Applying to the Summer Seminars!
- LTC Brechin, USAF, Ret.
- Dec 7
- 3 min read
Four service academies — USAFA, USMA, USNA and USCGA — all host high school seniors
The summer seminars at four of the US service academies (SAs) are very popular. Typically, they take place over the first three weeks of June. The only exception is the AIM program at the US Coast Guard Academy, which takes place in July.
All four academies over three separate sessions at each respective campus. The Coast Guard Academy also offers a fourth "virtual" session, too.
Why are they popular? First, they provide good fun with an ideal introduction to each of the service academies, including meeting staff, speaking to cadets/midshipmen, seeing facilities and gaining general information about the lifestyle, education and training available at each school.
Second, the summer seminar application itself serves as the Precandidate Questionnaire (PCQ) for each of the academies — Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard — allowing an applicant to qualify as an 'official' candidate for each of the different service academies. I recommend to my students that they apply to the summer seminars, even if they know of a personal scheduling conflict. Kicking off the application process is quite important, plus none of the SAs will view your declining the seminar invitation negatively.
What is the timing? As noted earlier (and by definition), only rising high school seniors are allowed to apply. Candidates must be determined to be qualified through the basic requirements (i.e., unmarried, no dependents, and meeting age requirements). One nice exception that one of my students encountered was the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. This student would not be 17 years old on July 1 of the year she would enter USNA. However, with a birthday in late July, she was allowed to apply to and then attend NASS. The other two of SAs — USAFA and USMA — would not allow her to apply based on the date of her birthday.
Applications open on various dates. USAFA's application is the earliest one annually on December 1. Here are the opening 2025-26 application dates for each seminar:
USAFA Summer Seminar: December 1
USMA Summer Leaders Experience: February 15
USNA Summer Seminar: January 6
USCGA Academy Introduction Mission: February 8
The summer seminars are typically scheduled for the first three full weeks of June with Coast Guard AIM in July as the one exception. The table below outlines the dates for 2026 as a good example of the annual seminars' schedules.
*AIM virtual session dates
What are some other details? One set is clearly the cost for you and your parents. Each seminar carries an attendance fee. The tuition fees vary from about $300 (AFA) to $750 (CGA), plus the cost of transportation and spending money. All of the schools offer tuition and travel assistance, too. One exception the the USCGA AIM virtual session, which is free.
You may find the cost prohibitive for your family. If so, don't fret, you may decline the seminar invitation without impacting your qualifications to become a cadet or midshipman. Most cadets and mids at the SAs did not attend a summer seminar. The invitations are limited and so are dollars (!). My first 'visit' to the AF Academy was the day I arrived for Basic Cadet Training!
Clearly, you will want to dig into the details of each program as they vary widely in all aspects. My website feature an array of blogs about the summer seminars, including writing the essays for them. I hope you will check them out.
The summer seminars are great events. Start planning now for the applications. I wish you the best of luck with the entire process!
[I would also welcome an opportunity to speak to you about a coaching engagement — I provide active consultation on the entire admissions process, including preparation and review for interviews, essays (personal statements), activities and more for all five of the U.S. service academies: USAFA, USMA, USMMA, USCGA and USNA; plus, I work with students to purse ROTC scholarships for the Army, Air Force and Navy. Call me at (503) 515-7406, email me at chris@cbbrechin.com or use my contact form on this website.]