During summers in college, Caroline Zotti spent time in Africa, Asia and the Mideast. Her travels weren’t for fun — though she’s the first to admit they were the “coolest part” of her academic career.
Rather, they were part of her shipboard training as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy. On these trips , mids, as they’re called, learn a range of skills from basic seamanship while sailing on one of the Navy’s sloops to live-fire gunnery while aboard a guided-missile cruiser.
The USNA is one of the nation’s five service academies, which are known for providing an education on par with elite colleges. Students are offered phenomenal opportunities for on-the-job experience, undergo intensive leadership training and gain skills in areas that can serve as great steppingstones to post-military careers.
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What’s more, tuition and many other expenses are covered largely courtesy of Uncle Sam, and a job is typically waiting for you upon graduation. The catch? Be ready for uniforms and a multiyear service obligation following graduation.
In addition to the standard college application process, service academies require that applicants pass a fitness assessment, meet certain medical criteria and — except for the Coast Guard — receive an appointment by their congressional representative or senator. Depending on what your skills and interests are, one of the service academies may well be able to match them.
Read on to find out what life is like at each of the five.
— U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
This story is excerpted from the U.S. News “Best Colleges 2017” guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
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Service Academies Offer a Different Way to Earn a College Education originally appeared on usnews.com
