Since my sophomore year of high school, my goal has been to attend a U.S. service academy. That ambition began after I participated in a summer program at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and got a firsthand look at life there. Everywhere I looked, there was history, tradition, and a sense of purpose. I loved walking the same halls as former presidents, admirals, and astronauts and being surrounded by professional, confident midshipmen. From that point forward, every decision I made was with the goal of attending the USNA in mind.
Service academies evaluate applicants in four major areas: academics, leadership, physical fitness, and character. Like any student applying to selective colleges, I took as many AP and advanced courses as possible, pursued leadership positions – including becoming the Battalion Commander of my 150-person JROTC unit, and studied for the SAT and ACT.
At the same time, I had to train for the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) which took several months. I also had to apply for a nomination from my congressional representative and both U.S. senators, which required transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and an in-person interview before a selection panel. Because every part of my application needed to be as strong as possible, the pressure was overwhelming at times, testing my time-management skills, discipline, and determination.
Because I knew how competitive the Naval Academy was, my Plan B was to attend a university with a strong Naval ROTC program and pursue a commission through that path. Because my father is a veteran and a California resident, I qualified for free tuition with the CALVET program, so I applied to several University of California campuses.
Occasionally, I was distracted with thoughts of attending a traditional college, especially when my classmates were all talking about the freedom of leaving home and having the college party experience. I knew that going to a service academy would be vastly different, and that I would be making a nine-year commitment to the military, including five years of active duty. But I wanted to serve my country, and I liked the security of knowing I would graduate as an officer and start my career right after college.
One of my biggest challenges was my ACT score. I took the test five times trying to reach my goal score of 30. During what was supposed to be my final ACT exam, my mother and I drove two and a half hours to the test site, only for me to realize I had left my identification at home. Without a valid ID, I wasn’t allowed to take the test. So, my score remained at 29.
Training for the Candidate Fitness Assessment wasn't easy, either. My goal wasn’t just to pass the CFA; I wanted to excel at it. For months I worked out three times a week focusing on running, sit-ups, pushups, pull ups, and the basketball throw. Through consistent effort, I improved from barely meeting the standards (I couldn't do a single pull-up at first) to scoring in the 90th percentile on my final test.
When college decisions started to roll in, it wasn't good news. I was denied by UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and waitlisted at UC Santa Barbara. In my mind, these were indicators of other decisions to come. Then I heard from the Air Force Academy – and I was admitted! I was incredibly excited and hoped to receive an appointment to the Naval Academy. But one day later, the Naval Academy turned me down. I was devastated.
After a couple of tearful days, my dad encouraged me to “see the glass half full” – I had been admitted to the U.S. Air Force Academy! Until that point, I was all-in for the Navy. I wasn't sure that I could shift my mindset toward a completely different branch of service and a different culture. I was honored to be admitted – I just didn't know much about the Air Force. So, I went to the Appointee Visit Weekend in Colorado Springs.
At the Air Force Academy, I met with a cadet and a recent graduate who answered my questions about everything from their daily lives to academics. While the academy had a lot of structure and rules, I saw that cadets also had opportunities to socialize and unwind.
The best part was discovering how many different career fields officers can pursue, including cyber operations, engineering, law and space-related careers. I liked that I didn't have to decide on a major right away, but if I was passionate about something, the Air Force would help me pursue it.
And cadets were pursuing amazing things. Some were developing experimental aircraft and testing them in simulators and wind tunnels; others were flying gliders, earning their pilots' licenses and parachute jump wings, or launching satellites into Earth’s orbit (how many colleges let you do that?). I even met a cadet who was a falcon handler.
On my way to the airport for my return flight home, I heard from UC Santa Barbara that I had been admitted off the waitlist. Suddenly, I imagined going to school at UCSB's beautiful campus on the beach with bonfires and epic parties.
But that fantasy only lasted a second. Whether my path would be astrophysics, law, computer science or becoming a fighter pilot, these options were all on the table at the USAFA. I knew it was the right place for me.
At the U.S. Air Force Academy, tuition room and board and most of my expenses will be covered in exchange for a five-year service obligation.
CollegeData helped me compare schools based on academics, campus life, and admissions requirements, and understand how competitive certain schools can be. The financial aid and cost information helped me grasp the overall cost of attending different colleges. The student stories and articles provided valuable insight into the application process and helped me feel more prepared.
Read more of Siena’s tips for applying to U.S. service academies.
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Nolan - Colorado State University "Success doesn't always come from a single plan or a straight path. My first plan for success didn't pan out, and my path to college was jagged instead of straight." |
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Fatoumata - University of Southern California "Applying for admission to two competitive major programs was both exhilarating and daunting — and I was told "maybe" more than once." |