ABOUT THE NAVAL ACADEMY
Why does the United States Naval Academy exist?
Where is the Naval Academy located?
How much is tuition to the Naval Academy?
Who are midshipmen?
What are midshipmen like?
What is the Latin motto of the Naval Academy?

MIDSHIPMAN LIFE
What is Midshipman life like?
What are some of the nautical terms I hear midshipmen use?
How is the Brigade of Midshipmen organized?
What is the Honor Concept?
Where do midshipmen live?
Are midshipmen allowed to have cars?
How much vacation or leave do midshipmen get?
What is Plebe Summer, and do the plebes have any free time during it?
What is the Plebe Sponsor Program?
What is there to do around the local area?
Where do midshipmen eat?
What is the Naval Academy's policy on alcohol and drug use?
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), and would like to know what the Academy's position is on allowing midshipmen to perform a two-year mission.

ACADEMICS
What kind of degree do midshipmen receive?
What is the curriculum like?
Is the Naval Academy accredited?
What is the student-faculty ratio?
Can I get credit for Advanced Placement courses or college work I've completed?
Is there any opportunity for graduate education?
What majors are available?

ATHLETICS
What is the athletic program like at the Naval Academy?
What kind of athletic facilities are available?

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Upon graduation how long is my obligated service to the Navy or Marine Corps?
What are my career options upon graduation?
What career paths are open to women?
How many graduates go into the Marine Corps, and where do they receive their initial training?
What aviation opportunities are available in the Navy?
What's the difference between a pilot and a naval flight officer?
What chance do I have of getting my first choice of service assignment?

ADMISSIONS
What is the difference between a nomination and an appointment?
Do I have to know my congressman to obtain a nomination?   
How do I know if I'm eligible to apply to the Naval Academy?
Are there any other qualifications necessary?
What courses should I take to make myself competitive for admission?
What Grade Point Average do I need to get an appointment?
Do you take the strength of my high school into consideration? If so, how?
Do you accept transfer students?
I'm home-schooled. Can I still get an appointment?
What is NAPS?
What is the Foundation?
I am not a U.S. citizen and am interested in applying to the Naval Academy. What do I do?
Can I get corrective eye surgery prior to entering the Naval Academy? Will this enable me to fly?
Should I take the Writing portion of the ACT?
Will pre-Writing Test SATs and ACTs be used by the Naval Academy?

NAVAL ACADEMY INTERESTING FACTS
What is the history of Bill the Goat, the Naval Academy's Mascot?
What is the Herndon Monument Climb?
What significance does the statue of Tecumseh hold for midshipmen?
What does the Naval Academy seal stand for and how was it adopted?

ABOUT THE NAVAL ACADEMY

Why does the United States Naval Academy exist?

Founded as the Naval School in 1845, the mission of the United States Naval Academy is to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.

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Where is the Naval Academy located?

The Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, the historic and beautiful capital of Maryland, approximately 33 miles east of Washington, D.C. and 30 miles south of Baltimore. The Yard, as the Academy campus is called, is located on 338 acres between the south bank of the Severn River and downtown Annapolis.

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How much is tuition to the Naval Academy?

The Navy pays for the tuition, room and board, and medical and dental care of Naval Academy midshipmen. You also enjoy regular active-duty benefits including access to military commissaries and exchanges, commercial transportation and lodging discounts and the ability to fly space-available in military aircraft around the world. Midshipmen pay is $864.00 monthly, from which laundry, barber, cobbler, activities fees, yearbook and other service charges are deducted. Actual cash pay is less than $100 per month your first year, increasing each year to $400 per month in your fourth year. Midshipmen may voluntarily sign up for the Midshipmen Investment Fund (MIF), which will allow you to invest a portion of your monthly pay into your choice of participating mutual funds.

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Who are midshipmen?

Midshipmen are the students at the Naval Academy. Approximately 4,000 men and women from all 50 states and several foreign countries comprise the Brigade of Midshipmen. Midshipmen must be at least 17 years of age and must not have passed their 23rd birthday on July 1st of the year of admission. Midshipmen must be a U.S. citizen at the time of enrollment, be unmarried, and not be pregnant or have an obligation to provide support to a dependent.

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What are midshipmen like?

It takes a special kind of young man or woman to handle the Naval Academy's demanding program, but that does not mean all midshipmen are alike. Midshipmen have roots in cities, suburbs, farms and ranches, small towns and military bases. They have talents and hobbies of every kind and personalities that fit every description, and they represent the diverse ethnic and cultural heritages that, together, make the United States a great nation. Some characteristics seem to be common among Naval Academy midshipmen, however. Midshipmen are good students, leaders in their high schools and communities and participants in competitive sports. But other common qualities of midshipmen don't show up in statistics. The young men and women who choose the Naval Academy are looking for more than a college degree. They like the idea of being challenged mentally, physically and personally. They are people who don't want to settle for the ordinary, the routine or the easy. Midshipmen are also patriots. They want to serve their country in a meaningful way-in a profession that helped win this nation's independence more than 200 years ago. Finally, midshipmen are young people who look to the future. They look forward to the challenging Naval Academy program, as well as the opportunities open to them in the Navy and Marine Corps after graduation.

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What is the Latin motto of the Naval Academy?

EX SCIENTIA TRIDENS-From Knowledge Seapower

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MIDSHIPMAN LIFE

What is Midshipman life like?

It would be impossible to predict what four years at the Naval Academy would be like for you personally. Only when you experience the exhausting rigors of Plebe Summer, only when you face the responsibility of commanding other midshipmen and only when you throw your cover (or hat in civilian language) into the air at graduation will you really know what the Naval Academy experience is all about. We can explain that the four years at Annapolis are tightly structured. While there are many ways you can pursue your individual areas of interest, a four-year program is required of all midshipmen.

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What are some of the nautical terms I hear midshipmen use?

Let's start with a few basics. On your first day at the Academy, you begin learning a whole new vocabulary of nautical and Naval Academy terms. Before long, the floor is "the deck," the wall is "the bulkhead", the restroom is "the head", and most importantly, a "scuttlebutt" is a drinking fountain.  Likewise, midshipmen seniority is stated in a way different from traditional college terms. Freshmen, or fourth class, are plebes; sophomores, or third class, are youngsters; juniors are second class, and seniors, or first class, are firsties.

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How is the Brigade of Midshipmen organized?

The student body is the Brigade of Midshipmen, and the naval service often is called "the fleet". The brigade is divided into two regiments of three battalions each. Five companies make up each battalion, making a total of 30 companies. The midshipmen command structure is headed by a first class midshipman know as the Brigade Commander, chosen for outstanding leadership performance. He or she is responsible for much of the brigade's day-to-day activities as well as the professional training of midshipmen. Overseeing all brigade activities is the Commandant of Midshipmen, an active-duty Navy officer of rear admiral's rank or above. Working for the commandant, experienced Navy and Marine Corps officers are assigned as company and battalion officers.

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What is the Honor Concept?

The Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen was established by midshipmen to urge all hands to carry out their duties with the highest sense of personal integrity and honor. It represents the minimum standard that midshipmen are expected to follow. Honor, integrity, and loyalty to the service, its customs, and its traditions, are fundamental characteristics essential to a successful Naval officer. The offenses of lying, cheating, and stealing are intolerable in the brigade and may be cause for separation from the Naval Academy. The emphasis is on "doing what is right" rather than simply not breaking the rules.

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Where do midshipmen live?

All midshipmen live in Bancroft Hall, a huge dormitory complex. You are assigned to a room with one or more midshipmen and live in close proximity to about 130 other midshipmen in your company. Men and women from all four classes make up each company. Each company has its own living area, called the wardroom, for meetings and recreation.

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Are midshipmen allowed to have cars?

Restrictions apply to your use of motor vehicles as a midshipman. This is necessary because parking space is very limited at the Academy and in Annapolis. Also, you have limited time off in the first years to make use of a private vehicle. These are the current rules:
--Third class midshipmen and plebes are not permitted to operate motor vehicles except when authorized leave, such as during Christmas vacation.
--Second class midshipmen may have a car but must maintain and operate it beyond Academy grounds.
--First class midshipmen may drive a car in Annapolis and on board the Naval Academy and may park on the Yard.
--No midshipman is allowed to maintain or operate a motorcycle within town liberty limits.

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How much vacation or leave do midshipmen get?

The Naval Academy's combined academic, military and physical development programs demand a lot of effort, requiring you to spend more time on the Yard than the typical civilian college student. But midshipmen enjoy Christmas and summer vacations (leave) plus shorter periods of time off (liberty). Free time to be away from the academy is based in large part on assigned military responsibilities, performance in academic and military endeavors and class seniority. You earn more liberty and privileges each year you advance at the Academy. All midshipmen generally are granted leave during these periods:
--Thanksgiving leave;
--a Christmas vacation at the end of the fall semester;
--mid-term leave during the spring semester;
--a short break at the end of the spring semester and before Commissioning Week; and
--a month-long summer vacation for all but new plebes, staggered according to the summer's professional training schedule.

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What is Plebe Summer, and do the plebes have any free time during it?

All midshipmen begin the four-year program with Plebe Summer, a period designed to turn civilians into midshipmen. Plebe Summer is no gentle easing into the military routine. Soon after entering the gate on Induction Day, you are put into uniform and taught how to salute by the midshipmen who lead the plebe indoctrination program. For the next seven weeks, you start your days at dawn with an hour of rigorous exercise and end them long after sunset, wondering how you will make it through the next day. Forget television, leisure time, or seeing family and friends. You will have barely enough hours in the day to finish your assigned plebe tasks. The frantic, exhausting pace of Plebe Summer leads you somewhere. It gets you ready for your responsibilities when the brigade returns from summer training and the academic year begins. The summer also builds the foundation for the tangible and intangible qualities that make an outstanding naval officer. You learn self-discipline. You learn to organize your time and decide which things are most important. You reach top physical condition. You develop your ability to think clearly under stress and to react quickly when the unexpected comes your way. Any officer who has stood the watch on the bridge of a ship in a storm or landed a jet on the deck of an aircraft carrier at night can tell you the importance of these qualities. Plebe Summer introduces you to the basic how-to's of the Navy as well. Aboard Naval Academy sailboats, you learn to respect the power of wind and current. In motor boats and yard patrol craft, you learn the basics of seamanship, navigation and boat handling. On the weapons range, you learn how to fire small arms safely and accurately. You also learn why we have high standards of honor, character and morality. And, you begin to develop your own ideas about leadership and the techniques that will make you an effective leader when your turn comes.

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What is the Plebe Sponsor Program?

During Plebe Summer, every midshipman is introduced to an Annapolis-area family that has volunteered to host midshipmen for dinners, local sightseeing, recreation and simple relaxation away from the demands of the Yard. Many sponsor relationships last long beyond the Academy years.

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What is there to do around the local area?

We take advantage of our proximity to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore to arrange tickets and transportation to cultural events in those metropolitan areas. Plays, symphonies, operas and ballets at Washington's Kennedy Center and other theatres are open to midshipmen from all classes. Also, with the Bob Hope Performing Arts Center at Alumni Hall, the Naval Academy is able to provide a wide variety of theatrical and concert events to midshipmen. The Naval Academy also lies adjacent to historic downtown Annapolis, which is famous for its state capitol, colonial homes and waterfront. The city dock is the focal point of the Annapolis waterfront, featuring numerous shops, restaurants, and bars. Workboats outfitted for harvesting crabs and oysters berth next to million-dollar sailing yachts and power boats. During mild weather, the dock is the scene of concerts, boat shows and festivals mixing midshipmen and local citizens with thousands of tourists.

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Where do midshipmen eat?

The entire brigade eats at one time in a 55,000-square-foot dining area or wardroom, King Hall. Companies sit together, and food is served family style for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, and on Sunday night dinners. All other meals are served buffet style. The typical daily diet adds up to about 4,000 calories and includes such dishes as steak, spiced shrimp, Mexican cuisine and home-baked pastries. All of the food for the 12,000 meals served daily is prepared by our food service staff in the kitchens adjacent to King Hall.

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What is the Naval Academy's policy on alcohol and drug use?

As a future naval officer, you learn at the Naval Academy to drink in a responsible way, if at all, and to shun illegal drugs entirely. Normally, plebes are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages except when of legal age and on leave away from the Academy. As an upperclass midshipman, you may drink if you are the minimum legal age for drinking in the state, 21 in Maryland. The use of illegal drugs is strictly forbidden and results in expulsion from the Academy. As a midshipman, you are subject to random drug testing through urinalysis, consistent with Navy-wide policies and procedures.

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I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), and would like to know what the Academy's position is on allowing midshipmen to perform a two-year mission.

Mormon midshipmen can elect to perform their two-year mission after they have completed two years of academics and their summer cruise following that second year of academics. Upon completion of their mission they must reapply to the Naval Academy and be approved for admittance by the academic board. In most cases if a student leaves having performed well they are readmitted.

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ACADEMICS

What kind of degree do midshipmen receive?

Upon graduation, a bachelor of science degree is awarded regardless of major, because of the technical content of the core curriculum. Those in the top 10 percent of their class graduate with distinction. Those who have completed special honors programs in one of six selected majors graduate with honors.

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What is the curriculum like?

Our curriculum has three basic elements: --core requirements in engineering, natural sciences, the humanities and social sciences, to assure that graduates are able to think, solve problems and express conclusions clearly;
--core academic courses and practical training to teach the professional and leadership skills required of Navy and Marine Corps officers; and
--an academic major in a subject chosen by midshipmen to develop their individual interests and talents.

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Is the Naval Academy accredited?

The Naval Academy is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, six of the engineering majors are professionally accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The computer science major is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, and the chemistry major is accredited by the American Chemical Society.

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What is the student-faculty ratio?

The student-faculty ratio at the Naval Academy is approximately eight to one. Our 590-member faculty is an integrated group of officers and civilians in nearly equal numbers. Officers rotate to the Academy for two-to-three-year assignments, bringing fresh ideas and experiences from operational units and staffs of the Navy and Marine Corps. A small cadre of officer faculty who have doctorates add another dimension to the teaching staff as Permanent Military Professors. The Academy's civilian faculty give continuity to the educational program and form a core of professional scholarship and teaching experience. Nearly all of these civilians have doctoral degrees, and many of them are recognized as leading scholars in their fields. Working together closely, these military and civilian faculty members form one of the strongest and most dedicated teaching faculties of any college or university in the United States. Although many faculty members are involved in scholarly research and writing, their first priority always is teaching.

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Can I get credit for Advanced Placement courses or college work I've completed?

More than half of those entering the Naval Academy validate one or more courses. Each of the Academy's academic departments sets its own validation standards and considers one or more of the following: --transcripts;
--department validation tests, administered at the Naval Academy; and
--College Entrance Examination Board Achievement and Advanced Placement tests.
In any case, midshipmen must take a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester and spend a total of four years in residence at the Naval Academy to complete professional courses and training.

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Is there any opportunity for graduate education?

Midshipmen who have completed Academy course requirements early through any combination of validation and overloading can compete for selection and begin work toward master's degrees at nearby civilian universities, such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland. Up to 20 midshipmen can participate annually, starting graduate work during first class (senior) year and completing their master's degree programs within seven months after graduation from the Naval Academy. Fields of study are selected from Navy-approved graduate education programs leading to Navy subspecialty qualification.

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What majors are available?

22 majors are offered:
Aerospace Engineering
Arabic

Chemistry

Chinese

Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Economics
Electrical Engineering
English
General Engineering
General Science
History
Information Technology
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Naval Architecture
Ocean Engineering
Oceanography
Physics
Political Science
Quantitative Economics
Systems Engineering

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ATHLETICS

What is the athletic program like at the Naval Academy?

Just as the Naval Academy promotes the professional and intellectual development of midshipmen, so also must it fulfill its responsibility for each midshipman's physical development. This is met through an intercollegiate sports program that is one of the broadest in the nation-21 men's and nine women's varsity teams-and an equally ambitious intramural and club sports program. All midshipmen are required to participate in these programs, either at the varsity, intramural, or club level.

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What kind of athletic facilities are available?

In looking around the Academy, you can easily determine the importance attached to athletics and physical conditioning. The facilities for intercollegiate and intramural sports, physical education and personal fitness are unsurpassed and not reserved for just a few athletes. All midshipmen have access to these facilities, for team sports or individual workouts:

--Wesley A. Brown Field House, completed in 2008, is a 140,000-square-foot multi-function athletic facility that serves as the new indoor football practice facility and the home for the men's and women's track & field programs.  The facility boasts a unique combination of a 76,000-square-foot retractable Magic Carpet Astroturf system and a Mondo track surface with hydraulically controlled banked curves.  The facility is named after Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown, USN (ret.), the first African American midshipman to graduate from the United States Naval Academy in 1949.

--Hubbard Hall, the home for Navy's crew squads, with the state-of-the-art Fisher Rowing Center;
--the 30,000-seat Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium;
--Alumni Hall, completed in 1991 with seating of 5,710 for athletic contests and adaptable for lectures, assemblies, theatrical productions, concerts and official ceremonies;
--Ricketts Hall, renovated and expanded in 1995, with a new and larger football locker room, a modern physical training facility, an up-to-date 12,000 sq. ft. weight room and office areas for the Naval Academy Athletic Association;
--Lejeune Hall, built in 1982, containing an Olympic-sized pool with seating for 1,000, diving platforms and tank, 600-seat wrestling arena and personal conditioning areas;
--A 400-meter synthetic-surfaced outdoor track;
--Macdonough Hall, recently renovated, with facilities for gymnastics, boxing, volleyball, swimming, water polo, racquetball, basketball and personal conditioning;
--Halsey Field House, synthetic-surfaced throughout, includes a 220-yard track, basketball courts, weight-training facilities and a portable wooden basketball floor;
--Rip Miller Field, an all-weather synthetic-surfaced field for football, lacrosse and soccer;
--A 5,000-seat baseball field which was upgraded in recent years and includes the FitzGerald Baseball Clubhouse, completed in 1995;
--A beautiful and challenging 6,217-yard golf course;
--The brand-new Glenn Warner Soccer Facility; and
--A new 40-foot climbing wall.

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Upon graduation how long is my obligated service to the Navy or Marine Corps?

Upon being commissioned as an ensign in the Navy or as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps the commitment is at least five years of active duty service. Officers pursuing aviation typically are required to serve eight to nine years of active duty service depending on the length of aviation training and aircraft type.

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What are my career options upon graduation?

The career options available to Naval Academy graduates are the broadest offered by any of the nation's service academies. You can:
--specialize in surface warfare, with assignments in ships ranging from minesweepers to guided missile cruisers;
--enter the submarine service, with duty in nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines;
--fly a variety of aircraft from helicopters and shore-based patrol planes to supersonic, aircraft carrier-based jet fighters;
--work with nuclear propulsion systems, powerful computers and sophisticated weapons systems in locations around the world;
--command infantry, armor, artillery, aviation units, and much more as a Marine Corps officer;
--be selected as a Special Operations diver or a Special Warfare SEAL; and
--lead the most talented and highly motivated Sailors and Marines in the world, no matter what career path you choose.
A very limited number of billets (usually about 15) in medicine are available each year for graduates who are accepted for admission by an accredited medical school.

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What career paths are open to women?

The Navy is now assigning women to combat vessels and aircraft following the repeal of the combat exclusion law. Since the repeal of the combat exclusion law (Section 6015, Title 10, U.S. Code), the opportunities for women have been identical as those for men with the exception of submarines and Special Warfare in the Navy, and infantry, artillery, and armor in the Marine Corps.

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How many graduates go into the Marine Corps, and where do they receive their initial training?

Up to one-sixth of each graduating class may be chosen for commissioning as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. After graduation from the Academy, you attend The Basic School, a 26-week course for officers at Quantico, Virginia. This school gives all Marine officers a common background in the tactical study of land warfare. Then you go on to advanced training in a particular occupational specialty based on your qualifications and preferences. Marine Corps career fields include those in the two basic categories of ground and air. Ground career choices include infantry, armor, artillery, logistics, engineering, communications-information systems, financial management and military police. Aviation includes pilot, naval flight officer, air command and control, anti-air warfare, aviation maintenance and aviation supply.

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What aviation opportunities are available in the Navy?

Whether landing an F/A-18 Hornet on the deck of an aircraft carrier, hunting an enemy submarine in the North Atlantic in a P-3 Orion or preparing to launch a Hellfire missile at an enemy ship from an SH-60B helicopter, naval aviators are constantly called upon to perform under pressure. In addition to flying, naval aviators have significant leadership and management responsibilities beginning with their very first duty assignment. New officers typically are charged with leading a group of aviation enlisted personnel and overseeing various aspects of their squadron's operations, administration, personnel management or aircraft maintenance. When you are assigned this career path, you can select training as a pilot or a naval flight officer.

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What's the difference between a pilot and a naval flight officer?

Pilots fly aircraft while naval flight officers serve as bombardiers, navigators, radar and electronic intercept officers and antisubmarine warfare systems specialists.

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What chance do I have of getting my first choice of service assignment?

It depends on what you are requesting, but over 90% of a typical graduating class will receive their first choice.

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ADMISSIONS

What is the difference between a nomination and an appointment?

A nomination is required in order to receive an appointment. All students can apply to their congressman, senators, and the Vice President for a nomination. Alternative nomination sources are also available. Applying for a nomination is a separate process from applying to the Naval Academy. All nominating sources officially notify the Naval Academy of their nominees by the end of January. Students should apply to all the nomination sources for which they are eligible. Appointments are invitations to attend the Naval Academy. In a typical year, approximately 4,000 candidates receive nominations. However, only 1,500 appointments will be given out. In other words, obtaining a nomination in no way guarantees that a candidate will receive an appointment. You will be notified of your appointment status by the middle of April.

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Do I have to know my congressman to obtain a nomination?

Absolutely not. Nominations are given on a competitive basis.

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How do I know if I'm eligible to apply to the Naval Academy?

You must be:
--at least 17 years of age and must not have passed your 23rd birthday on July 1st of the year of admission;
--unmarried, not pregnant and have no incurred obligations of parenthood;
--a United States citizen (except for the limited quotas of international midshipmen specifically authorized by Congress); and
--of good moral character.

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Are there any other qualifications necessary?

You must:
--be found scholastically qualified by the Admissions Board;
--be medically qualified;
--pass the Naval Academy's Physical Aptitude Examination (same for all the service academies); and
--receive an official nomination from one of many sources available

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What courses should I take to make myself competitive for admission?

To improve your chances of qualifying scholastically, your high school preparation should include the following:
--mathematics-four years of mathematics courses, including a strong foundation in geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. Courses in pre-calculus and calculus are also very valuable and are highly encouraged.
--science-one year each of chemistry and physics, with lab if possible.
--English-four years of course work with special attention to the study and practice of effective writing. Surveys of English and American literature are especially helpful as background for future study of literature.
To further enhance your competitiveness for admission, the following courses are also recommended:
--foreign language-at least two years.
--history-one full year of U.S. history and, where possible, a full year of European or world history.
--introductory computer and typing courses are recommended because all midshipmen are required to use personal computers in most courses.

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What Grade Point Average do I need to get an appointment?

There is no specific GPA minimum. However, you should strive to be at least in the top 20 percent of your high school class.

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Do you take the strength of my high school into consideration? If so, how?

Yes. We look at how many graduates of your high school go on to four-year and two-year colleges and universities.

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Do you accept transfer students?

Yes and no. We do accept students from other colleges as long as they meet our age requirements, but they still have to attend the Academy for four years.

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I'm home-schooled. Can I still get an appointment?

Yes. Home-schooled students make up an increasing number of applicants for admission to the Naval Academy each year. Each applicant is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but we generally look for the same academic prerequisites as traditional high school applicants. Additionally, you should let us know if your schooling is recognized by the local school board or the State Board of Education. In addition to qualifying academically for admission, home-schooled applicants should also demonstrate participation in local extracurricular activities, both athletic and non-athletic.

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What is NAPS?

NAPS is the Naval Academy Preparatory School. NAPS offers a 10-month college preparatory course to regular and reserve Navy and Marine Corps enlisted men and women who are seeking Naval Academy appointments. This program is designed to strengthen the academic background of incoming candidates. Navy and Marine Corps personnel who apply but are not appointed to the Naval Academy are automatically considered for admission to NAPS. The Academy also identifies a number of promising and highly motivated civilian candidates who are not successful on their first attempt at admission and offers them the opportunity to enlist in the Naval Reserve for the express purpose of attending NAPS to prepare for admission to the Naval Academy. A separate application for NAPS is not necessary. NAPS website can be found here.

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What is the Foundation?

The U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, Inc., also assists promising candidates who are not appointed in their first try for admission. This nonprofit organization awards a limited number of sponsorships for post-high school preparatory studies to enhance those candidates' qualifications for admission. The Naval Academy's admissions board automatically recommends candidates to the Foundation for sponsorship consideration. No special request is required.

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I am not a U.S. citizen and am interested in applying to the Naval Academy. What do I do?

If you are not an American citizen, completion of the Preliminary Application is not necessary. Information concerning application procedures for foreign nationals may be requested from the Naval Attache at the U.S. Embassy. If you are in the process of applying for citizenship, you can apply for admission but you must be a U.S. citizen by Induction Day.

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Can I get corrective eye surgery prior to entering the Naval Academy? Will this enable me to fly?

All forms of surgical, laser, and mechanical procedures performed to improve vision are disqualifying for admission. Extremely few waivers have been granted for students who have received this type of medical treatment. In general, it is prudent to delay all refractive surgery procedures until after the progression of nearsightedness associated with growth in eye size has ceased (beyond age 21 for many people). However, the Naval Academy is currently allowing some midshipmen to receive PRK in order to be considered for a waiver to enter Special Warfare (SEALs) and Naval Aviation.

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Should I take the Writing portion of the ACT?

ACT will add a 30-minute Writing Test as an optional component to the ACT Assessment beginning in February 2005 for students testing within the United States who are applying to college for the fall of 2006 or later.  USNA Admissions recommends that all students taking the ACT also take the Writing Test and submit scores.
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Will pre-Writing Test SATs and ACTs be used by the Naval Academy?

SAT results from tests prior to March 2005 and ACT results from tests prior to February 2005 will be used by the Naval Academy, and no conversion of scores is necessary due to compatibility of old and new scoring systems.
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NAVAL ACADEMY INTERESTING FACTS

What is the history of Bill the Goat, the Naval Academy's mascot?

Over 200 years ago, livestock was kept aboard some sea-going naval vessels to provide sailors with food, milk, eggs and, in some cases, pets. One legend about the first association of the goat with Navy football tells of a pet goat who died at sea while on board a Navy ship. The affection for the goat was such that the officers decided to save the skin of the animal and have it mounted upon arrival in port. Two young officers were entrusted with the skin when the ship docked in Baltimore. On the way to the taxidermist, the ensigns dropped in on their alma mater where a football game was in progress. With them -- for lack of a suitable storage place -- was the goat skin. While watching the first half of the game, one of the officers came up with an idea for some half-time entertainment. When half-time arrived, he romped up and down the sidelines cloaked with the goat skin barely covering his blue uniform. These antics brought howls of laughter from the midshipmen, and the Navy victory that day was attributed to the spirit of the late, lamented goat. It was not until 1893, however, that a live goat made his debut as a mascot at the fourth Army-Navy game. Finally, during the first service match of the 20th Century, the Naval Academy's beloved mascot was given a name. On the return trip to the Naval Academy after Annapolis' triumph over West Point, the goat was led on a victory lap through the train and did not leave the mids until they reached Baltimore. It was then that the goat was dubbed the now celebrated name "Bill." The name was borrowed from a pet goat kept by Commander Colby M. Chester, Commandant of Midshipmen from 1891-1894 and the first president of the Naval Academy Athletic Association. For more information on Bill the Goat and his many predecessors, visit the Public Affairs Office factsheet page.

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What is the Herndon Monument Climb?

The Herndon Monument climb is a tradition for former plebes, and is also known as the "Plebe Recognition Ceremony." After the graduation ceremony where the plebes are promoted to Third Class rank, the 21 foot Herndon monument is coated in lard and one of the white plebe "dixie cup" hats is placed at the top. The former plebes must work together to climb this monument and replace the "dixie cup" hat with an upperclassmen's hat. Tradition states that the plebe who reaches the top will rise to the rank of admiral first. As any observer can recognize, climbing to the top of Herndon takes a lot of teamwork and perseverance. Ascending Herndon serves as a review for young midshipmen, reminding them of the values of teamwork, courage and discipline that are instilled throughout the year. The fastest time ever recorded for a midshipmen class to accomplish this goal was 1 minute and 30 seconds in 1969. The slowest time was 4 hours, 5 minutes, and 17 seconds in 1995.

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What significance does the statue of Tecumseh hold for midshipmen?

The original wooden figurehead was sent to the Naval Academy in 1866 after being salvaged from the wreck of the old ship of the line "Delaware," which had been sunk at Norfolk during the Civil War to prevent her from falling into Confederate hands. The builders of the "Delaware" intended the figurehead to portray Tamanend, the great chief of the Delawares, a lover of peace and friend of William Penn. But to the midshipmen of the period, there was nothing in the name of Tamanend to strike the imagination. The effigy was also known by various other names -- Powhatan, King Phillip, and finally Tecumseh -- a great warrior and thus heroic and appropriate to the midshipmen. After 40 years of standing vigil in the Naval Academy's Yard, the winds, sun and rain began to take their toll. This prompted the Class of 1891 to raise funds for a new figurehead of Tecumseh to be immortalized in bronze. The old wooden figurehead's "brains" and "heart" were transferred to the new bronze statue for the sake of tradition. Tecumseh has become not only the "God of 2.0" -- the passing grade point average at the academy -- but also the idol to whom loyal midshipmen give prayers and sacrificial offerings of pennies. Midshipmen offer a left-handed salute in tribute to Tecumseh, and they toss pennies his way for good luck in exams and athletic contests. Each year, Tecumseh is decked out in a coat of "war paint" for Parents' Weekend in August, Homecoming in the fall, before Army-Navy contests and for Commissioning Week.

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What does the Naval Academy seal stand for and how was it adopted?

The coat-of-arms, or seal, consists of a hand grasping a trident, a shield bearing an ancient galley ship coming into action, an open book (representing education), and a banner with the motto "Ex scientia tridens," meaning "from knowledge, seapower." Designed by Park Benjamin, Naval Academy Class of 1867, the seal was adopted by the Navy Department on Jan. 25, 1899. The event which led to the adoption of the design was the construction of a new University Club in New York City, on the exterior of which the coats-of- arms of American colleges were being placed for decoration.

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