Admissions Information

Entrance Requirements

To be considered for admission to West Point, you must first meet basic requirements outlined in the U.S. Code of Law, and you must receive a nomination from an authorized source.

Basic Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must be United States citizens, at least 17 and not yet 23 years old on July 1st of the year of admission. Candidates must not be married, pregnant or have a legal obligation to support a dependent. Naturalized citizens, citizens born abroad or those who have dual citizenship must provide documentation of citizenship.

Nominations

Admission to West Point is gained through a unique system of nomination, evaluation, qualification and selection. A nomination is the legal authority for the U.S. Military Academy to consider a candidate for admission. You should apply for nominations at the same time you complete the Candidate Questionnaire to open your file for admission. Legal nominating sources are the president; vice president; U.S. senators; U.S. representatives; delegates to the House of Representatives from Washington, D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands; the governors of American Samoa and Puerto Rico; the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico; the resident representative from the Northern Mariana Islands; and the secretary of the Army.

Evaluation

Candidates will be evaluated for admission based on their academics, demonstrated leadership, and physical fitness. To compete for admission, candidates must also meet medical qualification standards.

Academics
Your complete scholastic transcript and extracurricular record, the results of your ACTs or SATs, your high school class rank, and the recommendations of your faculty are used to determine academic qualification. Please note that West Point does not accept score reports on standardized tests taken by students who require extended test-taking time. Also, please note that the formerly optional writing portion of the ACT is now mandatory for application to West Point. ACT scores will not be considered without a score from the writing test.

Leadership
You should strive to develop the personal traits that will allow you to be an effective leader. You will be evaluated on demonstrated leadership roles by your participation in school, church, scouting and other community activities. Participation in secondary school extracurricular activities, both athletic and non-athletic, and the attainment of responsible leadership positions in those activities provide valuable experience. You should try to make significant contributions while leading athletic teams, club and class activities, and church, scout, civic and community activities. Working to provide family financial support or being home schooled may limit participation in extracurricular activities. If so, that should be noted in your application.

Physical Fitness
Your physical fitness qualification is determined by your performance on the Candidate Fitness Assessment or CFA. The CFA consists of six events: a modified basketball throw from a kneeling position, cadence pull-ups (or flexed-arm hang for females who cannot perform pull-ups), timed 40-yard agility run, two minutes of abdominal crunches, two minutes of push-ups, and a timed one-mile run.

You should remember that your score is a combination of your best efforts on each of the six events. You will be mailed a CFA test form and instructions to give to the CFA administrator. Your physical education instructor or any Army officer may administer the CFA to you.

You must pass the CFA in order to qualify for admission to the United States Military Academy. The Academy accepts the Naval and Air Force Academies’ CFA results, provided you meet West Point standards for qualification. A good way to prepare is to practice the unique events of the CFA prior to taking the test. You should practice in the order that the events will be taken on the day of the CFA.

Medical Qualification
Although medical accession standards differ among the various commissioning programs of the Armed Services (notably vision standards), only one medical examination is needed to meet the application requirements of all service academies and the four-year ROTC scholarship programs. If you are a competitive candidate, you will receive instructions for taking the qualifying medical examination directly from either the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB), 8034 Edgerton Drive, Suite 132, U.S.A.F. Academy, CO 80840-2200, or their civilian contractor (Concorde) at the appropriate time. Your medical examination will be accomplished at a facility near your home. Upon review of your completed medical examination, DoDMERB will notify you of the results. Questions on your medical status should be directed to DoDMERB at (719) 333-3562, or you can visit the website https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil to obtain medical information.

Admissions Decisions

West Point has a rolling admissions policy. Outstanding, qualified, nominated candidates will be offered admission as their records become complete. All admissions files must be complete, to include nominations, by the last workday in February.