Academy Nominations FAQs

The Academies are highly selective.  If you wish to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, please apply directly through their website: www.uscga.edu

Admission to the other Academies is through a competitive two-step process:

Both steps are described in greater detail below.

A nomination is the selection made by an authorized source. Title 10 of the U.S. Code establishes two types of nominations: 1) congressional and 2) presidential/military service connected.

Congressional nominations include selections made by 1) the Vice President, who nominates candidates from any part of the nation, 2) U.S. Senators, who nominate candidates from their entire state, and 3) U.S. Representatives, who nominate candidates that reside within their congressional district.

An appointment allows you admission to an academy and is only granted by the individual academies AFTER an applicant has received a nomination and competed with other nominees in the areas of academics, leadership potential and physical aptitude.

To be eligible for nomination, you must meet these requirements by July 1st of your entering year:

Yes. Because the nomination and appointment process is competitive, you should seek all the nominations for which you are eligible. Every candidate is eligible for the four congressional nominations: one from the Vice President, one from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, one from U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, and one from the Representative of your local Congressional district: 1st Congressional District or 2nd Congressional District.

Yes, if you are eligible. Presidential nominations are reserved for children of career military personnel. To qualify, the parent must meet one of the following criteria:

Contact the Academy in which you are interested for specific instructions.

Yes. Active duty armed service members are eligible for the four congressional nominations, in addition to a nomination through their branch of the armed services. For more details, contact your commanding officer.

Each Member of Congress is allowed five appointees at each Academy over a four year period. This means that in most years, Sen. Schatz will be making nominations for one vacancy at each Academy. As Sen. Schatz uses the principal/competitive method, he will nominate up to ten candidates for each vacancy.

The spring semester of your junior year of high school is the best time to start your application. However, you may also apply after you graduate from high school, as long as you meet the basic eligibility requirements. Prospective applicants are encouraged to begin the application process well in advance of the deadline.

The nomination process is competitive.  To be fair to all applicants, late submissions will not be considered for a nomination.  You can apply for the following cycle if you still meet the eligibility criteria.

Two of your letters of recommendation will come from academic sources: (1) a math teacher, and (2) another high school teachers, college professor, counselor, or principal.

Your third letter of recommendation is optional and should come from a non- academic source, such as a coach, employer, clergy/church member, mentor, volunteer, or an adult family friend...someone who knows you.  It cannot come from a relative.

Letters of recommendation will be submitted electronically by the recommender through your online application checklist process.

You can submit your SAT/ACT scores by uploading the score report sent to you by The College Board/ACT or a copy of your official high school transcript with your test scores recorded.  You may also have the official test results sent directly to our office by the testing agency. Senator Schatz’s direct reporting code is 7122 (ACT) and 4359 (SAT).

Yes, it is possible to be nominated to more than one Academy. On your application, you will be asked to rank in numerical order your Academy preferences. Keep in mind that the nomination process is competitive. How well you compete among the pool of candidates will determine if you are nominated to your first choice. Therefore, only indicate your preference for Academies that you are truly interested in attending. We also recommend that you apply to more than one Academy, as you may be more competitive at one Academy compared to another.

No. The USCGA is the only service academy that does not require a congressional nomination. For more information about the USCGA and its application process, visit www.uscga.edu.

Because the nomination and appointment process is competitive, not all candidates will receive a nomination or an appointment, so it is also a good idea to apply for an ROTC scholarship.

Candidates are evaluated in five areas: moral character, academic record, leadership potential, physical and medical fitness, and commitment to the military. The information you provide through your essay and letters of recommendation should reflect these basic qualifications:

Prep school candidates are students who receive a nomination but do not meet the academic standards to attend an Academy. These students have been deemed to have the ability to benefit from a year at prep school with the goal of admission to an Academy. Attendance at a prep school does not guarantee an appointment, but prep school graduates are very successful in obtaining a future appointment.

You will be notified via email in late December - early January.

No. A nomination is the selection made by an authorized source and allows a candidate to compete for an appointment. You should also be applying at the Academies in which you are interested, while applying for a nomination.

The Academies will begin making appointments in late December. All appointment offers are generally completed by May 1 of each year.

Yes. Candidates may apply as long as they are still eligible.

Your high school preparation should include:

Your participation in athletic and non-athletic extracurricular activities will help to demonstrate your ability to meet the physical, time management, and leadership demands of four years at an Academy. Maintaining the highest level of physical fitness in high school will benefit your application. Physical exercise is part of everyday life at an Academy. Your first year at an Academy is not the time to whip yourself into shape. Participation in these activities, as well as a record of part-time employment, will help to show your versatility and your ability to accept responsibility.