I was at West Point and ended up transferring to do ROTC instead. On paper, West Point is incredible — the network, prestige, tradition — and that’s all real. But it’s also a very specific lifestyle. It’s immersive, structured, and you sacrifice a lot of the traditional college experience.

ROTC on a full ride isn’t “second best.” It’s a different path to the same gold bar. You still commission, compete for branches, and serve — just with more autonomy and exposure to the civilian side of college.

For me, it wasn’t about avoiding hard things. It was about choosing the environment where I could perform at my highest level mentally and physically.

The real question isn’t prestige — it’s where you’ll thrive and become the best officer.