As is often the case in the Navy, active service is part of a mutual exchange. In return, the Navy sends students to the academy on their dime. There's free living and free eats. Freshman (or, in Navy speak, plebes) get $600 a month to pay for services like haircuts and laundry-and to have a little fun, in the rare instance that there's time for any. This number inches higher each year. During senior year, some firsties (that's seniors) finish their undergraduate degrees early and start on their master's at a nearby university, like Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland. The academy foots the bill.
Midshipman life starts with Plebe Summer during the weeks before freshman year begins. This seven-week camp involves waking before dawn each day and training until well after dark. The academy's FAQ page warns, "Plebe summer is no gentle easing into the military routine." But survive this and it gets easier-a little. As a student, you'll have general requirements, professional training, and an academic major. You'll also need to participate in athletics -- either at the varsity, club, or intramural level. And you'll have to surrender the bulk of your summer days to training missions. All of this-combined with limited vacations, rigid car restrictions, and tight rules about leaving the Yard, as the campus is called-means that the academy attracts not only America's brightest students, but also some of its toughest.
So you're still reading? If you're ready, you can start on the academy's preliminary application form. Soon you'll be asked to jump through some hoops. Get a nomination from a federal official, such as a senator, congressman, or the Vice President. Prove that you're between 17 and 23, a U.S. citizen, not pregnant, not married, and not a parent. Endure medical exams, background checks, and the academy's physical aptitude examination.
But don't ignore your other college options. After all, 11,568 students applied to the class of 2005, and only 1,471 found acceptance letters in their mailboxes.
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