Kaylee Garcia has known since she was seven years old that she wanted to attend the United States Naval Academy.
Now, she is heading to Annapolis to start her pursuit of a career in Naval Aviation.
Garcia, who does have family ties to the military, started the application in the spring semester of her junior year at Atascocita High School.
“The application process was very long,” Garcia said. “More parts of the application become available as you fill out the main application. For example, they will not contact you about a medical examination until they feel you have filled out a sufficient amount of the main application. This is why it's important to get things done in a timely manner.
“The application process was also unexpectedly enjoyable. I met a lot of great people willing to help me along the way and that made it a lot easier.”
The process begins with a preliminary application, which includes test scores. Next, an applicant must obtain a nomination from an official source, such as a United States Representative, Senator or the Vice President.
Once those items are submitted, an applicant must go through a medical examination, Candidate Fitness Assessment, and an official interview.
Garcia, who likes to run, bike and cook in her spare time, advises students who want to pursue an academy appointment to be diligent but also remember the end goal.
“Make a list of everything that needs to be done and when everything is due. It's very important to not get behind in the application process because it leads to missed opportunities as most things are awarded on a first come first serve basis,” Garcia said. “Also, make it fun. There are a lot of steps in the application process and at times it will be hard, but remember that everything you do is getting you one step closer to your dream.”
According to the United States Naval Academy website, on average 3,000 students fully qualify for the Naval Academy. Of that number, approximately 1,400 receive appointments and 1,200 become midshipmen.