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Women's Outlook: United States Naval Academy

Unique opportunities and challenges await you at the United States Naval Academy. No other college or university combines a first-rate undergraduate program with the kind of experiences outside of the classroom that you find here.

Naval Academy Student Profiles

Midshipman First Class Ingrid Rae Peterson (senior)
Hometown: Windom, Minnesota
Major: Political Science
Sports: Women's Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track
Extracurricular Activities: Midshipmen Action Group
Graduation Plans: Naval Flight Officer

"The Naval Academy has offered me the opportunity to excel both academically and physically I am faced with leadership and professional challenges daily, which will prepare me to succeed as a Naval Officer. I am looking forward to graduation and one day becoming a Naval Flight Officer."

Midshipman Second Class Carrie E. Stocker (junior)
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Major: Oceanography
Sports: Varsity Basketball, Company Intramural Volleyball, 3rd Battalion Intramural basketball
Extracurricular Activities: SCUBA Club, Mountaineering Club, Protestant Choir
Graduation Plans: United States Marine Corps Combat Service Support

"I have enjoyed learning to balance my responsibilities academically and physically though it is not always easy. I came to the United States Naval Academy to challenge myself. I was looking for responsibility, higher standards, and a group of people that shared those standards. The Academy is exactly what I wanted and has proven to me that the military is where I belong."

Midshipman First Class Jamila V. Loynes (senior)
Hometown: Bowie, Maryland
Major: Oceanography
Sports: Varsity Track and Field
Extracurricular Activities: USNA Gospel Choir, Midshipman Black Studies Club, Oceanography Club
Graduation Plans: Surface Warfare Officer

"The Naval Academy has provided me many opportunities and challenges. I have been constantly challenged and given the opportunity to try new things and meet new people. The Academy has taught me the importance of teamwork and humility. I anticipate after graduation I will meet interesting people with whom I'll be leading, following, or working alongside."

Midshipman First Class Taeko E. McFadden (senior)
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Major: Systems Engineering
Sports: Women's Crew, Navy Women's Rugby
Extracurricular Activities: Catholic Lector, Society of Women Engineers
Graduation Plans: Navy Pilot

"The United States Naval Academy has challenged me to a scope beyond my imagination. Playing rugby has allowed me to build a strong sense of camaraderie amongst my teammates. I attended the Naval Academy because it has a great undergraduate program and I am able to give something of myself back to my country."

Life at the Naval Academy

Step into the "Yard" (as the academy's campus is referred to) and you will know that you are nor visiting simply one more college. The buildings and tree-lined avenues exude a feeling of tradition and accomplishment. You will find, as you walk through the Yard, these words in bronze which are the mission and represent the fundamental parts of the lifestyle that all Naval Academy midshipmen embrace:

"To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideal of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to provide graduates 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."

Academic Life
The academic program begins with a core curriculum that includes courses in engineering, science, mathematics and the humanities. Eighteen majors leading to a bachelor of science degree are offered-eight in the engineering disciplines, six in the sciences and four in the humanities. Minors in French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish languages are also offered.

With 600 civilian and military members, the faculty provides one of the strongest and most dedicated educational staffs found in the United States. As a midshipman, you will find professors available for assistance and academic counseling on a basis unheard of at other universities.

Athletic Life
The Academy sponsors nine Division women's varsity programs, including basketball crew, cross country, sailing, soccer, swimming, track (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. All midshipmen participate in athletics on either the intercollegiate or intramural level.

The Academy Lifestyle
With more than 70 extracurricular activities, you can participate in club sports, academic forums, artistic activities, community events and travel on a par unsurpassed by a university of its size. You will find that the academy experience includes far more than books and sports, however.

You will be encouraged to develop as an individual in your own right, and as an equal with your counterparts-male and female-in each activity and obligation.

You become an active participant in experiences and opportunities that develop your character, your sense of honor and duty, and your ability to lead men and women!

Active Duty Officers at the Naval Academy

Naval Academy admissions counselors can guide you through the admissions process and answer the questions that you or your parents may have about the Academy and the Navy.

Lieutenant Melissa Gerace, USN Naval Aviator
Women's Admissions Officer
United States Naval Academy
USNA Class of 1993
Lieutenant Gerace majored in aerospace engineering and selected aviation following graduation. She was assigned to HSL-46, a helicopter squadron based in Mayport, Florida. She deployed once to the Mediterranean and once to the Persian Gulf.

"Graduating from the Naval Academy has given me more opportunities than I ever imagined I knew from a very young age that I wanted to fly. Not only have I earned my wings of gold, I have learned to fight and fly a helicopter, earned an aerospace engineering degree, worked for NASA, and have traveled around the world. Dreams do come true."

Lt. Samantha Saxton, USN
Surface Warfare Officer
17th Company Officer
United States Naval Academy
USNA Class of 1993
Lieutenant Saxton majored in General Science and selected Surface Warfare upon graduation. She was assigned to the USS Shasta as Damage Control Assistant and then to the USS Nassau as Engineering Training Officer. She deployed once to the Western Pacific and once to the Mediterranean.

"The United States Naval Academy for me was more than just a college. It was a personal challenge and a patriotic duty. As part of a military family, I knew early on that the Naval Academy was where I wanted to go to get my commission. As a Surface Warfare Officer, USNA prepared me for more than just the mechanics of how to be a capable mariner, but how to lead and train those under my care. Nowhere else in the world can you get that kind of knowledge and preparation prior to your first job. I never knew the thrill of driving ships, launching aircraft and boats would be so much fun. I owe it all to my training at USNA."

Steps toward Admission

Applying to the Academy is a two-fold process. The first step is the actual application to the Academy, including the physical tests, medical exam and academic requirements. The second step, which must be pursued simultaneously, is the request for a nomination from an official source. You should apply for admission between the spring of your junior year in high school and February 28 of your senior year. The following are the six steps to becoming a midshipman:

Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements. You must be a U.S. citizen of good moral character, at least 17 years old, but nor past your 23rd birthday on Induction Day (typically July 1st) during the year you enter the Academy. You must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support a child or other dependent.

Obtain a Nomination. Nominations are usually obtained from members of Congress, but students are encouraged to apply to all available nomination sources. First apply to the representative from your congressional district and both state senators. Sample application letters can be found in the Naval Academy catalog and on our website, www.usna.edu. Submit your application letters during the spring of your junior year. Most congressmen submit their official nominees to the Naval Academy during the fall, but have up until January 31st of an applicant's senior year. You do not have to know a congressman personally, nor do you need political influence to receive fair consideration.

Qualify Academically. This begins by returning your Preliminary Application (PCQ) to the Admissions office at the Naval Academy. Once received, your SAT-I, ACT, or PSAT scores will be screened to determine competitiveness. These students are designated "candidates for admission" and mailed an application package. Candidates are also scheduled for a medical examination. Once you complete the application package, the Admissions Board will review your record including your high school transcript, extracurricular activities, and athletics. Course work should include four years of math, four years of English, and a year of history, chemistry, and physics. Two years of a modern foreign language are also recommended.

Qualify Medically. You will be scheduled for a medical examination as soon as you become a candidate. Your appointment information will be mailed to you. Exam results are forwarded four to six weeks later. Generally speaking, healthy candidates with normal vision have little difficulty passing the exam. However, the exam sometimes identifies characteristics or problems that could be aggravated by the academy's rigorous routine or that would prevent military
service after graduation.

Qualify Physically. Complete the Physical Aptitude Examination found in your application package. There are five parts: flexed arm hang, push-ups, 300-yard shuttle run, a standing broad jump, and a kneeling basketball throw. A physical education instructor can easily administer the test.

Selection for Appointment. Students with at least one official nomination who are qualified academically, medically and physically compete for appointments. Over 10,000 students start the application process. Approximately 2,000 become qualified in all areas and receive a nomination. About 1,500 of the most qualified students are offered appointments to the United States Naval Academy.

United States Naval Academy.
Candidate Guidance Office
US Naval Academy
117 Decatur Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5018
1-410-293-4361 on the World Wide Web: http://www.usna.edu

Visit the Naval Academy!

The best way to experience life at the Naval Academy is to visit the Yard in person. There are two opportunities for prospective applicants: Naval Academy Summer Seminar for rising high school seniors; and Candidate Visit Weekends throughout senior year.

Summer Seminar is held each June for one week. This is a competitive entry program; approximately 1500 students are selected for one of three sessions each summer. Students will experience all aspects of life at the Naval Academy including the academic program, athletic activities, physical training, sailing and many other activities. Application for Summer Seminar begins approximately January of your junior year. Check the USNA Admissions website

Candidate Visit Weekends are held on ten designated weekends throughout the academic year and are open to official candidates. Students spend one full day at USNA, arriving Friday morning. With a midshipman escort, you attend classes, play sports, eat meals in King Hall with 4,000 midshipmen and sleep in Bancroft Hall. Again, check the USNA Admissions Website for more details.

Women in Today's Navy

"The challenges, the opportunities, and the rewards are there. The Navy is a great place to be."

Commander Wendy Lawrence, USN
USNA Class of 1981
Mission Specialist, NASA

"I owe a great deal to the Naval Academy. For me, it turned my seemingly impossible childhood dream of being an astronaut into an achievable goal. The Academy provided opportunities for fully developing my talents and abilities that are seldom found at civilian universities."

Captain Jennifer Ann Kennedy, USMC
USNA Class of 1996
Marine Corps
Aviation Intelligence

"From the day I arrived at the Academy I was constantly being challenged in ways that most college students could only dream about. The Naval Academy does an excellent job of training midshipmen to handle strenuous situations with ease, confidence, and a sense of pride."

Lieutenant Kristen W. Culler, USN
USNA Class of 1993
Navy Pilot (F- 14 Tomcat)

"The Academy gave me the privilege of serving in defense of this great nation and the opportunity to do what only two women had done before me, pilot an F-14 Tomcat in an operational, carrier-based fighter squadron. The Naval Academy has given me and countless other men and women the confidence and tools to be leaders in today's Navy and Marine Corps."

Ensign Kelly Hayden Rogers, USN
USNA Class of 2000
Student Naval Aviator

"The Naval Academy gave me the opportunity and challenge of being in a variety of leadership positions to help develop my leadership style. The most rewarding aspect of the Academy is the friends that I have made. The Naval Academy also gave the chance to travel to places that I had never dreamed of visiting"

United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland