Quick Summarization of SAPs needed!

USSEnterpr1se

Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2022
Messages
105
Hey guys, I am currently in the middle of researching SAs and learning more about them. I aspire to attend USNA and other potential SAs. Can someone give me a quick brief rundown of how a prep school works for the service academies and what the benefits are from taking it as opposed to just going into a regular college in an NROTC unit? Thank you so much in advance!
 
You don't choose to attend the Prep schools but are selected by the Service Academy Admissions. If the Coast Guard, Navy, Army or Air Force decides your application merits a prep year then you are offered an appointment to one of the Prep Academies so you cannot enroll yourself. You spend that 10 months getting ready academically, physically, and militarily for admittance to the Service Academy if you pass the requirements. It's not like attending high school or a normal college. You are enlisted in the military and follow military regulations as you learn and prepare for the Academy. According to cadets who have attended the Prep schools it does give them a good background for their 1st year as they are familiar with what will be expected. Good luck on your application!
 
Additionally there is the Naval Academy Foundation Preparatory Program. These are select civilian colleges that provide a year of academic and other preparation for USNA. The Foundation school appointments are funded by the USNA Alumni Association (donations accepted from the public).

Admissions decides who gets offered a foundation or NAPs spot. Applicants who get selected do not have to re-apply to USNA (like NAPs attendees), they are "in the system"-but must complete the program to the satisfaction of USNA Admissions. They will still have to obtain a Nomination (previous Nominations expire).

I have also seen high school students who were not appointed straight from high school and did not get a NAPs or Foundation scholarship, enroll in a Foundation School on their own (applying and funding) and then be successful as a re-applicant.
 
Last edited:
In addition to SAP schools, NROTC has a prep program of its own. Called the NROTC Prep Program, participating NROTC schools will pay for a year at their school with a 4-year NROTC scholarship awarded at the end of the year. There are 22 participating schools all over the country. The details can be found at https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/NPSR/

You can get more information from the NPP coordinator at the colleges of interest.

In addition, students enrolled at Military Junior Colleges, if they meet the NPP standards, can apply to accept any open NPP allocated scholarships. This makes a great plan B for students applying to Navy as a self-paying prepster.

Disclaimer: I'm the academic advisor for students applying to USNA and USMMA at Marion Military. In addition, I coordinate students applying for 4-year NROTC scholarships through NPP.
 
Prep schools are a GREAT thing if you are appointed to prep vs direct appointment, definitely strongly consider it! Everyone we know who has gone to prep for USNA, USAFA and USCGA said it was the best thing. Benefits-1. Trust the SAs. If they say you’re a strong candidate and they want you at their school but prep school you it’s because they know what’s best for you so that you can be successful when you start your first year at the academy. 2. Prep schoolers are such a small group and they bond during prep so that when you start at the academy you already have a close group of friends which can make your first academy year a much better experience. 3. Very often, prep schoolers emerge as leaders in their class at the academy, especially during indoc (plebe, swab, etc) summer since they have already had a year of experience. 4. Not sure about all of the SAs, but at USCGA for example, your prep year counts as a year towards your retirement (but not your SA payback time) since you are sworn in as enlisted and active duty and to that end…. 5. You can potentially save a LOT of money during prep depending on which prep and SA you go to. For example, CGAS (USCGA Prep School) at GMI or MMI With everything covered and paid as an E2, some prep school students save over $15k+. And as long as you ”Keep your head down and your grades up” (as in don‘t get in trouble and keep your grades up), you have a spot reserved for you at SA the next year. One of the admissions directors explained it as “us giving you prep school is showing you we are investing in you and we have skin in the game because we see something in you that we want and we want you to be successful”. So by NO means is prep school a consolation prize. In some ways, I wish prospective candidates had the option to elect prep school, but as previously mentioned, you cannot apply for prep. All candidates are considered for prep and regular and the SA makes the decision to offer one or the other or neither. Best of luck. Hope this helps!
 
If you are selected to a Prep School after the Ten months are you then considered a first year at the academy? Would it be a total of 5 years or do you start at the academy as a second year?

Thanks
 
Yes, prep schools simply “prepare” you for the SA. It does not change your time at the SA or your obligations to military after graduation.
 
In addition to SAP schools, NROTC has a prep program of its own. Called the NROTC Prep Program, participating NROTC schools will pay for a year at their school with a 4-year NROTC scholarship awarded at the end of the year. There are 22 participating schools all over the country. The details can be found at https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/NPSR/

You can get more information from the NPP coordinator at the colleges of interest.

In addition, students enrolled at Military Junior Colleges, if they meet the NPP standards, can apply to accept any open NPP allocated scholarships. This makes a great plan B for students applying to Navy as a self-paying prepster.

Disclaimer: I'm the academic advisor for students applying to USNA and USMMA at Marion Military. In addition, I coordinate students applying for 4-year NROTC scholarships through NPP.
Thank you. Very interesting information. I looked up quickly but do not see similar program for Army or Air Force ROTC
 
Back
Top