Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 14:23     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Some of you are in bubbles. Most teenagers are not seeing therapists, do not have IEPs, do not have noteworthy allergies, do not take daily medication, etc. I realize that may be hard to believe if you are surrounded by kids receiving all these medical interventions in your community/family, but it is not the norm throughout the country. Service academy appointments are competitive, in part, because there are plenty of (medically and physically) qualified candidates.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 14:18     Subject: Re:Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:It is not competitive in the same way highly selective schools are. They are looking for breadth, bright, athletic, and accomplished but it need not be that deep and they don’t care that much about things like national awards, competitions, app themes, etc. class size (plebes) is fairly large. So for example, their avg gpa and sat is significaly
Lower than top schools. They also have physical test requirements BUT unlimited retakes as long as they ultimately pass.



It’s not enough to simply pass the physical fitness test. You are given a point value based on how well you do that is figured into application packet. Passing is simply the bare minimum to join military.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 12:50     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They’re not super competitive. If you can meet the medical and physical requirements, they’re a cake walk for high stats kids. An ACT score of 25 or SAT 1210 puts you in the mid-50 percentile at Annapolis.


pls give the source for this.


Use the Internet much?

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Class-Portrait.php
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 11:56     Subject: Re:Are service academies super competitive?
It is not competitive in the same way highly selective schools are. They are looking for breadth, bright, athletic, and accomplished but it need not be that deep and they don’t care that much about things like national awards, competitions, app themes, etc. class size (plebes) is fairly large. So for example, their avg gpa and sat is significaly
Lower than top schools. They also have physical test requirements BUT unlimited retakes as long as they ultimately pass.

Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 11:39     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was reading Air Force's official website. In their admission page, they clearly state that they generally require the applicants' GPA to be top1% in their graduating class to be admitted. There are only 2 exceptions: one is the high school's ranking used UWGPA instead of WGPA. The other is the high school is super competitive.

I was shocked to see it. I had thought service academies admit great but not the tippy top students. I mean, GPA. I know overall those students are in the top tier because they also emphasize character, leadership, fitness, and etc. But for GPA, I had thought probably top10% but not top1%.

Does anyone know real cases? Do service academy so selective nowadays?

Are ROTC scholarships in the same selective level?



Where on earth did you read that it's in the top 1%?

https://www.academyadmissions.com/requirements/academic/



Apologize! First it is 3% not 1%. Second, it is average of admits not requirement.

Yes, exactly from your link. I read it a while ago and just was overwhelmed with the impressive how selective it is.

Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 09:01     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know of four students who were accepted to one or more of the service academies but failed the physical for reasons beyond their control. All good students. All varsity athletes.

Anyone seriously considering applying to the service academies should get the basic physical first to make sure they aren’t wasting their time.


I posted this earlier and it's probably the most important part of the admission process. There seems to be a troll on this thread who hates Trump and therefore wants to disparage the military and the academies as "uncompetitive." They are entitled to their views on Trump but admission to the service academies remains extremely competitive and nothing is more rigorous than the physical exam. Having an IEP past 4th grade means you won't be admitted, for instance. The list of disqualifying reasons is long and it's freely available via a basic search.


I have seen plenty of students go off to service academies. They are great. Impressive people but usually not the very top students. Towards the top, but rarely the very top of the class.


And to set the record straight, Trump has very much contributed to the politicization of military service and its unforgivable and destructive.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 08:42     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:They’re not super competitive. If you can meet the medical and physical requirements, they’re a cake walk for high stats kids. An ACT score of 25 or SAT 1210 puts you in the mid-50 percentile at Annapolis.


pls give the source for this.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 08:28     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:I know of four students who were accepted to one or more of the service academies but failed the physical for reasons beyond their control. All good students. All varsity athletes.

Anyone seriously considering applying to the service academies should get the basic physical first to make sure they aren’t wasting their time.


I posted this earlier and it's probably the most important part of the admission process. There seems to be a troll on this thread who hates Trump and therefore wants to disparage the military and the academies as "uncompetitive." They are entitled to their views on Trump but admission to the service academies remains extremely competitive and nothing is more rigorous than the physical exam. Having an IEP past 4th grade means you won't be admitted, for instance. The list of disqualifying reasons is long and it's freely available via a basic search.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 08:27     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:I know of four students who were accepted to one or more of the service academies but failed the physical for reasons beyond their control. All good students. All varsity athletes.

Anyone seriously considering applying to the service academies should get the basic physical first to make sure they aren’t wasting their time.


Basic physicals are useless. They likely get a basic physical ever year already. The military has some pretty exacting criteria. Some common things that DQ people are any type of mental issues: ADHD, eating disorders, anxiety, depression. You don’t even have to have had meds. If you’ve ever seen a psychologist or therapist for anything, it flags you and they want more info…

Allergies is anything one that people expect. Any type of food allergy is disqualifying. Same with asthma, even if only had a child. If doesn’t always, but it flags you and you way need a waiver. Any broken bone ever may require a specialist visit and a waiver.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 07:36     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
I know of four students who were accepted to one or more of the service academies but failed the physical for reasons beyond their control. All good students. All varsity athletes.

Anyone seriously considering applying to the service academies should get the basic physical first to make sure they aren’t wasting their time.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 07:29     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Again, competitiveness is initially relative to competition in your local area (district, state). If you miss winning out on the slate, you compete nationally. The group is further limited by those who are medically qualified and have passed the physical fitness test and those willing to serve active duty for 5 years or work in certain industries (for the Merchant Marine Academy).

If suddenly everyone in the top 1% of theis class can meet that criteria AND is applying to go a service academy, then yes, you would have to be in top 1% if not a recruiter athlete, but statistically that's not the case. Most people want to go to a "regular" school.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 07:27     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
I heard an AF veteran who is now an IEC speak about this. Apparently the physical fitness test is very hard and many athletes fail. I’m not sure about the 1% but these kids are obviously extremely smart and athletes on top of that with leadership and community service. Some students are working with IECs starting as early as 6th grade so they become outstanding candidates. More power to them for being willing to serve our country!
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 07:21     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
They’re not super competitive. If you can meet the medical and physical requirements, they’re a cake walk for high stats kids. An ACT score of 25 or SAT 1210 puts you in the mid-50 percentile at Annapolis.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 07:11     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Very competitive. My niece attends and she is very very smart and very athletic. She held and solid leadership position in high school implementing new programs successfully.

Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 07:07     Subject: Are service academies super competitive?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's quite competitive and the most competitive piece is the medical exam. If your kid has been on any psychotropic medication they will not pass. If they are more than slightly overweight they won't pass. If they have multiple allergies they will not pass. You can ask AI for more info but your kid shouldn't even start down the road unless s/he is sure s/he can pass the medical exam.


You must run in a weird circle because 90% of my kid's friends would have no issue with the medical exam. You seem to think being overweight or on psych meds is typical for America teens when it's very much the minority.


So you think. Get back to us when these 90% of your kid’s friends have had a complete DoDMERB review, not to mention the CFA.


I take it your child is not an athlete? There is nothing particularly challenging about the CFA or medical requirements if a kid is in shape. And (although increasing) there are still only 10-20% of teens on psych meds. There are hundreds of varsity athletes at most high schools that will have 0 issues, unless they are on Adderall. Why do you think med clearance is the hard part? It is not.