How do you get into the Naval Academy?

I'm a junior in high school interested in attending the Naval Academy. Can someone outline the application process and admission requirements? I'm especially curious about any specific academic or extracurricular skills that are valued.

Getting into the United States Naval Academy is quite a rigorous process, and understanding each step is key. Here are the basic requirements and process:

1. Check the Basic Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, between 17 and 23 years old, and not married or pregnant or have any legal obligation to support a child or children. If you are a naturalized citizen, you must provide documentation.

2. Complete Your Preliminary Application: This includes basic information, and once submitted, the academy will determine if you meet the basic eligibility requirements.

3. Nominations: Unlike regular colleges, you actually need to be nominated to get in. Almost all candidates are nominated either by their U.S Representative, their U.S Senators, or the Vice President. The nomination applications typically start in the spring of your junior year.

4. Academic qualifications: While there is no minimum SAT/ACT scores or GPA, the academy looks for strong performance in a tough curriculum, particularly in math and sciences. High scores on the PSAT, SAT, or ACT are also helpful.

5. Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA): All candidates must take a physical fitness test which includes basketball throw, pull-ups/flexed-arm hang, shuttle run, crunches, push-ups, and a one-mile run.

6. Medical Exam: All candidates receive a medical exam.

7. Extracurriculars: The Naval Academy looks for students with proven leadership ability. This can be demonstrated through team captain roles, student government, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, community service organizations, etc.

8. Official Application: If you pass the starting rounds, you'll be invited to complete an official application which includes essays and interviews.

Lastly, it's highly encouraged to attend the Naval Academy’s Summer Seminar (NASS), which allows rising seniors to understand the academy experience. NASS is highly competitive and attendees have a significantly higher chance of acceptance into the academy.

Keep in mind that gaining admission to the Naval Academy is a multi-step process over several months. Start early and don't get discouraged if it seems extensive. If this is the path you want to follow, the effort is more than worth it.