love it. I like PT, discipline, and it makes me feel badass. It also made my resume unique. I didn't want to burden myself with college loans and USNA was free, so that's why it was my goal for most of high school. I attended USNA's summer seminar, and I'm familiar with the school. It was fun. I know that if I go there I could endure it (probably better than most other people), and do well. Life (and my GPA) would suck, but it's certainly doable for me. I'd also learn things I could never learn at a civilian school, even with NROTC. At USNA I would double major in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.
Seeing as I never intended to be in the Navy, I figured I'd five and dive. Wharton came up on the radar junior year, when my friend told me I should apply to this competitive summer program they offered. I applied, got in, and spent a month at the University of Pennsylvania. I loved my experience there, and wanted to apply. I then discovered the NROTC option, and applied at the end of the summer/beginning of the school year with UPenn as my first choice. At UPenn I'd major in Finance and minor in either Mathematics or Computer Science.
What I want to do with my life is probably relevant to answering this question. To be honest, my goal in life is to make bank. I want to go to the undergraduate school that will help me do that. I'm doing military service at either school because I know I'd like the experience and it would toughen me up a bit. I'd also stand out among other candidates to big finance firms (later, after). After the 5 years (at either school), I plan on getting my MBA (probably at Wharton), and then heading into the world of international finance and venture capitalism.
If this was an easy decision, I would be done debating these two options by now, but it's not. I've read that some companies dig for service academy graduate resume's (because they get the job done) and throw the rest out, but I've heard negative business responses for SA graduates as well. Some say to just attend USNA and go to Wharton later to get my MBA (which made sense to me for a long time), but I just don't know. At Wharton, I'd make a lot more business connections (although I'll be in active duty for five years so they might be useless), and at USNA I'd make a lot more military connections. Someone I know told me that in business, my network is key. In that case, would USNA be better since they probably have more power-related connections? On the other hand, I'm not sure if service academy graduates will have the same weight in the business world in 10-15 years. Tech entrepreneurship is where the money is at these days (something I've considered since I have a CS background), and I'm not sure if coming from USNA helps. And through NROTC I'd be a naval officer anyways... so in that case, is Wharton better?
I'd appreciate all the input I could get. Please don't post anything negative or redundant; opinions are well appreciated.
(edit: usually pro-SA people say things like "USNA is for future Naval Officers." Yes, I am aware.)
(another edit: I love this country. This country gave me and my parents so much. I would gladly serve as a Naval Officer. I wouldn't be able to JUST go to a civilian college. I'd have that sick feeling in my gut for the rest of my life if I didn't serve in the Navy. I also just happen to want to make money; this is a recent realization.)
As the title of this thread probably suggests, I'm debating between USNA and Wharton with the NROTC option. I was admitted to both schools 1-2 months ago (never expected to get into both). I haven't received the NROTC scholarship yet, but my online portal shows that it's at the last step; I think I probably will receive it. If I don't, I'll attend Wharton and just do NROTC without the scholarship, as I received a substantial amount of financial merit aid.
I'm really stuck between these two schools. I guess I should give some background information about myself. I've been in the Sea Cadets (kind of like a Navy JROTC thing) since eighth grade because my friend encouraged me to join, and I've enjoyed being in it. I never had a passion to join the Navy, but Sea Cadets made me go to trainings, and I grew to love it. I like PT, discipline, and it makes me feel badass. It also made my resume unique. I didn't want to burden myself with college loans and USNA was free, so that's why it was my goal for most of high school. I attended USNA's summer seminar, and I'm familiar with the school. It was fun. I know that if I go there I could endure it (probably better than most other people), and do well. Life (and my GPA) would suck, but it's certainly doable for me. I'd also learn things I could never learn at a civilian school, even with NROTC. At USNA I would double major in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.
Seeing as I never intended to be in the Navy, I figured I'd five and dive. Wharton came up on the radar junior year, when my friend told me I should apply to this competitive summer program they offered. I applied, got in, and spent a month at the University of Pennsylvania. I loved my experience there, and wanted to apply. I then discovered the NROTC option, and applied at the end of the summer/beginning of the school year with UPenn as my first choice. At UPenn I'd major in Finance and minor in either Mathematics or Computer Science.
What I want to do with my life is probably relevant to answering this question. To be honest, my goal in life is to make bank. I want to go to the undergraduate school that will help me do that. I'm doing military service at either school because I know I'd like the experience and it would toughen me up a bit. I'd also stand out among other candidates to big finance firms (later, after). After the 5 years (at either school), I plan on getting my MBA (probably at Wharton), and then heading into the world of international finance and venture capitalism.
If this was an easy decision, I would be done debating these two options by now, but it's not. I've read that some companies dig for service academy graduate resume's (because they get the job done) and throw the rest out, but I've heard negative business responses for SA graduates as well. Some say to just attend USNA and go to Wharton later to get my MBA (which made sense to me for a long time), but I just don't know. At Wharton, I'd make a lot more business connections (although I'll be in active duty for five years so they might be useless), and at USNA I'd make a lot more military connections. Someone I know told me that in business, my network is key. In that case, would USNA be better since they probably have more power-related connections? On the other hand, I'm not sure if service academy graduates will have the same weight in the business world in 10-15 years. Tech entrepreneurship is where the money is at these days (something I've considered since I have a CS background), and I'm not sure if coming from USNA helps. And through NROTC I'd be a naval officer anyways... so in that case, is Wharton better?
I'd appreciate all the input I could get. Please don't post anything negative or redundant; opinions are well appreciated.
(edit: usually pro-SA people say things like "USNA is for future Naval Officers." Yes, I am aware.)
(another edit: I love this country. This country gave me and my parents so much. I would gladly serve as a Naval Officer. I wouldn't be able to JUST go to a civilian college. I'd have that sick feeling in my gut for the rest of my life if I didn't serve in the Navy. I also just happen to want to make money; this is a recent realization.)
Last edited: