The academies require a cadet to be 17 by July 1 of the year they start but I will graduate high school at 16 and will not be 17 until August of that year. So I guess the problem is that I would be a month and a half to young for the academy. Now would they make an exception (I am guessing not) or would they send me to a prep school or would I just have to stay at home, work, do local college for a year? The thing is I dont want to just take a year off then apply and not get accepted. So could I apply the year I am too young and ask them to guarantee or at least tell me I am hope full but just wait a year. What is the procedure for this? Have they encountered this before? Thanks so much. By the way I will be a junior this year.