Episode Description:
Do you have what it takes to graduate from these highly competitive sci fi fantasy schools? Would you survive the rigorous training and dangerous tests?  Talk about a serious education! In this installment of Anomaly, Jen and Angela list eleven academies that teach powerful magic, superior science, sneaky spying, and super soldiering. It’s a fun, light-hearted look at our favorite academies from sci fi fantasy television, movies, and literature.

Who is Accepted to Sci Fi Fantasy Academies?

The smarty pants.

The dedicated.

The determined.

The magically awesome.

Fragile, slower, magically challenged people might be admitted (there are examples) but they typically wash out.

In this episode we covered eleven academies:

Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing School for Ladies of QualityThe Finishing School

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

The White Tower

Hogwarts

The Jedi Academy

The Imperial Academy

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters

S.H.I.E.L.D Academy

Divergent

Starfleet Academy

Charmed Magic School

Starfleet Academy

Starfleet Academy Students

Starfleet’s entrance exams are probably the most difficult. And for good reason. They want cadets with brains and bravery.

Federation citizens are eligible to take the test, but non-Federation citizens have to get a letter of recommendation from a command level Starfleet officer. In DS9, Quark’s nephew, Nog, was given his letter by Commander Sisko. Check out the episodes “Heart of Stone” and “Facets” to see how he pulled it off.

Starfleet LOVES its Tests

In order to take the Academy entrance exam, you have to take a test before The Test.Starfleet Nog

But even if you pass “The Test Before The Test” you still might not get in. UGH.

Only candidates with the HIGHEST scores get in.

With the exception of those guys who “look for things that make them go” and the majority of Ferengis, everyone in the Star Trek Universe is a brainiac. They have to make it challenging to ensure they’re getting the best and brightest the Quadrants have to offer.

What if you’re smart but you’re not a good test taker?

Too bad, so sad. You just have to keep practicing until you can ace the test and beat the other candidates’ scores.

In addition to smarts, Starfleet Academy wants people with integrity, courage, imagination (I’d ace that part), and leadership skillz.

They also prefer folks who have a handle on dynamic relationships and hyper physics (because regular old physics is baby math).

If you’re thinking of enrolling, it’s probably a good idea to familiarize yourself with alien cultures because—duh—Starfleet’s mission is to seek out new life and new civilizations. But you knew that because you’re Wesley Crusher and you could take this test with half your brain tied behind your back.

TNG Remember Me

But wait. There’s also a scary psych test. This is the portion that tests a candidate’s ability to “keep it together, man!

Yeah. Keeping it together will be VERY important when your starship is boarded by Borg drones.

What Happens if you Fail the Starfleet Entrance Exam?

Game over. Nah. You can take the test again the following Earth year. Be sure to study up on the proper management of antimatter and the intricacies Klingon Opera.

What Happens if you Ace the Starfleet Entrance Exam?

If you scored higher than everyone else, congratulations! You’re a newly minted Starfleet cadet!

It takes most cadets about five years to graduate. If you choose the command path, allow for seven.Cadets typically enter the academy at 18 years of age; graduates are 23 to 25.

FYI: ONLY SUPER SMART, AWESOME graduates get assigned to the best ships. Like the Enterprise.

Valedictorians and Salutatorians can choose their station assignments! Study hard, my friend.

A Sample of Courses Offered

Multidimensional Calculus
Starship Engineering
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Advanced Astrophysical Navigation
Quantum Chemistry
Moral and Ethical Issues
Perspectives on Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Quantum mechanics
Astrography
Telepathic Historiography
Finite Mathematics
Subspace mechanics
Matrix Translation ProgrammingSito JaxaAnalysis of Algorithms
Advanced Self Defense
Collaborative Computing
Artifical Intelligence
Paleoclimate Analysis
Astrophysics
Engineering: Professor Miles O’Brien
Elementary Temporal Mechanics
Basic Navigation
Classical Vulcan
Small unit tactics
Computer Simulation and Modeling
Exochemistry
Demolitions
Exoanthropological Field Research
Federation Law
Field School in Exoarchaeology
First Contact
General Physics
History of Starfleet
History of Technology
Interstellar Political Organization
Introduction to Argumentation
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science
Klingon Politics

Do you think you’re smart and brave and honest enough for Starfleet?

Learn more here>>

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Sorry. This school is only for magical British children. Muggles need not apply.

A magic quill decides who gets a letter of acceptance and a teacher checks the book every year and sends letters out at the appropriate time.

Letters are delivered by owl, unless you’re a Muggle-born-magic kid and you’re parents are clueless about magic society.

If you’re a Muggle-born-magic-kid a faculty member explains everything regarding the secret magic world, the school and hopefully where to go, and where NOT to go, to buy your supplies.

FYP: Harry’s letter was delivered by “Muggle Post” because his aunt and uncle already knew about the school.

Hogwarts  School Supplies

Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy Harry Potter

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Hogwarts First Year Gear

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal vials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

Hogwarts Classes

Transfiguration

Defence Against the Dark Arts

Charms

Potions

Astronomy

History of Magic

Herbology

Arithmancy

Muggle Studies (hopefully math and science)

Divination

Study of Ancient Runes

Care of Magical Creatures

Alchemy (if there is sufficient demand in the final two years at Hogwarts)

Learn more here>>

Related Episode

The White Tower (The Wheel of Time Series)

The Aes Sedai are a group of powerful, magic wielding women in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time Series. Aes Sedai means, “Servant to All”. Their job is to save the world. No pressure.

Don’t Mess with Tar Valon

You better think twice about crossing an Aes Sedai. Especially if you’re a magic wielding man (sometimes men in general). They’ll strip you of your mind-altering awesome powers. If they don’t you’ll go insane and destroy everyone you love, everyone you don’t love, and eventually yourself. Good times. Just let them still you. It’s easier that way.

Being an Aes Sedai is serious work and serious work requires serious training.

The Aes Sedai School

The Aes Sedai’s headquarters is in Tar Valon, within the “The White Tower”. The White Tower also serves as an academy for girls from sixteen to eighteen (with some exceptions) who have “the spark”; an ability, however small, to channel “The One Power”.

The One Power is Volatile and Seductive

If a woman demonstrates this ability, they are taken to the tower to master their newly discovered skills, because like men, if they aren’t trained in time they can harm themselves and others. The One Power is dangerous and the more you use it, the harder it is to stop.

Lessons

Channeling
History
The Old Tongue
Geography
Politics
Philosophy

Aes Sedai Houses

Aes Sedai are allowed to choose an “Ajah” when they pass the test for the shawl. Their choice is based on personality and skill sets.

Ajahs are Represented by Colors

Eye of the World

Blue Ajah (Angela’s choice of Ajahs)

The Blue Sisters are all about justice for all. They are considered most “worldly” and are the best at mingling with common folk outside of the White Tower. Sometimes, the causes they support conflict with the rules and traditions of the Aes Sedai which doesn’t sit well with other Ajahs, especially the uptight Red Ajah.

Blue Sisters find the number of Aes Sedai regulations restrictive and they often spend long periods of time outside the White Tower on missions. Blues are the most friendly. They have contacts, friends, and allies among the peoples of the world and across all walks of life.

Although the Blue Ajah is the second smallest, it has the best network of informants. The head of the Blue Ajah is called the First Selector. Moiraine Damodred, a Blue Sister, is the first Aes Sedai character introduced in the series.

The head of the Blue Ajah is called the First Selector.

Brown Ajah

Sisters of the Brown Ajah are nerds. They’re dedicated to knowledge and spend a lot of their time with their noses in books. They are led by a Ruling Council and the head of the Council is called the First Chair.

Green Ajah (Jen’s Choice of Ajahs)

Sisters of the Green Ajah (AKA the ‘Battle Ajah’) prepare for Tarmon Gai’don (Armageddon). They like men mostly and many even marry.

The Red Sisters and the Green Sisters don’t care for each other much either. Reds don’t like anyone but Reds.

The head of the Battle Ajah is called Captain-General. “Captain-General Jen”. It has a nice ring to it.

Gray Ajah

The Sisters of the Gray Ajah are peace makers. They help resolve disputes between nations and serve as diplomats.

Gray Sisters are masterful debaters and the best have humbled royalty.

The most renowned Grays could resolve disputes by the simple threat of their involvement.

The head of the Gray Ajah is called the First Clerk.

Red Ajah

The purpose of the Red Ajah was established to prevent a second Breaking of the World (The end of times), but their principal business is to deprive gifted men of access to the One Power.

Their primary activity is to pursue and gentle men who show evidence of channeling.

As such, they are often opposed to the Blue. The Red is the largest of all the Ajahs and the one most feared outside the White Tower.

Red Sisters are noted for their snottiness, cold-hearted nature, and disdain for men in general which results in the Red being isolated from the other Ajahs.

The head of the Red Ajah is called the Highest. They are full of themselves, aren’t they?

White Ajah

The smallest Ajah, the White Sisters devote themselves to questions of philosophy and truth.

The head of the White Ajah is called the First Reasoner.

Since the White Sisters value logic above all other pursuits, they are noted for their seeming lack of emotion and detachment from worldly affairs.

The head of the White Ajah is called the First Reasoner.

Yellow Ajah

Sisters of the Yellow Ajah are Healers. The head of the Yellow Ajah is called the First Weaver.

Black Ajah

These are the Evil chicks of The Tower, but a few sold their souls because they had no choice.

An eighth, and mostly secret, Ajah. Sisters of the Black Ajah are dedicated to the Dark One (the Devil).

The existence of the Black Ajah was always denied by the rest of the Ajahs until its presence was revealed by Egwene in The Gathering Storm. Sounds a bit like the Jedi and the Sith doesn’t it? :)

Learn more here>> (possible spoilers)

Related Episodes

Other Academies Covered in this Episode

Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing School for Young Ladies of Quality (The Finishing School Series by Gail Carriger)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

The Jedi Academy (Star Wars)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Imperial Academy (Star Wars)

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters

S.H.I.E.L.D.  Academy

Charmed Magic School

Jen’s Notes used in this episode>>

Did we miss any? Comment below!

Music Played in this Episode

Date with Death by Hussalonia (Bandcamp.com)

You Take the Paper in Your Hand, Crumple it, and Toss it in the Garbage by Hussalonia (Bandcamp.com)

Wizardtorium by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Moonlight Hall by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Ritual by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Avengers Theme Song Different Remake by Ender Güney
https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic

Boldly Go Theme by Rick Moyer (startrekparodies.com)

Links & Related Anomaly Episodes

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Harry Potter Letters

About The Hosts

Jen
JenAnomaly Host / Producer / Rogue
“When my son questioned whether girls could be heroes, I pointed to Leia as an example and I am an Anomaly.”
Angela
AngelaAnomaly Host / Producer / Tank
“I believe that Leia was Force sensative and I am an Anomaly.”