What separates the people who get into the service academies from everyone else?

[Anonymous]

small sample, but my kids go to a private school and nobody we know who ever wanted to get in has had trouble getting in.

it's a self selecting group. you have to be on top of things to know you want this early because the process starts early. our counselors can help, but I realize that's not true at most schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excellent time management skills and avoidance of the party scene.

One of the biggest party girls at my daughter's HS, big drinker with fake id out at college bars, is going to the Naval Academy.

LOL. Avoidance of the party scene. Do you know anyone in the military?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 24 now, so I am too old. But I wish I knew about the service academies when I was young. It blows my mind so many people in them were top students and top athletes in school. Many people can’t even pass tryouts for JV sports teams here let alone be a varsity captain, and many top athletes aren’t great academically. I personally find it more impressive if someone goes to a service academy versus an Ivy League. How do people get into them? Are they just built differently?

Connections. All the kids I know (kids now or kids when I was coming up) had relatives in high military or political places. Every single one. Especially for Naval Academy.

wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're built a little differently. The desire to serve (and maturity to understand that you won't get to choose your path) and a love of discipline and rigor.

Agree with the "desire to serve" for sure. But there are a lot of top kids at schools that love discipline and rigor hence why they are at these top civilian schools studying subjects like engineering.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it's the same at West Point and Annapolis, but the USAFA has a 10 month prep school program for candidates who need to improve academically to be admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know who are at service academies ARE impressive kids who have a very good balance of strong academics/physical fitness/good sense of self and community. It's a little sad seeing people crap on them because it's fashionable to be anti-army.

It's a mixed bag like everything else. I have family in the military, including people who went to West Point and the Naval Academy. My cousin who went to the Naval Academy is an amazing guy, but believe me not all of his friends were.

It's not fashionable to crap on the military. But the military worship also gets super old super quick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's the same at West Point and Annapolis, but the USAFA has a 10 month prep school program for candidates who need to improve academically to be admitted.

Usna, too. It is called naps. It is also a 10 month program, but the problem is that none of it will count towards your time at the naval Academy so you still will need to finish that program and then do four years at USNa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a small subset of people who are very good athletes, have good grades and want to be in the military.

This. And the ability to get a congressional nomination.

It's just another layer in the process. It's not like the students personally know the congressman.

I’m new to this forum as I’ve just moved to DC two years ago, but I’m surprised at the distance between people on here and congresssmen / the hill. Maybe its my job and social circle, but I guess I’m surprised at the ability to get a recommendation.

Congressional members offer info sessions on how to get their recommendation. It is not just for those they personally know.

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/Events/Academy%20Day%20Fliers/Senator_Graham_Academy_Day_4-18-26.pdf

https://senwarner.ticketbud.com/academyday2026

Those are examples. Some are virtual.

[Anonymous]

I have several close friends with children in either T5s, Berkeley, West Point, or Annapolis.

The students at the T5s and Berkeley had parents and admissions consultants that curated their ECs and applications.

The service academy students genuinely lived their ECs. They were authentic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a small subset of people who are very good athletes, have good grades and want to be in the military.

This. And the ability to get a congressional nomination.

It's just another layer in the process. It's not like the students personally know the congressman.

I’m new to this forum as I’ve just moved to DC two years ago, but I’m surprised at the distance between people on here and congresssmen / the hill. Maybe its my job and social circle, but I guess I’m surprised at the ability to get a recommendation.

Congressional members offer info sessions on how to get their recommendation. It is not just for those they personally know.

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/Events/Academy%20Day%20Fliers/Senator_Graham_Academy_Day_4-18-26.pdf

https://senwarner.ticketbud.com/academyday2026

Those are examples. Some are virtual.

Or I mean, I’m surprised it’s so hard. Through work and friends, I know many people working in congressional offices. And being local, there are easy ways to run into these people at events.

[Anonymous]

What separates them: good grades, decent test scores, fit enough to pass CFA, have congressional nomination and several letters of recommendation, write multiple essays, demonstrated leadership experience, willingness to serve in military (or related industry for 1 of the academies) for 5+ years following graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 24 now, so I am too old. But I wish I knew about the service academies when I was young. It blows my mind so many people in them were top students and top athletes in school. Many people can’t even pass tryouts for JV sports teams here let alone be a varsity captain, and many top athletes aren’t great academically. I personally find it more impressive if someone goes to a service academy versus an Ivy League. How do people get into them? Are they just built differently?

Connections. All the kids I know (kids now or kids when I was coming up) had relatives in high military or political places. Every single one. Especially for Naval Academy.

wrong

I grew up in the Hampton Roads area with kids whose parents were naval officers/Academy grads. It was basically common knowledge that they would be admitted if they bothered to apply. The Navy is the most classist of the military branches. They'll take an officer's kid over a prior enlisted candidate with leadership potential every day and twice on Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Money, power, connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know who are at service academies ARE impressive kids who have a very good balance of strong academics/physical fitness/good sense of self and community. It's a little sad seeing people crap on them because it's fashionable to be anti-army.

+1 It's sickening.

[Anonymous]

Great kids with intelligence, integrity, fitness, and a love of this great country. Godspeed.