12 Tips for Applying to a U.S. Military Academy
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By Sienna Maita
How do you get admitted to one of the U.S. Service Academies? A cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy shares her tips.
1. Start Early
The biggest piece of advice I give to younger students is that the work starts much earlier than most people think. When freshmen and sophomores at my school ask me about the service academy admissions process, I always tell them that if they are serious about attending an academy, they need to start preparing now.
2. Turn in Applications as Early as Possible
My father, who was in the military, always taught me, “If you are on time, you are late.” I took this principle and applied it to everyday life by being proactive and staying ahead of deadlines. Rather than waiting until the last minute, I started applications early, tracked important checklist items, and worked consistently to complete requirements well before they were due. In the few instances where unexpected things happened and caused delays, I was simply on time.
I think turning my applications in early also helped me stand out and made a good first impression. All applicants to military service academies must be nominated by a member of Congress. During one of my congressional interviews, my interviewers kept referring to me as “first applicant” because my application was the very first one they received in the mail. That congressional office ended up nominating me to two service academies.
3. Challenge yourself academically
Don’t take the easy path. Service academies want to see that you are willing to push yourself in difficult courses. They also want to see that you can handle the demands of their academic rigor. Take as many Advanced Placement, honors, and advanced classes as you can handle. Math is especially important. At a minimum, I would recommend taking pre-calculus, but I ended up taking AP Calculus BC because I wanted to be as competitive as possible.
4. Make your summers count
I took four dual-enrollment college courses during the summer, which freed up room in my schedule for additional classes during the regular school year and helped strengthen my academic record. Whether it’s summer classes, sports, employment, volunteering, or leadership programs, use your summers productively.
5. Carefully review the admissions requirements and aim to exceed them
The U.S. service academies generally judge candidates on being academically, physically, and medically qualified. This is known as being “triple qualified” or “3Q”. Don’t just try to meet the minimum standards. For example, if the academy says successful applicants are typically in the top 20% of their class, don’t make that your goal. Try to be in the top 10%, top 5%, or even higher.
6. Have backup plans
Have a Plan B and a Plan C. Apply to traditional universities, pursue ROTC scholarships, and keep multiple pathways open. My original dream school was the Naval Academy, but I ultimately found an incredible opportunity at the Air Force Academy. You never know where your journey will lead.
If all else fails, reapply to the next academy class. Academies love the resilience of those who reapply, and many of these applicants are successfully appointed the year after.
7. Take the SAT or ACT early and take it more than once
I took the ACT five times and improved my score significantly. Invest in study guides, identify your weaker subjects, and focus on improving those areas. Small improvements can make a big difference in your score.
8. Be a good student and a good person
Build positive relationships with your teachers, coaches, and mentors. Not only will they be the people writing your recommendation letters, but they can also become some of your biggest supporters throughout the process.
Every service academy is built on an honor code: Students will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate anyone among them who does. Embrace that code now.
9. If you’re struggling in a class, ask for help
If your grade is borderline, talk to your teacher and see what opportunities are available to improve. Service academies aren’t looking for perfection. They are looking for students who work hard, overcome challenges, and continue to improve.
10. Don’t get discouraged by setbacks
There will be disappointments along the way, and you may not always get the result you want. Focus on the things you can control, keep working hard, and remember that admissions officers are evaluating the whole person, not a single test score or one grade on a transcript.
11. Finish your senior year strong.
Service academics, like many colleges, will ask for your final transcript. Once accepted, keep up your grades, and avoid senioritis.
12. Look for leadership and teamwork opportunities
Colleges and service academies look for more than just strong grades. They want students who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and the ability to work with others. For me, joining my high school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (JROTC), which is a federal program sponsored by the U.S. Armed Forces and offered in many U.S. high schools, helped me develop these important skills.
Participation in JROTC is not a requirement for admission to a service academy. Of the many applicants I met throughout the application process, only about half had JROTC experience. Other applicants had leadership backgrounds in the Eagle Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, student government, team sports, or volunteer organizations.
Ultimately, I became the Battalion Commander of my JROTC unit. In this role I led and supervised more than 150 student cadets and staff, planned major events, and led battalion formations, marches, and training sessions. The position taught me how to lead a large organization, delegate responsibilities, communicate effectively, and solve problems while balancing a demanding academic schedule. It also showed me the importance of accountability because the success of many events and activities depended on the decisions I made and the team I led. Most of all, it gave me confidence in my ability to lead others and confirmed that leadership is something I genuinely enjoy.
While U.S. Service Academies have demanding admission requirements, following these steps can help you build a strong college application to any selective college – and develop the skills and confidence to succeed wherever you end up.
Read more about Sienna's path to The U.S. Air Force Academy.