Application; Not 17 by July

A

AMac

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I was filling out the application for my youngest and he is a young junior; it says that the applicant must be 17 by July of next year but his birthday is in August. Should I reach out to Admissions?
 
I think the applicant should be 17 when he/she gets to the academy, not when doing the application time.
 
Yes, an applicant must be 17 by July of the year that they will enter USNA. This is not waiverable.

I am also hoping the part of you filling out the application for your child was a mistype. The applicant should 100% be the person leading this application and filling it out. They must own this process. Also, the application for the Class of 2025 has not opened yet. So whatever you are filling out now is not the correct application. The app will open in several more months for the next class to apply.
 
Hoops is (as usual) 100% correct. The age requirement is in the law. If your child will not be 17 by July 1, USNA typically recommends a year of college after h.s.. Keep in mind that whatever he does should encompass a Plan B, if he changes his mind about USNA or isn't admitted. That's why attending college is usually the best approach. However, YOUR CHILD might want to check with Admissions regarding the best use of that year -- I would have your child wait until June or July, as Admissions is swamped this time of year with the current cycle. Since your DS has an entire extra year, this isn't super time sensitive.

Finally, if your child isn't sufficiently motivated to complete the application himself, I suggest he rethink the decision to apply.
 
AMac said:
I was filling out the application for my youngest and he is a young junior; it says that the applicant must be 17 by July of next year but his birthday is in August. Should I reach out to Admissions?
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Perhaps if your son was filling out the application, he’d understand the age requirement. In any event, I expect when you start calling admissions, as opposed to your son, you will set him back further than his age does. Please stop interfering in what must be his application.
 
AMac said:
I was filling out the application for my youngest and he is a young junior; it says that the applicant must be 17 by July of next year but his birthday is in August. Should I reach out to Admissions?
Click to expand...

I assume you are probably referring to the Preliminary Application at
www.usna.edu

Preliminary Application Instructions

Preliminary Application Instructions page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Mon Nov 20 04:31:16 EST 2023.
www.usna.edu


As noted above and as stated on USNA.edu, appointees must be 17 as of 1 July of the year of entry. This is not waiverable.
www.usna.edu

Apply to USNA

Application for Class of 2023 Opens April 1st. Navigate your future with the top public college in the US
www.usna.edu

That affords an opportunity to get in a year of college, taking a Plebe-like schedule, as recommended on USNA.edu
Even better, if there is an opportunity to participate in NROTC, that can be an additional nomination source.

You took several shots over the bow for what we are reading as you filling out an application. Everything on USNA.edu talks to “you the applicant.” There is a reason for that. This process works best if the candidate takes control of it and works at it like a young adult, touching base with parents for proof-reading, review of medical history and support functions. The lengthy and complex process is a test in itself. It demands attention to detail, executive organization skills, ability to follow direction, perseverance, maturity, drive, timeliness, ability to multi-task, discipline - these are all traits desired in junior military officers. The process tests for resolve and prioritization, and does an initial weed out of those who aren’t interested or capable enough to stay the course. Yes, HS students are insanely busy, but the successful applicant puts off the calls to the BF/GF or gaming session or weekend sleep-in or Netflix session to knock out the basics of an application. If anyone calls Admissions, it should be the applicant.

There are applicants who apply to all SAs, every nomination source for 4 SAs, ROTC scholarships for multiple services, college applications, other scholarships, all while executing advanced HS coursework, sports, ECA leadership, community service, standardized test-taking, the usual. The work to apply is staggering, but mimics the intensity and complexity of life at an SA and as a military leader in high-stakes situations.
 
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You all are absolutely right and I appreciate the input. It was a sincere error in words. It was I who went to the site after my son had asked if he was going to be old enough to fill out the app. it came up because he has been told so many times that he is a young junior such as; he was one of the last in his class to get his driver's license due to age. I went on the site and read the prereq and I seen the age requirement and jump the gun. It is my error.

I won't be filling out his app. He will fill it out just like his brother before him. That was actually my first look at it.
 
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Just to be clear, an entering plebe must be 17 by July 1 of the year they enter USNA, not the year they apply. Thus, I'm assuming your child skipped an entire year of school (or started first grade at age 5). Otherwise, an August birthday should be no problem.
 
I think this is already clear, but your son can enter USNA at 17. I turned 18 in Sept of my plebe year (after plebe summer) and had a friend who didn't turn 18 until that Dec. If I read your post right, your son will turn 18 in August of his plebe year, so he'd be fine.
 
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