<p>statick:</p>
<p>“Thinking of attending Rice or Stanford,” and “thinking of attending USNA or another service academy,” are two very different animals.</p>
<p>Most importantly, you don’t just “attend” USNA. The moment you walk in the door, you become an active duty member of the Navy (or Army, if you enter West Point, etc.). That brings a number of advantages, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch. You are expected to carry a heavy course load every semester, every Mid/Cadet must participate in sports, and there are various military obligations as well. You must graduate in four years, even if you decide to switch your major, so there is limited opportunity to switch once you’ve made a choice. SAs are fairly small schools, so your choices for majors are much more limited than at a major university, and every major, even English and history, require many science and math courses. One huge difference is that your time is definitely NOT your own. The poster who compared it to working full time AND going to school full time was right on the money.</p>
<p>Graduates of each service academy “pay” for their education by serving a minimum of 5 years active duty after commissioning. Depending on what service they select and what training they receive, the service obligation can be much longer than 5 years. So, choosing to attend a service academy is also choosing your first career. </p>
<p>There are some wonderful advantages to USNA (other SAs, I’m sure, but I’m a USNA mom!), once you realize that you’re not just signing up for college. Classes are small, there are no teaching assistants, and the facilities are excellent. You’ll learn more about yourself and what your real abilities are, than almost anywhere else. You’ll have many of the same opportunities as at a standard college, but unique opportunities, too. You will spend time on ships or with marine corps units during your summers. You might see Air Force One buzz the football stadium during one of your school’s games each year. There was only one Glee Club at the Inaugural Kickoff celebration, and it wasn’t from Stanford or Rice. Not meant to disparage those very fine schools. The point is that a SA education provides some different opportunities than going to a “regular” college.</p>