™Army · APPLICATION STARTER GUIDE
U.S. Military Academy
West Point, New York
Check your eligibility
U.S. citizenship; age 17–22 on July 1 of entry year; unmarried; no legal obligation to support children.
Standard U.S. applicant route. Check official instructions for special applicant categories.
Nomination routes
A congressional nomination is one route. Other authorized sources may include the Vice President, presidential or service-connected categories, depending on eligibility. Apply to every source for which you qualify. Official nomination guidance ↗
Your application checklist
- Open your candidate application and record academics, activities and leadership.
- Apply separately to every nomination source for which you qualify. Each sets its own deadline.
- Submit transcripts, essays, three teacher recommendations and official test scores.
- Complete the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA). Follow the medical-exam invitation and complete your DoDMERB review.
What stands out in this application
Army leadership with broad academic preparation
West Point combines academic, military and physical development. Its core curriculum spans humanities, sciences and engineering, even for cadets who choose a nontechnical major. The admissions checklist asks for teacher recommendations, activities, test scores and a qualifying CFA. Official guidance ↗
CadetScope preparation tip: Connect examples of responsibility and teamwork to your interest in becoming an Army officer; prepare for both technical coursework and physical demands.
SAT & ACT snapshot
Section averages · accepted applicants; brochure does not identify a class year
SAT: Math 667 · Reading 654
ACT: Math 29 · English 30 · Science 31 · Reading 31
Historical statistics, not minimums or admission guarantees. Section figures are not composite scores.
Dates to put on your calendar
The published candidate-checklist and official-score deadline is January 31 of senior year. Track nomination deadlines separately.
Official sources reviewed September 17, 2026. This CadetScope summary is a starting point; the academy’s current application instructions control. Admission is competitive and meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee an appointment.
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