Want an outstanding education and lots of leadership training? Take a look at the U.S. Service Academies. The four service academies offer challenging academics that emphasize engineering and history along with courses unique to their particular branch of the military. At the Air Force Academy, students can study flight and space operations or learn to fly, while majoring in math, engineering, behavioral science, economics or counseling. The Coast Guard Academy offers such majors as humanities and management and leadership, along with several types of engineering, math and science majors. At the Military Academy at West Point, cadets study a core curriculum that includes physical education and military science in addition to a choice of major. Naval Academy students spend summers at sea and the academic year majoring in computer science, oceanography, math, science or engineering.
Common to all of the academies are small classes and an emphasis on military, physical and leadership training. Students are cadets and, as such, subject to the rules of military life. Strong bonds are commonly forged between students; teamwork is stressed. All incoming students complete basic training in the summer before their freshman year, and spend succeeding summers in additional field training.
Cadets receive full scholarships to pay their college tuition and living expenses. They also receive additional stipends. In return, cadets are required to serve after graduation in their branch of the military. Admission to all of the service academies is competitive. In addition to grades and test scores, applicants must demonstrate physical fitness and (except for the Coast Guard Academy) receive a congressional nomination to be considered. Typical applicants rank in the top quarter of their high school class, have a 1200+ (M + CR) score on the SAT, are involved in varsity level sports and are active in school or community activities.
If you think you might be interested in attending a service academy, investigate requirements early. Speak to recruiters at college fairs and learn about the process of obtaining a congressional nomination. Check out academy websites and consider attending one of their summer sessions after junior year to preview cadet life. For more information, log on to www.usma.edu for the Military Academy at West Point; to www.usafa.af.mil for the Air Force Academy; to www.usna.edu for the Naval Academy; or to www.cga.edu for the Coast Guard Academy. Those interested in the Merchant Marines should go to www.usmma.edu for more information. Completing the pre-candidate questionnaire at the website gets you into their database and they’ll follow-up with you.
