Military boarding schools’ unique combination of JROTC leadership training in conjunction with a college preparatory curriculum prepares Cadets for their futures in a way that many other schools can’t. Parents who send their sons or daughters to these schools know that their sons will have a well-rounded experience with an emphasis on academics, character, and leadership.
Another advantage of a military school education is the edge it gives to Cadets who are interested in attending one of the U.S. service academies:
- The United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York
- The United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland
- The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Connecticut
- The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York
- The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ease of the Application Process
Everyone knows how difficult it is to get into one of the U.S. service academics. They’re some of the most selective colleges in the country – US News and World Report states that West Point has an acceptance rate of only 9%.
Each has a strenuous admission process with very stringent standards, including scholastic and medical qualifications, passing the Physical Aptitude Examination, and requiring applicants to receive congressional nominations. It’s not your typical college application process.
Did you know that Cadets from a military boarding school like Army and Navy Academy have a slightly easier road to these top academies? As a nationally recognized Honor Unit with Distinction, ANA has the privilege of nominating our Cadets directly to the academies. When a Cadet applies to one of the top academies with recommendations from both a congressman and our Academy, he has a distinct advantage over others.
The greatest asset our students have in the application process is the fact that they have roles as Officers in the Corps of Cadets on their lists of accomplishments. This is a huge advantage, and an experience that students from other types of schools simply do not have.
Preparedness for Life at an Academy
Cadets’ experiences at a military boarding school help them feel prepared for life at one of the U.S. service academies. The structured days, leadership training, and emphasis on academics is similar to what Cadets experience at the top service academies, easing the transition into life after high school.
Take it from Nick Trella ’13, an ANA graduate who is currently in his first year at West Point, “Being in a structured environment at Army and Navy Academy helped me out quite a bit. The transition for me was not as strenuous as it was for many others. Having previously had roommates also helped a great deal. Overall, ANA gave me a taste of what being at a military academy is like.”