U.S. Service Academies

The United States Military Academies are among the most competitive and distinguished undergraduate universities in the country. Those who gain acceptance are awarded a full four-year scholarship. In order to compete for this honor, you must begin preparation as early as your sophomore year.

Letters of Application for Nomination (Except the Coast Guard Academy)

Submit letters of application to all available nomination sources. These include both U.S. Senators, your Congressperson and the Vice President of the United States. Sample letters may be found along with other valuable information on each of the Service Academy Admissions websites: U.S. Air Force Academy http://www.usafa.af.mil; U.S. Coast Guard Academy http://www.cga.edu; U.S. Military Academy (West Point) http://www.usma.edu; U.S. Merchant Marine Academy http://www.usmma.edu; U.S. Naval Academy http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/ .

Service Academy Applications

Submit a preliminary application to each Service Academy you are considering for admission on line at their respective websites listed above. Do so beginning February 1^st of your Junior year. The Academies will reply promptly with instructions for completing a Formal Application. Retain copies of ALL correspondence submitted during the process.

Standardized Test Requirements

The PSAT should be taken in October of your junior year. Take the SAT I and ACT during the second semester of your junior year. The Academies will take your highest score from each successive effort.

Academic Preparation

Your academic program in high school should be rigorous. You will be competing with the most outstanding students throughout the United States for acceptance. MINIMUM course requirements should include:

1. Four years college preparatory English
2. Four years college preparatory mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis, Pre-calculus, calculus, and basic Computer Science will be extraordinarily helpful during the freshman year.
3. At least 2 years of laboratory science (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
4. One year of U.S. History
5. Courses in Geography, Government, and Economics are useful as well.
6. Two years of a foreign language.
7. Maintain a high grade point average and class rank in the top 20%. Honors or Advanced Placement courses are recommended.

Physical Preparation

a. Participate in vigorous team sports, or individual sports requiring sustained physical effort.
b. Perform regular distance running of at least two miles.
c. Practice strenuous conditioning exercises including push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and dips.

Leadership Preparation

a. Participation in class, club or student government.
b. Pursue academic and scholastic achievement such as National Honor Society.
c. Participation and significant achievement in athletics.
d. Participation and achievement in service organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts and ROTC.

Application Dates

• Apply for nomination in the spring of your junior year in high school.
• Congressional screening takes place in September/October of your Senior year with face-to-face interviews in November/December. Nomination notifications are announced in January.
• Physical and medical examinations should be scheduled as early as possible in senior year.
• Early Conditional Offers of Appointment for exceptional candidates are granted beginning in September of senior year. Final Offers of Appointment are made as late as Mid-May.
• Induction Day for Academies is the first week of July following high school graduation.

For additional information, visit the academy's web site (link below) and see your Guidance Specialist.

Air Force Academy Coast Guard Academy Merchant Marine Academy Military Academy (West Point) Naval Academy

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