Additional College Considerations

Coalition Application essay prompts:

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? What is the hardest part of being a student now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)? Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

Supplemental Essays

Many colleges and universities request additional essays. They can be short in length and may ask students to identify why they want to attend that particular college. Responses should identify what is unique to the specific school and not interchangeable with other institutions. This is an opportunity for a student to demonstrate his knowledge of the school and how it fits into his future. Notes from campus visits and interactions with professors and the school community should be referenced.

Consider the school’s mission statement, curriculum, programs, and why the offerings excite you. How does the school’s community fit what you are looking for in a campus environment?

Service Academies/ROTC

Attending one of the five service academies affiliated with the armed forces of the United States is great preparation to serve as a military officer while gaining a top-notch college education. The application process for nominations and applying to Service Academies and ROTC programs is detailed and on a separate timeline. Items need to be planned in advance, prior to senior year. During the spring semester of junior year (or before), students should meet with their college counselor expressing interest. Service academies have very specific admission requirements including congressional nominations (with the exception of the United States Coast Guard Academy) and physical fitness tests. Summer program offerings provide a glimpse into service academy life prior to the intensive application process. Since each academy and nominator may have different deadlines, a student should research in advance and prepare accordingly. This includes requirements for teacher recommendations, often from a math and science teacher.

Federal Service Academies

United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado): www.usafa.edu United States Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut): www.uscga.edu United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York): www.usmma.edu United States Military Academy (West Point, New York): www.westpoint.edu United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland): www.usna.edu

Service Academy Summer Programs

Service academy summer programs offer high school students a chance to experience what life as a cadet or midshipman is like. This can help students know if they really want to apply to attend an academy. They are generally one-week orientations, including classes and physical and military training for rising seniors, usually held in mid-June. Applications generally open in January, with varying deadlines. United States Military Academy: Summer Leadership Experience (Application window: 2/1-3/15) United State Naval Academy: Naval Academy Summer Seminar (Application window: 1/4 - 4/15) United States Air Force Academy: Summer Seminar (Application window: 12/1-1/15) United States Coast Guard Academy: Academy Introduction Mission (App. window: 2/8- 4/15)