Summer Seminar Essays for the U.S. Service Academies

It is likely your first one for the SAs so make it good!

For most students applying to the summer seminars at the U.S. service academies, the first question I hear is simply, "what should I write about?"

Let's discuss some good approaches for candidates seeking to attend these programs and creating the personal statements required for the various applications.

USAFA added two short 'essays' (when the summer seminar application opened, December 1, 2025). Plus, USMA's Summer Leaders Experience has not historically required an essay. We'll 'verify' this absence when the SLE application opens in February 2026.

Both the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy AIM (or "Academy Introduction Mission") typically require a couple of essays. Again, we'll confirm this later when the two applications open in January and February 2026, respectively.

All of the applications require some basic details, including your full name, your address, your congressional district, your social security number, your activities, your GPA and some other personal information. Each application ends (except USMA SLE and AFASS) with the essays prompts for your response.

Here is a list of the different essays, either confirmed (C) or predicted (P) for 2025-2026:

• USAFA #1 (C) - "Why do you want to attend the Academy?" [500 character limit]

• USAFA #2 (C) - "What do you hope to gain by attending the Summer Seminar?" [500 character limit]

• USNA (P) - Please answer the following questions briefly:

  • "Why are you interested in attending the Naval Academy Summer Seminar?"

  • "Have you been involved in any STEM-related activities, groups, or conferences?"

  • "Please elaborate on any extracurricular activities in which you have participated." [1000 character limit in total for all three prompts]

• USMA (P) - NO ESSAY is required.

• USCGA #1 (P) - "Why do you want to attend the AIM Program and what are your expectations for the program?" [500 word limit]

• USCGA #2 (P) - "This is an opportunity to provide any additional information, such as a résumé." [500 word limit]

With all of the essays/personal statements and the associated applications, there are some central themes:

• Each application asks you to list your activities, sports, and awards. Keep this point in mind as you write your personal statements. There is no need to repeat those simple facts. In other words, you listed earning the Civil Air Patrol's Mitchell Award, so move to details that talk about how you earned it and your current responsibilities.

• Ensure that you respond to the full set of prompts for each essay. For the USCGA, note both your reasons and your expectations.

• Focus on your unique story. Ideally, you write a story that no one else can write. Clearly, with a short word limit, that will be challenging, but I'm sure you will find a way!

Let's talk about each specific set of essays . . .

Air Force Academy Summer Seminar:

• The 500-character limit is quite short and includes "spaces and punctuation" as noted in the instructions. That is about 100 words or less.

• I recommend typing each response into a separate document to allow some time to contemplate and edit your statements. Each will have to be concise so that takes some effort and time to create an effective written statement.

• To address 'why,' you could mention your motivations to be an AF officer and the career you seek. In short, what inspires you? The word count is short so you will have to be direct and brief.

• For the 2nd prompt, you may address 'gaining' an understanding of the Academy itself, meeting staff and cadets, and learning more about the path you are considering; that is, your desire to become an Air Force cadet and officer. Again, it will have to be short and to the point.

• Also, remember the entire application is due on January 15th so I suggest completing everything, including the essays, over your winter break from school.

• Refer to this blog for more guidance around the essays.

Naval Academy Summer Seminar:

• The NASS essay limit is counted in "characters." Plus, at 1000 characters, it is quite short, translating into about 200 or less words. It is little space to include lots of details!

• To address 'why' (the first prompt), you may want to include 'seeing' the Academy, 'meeting' staff and faculty, and 'learning' more about a midshipman's lifestyle. You could mention your motivations to be a Naval officer and the career you seek. In short, what inspires you?

• To cover the second prompt, be sure to cover your Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics experiences. Course listings are part of the application so no need to list them; however, you might point out projects, reports or other technical work that you accomplished in the courses. Clubs, Scouting, CAP, etc., often include STEM activities so be sure to note those experiences, too.

• For the final prompt, highlight leadership, or other impactful ways that you have acted, in your different activities. You will likely 'run out' of characters so don't fret, as everyone has the same limits. Just do your best to be concise.

• Refer to this blog for more specific guidance.

Coast Guard Academy AIM:

• The 500-word limit for these two personal statements should give you ample space to cover the topics.

• Address the 'why' in the same manner as noted previously for the NASS statement. The second half addressing your expectations should 'line-up' with the reasons with which you started the essay. In other words, you desire to 'see' the Coast Guard Academy so you 'expect' to have a tour of the campus along with opportunities to experience the facilities as you participate in the program.

• AIM prides itself on being the 'toughest' summer program among the service academies so you may want to note this challenge and your desire to be 'tested' by the experience.

• For the second prompt, a résumé outlining your activities, sports, and awards makes sense, especially if this list of items is not included in other sections of the application. With 500 words, you will have an opportunity to provide some deep dives into some of the 'impact' that you made (or make) in your different leadership roles. Take advantage of the 'space' to tell USCGA Admissions about your successes!

By the way, you may be interested in my other blog about the Summer Seminars, which discusses some 'nuts and bolts' details of the programs.

I hope this blog helped provide you have some good ideas to use for summer seminar personal essays. Happy writing and good luck with your summer seminar applications!

[I have many more ideas for your personal statements and essays! I would welcome a chance to discuss the details with you. I offer coaching services to pace and prepare you (and your parents!) for the entire Academy application process. Contact me at chris@cbbrechin.com, 503.515.7406 or complete my contact form on the home page.]