Why is USNA near the top of the list of “least happy colleges in America”?

A1Janitor said:
My daughter went to normal college and is pursuing her doctorate without spending a dime.

Happiness is cultivated by the individual.
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I have to agree with this, however that does not mean that kids at the SA are miserable. Congrats to your well focused DD!
 
Goal2004 said:
I have to agree with this, however that does not mean that kids at the SA are miserable. Congrats to your well focused DD!
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My son is 2C at USNA. They are both very happy!

I suspect my daughter’s academics are harder … they both are doing about the same.

The secret to doing well academically is finding the majors you have passion for. Luckily my son likes stem.
 
Skipper07 said:
Once again @Kierkegaard is far more eloquent than I. I’d say his post hit the nail on the head.

I don’t know what metrics the “unhappy list” uses, but is certainly in the MIDN dna to purposely skew any survey results towards unhappier on purpose.
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Skipper07 you are always offering an insider's view which is very helpful. My guess is Kierkegaard just had a little more time on their hands today.

My DS is currently not in an 'I love USNA' period of his life. And that's okay. It is not an easy place to be and the tasks and obligations and academics mean burning the candle at both ends much of the time. The Dark Ages don't help for sure, and I keep reminding him that he chose his major! He will be okay. The love/hate relationship is normal from what I understand. He is thinking long-term and knows he will benefit from this experience down the road.

I just send Girl Scout cookies.

Scheduling of events also sometimes appears to be done with a Machiavellian methodology. I can just picture the Dant and Dep Dant rubbing their hands together like gleeful madmen when they schedule things. This week is an example-- 3 day weekend is lovely until you cram 5 academic days into 4. Then they do brigade-wide PT at 0 Dark Thirty tomorrow with Alpha inspections and uniform inspections on top of it. What's not to love??
 
I will wager that a lot of the problems can be solved by "I just send Girl Scout cookies."
Genius, but maybe get some bacon in there, too?

Please send some thin mints to Putin. No bacon though. We have to draw the line with that guy.
 
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THParent said:
I will wager that a lot of the problems can be solved by "I just send Girl Scout cookies."
Genius, but maybe get some bacon in there, too?

Please send some thin mints to Putin. No bacon though. We have to draw the line with that guy.
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I just booked my rooms for 2/C Parent weekend and I promise, I will be buying some bacon treats (all variety) at the Amish market before I step foot on the Yard. My DS loves the bacon roll thingy majiggers. And I of course have to thank his roomies for putting up with him, so they get a half dozen each.
 
Got to spend the weekend with DS (Plebe). He had mixed "reviews" with certain things make no sense:
  • Daily wearing of white expensive cover that does not look good with the Working blues (deckplate rumor that this may change in the future)
  • Mando breakfasts
  • SMT's in the dark on frozen ground with not enough TO's to ensure people don't get hurt unnecessarily
  • Chopping the ladder wells
  • Having to wait til 2300 on Friday and Saturday to go to bed (he thinks this is company issue)
  • Chester the mouse (mice)
  • Figuring out how to strip the deck in room prior to Alpha and get years of wax/dirt build up in corners clean
  • Lack of closed waste bins on deck to reduce said Chester family
  • Bad Classes
  • Never-ending Forestall lectures
  • KH food
  • Parades/formations
  • Forced roommate/room changes (Plebe thing only for his company)
  • COMRATs not being paid (although for DS at this point small $)
  • Environment not conducive to relationships with opposite sex
  • Plebe stuff
But that is balanced by things that make sense:
  • Awesome "ECA" experience that will get even better as time goes on
  • Cool Classes
  • Pushing yourself physically (ie DS was never a scrapper and struggled in wrestling and boxing but a recent SMT was ground fighting and he got his first pin)
  • KH food
  • Company mates
  • Access to DTA on liberty
  • Cool stuff that is available ie USMC brought equipment on Yard and gave Helo rides (DS did not do as schedule did not work this time)
  • Prospect of Summer training
  • Spring break trip sponsored by USNA for "ECA"
  • Guaranteed 5 year job post graduation
  • Access to DC when liberty allows
  • Cool Forestall lectures
  • Bashing Army :)
While things aren't "perfect" is any experience in life? Your attitude will be what you make of it. If you are miserable all the time you will hate it. If you find joy you will be happy. At no point over the weekend did he say he made a mistake. He was ready for us to visit and then ready to get back to it when we left.
 
LT360 said:
Daily wearing of white expensive cover that does not look good with the Working blues (deckplate rumor that this may change in the future)
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Well, one alternative is the inexpensive Dixie cup that might look great with working blues. Worth a try, perhaps. 😉
 
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