The U.S. federal service academies award some of the biggest scholarships in the country. Each scholarship consists of a four-year education, room and board, exclusive benefits, and training, and all but one includes pay. Graduates become military officers.
But remember, going to a service academy can be grueling and will require you to be disciplined and dedicated.
Here are the five U.S. federal service academies, listed in chronological order of establishment, along with 10 tips to give you an edge in getting into one of these elite institutions:
US Military Academy at West Point
Created in 1802 under the purview of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Army's U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, was the United States' only engineering college until 1824. Even now, when cadets may choose from 36 majors, they all must complete a five-course engineering sequence.
Learn more about applying to West Point.
US Naval Academy
Established in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, began to commission officers the very next year, speeding up the process so they could serve in the Mexican-American War. Today's graduates serve as officers in either the Navy or Marine Corps.
Learn more about applying to the Naval Academy.
US Coast Guard Academy
Opened under the auspices of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service in 1876, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, adopted its current name when federal maritime agencies merged to create the Coast Guard in 1915. The academy's nine academic majors include four types of engineering degrees.
Learn more about applying to the Coast Guard Academy.
US Merchant Marine Academy
Safety concerns prompted the U.S. government to establish standardized maritime training. Created in 1938, the U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps moved to the Merchant Marine Academy's current location in Kings Point, N.Y., on the north shore of Long Island, in 1943. Like the students who graduate from the four military-affiliated U.S. service academies, midshipmen who graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy incur a service obligation. But these graduates get to choose whether they'll serve in either the military or working for the U.S. civilian maritime industry.
Learn more about applying to the Merchant Marine Academy.
US Air Force Academy
The U.S. Air Force Academy's establishment in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1954 closely followed the service's own creation just seven years earlier. The academy's military-run airmanship programs set it apart from any other U.S. academic institution. Graduates of the Air Force Academy join either the Air Force or the Space Force.
Learn more about applying to the Air Force Academy.
Tips for Being Accepted to a Military Academy
1. Get the grades. Face it, you have to be among the best to be a cadet. Ninety percent of cadets were in the top 20% of their class, but the academies want well-rounded people. Good grades are a starting point, not the finish line.
2. Practice testing. The ACT and SAT are critical. Find out what scores you need at the websites below. Keep testing until you score high enough to be above the average.
3. Be an athlete. Not everyone is an intercollegiate athlete, but most cadets play intramural sports, face fitness tests and undergo strenuous physical training.
4. Be a leader. The academies are looking for leaders. Participation in clubs and extracurriculars is not enough. Become a club officer or class officer. Work hard to earn school, athletic and community awards. Awards separate you from the pack.
5. Be involved in the community. Leaders care. Show you care by routinely volunteering or working in community programs.
6. Ace the interview. Your interview with the academy liaison officer is a big deal. You will be asked about citizenship, your reasons for attending and even about current events. Read the newspaper before your interview. Practice with your family. Answer in clear, thoughtful sentences.
7. Know your representative. You need an official nomination to get into the academies (except the Coast Guard Academy). These come from senators, congressional representatives, the vice president and the president. Apply to all the sources, but get to know the ones you can personally. Volunteer in their office. Write them letters. Make appointments to see them.
8. Go for more than one. Congressional representatives and senators have a limited number of nominations for each academy. By considering all four academies, you increase your chances of getting in.
9. Attend summer programs. Each academy offers programs for exceptional students during the summer before their senior year. These programs provide an up-close look at the academies and what cadet life is like. Your counselor can help you apply.
10. Start now. While the academies don't start official applications until your junior year in high school, you should start early. Write and get the pre-candidate questionnaires and candidate kits. Talk to your high school counselor. Talk to your congressional representative. Meet the academy liaison officer for your area. Let everyone know you have a dream and a plan to make it real.
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