Depending upon where you are in the process, you may have done some of the items on this list. Skip them. Be happy you’re done. Move on to the next.
First Steps:
If you’re serious about attending the USNA or any other military academy, buy a few books (or check them out of the library) on the process. It’s worth the investment because if you pursue this dream, you will be investing much more of your time and money before you achieve your goal. Better to make sure this is the direction you want to go.
Here are two books to get you started:
From the perspective of a woman who was accepted and how she accomplished it. Down-to earth, personal, definitely not dry, and should give confidence to any teen, male or female, considering a military academy as their college of choice.
A general and useful overview of the USNA application and the academy in general
Seniors–through Summer Seminar? DodMETS
Get DodMETS done. Immediately. If you completed Summer Seminar and they gave you a candidate number, that means they’ll invite you to take the medical exam. If you’re healthy, don’t wait. Who knows what happens later.
Click here for background on DodMETS
Seniors–get the CFA done
You can take this as soon as you have a candidate number. For information on the Candidate Fitness Assessment, click here and then here. This was given during Summer Seminar. If you passed, you’re done. If you didn’t, you have until you submit your application to pass. Check out what’s required and make sure you’re prepared. It’ll feel good in September to have that out of the way.
Seniors–if you have a Candidate Number
Set up a binder to keep all of your application material together. Make a tab for every activity, i.e., CFA, Congressional Interview, online Preliminary Application, etc. Can you do this digitally? Sure.
Make copies of every piece of paper you submit. Then, if (when) they disappear across the country in Annapolis, it won’t be a show stopper.
Seniors–request a Congressional Nomination Package
These are due in Fall, with interviews in November/December. Get one from your Congressperson and both Senators. Fill them out. Double check to see that everything is accurate. Mail the packages to the Senators. Often, they do all of their selections via mail–no personal interviews. For the Congressperson, handcarry it to them. When you drop it off, try to meet the aide responsible for this activity. Say hi, chat for a moment. S/he may remember you from the Academy Night, and will definitely remember you when you come in for the interview in November/December.
For more on the Congressional Nomination, check out these articles:
- Get a Congressional Nomination to a Service Academy
- How to Prepare for the Congressional Interview–Part I
- How to Prepare for the Congressional Interview–Part II
Seniors–get the preliminary application completed
That’s on USNA.edu. A preliminary application must be submitted to become an official candidate for next year’s entering class. January is the deadline to complete a preliminary application if you want to be included in next year’s application process.
Soph/Juniors–Prepare for CFA
Make sure you’re prepared to pass Senior Year.
Soph/Juniors–Take SAT and ACT
If you’re over 1400, you’re doing great. If you’re not, take it as often as possible. There’s a trick to the test that you’ll figure out as you take it over and over. A lot of colleges offer PSAT-type tests for free. Take advantage of those opportunities. That’ll keep costs down and provide feedback on what you should work on.
Soph/Frosh–Attend an Academy Night
Check USNA Admissions Facebook page for regional forums.
Tour the Yard
Tour the Yard if you’re in Annapolis.
Hone these critical skills
All USNA applicants and grads are leaders. If you’re not sure if you have enough of the leadership gene, check out these posts to see how to develop them:
- How to solve problems
- How to manage your time
- How to prioritize
- How to get along with people
- How to think
Read Books
Check out the Marine Corps summer reading list.
Tour a warship
These tours are offered through your Blue and Gold Officer or any number of other avenues. Find a tour. Take it. First and foremost, you want to be sure that a Naval Academy choice is right for you. Seeing how officers work on a Naval ship is a good idea.
Visit Colleges You Might Like to Attend
Determine which colleges serve you best. A word of advice: Have backup schools to USNA. Even if you’re accepted, you want to know it’s the best choice for you, so investigate the competition. Make an informed decision.
Focus on your unique skill
With summer comes less academic work. A good time to get back in touch with whatever it is that sets you apart from others. Military academies like that side of you. They want to know you can do everything, not just academics and sports.
Be a leader
Take every opportunity to be a leader. The Military Academies want to see you as a proactive, can-do person, not a follower. Officers are the ones who make things happen and inspire the enlisted to do their best. Be that person.
Create your resume
List all of your activities, awards, community service. The best time to start this is as a freshman, but if you’re older than that, do it now. And keep it up to date throughout high school. It’ll remind you of all your accomplishments when you’re filling out applications and essays.
Here’s a sample (truncated to protect the applicant info), set up in Google Spreadsheet with a simple organization of columns and rows:
Continue Community Service
Most colleges want to know you give back to your community; Military Academies are no exception. Do as much as you can. Give as much of your time and labor as you can afford. No, it doesn’t mean you do less in academics or sports. Figure out how to do it all. That’s the kind of person USNA, USAFA, USMA, and all military academies like.
Are you a Future USNA Midshipman?
- Read this post on Why We Serve
- Read this Qualifications of a Naval Officer from Reef Points
- Read about the USNA Honor Concept
- Read Six reasons why you might be a midshipman…
- Read 9 Secrets for Getting in USNA
- Read Life the USNA Way
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman
USNA or Bust! 
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