What are the academic admission requirements for the Naval Academy?

I'm thinking about applying to the Naval Academy, but I'm not totally sure what the academic admission requirements are. Can anyone break it down for me? Like, what GPA or courses should I be focusing on right now?

The United States Naval Academy has a rigorous selection process that considers your academic achievements, physical fitness, and moral character.

Let's start with academics. The academy requires you to have a solid academic foundation. Although there isn't a specified minimum GPA, bear in mind that successful applicants typically have very strong GPAs, often above 3.5.

Furthermore, the Naval Academy recommends the following high school curriculum:

- 4 years of English

- 4 years of Mathematics (at least up to pre-calculus, but calculus is preferred)

- 4 years of Science, including physics and chemistry

- 2 years of a foreign language

- 2 years of social studies

Your class rank is valuable information as it gives insight into your academic performance relative to your peers. Admission is competitive: most admitted students rank in the top 20% of their graduating class.

Keep in mind the Naval Academy also considers your standardized test scores. Both the SAT and ACT are accepted, and you should aim for highly competitive scores. Remember, these scores aren't everything, but they do play a critical role.

In addition to your academic performance, the Naval Academy will judge your athletic fitness and your character qualities. It's not just about academics, but also about developing leaders who will service the nation. Make sure you are also excelling outside the classroom in your extracurricular and leadership activities.

All these factors put together will weigh in during your application process. Also, don't forget that all midshipmen must be nominated by a Member of Congress or the Vice President of the United States.

In terms of courses to focus on now, pay especially attention to your math and science classes as the academy values technical competencies. Showing a strong performance in these intensive courses can help demonstrate you have the intellectual capacity to handle the rigorous academic curriculum at the Naval Academy.

Always strive to make balanced progress in all aspects of your application profile: academics, physical fitness, and character development in order to increase your chances of admission. On the whole, being well-prepared academically should position you well for the application process!