Gain Service Academy Admission

Rejected from a Service Academy? Here's EXACTLY How to Reapply and WIN the Appointment!

Rejection from West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy or any U.S. service academy can feel devastating—but it doesn’t have to be the end. In this powerful episode of Academy and ROTC Insiders, Trisha and Lieutenant Colonel Kirkland walk you through exactly what to do after receiving a "thin white envelope" (TWE) and how to reapply with confidence and a stronger application.

📌 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why rejection isn’t failure—and how 25-35% of academy appointees are reapplicants
• Common reasons candidates are turned down (SAT/ACT scores, nominations, fitness scores, etc.)
• Real strategies to improve your Whole Candidate Score and stand out
• How to use ROTC as a powerful reapplication pathway
• What NOT to do when you join an ROTC unit H
• ow to build your freshman college curriculum to mirror academy rigor
• The mindset shift that sets successful reapplicants apart

🎯 Whether you're a first-time applicant or planning your reapplication strategy, this episode is packed with expert insights to help you bounce back stronger and earn your commission.

👇 Resources Mentioned: 

• Schedule a Strategy Session
• Read our books on Academy admissions

Don't forget to subscribe for more guidance, tips, and insider knowledge to help you earn your academy appointment. 

How to overcome a DoDMERB Disqualification

Are you applying to a military service academy or ROTC program? Understanding the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) process is CRUCIAL to your success. In this comprehensive guide, Lt. Col. Kirkland and Trish Dach break down the entire process from start to finish.

What you'll learn:
• What DoDMERB is and how it works
• The complete 10-step qualification process
• How to research potential disqualifications BEFORE you apply
• The medical exam process and what to expect
• What happens if you're disqualified and how to pursue a waiver
• 7 CRITICAL steps to maximize your chances of qualification
• Common disqualifications and which ones can typically be waived

Whether you're concerned about asthma, ADHD, orthopedic injuries, or other medical conditions, this guide will help you understand your options. We explain everything from completing your medical history questionnaire to appealing waiver denials if necessary.

Don't let medical disqualifications end your military career before it begins! With proper planning and knowledge of the process, many candidates successfully obtain waivers and achieve their goals.

 

Check out our comprehensive DoDMERB book on Amazon for even more details:

https://amzn.to/42MFiKD  

 

Book a consultation with us if you need personalized guidance: https://www.gainserviceacademyadmission.com/dodmerb/

How to Get Into the Coast Guard Academy

Curious about the U.S. Coast Guard Academy? In this episode, we take a deep dive into what it takes to earn an appointment.

Learn how the Coast Guard Academy’s admissions process stands out from the other service academies, like West Point, the Naval Academy, or the Air Force Academy. From GPA requirements to SAT/ACT scores, extracurricular activities, and the Cadet Candidate Evaluation Board, we’ve got you covered!

📖 Sneak Peek: Our new book on the Coast Guard Academy is officially released! Grab a copy of the book here: bit.ly/coastguardacademybook 🎯

Key Takeaways:

• No nomination process—apply directly!
• Academics are crucial: ~80% of the evaluation is based on GPA, class rigor, and SAT/ACT scores.
• Admissions is competitive: ~20% acceptance rate.
• Prep school options and how they impact your chances.
• Physical fitness test details (no pull-ups, but a 1.5-mile run, sit-ups, and cadence push-ups).
• Tips for writing essays and acing the interview.

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.