It's awesome that a student wants to go to a military academy. And, it is certainly unusual for one to apply to every single one, as if there was no difference between the branches. As others have mentioned, a student who is not a child of career military can't get a Presidential nomination and is unlikely to get nominations to multiple academies from Members of Congress, except in places with few college going students. So it is indeed rare, but for reasons other than individual qualifications.

On the whole, you have to keep in mind that the military academies are not terribly selective. A solid B student with 1200 SATs from Montgomery or Fairfax County Public Schools with any team sports participation is pretty much an automatic admit at the academies. These students would be on the bubble for engineering at College Park or UVa. The academies admit rates are skewed low because they include partial and incomplete applicants that other colleges don't. And, they run very large prep programs so they can admit students who do not normally qualify because of low grades, test scores, or other problems (like high school disciplinary and juvie records).

Anonymous wrote:The father of this kid is active duty officer. That might qualify him to Presidential nomination. However, he still needs 3 more nominations from other source.
Still unbelievable achievement.

No, he wouldn't need three others. You can get a Presidential nomination to each of the academies, so one kid can get a nomination to each academy through the President. A kid with an active duty parent is entitled to a nomination to each academy.

It's the Member of Congress nominations that tend to be limited to just one academy in this area.

A kid we know had a nomination from a senator, which tend to be very competitive, and then got a letter from his congressman saying that even though he was a very competitive candidate, the congressman could not give him another nomination because the applicant already had one from his senator. This kid only wanted to go to West Point, but his parents wanted him to apply to the Naval Academy also in order to have a backup. He was accepted to both and chose West Point.

Of course, the nomination is only one step in the process. The applicant has to have high academic achievement, be a good athlete and physically fit, and show leadership qualities. You compete for an appointment against other kids in your area, and the DC area is highly competitive. It's a huge accomplishment to be accepted to any of the academies from this area. A lot of kids make up their minds earlier in the process about which service they want to be a part of and then apply only to one or two of the academies that focus on that area of service. But if you're not sure earlier in the process, it's great to have all the choices in the spring.

The father of this kid is active duty officer. That might qualify him to Presidential nomination. However, he still needs 3 more nominations from other source.
Still unbelievable achievement.

Anonymous wrote:What's more impressive: Getting accepted at four service academies or getting accepted to all the Ivies?

Four service academies is more impressive than four ivies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So does this mean the student has four DIFFERENT sponsors?

Why would one sponsor support one student for four or five service academies?

Or does the sponsor come after the acceptance?

I was curious about this too. Anyone know?

By sponsor, I think you might be referring to nominations. There are a variety of nomination sources, including a state's two US senators, each district's congressional representative, the President, and the Vice President. There are different rules for each as to who can apply. The Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination.

The northern Virginia members of congress usually make sure to spread out their nominations so as many kids as possible can get one since so many kids from this area apply and they typically are all very competitive candidates. It is unusual for a northern Virginia kid to get nominations to three different academies, unless they are eligible for the Presidential nomination through having a parent that is active duty or retired.

Anonymous wrote:So does this mean the student has four DIFFERENT sponsors?

Why would one sponsor support one student for four or five service academies?

Or does the sponsor come after the acceptance?

I was curious about this too. Anyone know?

So does this mean the student has four DIFFERENT sponsors?

Why would one sponsor support one student for four or five service academies?

Or does the sponsor come after the acceptance?

What's more impressive: Getting accepted at four service academies or getting accepted to all the Ivies?

Wow, that is impressive! Way to go!

Good for him! That is an amazing accomplishment.

That is a great accomplishment -- applying to the academies requires quite a bit more time and effort than regular college applications -- fitness tests, medical exams, congressional sponsor interviews, etc.

Incredible!!!!

Anonymous wrote:Congrats to him! But to clarify all of them are "no cost" to all attendees... in exchange for 5 years of service.

You are right. I wonder why the article states it that way.

Congrats to him! But to clarify all of them are "no cost" to all attendees... in exchange for 5 years of service.

The 18-year-old has been accepted to four of the five service academies. He applied to Navy, West Point, the Air force and Coast Guard academies hoping to get into one. All four have offered tuition, books, board and medical care at no cost.

http://wjla.com/features/spotlight-on-education/fairfax-student-accepted-to-four-service-academies