US Military Academies

[Ernesto]

My son, who has a 4.0 and has scored high on the PSAT's, recently received a letter from the Annapolis Navy Academy. I was wondering if any fellow DUers knew anything about getting a kid into Annapolis or other prestigious military academies?

[Worst Username Ever]

1. My friend who was admitted to West Point needed a letter from a

Senator. Wellstone wrote him one, and he was admitted (4.0 with honors, captain of 2 sports, science club, etc etc etc). He declined it though to go to Northwestern for some special program he wanted to study.

My point is, at least for West Point, you need a recommendation, I think.

[Infomaniac]

2. Nominations

I thought you needed to be nominated for admission to the military academies like West Point and Annapolis. The Annapolis website says that you can apply to congressional represenatives, senators and the vice-president for a nomination. It also says alternative nomination sources are available, but it doesn't say what they are. Here's the link to the Annapolis website: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004609.html

[blurbyMCchazbotz]

3. part of the process

Nominations are simply part of the normal application process -- along with getting a physical done, sending your SAT/ACT scores, and writing essays. Each politician has their own procedure, but usually you send a letter to your congressmen/women and they approve of you. A nomination does not guarantee admission to the Academy though, but all acceptees must be nominated.

Or you could apply for NROTC. No nomination needed there!

[TahitiNut]

4. I went to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy ('61-63)

... until it was very clear I wasn't "military material." The USCGA is 100% by competitive entrance examination - no appointments and no scholarships. (Every cadet effectively has a scholarship.)

At the time, the process included (1) apply to take the entrance exam - the acceptance to just take the exam was based on grades, SAT's, and faculty recommendations, (2) take two full days of competitive examinations - there were 25,000 accepted to take the exam, (3) received notification of primary (or alternate) acceptance to the academy, contingent upon keeping grades up and not being arrested, (4) reported to the academy (in New London) on July 7th. There were 250 cadets (of the 25,000 who took the exams) accepted. I was 12th in the entering class. By the time that class graduated, there were fewer than 125 cadets in it. Over 50% attrition was considered fairly normal.

[sbj405]

5. I'm a grad

PM me if you would like further info.