Service Academy Nominations

WHAT IS A NOMINATION?

Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides*
Both U.S. Senators from his or her state
Apply directly to the Vice-President of the United States

* Applicants for the United States Merchant Marine Academy can apply to any Senator or Congressperson in their home state.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?

Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:

Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 5th Congressional District of New Jersey.
Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy

WHO DO I CONTACT WITH ANY QUESTION NOT ON THE FAQ?

Please reach out to Cole Touhey at Cole.Touhey@mail.house.gov or by calling 201-389-1100.

WHEN DO I APPLY FOR A NOMINATION?

The nomination application period opens April 1 of each year for those candidates who are high school juniors and will be seniors the following school year, or who have already graduated.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLETING A NOMINATION FILE?

The deadline for submitting a nomination packet to the District Office is normally mid-October. Please contact the office for more specifics.

WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN MY NOMINATION FILE?

High school transcript
American College Testing Program (ACT) results and/or College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results
Resume of extracurricular activities
An essay stating why you want to attend a service academy (500 words or less)
Minimum of three letters of recommendation

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE COMPLETED MY NOMINATION FILE?

Applicants who submit a completed nomination file will be scheduled for an interview in late October or early November.

WHAT CRITERIA IS USED IN SELECTING CANDIDATES?

Nominations are based on a “whole person” evaluation. Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character and motivation are taken into consideration and compared with other applicants.

HOW MANY ACADEMIES ARE THERE?

U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York
U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut*

*The United States Coast Guard Academy does not require Congressional Nominations.

ARE THE REQUIREMENTS THE SAME FOR ALL OF THE SERVICE ACADEMIES?

No. Although many of the qualifications are similar, each academy operates under its own admissions guidelines. Visit the academy of your choice via the websites noted for each academy’s particular admissions qualifications. It is not necessary to seek a nomination to the Coast Guard Academy, as the U.S.C.G.A. accepts candidates based on their own testing criteria.

WHO SHOULD I ASK TO WRITE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION ON MY BEHALF?

Some of the people applicants typically seek recommendations from include:

Teachers
Counselors
Employers
Coaches
Clergy
Scout Leaders

WILL I AUTOMATICALLY BE SELECTED BY THE ACADEMY AFTER I RECEIVE A NOMINATION?

No. You will be placed among a select group of nominees, and the academy of your choice will make the final decision. If selected, you will receive an offer of admission (an appointment) directly from the academy.

WHAT IF I CHOOSE MORE THAN ONE ACADEMY? WILL I BE LIMITED TO A SINGLE NOMINATION?

You are encouraged to identify as many Service Academies as you would like. However it is important to note that nominations are made per academy, and not per student. For example, if you receive a nomination to West Point, that nomination cannot be transferred to the Naval Academy. In rare instances it is possible to receive multiple nominations from the same representative, and we encourage all students to also reach out to their Senators and the Vice President. As representatives are limited to 10 nominations per academy, we encourage all candidates to select their top three schools for consideration.

WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE BEEN OFFERED AN APPOINTMENT BY AN ACADEMY?

Academies will begin to notify candidates of their admission status in February. All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May.