Prospective USNA candidates pay attention. Following is the most basic time line info for applicants to the USNA. I noticed this forum is thread bare so speak up if you have questions. I am a Blue and Gold Officer and there are lots of USNA graduates and mids on AW that will help you out.
If you are going to be a Junior, make sure you get involved in leadership positions over the next year. Work hard on your grades and make sure you stay active athletically. Enroll in AP or Honors classes at every opportunity. Take the PSAT, as a minimum, and if possible the SAT or ACT later in the school year. If you aren't scoring well talk to your Guidance Office about how to improve your score. Take a look at the USNA web site for info on Summer Seminar and complete the initial application. Make every effort to attend Summer Seminar between your Jr. and Sr. year. Applications open up in February.
If you are Senior, fill out the initial application info on the USNA website if you haven't already done so. The initial application must be filed no later then 31JAN2009. Miss that and you are out of the running. It isn't too soon to make initial contact with you nomination sources. For most everyone that is your Congressman and both Senators. Apply to all three! Write them a professional, respectful letter advising them of your intention to apply for the USNA and ask them to put you on their contact list for future information on nominating interviews and service academy presentations. Most congressional offices start the nominating interviews in September or October and they run through December. Take the SAT or ACT at the first availably. Consider taking both tests since they are different and some people score better on one then the other. Don't let up on your grades. If you are a long time member of an organization make an effort to get into a leadership position this year. Your Blue and Gold Officer will be contacting you in the fall. Be courteous and return his calls and emails promptly. Do not let your parents communicate with the BGO about your application. You are applying to be a Naval Officer. Don't let your BGO think Mommy and Daddy are driving things or you can't make things happen for yourself. It doesn't help if they claim you were too busy to call back because of football, volunteer church work, and the big AP project coming due. You must manage your own time. When you meet the congressional staff or you get an informal meeting with your BGO, do not let your parents dominate the conversation. They may ask questions of the BGO. That is part of his job. Get the questions answered and have your parents leave the room when the conversation gets around to you and your application. This goes doubly true for the "official" interview, possibly the only meeting you have with him or her.
Good luck.
If you are going to be a Junior, make sure you get involved in leadership positions over the next year. Work hard on your grades and make sure you stay active athletically. Enroll in AP or Honors classes at every opportunity. Take the PSAT, as a minimum, and if possible the SAT or ACT later in the school year. If you aren't scoring well talk to your Guidance Office about how to improve your score. Take a look at the USNA web site for info on Summer Seminar and complete the initial application. Make every effort to attend Summer Seminar between your Jr. and Sr. year. Applications open up in February.
If you are Senior, fill out the initial application info on the USNA website if you haven't already done so. The initial application must be filed no later then 31JAN2009. Miss that and you are out of the running. It isn't too soon to make initial contact with you nomination sources. For most everyone that is your Congressman and both Senators. Apply to all three! Write them a professional, respectful letter advising them of your intention to apply for the USNA and ask them to put you on their contact list for future information on nominating interviews and service academy presentations. Most congressional offices start the nominating interviews in September or October and they run through December. Take the SAT or ACT at the first availably. Consider taking both tests since they are different and some people score better on one then the other. Don't let up on your grades. If you are a long time member of an organization make an effort to get into a leadership position this year. Your Blue and Gold Officer will be contacting you in the fall. Be courteous and return his calls and emails promptly. Do not let your parents communicate with the BGO about your application. You are applying to be a Naval Officer. Don't let your BGO think Mommy and Daddy are driving things or you can't make things happen for yourself. It doesn't help if they claim you were too busy to call back because of football, volunteer church work, and the big AP project coming due. You must manage your own time. When you meet the congressional staff or you get an informal meeting with your BGO, do not let your parents dominate the conversation. They may ask questions of the BGO. That is part of his job. Get the questions answered and have your parents leave the room when the conversation gets around to you and your application. This goes doubly true for the "official" interview, possibly the only meeting you have with him or her.
Good luck.
