The Perfect Candidate: 10 Steps to Becoming a Midshipman

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So you want to attend the Naval Academy? The Trident staff sat down with Director of Outreach Davede Alexander to explore what the ideal academy candidate should focus on to improve their chances of acceptance.

1. Start early. The academy looks at the full range of your high school performance, including academics, leadership and athletics, and there are a lot of elements that go into the application process. “Starting early is always a good thing,” said Alexander. Candidates can start gathering information as early as their freshman or sophomore years in high school.

2. Do well in your math and science classes, but don’t neglect the humanities. “Your entire high school transcript will get looked at,” said Alexander. “We’ll focus on the calculus and chemistry, but we will definitely take a look at those other humanities and social science courses.” While there is no minimum grade point average required, students are encouraged to rank within the top 20 percent of their high school class.

3. Look for leadership opportunities. Whether as captain of a sports team, an officer in an extracurricular activity or leading a parentless household while maintaining a job on the side, the admissions board evaluates your leadership aptitude. “We look at the entire spectrum of leadership,” said Alexander.

4. Seek your official nomination early. Most candidates qualify for at least four nominating sources, including congressional representatives and the vice president. “Making sure you know the timelines of when those due dates are for those nominating processes is important, because you have to have a nomination to get into the academy,” said Alexander.

5. Fill out the preliminary application during the summer before your senior year of high school. “That actually opens your file with USNA,” said Alexander.

6. Be athletic. “As part of their application, candidates are going to take a test that measures their athletic prowess,” said Alexander. The test includes a one-mile run, pushups, sit-ups and a kneeling basketball throw.

7. Take standardized tests. The Naval Academy requires candidates to take the SAT or ACT prior to admission and will evaluate candidates based on the highest score in each individual category.

8. Ask your teachers for recommendations. “A well-written recommendation lets us see different facets of the particular person applying to the academy,” said Alexander. Applications from other sources are not required, but can be submitted to the admissions board for evaluation.

9. Contact your Blue and Gold Officer after you’ve received your application packet. The USNA Admissions Office coordinates a nationwide network of representatives qualified to counsel you during the application process. Your school guidance office will be familiar with your local Blue and Gold Officer, who will conduct an official interview with you. “Their Blue and Gold Officers play a dual role,” said Alexander. They mentor the candidate through the admissions process but also serve as liaisons to the Admissions Office, evaluating who the candidate is, how they conduct themselves during the interview.

10. Prepare your personal statement. This is where the candidate has the opportunity to talk about who they are, where they come from and why they want to come to the Naval Academy.

“In the long term, you want to be well rounded. You want to be an individual who aspires to be a leader, a scholar and an athlete all rolled into one,” said Alexander. “We’re looking for people who are leaders in their schools, doing well academically, and also doing well in the world of athletics and physical fitness. Combining all that together makes a perfect candidate for us.”