Anonymous wrote:Our oldest daughter attended the US Coast Guard summer AIM program for rising seniors. Loved the entire experience. Our younger daughter just applied for this summer’s program as well. We highly recommend it to get the most authentic representation of life at the Academy and to see if it’s a good fit.

Here is a helpful forum for all military academies that we used frequently in navigating the process with our oldest.
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php

Thank you for this tip. Very helpful

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Close friend has a son who did the summer West Point experience. It was tough and what you’d expect from an army experience but he loved it and knew he wanted to apply after that summer.

Thanks, this is helpful info. What sort of school environment was he coming from? Do you know if it was tough physically or mentally or both? I think my dc will like any physical rigor, but I’m curious how he’ll take the rest. He’s already in a very strict environment so I’m hoping it’s not too much of a shock for him

He attend a good public school in Texas. Although when he was younger they lived at West Point for a year (military family) so there was a sense of familiarity. He’s a varsity athlete but not super tough so it was hard but doable and gave him confidence. He’s a smart but disorganized kid so the structure was good and he liked it.

This is helpful, thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Close friend has a son who did the summer West Point experience. It was tough and what you’d expect from an army experience but he loved it and knew he wanted to apply after that summer.

Thanks, this is helpful info. What sort of school environment was he coming from? Do you know if it was tough physically or mentally or both? I think my dc will like any physical rigor, but I’m curious how he’ll take the rest. He’s already in a very strict environment so I’m hoping it’s not too much of a shock for him

He attend a good public school in Texas. Although when he was younger they lived at West Point for a year (military family) so there was a sense of familiarity. He’s a varsity athlete but not super tough so it was hard but doable and gave him confidence. He’s a smart but disorganized kid so the structure was good and he liked it.

Our oldest daughter attended the US Coast Guard summer AIM program for rising seniors. Loved the entire experience. Our younger daughter just applied for this summer’s program as well. We highly recommend it to get the most authentic representation of life at the Academy and to see if it’s a good fit.

Here is a helpful forum for all military academies that we used frequently in navigating the process with our oldest.
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php

Anonymous wrote:My niece did the Air Force and Coast Guard summer programs last year and didn’t enjoy the AF as much as CG. The experience helped her decide to attend the USCGA this fall!

The USAFA program at Colorado Springs is mostly academic with little strenuous exercise due to concern about altitude sickness. New cadets are given several months to adjust to the altitude. Maybe the focus on academics affected your niece's impression of the USAFA.

Son applied to & was accepted by all 4 programs (4 of the 5 military academies offer the 6 day summer programs). Attended USAFA at Colorado Springs, USMA at West Point, and the USNA at Annapolis. Did not attend the US Coast Guard Academy seminar as it conflicted with another summer program that he preferred to attend.

All three summer seminars programs were outstanding,but different. Air Force Academy was primarily academic, USMA at West Point involved both classroom experiences and physical activity, while the USNA was more like boot camp with attendees being summoned at 2 or 3 am by banging garage can lids to crawl under wire through the mud.

USMA at West Point was a bit depressing because some cadets received notice that some recent grads were killed in action overseas. The USMA likes to surprise attendees with loud noises in order to test reaction to/ tolerance of artillery fire.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, if your child gets in, it’s a good opportunity to see what cadet life is like. Be aware that it’s usually run by the least accomplished current cadets. It’s kind of a punishment summer activity.

This is 100% false.

—Academy alumnus and parent.

It’s amazing the level of confidence with which people on here will yap complete nonsense.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes my DS did last summer USNA Summer Seminar

Can you share what it was like? Was it tough physically? I posted above. I think my dc will love that, but I’m not sure what else is involved

It wasn’t really that tough for him. It was just to give them a taste of what it would be like if they entered the academy. My son really liked it received a congressional nom, but decided academy life wasn’t for him. He chose NROTC at a very good school as wants a good balance in college and wants to have a normal college experience as well

That’s great and seems like a good balance. Do you think it’s possible to do a college sport and ROTC?

Yes