Preparing
for
U.S. Naval Academy
Acceptance
Start Young!
DPC-841269-22.PPT09/24/07
Early Preparation Guidelines
 Begin Preparation in Middle School
 Establish a Solid Foundation in:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Math
Science
English
Introduction to Modern Foreign Language
Competitive Team Sports
Individual Sports that Require Sustained Effort
Community Service
Naval Sea Cadets and Other Youth Programs
 Early Development of Leadership Skills
High School Preparation
Guide
Begin with Freshman Year
Curriculum Guidelines
 Beginning with Freshman Year Enrollment
– Schedule Meeting with High School Counselor
 Map out Curriculum for Next Four Years
 Counselor Should Emphasize:
– Honors and AP Courses - dual-enrollment (college)
– International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
– Competitive Team Participation
– Individual Sports Participation
– Leadership Slots in School Related Activities
– Participation in School Sponsored Community
Service Activities
Curriculum Guidelines
Continued
 Four Years of English:
– Strong Emphasis On:
– Composition
– Grammar
– Literature
– Speech
DPC-841269-23.PPT09/24/07
Curriculum Guidelines
Continued
 Four Years of Math:
– Algebra (I)
– Plane Geometry
– Intermediate Algebra (II)
– Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus
 Note:
– Courses in Pre-Calculus and Calculus are Highly
Recommended
Curriculum Guidelines
Continued
 Two Years of a Modern Foreign Language
 In Addition to Modern Foreign Language Study:
– If Offered – Take One to Two Years of Latin
 Foundation of Modern Western Languages
 Language of Science
 Provides Strong Foundation in Grammar
 Two Years of a Laboratory Science
– Earth or General Science
– Chemistry
– Biology
– Physics
Curriculum Guide
Continued
 One Year of U.S. History
 One Year of World History
 Round Out Degree Plan with Course Work In:
– Geography
– Government
– Economics
– Basic Computing
– Keyboarding
Pre-SAT Exam
 Take Pre-SAT When Offered by High School
–Depending on School
 May Occur in Sophomore and/or Junior Year
–Pre-SAT Preparation Classes Recommended
 Use Pre-SAT Results to Prepare for SAT
–Review Results with School Counselor
–Identify Areas of Concern
–Develop Corrective Action Plan
SAT Exam
 Sign –up Early for SAT
 SAT Preparation Classes Recommended
 Target SAT Math and Verbal Scores:
–
620 or Higher
 SAT may be taken more than one time without penalty.
– Academy will accept the highest score.
Sports Participation Guide
 4 Year Participation in Vigorous Competitive Team
Sports
– Strive for Team Leadership Slots
 Captain
 Co-Captain
 4 Year Participation in Individual Sports that Require
Sustained Physical Effort
– Track and Field
– Tennis
– Etc.
Physical Preparation Guide
 Perform Distance Running Regularly
– Two Miles Are Recommended
 Perform Strenuous Conditioning Exercises
– Push-ups
– Pull-ups
– Sit-ups
Physical Preparation Guide
Continued
 Best Way to Prepare:
– Start off Slowly
– Build on Your Physical Accomplishments
 Start with Two-Mile Run
– Alternating Between:
 Running
 Walking
– Gradually Increase the Amount of Running
Physical Preparation Guide
Continued
 Target the Following Counts for:
– Push-ups
 75 – Male
 50 - Female
– Pull-ups
 18 – Male
 7 - Female
– Sit-ups
 65 – Male & Female
Physical Performance
Requirements
 Physical Performance
– Sea Cadets should prepare to pass the
following physical performance exams
Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)
Physical Education Program (PEP) Physical
Readiness Test (PRT)
DPC-841269-26.PPT09/24/07
Physical Performance
Requirements - Continued
 Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA)
– Assessment Consists of:
 a one-mile run
 a ‘shuttle’ run
 a kneeling basketball throw
 abdominal crunches
 push-ups
 pull-ups or a flexed-arm hang for women
– Flexed-arm Hang Used When Pull-ups Cannot be
Accomplished – Pull-ups Strongly Recommended
Physical Performance
Requirements - Continued
 Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) – Continued
B-Ball
Throw
Pull-Ups
Shuttle
Run
Crunches
Push-Ups
1-Mile
Males
102
18
7.8
95
75
5:20
Female
66
7
8.6
95
50
6:00
 Go To:
http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/cfainstructions.htm
– Site Provides Full Details of CFA Exam Requirements
 Read Requirements and Prepare Well
– CFA Exam More Difficult Than it Appears
Physical Performance
Requirements - Continued
 Physical Education Program (PEP) Physical Readiness
Test (PRT)
– Conducted During Naval Academy Summer
Seminar (NASS)
 Prepare to meet or exceed the following PRT
expectations:
–
–
–
Men
1.5 mile run (minutes)
10:30
Push-ups (minimum in 2 minutes 40
Sit-ups (minimum in 2 minutes)
65
Women
12:40
18
65
Leadership Skills
Development Guidelines
 Participate in Activities that Develop Valuable
Leadership Experiences and Responsibilities
– Recommended Activities:
 Pursue Leadership Positions in:
– School Class,
– School Club
– Student Government
 Competitive Team Athletics:
– Captain and Co-Captain Roles Highly Desirable
Leadership Skills
Development Guidelines
Continued
 Participate in Activities that Develop Valuable
Leadership Experiences and Responsibilities
– Recommended Activities:
 Awards in Academic Societies:
– I.e. National Honor Society
 Participation and Success in:
– Public Speaking
– Debate
– Other non-athletic activities
Leadership Skills
Development Guidelines
Continued
 Participate in Activities that Develop Valuable
Leadership Experiences and Responsibilities
– Recommended Activities:
 Maximize Participation and Achievement in:
– Naval Sea Cadet Corps
– Other Youth Related Groups
 Membership in:
– Community Organizations
– Church Organizations
Leadership Skills
Development Guidelines
Continued
 Participate in Activities that Develop Valuable
Leadership Experiences and Responsibilities
– Emphasis Note – Leadership Development:
 It is more valuable for you to achieve distinction
in a specific activity, rather than participate in a
number of activities without any evidence of
leadership achievement.
Steps for Admission
Steps for Admission
Continued
 For Complete Information, Go To:
– http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps.htm
 You should apply for admission:
– Between April of your junior year in high school and
January of your senior year in high school.
 The Earlier, the Better
Steps for Admission
Continued
 You must have a social security number to apply to the
U.S. Naval Academy
 If you need to obtain a Social Security Number go to:
– Social Security Online - www.ssa.gov
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Basic Requirements for Eligibility
– United States Citizen
– Good Moral Character
– At Least 17 and not Past 23rd Birthday on 1 July of Entering the
Academy
– Unmarried
– Not Pregnant
– No Dependents
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Basic Requirements for Eligibility - Continued
– If You Are Not Old Enough to Apply:
 Register with USNA @ register with USNA
– Information on Summer Seminar will be sent in the
Winter of your Junior Year
 Summer Seminar Application Serves as Preliminary
Application
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Preliminary Application:
– Must be Submitted to Become Official Candidate
– Not Needed if you have applied for Summer Seminar Program
 After Being Designated as an Official Candidate for
Admission:
– Notified by Mail
– Letter Sent no Earlier than mid-May
– Provides Important Instructions on Proceeding with the
Application Process
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Preliminary Application - Continued:
– Ensure the Following Information is Available for Completing
the Preliminary Application
 High School Educational Testing Service (ETS) Code
 Rank in High School Class
– Provided by Counselor’s Office
 Congressional State and District (Where Your Family Votes)
 Zipcode + 4
 SAT, ACT, or PSAT Scores
Steps for Admission
Continued
 To receive an offer of appointment, applicant must
obtain a nomination from an official source:
– Many Nomination Sources
– Applicants Encouraged to Apply to All Available Sources
– Sources Normally Include:
 U.S. Representative
 Two Senators
 Vice President of United States
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Apply for Nomination - Continued:
– Many Nomination Sources
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
US Senators, Representatives and Delegates
The President of the U.S.
The Vice President of the U.S.
Navy and Marine Corps (Active and Reserve)
Reserve Officer Training Corps Units
Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
Children of Prisoners of War or Servicemen Missing in Action
Children of Medal of Honor Awardees
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Apply for Nomination - Continued:
– Nomination Process is Similar to Applying for a School
 No Need to be Personally Acquainted with Person Providing the
Nomination
– Submitting Letters of Nomination Application Should be First
Step
– Contact Congressional and Senate Staff for Nomination
Application Information and Deadlines
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Apply for Nomination - Continued:
– Nomination Process is Similar to Applying for a School
 No Need to be Personally Acquainted with Person Providing the
Nomination
– Submitting Letters of Nomination Application Should be First
Step
– Contact Congressional and Senate Staff for Nomination
Application Information and Deadlines
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Candidates Required to take Scholastic Assessment
Test (SAT-I) or American College Test (ACT)
– SAT and ACT Can Be Taken More Than Once Without Penalty
 Academy will Accept Highest Score in Each Category
– Set Up Testing with High School Guidance Office or Register
On-Line
– May Qualify for Becoming Candidate Using PSAT
 PSAT Not Used as Final Admission Criteria
Steps for Admission
Continued
 College Admissions Tests - Continued
– Official Test Results Required for Admission
– Non-Standard Tests are Not Accepted for Admission
 Includes Un-Timed SAT and ACT Tests
– Scores Should be Forwarded to USNA
 College Code Numbers
– SAT-I - 5809
– ACT - 1742
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Become Official Candidate:
– If Preliminary Application Indicates Record is Strong Enough
 If Official Candidate Record is Indicated:
– Receive Candidate Information Letter
 Upon Completion of Candidate File:
– Admissions Board Reviews Your Record
 Complete On-Line Forms and Ensure Their Receipt by
USNA Within 30 Days
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Required of All Candidates:
– USNA is Physically Challenging
– USNA Graduates Commissioned in a Wide Variety of Fields
 These Fields have Strict Medical Standards
 Candidate Contacted by:
– Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board
(DoDMERB)
– DoDMERB Provides Medical Scheduling Information
– DoDMERB will Provide Exam Results to You
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Component of Application
 Submitted Electronically
 Purpose - Evaluate:
–
–
–
–
Coordination
Strength
Speed
Agility
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Decision to Attend USNA a Major One
 Interview Conducted with Blue and Gold Officer
 Interview Designed to Questions About:
– Naval Academy
– Naval Service
 Interview with Blue and Gold Officer is Required
– Application is not Complete Without it
Steps for Admission
Continued
 Selection Process Used:
– “Rolling Admissions”
 Admissions Board Assesses:
– “Whole Person” Qualification
 Outstanding Record Can Result in “Early Offer”
 Most Candidates Notified of Final Status by 15 April
This Could be You!