Thread: COLLEGE?MILITARY ACADEMY?

Ok, heres the deal. I am now a sophomore and worried about college. I am interested in naval architecture/mechanical engineering/architecture and yes, now for something completely different, investment banking. I would like to find a college for naval architecture but there arent very many. If any of you know of a college for naval architecure or investment banking other than MIT, the Naval Academy, or the University of Michigan please let me know. I would also like suggestions on getting financial aid, choosing the right college, etc. I know that some of you have been in or are attending college. Also if any of you have been to any of the military academies please let me know what it is like. I may end up having to attend the Naval Academy just to get a degree in naval architecture. Also if any of you are officers in the US Navy please let me know what it is like.

Any academy is probably worth it's weight in gold. Coast Guard Academy is also probably an option for the naval architecture. Military life is one of the finest lives to lead. I bleed Air Force blue. Dad was 2nd generation USAF, retired in '98, and my mom retires in september with 33 years. It's a great way to live, and you are exposed to a lot more than most people can imagine.

Naval architecture is a narrow field, I'd imagine. If you get into an academy, you are set for at least one career. You'll come out as an officer, and have a pretty good shot at pinning on Colonel if you stay for a career.

If you want to go for the mechanical engineering, you've a lot more options. I would recommend a smaller engineering school over a big school, but that's just me, and a subtle plug for Mercer (www.mercer.edu) :-P

asianator365,
Here is a link to a list of schools that offer what your looking for. Hope it helps. -Yvain

Naval Architecture Schools

Thankyou very much this information helps. I am looking at the Webb Institute. It looks interesting to me. I may also look at the Naval Institute some more.

With your interest in Naval Archi and ME, you might want to check Texas A&M Galveston. They have maritime degrees. http://www.tamug.edu

Of course, some of these designations for degrees are just funny!

Marine Engineering Technology (MARE)
Marine Transportation (MART)
Maritime Systems Engineering (MASE)
Maritime Administration (MARA)
Maritime Studies (MAST)

DON'T GO TO A MILITARY ACADEMY!!!

And i'm an AF guy myself, although i'm getting my comission through ROTC, which any decent school has. If you want to have any kind of life in college, stay away from academies. I have visited USAFA several times and have friends who went there, all i can say is...those poor kids... If you want a good engineering school (alas, no naval archetecture) i would suggest Texas Tech University. We have a good engineering program here, and a great ROTC (AF) detachment.

While it is true that any Academy is super-tough, I think it'd be worth it. I was offered a slot when I first joined the AF back in the spring of '01. The academy liason at Lackland talked to me all about it right when I started basic. At the end of basic training in the summer, the liason asked if I wanted to go after all and he could probably get me right in for the fall. I said no thank you, because I didn't feel like going through 4 more years of boot camp. But looking back on it almost 6 years later, I would have been done with it and probably in pilot training right now. Oh well, I've enjoyed my enlisted career. Nice thing about going to the Academy is that you can pretty much pick your military career. Academy cadets get first dibs on jobs. Plus when you get out of the military, you'll have NO problem landing a prestigous civilian job because the Academies are known for having some of the best and most grueling academics in the nation. I've never heard of an academy grad having a hard time getting a job, but I've known Ivy League grads who get paid less than I do.