Gain Service Academy Admission

How the Merchant Marine Academy Chooses Students

Join hosts LTC Rob Kirkland and Trish Dach as they share expert insights into the admissions process—and today, a special focus on the often-overlooked Merchant Marine Academy.

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on why the Merchant Marine Academy can be a smart choice for high-performing students who excel academically but may not be strong test-takers. With a higher acceptance rate compared to other service academies and unique nomination processes, it’s worth considering if you’re aiming for a career at sea.

We’ll cover critical topics like how nominations work, the breakdown of competitive scores, and why extracurricular activities with military connections matter. If you're interested in learning how to stand out in the application process, especially with upcoming changes in the admissions landscape, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Stay tuned for our upcoming book, Secrets of Merchant Marine Academy Admissions. Make sure to sign up for the waitlist below to get notified as soon as it’s available.

Join the waitlist here.

As always, we’re here to guide you through every step of the academy admissions process. Subscribe now to stay updated on all things related to service academy admissions.

Is the Naval Academy going rogue?

In this episode, we discuss trends we are seeing with Naval Academy admissions.

Bottom line: there is evidence that Naval Academy admissions is choosing candidates according to unknown guidelines, instead of who Members of Congress pick or who the most qualified candidate in the district is according to the legacy Whole Person Multiple.

Examples of Excellent Naval Academy Interview Answers

Today we provide commentary on what makes these 5 Naval Academy interview answers excellent, and how they could be improved. Listen along as you prepare for your interview with your future potential Blue and Gold Officer and Congressional nomination panel. 

Grading Air Force Academy Interviews

The Air Force Academy interview can be extremely intimidating for students, especially those who have little to no interview experience. 

In this episode, we play 5 examples of interview responses that students have given and discuss what makes them good (or bad) and how they could be improved.

If you want to ensure your interview performance is as strong as possible and listen to additional examples of answers from real students, take our USAFA Interview Course.

Many highly qualified 2028 USNA candidates were turned down: Why?

Were you turned down this year by the Naval Academy?

If you applied to the USNA Class of 2028 as a high school applicant, you had a lower chance of being appointed this year.

More and more post-high school candidates are re-applying and therefore there are less appointments available for direct entries. That's right, we estimate about 450 slots of the 1200 slots this year were given to candidates who were on their second application: NAPS students, Foundation students, and college students.

We go into what this means for high school seniors and reapplicants in this week's episode.

Pass or Fail? Feedback on West Point Interview Answers from Real Candidates

In today's episode, we give feedback on 5 examples of interview questions and answers from West Point candidates.

Big Changes to the Service Academy Nomination Process

In this episode, LTC Kirkland and Capt Dach discuss two major changes to nominations and the way Service Academies (West Point, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy) select candidates to offer appointments to for any candidates entering an Academy in June of 2025 or later. 

 

Each Member of Congress is able to now nominate 15 candidates instead of 10.

 

The list of Qualified Alternates is expanding from 150 to 200 for each Service Academy. 

 

For our show on SAT/ACT scores, watch this episode.

Sea Cadets: Build a Service Academy Leadership Profile

In today's episode, we cover a great way to develop military propensity and discipline - Danielle Stolz and Patrick Nasdeo, both leaders within the Sea Cadets program join us to talk about the opportunities for young Sea Cadets in the middle school and high school programs.

If you are interested in joining Sea Cadets, you can find a unit near you here: https://magellan.seacadets.org/referral.aspx

Best of luck in your Service Academy and ROTC scholarship journey!

Allergies & DoDMERB: Perspective from a Retired Air Force Allergist for Academy Candidates

In today's show, we welcome Colonel Joseph Forester, a retired Air Force veteran and allergist, to discuss allergies and DoDMERB disqualifications.

Service Academy and ROTC scholarship candidates must be DoDMERB qualified (or waived) in order to participate in these programs. One of the most common medical issues we see in candidates is an allergy to food.

You can read the Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03 (or DoDI6130.03) here: https://www.gainserviceacademyadmission.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/613003_vol1.pdf

We also discuss the DoDMERB waiver process more in depth in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS3T6kVyLqQ&

 

 

Improving your SAT Math with Vinny Madera

Today we sit down with Vinny Madera, a renowned SAT tutor with a track record of helping students significantly boost their SAT scores. Dive deep into the world of SAT math as Vinny shares tips, strategies, and insights to conquer this critical section of the test. Whether you're just starting your SAT journey or looking for those extra points to push your score higher, this episode is a must-listen!

Connect with Vinny Madera for personalized SAT tutoring**: https://testprepwizards.com/

If you're aiming for a Service Academy, understanding SAT requirements is crucial. Check out our detailed breakdown of SAT score requirements for Service Academies here: https://www.gainserviceacademyadmissi...