Q: Are there certain courses you recommend I take in high school to better prepare me for success at CGA?
A: It is highly recommended that you take a full complement of college preparatory classes. Specifically, we require, four years of English and four years of mathematics. Additionally, we encourage three years of sciences (chemistry and physics at least) and recommend as many rigorous courses as offered by your school, e.g., advance placement or honors courses, international baccalaureate program, etc. Q: Are there any special requirements for home schooled students?
A: There are no special requirements for the home schooled, except that the curriculum used must have been accredited. Home schooled applicants compete equally with traditionally taught students. It is recommended that home schooled students take, as part of their curriculum, courses at a local community college. The teacher recommendations should be done by the college instructors when practical.
Q: Can I visit the Academy?
A: Yes. The Academy grounds are open to the public year round. The Admissions Office is open from Monday through Friday (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) during the academic year. We offer a formal admissions briefing every Monday and Friday (excluding holidays) at 1:00 p.m. A self-guided tour of the campus is encouraged. If you are interested in visiting the Admissions Office or attending one of the briefings, please log in to the calendar. If you have not yet established an events-specific profile, select the "profile" link on the log in page.
Q: Is participation in high school sports required of applicants?
A: When reviewing applicants' files, we are looking for well-rounded students. Part of the application is the Physical Fitness Examination (PFE) and PE teacher/coach evaluation. We do require that cadets maintain their physical fitness so being physically fit before arriving is necessary. Participation in organized sports prior to arriving at the Academy is not required; however, being involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, including physical fitness, is recommended.
Q: I am very involved in scouting (or JROTC or Civil Air Patrol, etc). Does this give me an advantage over other applicants?
A: The Coast Guard Academy recognizes the hard work and dedication necessary to achieve positions in organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol, etc. It is quite an accomplishment to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Gold Award, etc.; however, if this activity is the only thing a student is involved in, it does not show a wide range of participation. The Academy uses a holistic application review process, which looks at many facets of the applicant's life. Involvement in these types of organizations shows a commitment to a leadership-based activity.It is recommended that students seek out leadership positions in their activities, whatever they may be, and speak about them meaningfully in their application. For example, many Eagle Scouts apply, however, it is essential that they set themselves apart from similar students. Usually, this means that they discuss their achievements more convincingly in a leadership framework. This, taken into consideration with the rest of the activities a student is involved in, such as sports, clubs, community service, work experience, etc., adds to the total picture of the student.All that said, any one activity on its own does not give you an advantage over other applicants.
If you did not find the answers to your Admissions questions, please ask us directly.