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USCGA · High school roadmap

Senior year: U.S. Coast Guard Academy12th grade · Finish strong

Your 12th grade checklist for USCGA, built from the official pages we track.

Hamilton Hall at the Coast Guard Academy, July 2008. Photo: US Coast Guard Academy via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Why this year matters

Seniors in fall 2026 are applying for the Class of 2031. The month-by-month deadlines are below. The essentials:

Dates come from official pages (accessed Oct. 17, 2026). Your congressional offices and your USAFA portal may set earlier personal deadlines, and those win.

Checklist for senior year

Start here

  • Medical exam (DoDMERB, using the DMACS portal). The process:
    • Each academy sends your name to DoDMERB.
    • DoDMERB emails you a link to the DMACS 2.0 Applicant Portal, where you register and fill in your medical history.
    • A contractor (CIV Team) emails you to schedule exams through DoDMETS. The medical and eye exams may be at different places.
    • If DoDMERB needs more information, your status becomes "Remedial."
    • Waivers are decided by the academy, not DoDMERB1.
    • CIV Team tries to reach you up to 4 times. If you don't schedule in that window, you start over1.
    • When your name goes to DoDMERB depends on the academy:
      • USAFA: after you finish 3 of 5 checklist items2.
      • USCGA: after it has your counselor recommendation with transcript, test scores, and fitness test score3.
      • USMMA: after your application, 11th-grade transcript, and unofficial scores4.
      • West Point: once you're an official candidate5.
  • Interviews. USNA requires a Blue and Gold Officer interview6. USAFA requires an ALO interview, which is virtual, lasts 1.5–2 hours, and must be held with no parents within earshot7. USCGA interviews only if requested, but then it's required8.
  • Teacher evaluations. West Point wants math, English, and lab science teachers9. USAFA wants 11th- or 12th-grade English and math teachers plus one other7. USCGA wants math, English, and counselor recommendations10. USMMA asks for math, chemistry or physics, English, counselor, and CFA evaluator contacts4.
  • Keep your grades up. USCGA asks for an updated transcript each time new grades come out3, and USMMA requires a mid-year 12th-grade report4.

Key deadlines

Already happened (catch up now if you missed any)

  • Applications opened: West Point Feb. 15, 202611; USAFA PCQ Mar. 1, 20262; USNA April 202612; USMMA May 1, 20264; USCGA July 158.
  • USCGA Early Action closed Oct. 158. You can still apply by the Regular deadline.

October 2026

  • Take or retake the CFA (USNA, West Point, USAFA, USMMA) or the USCGA fitness test1113.
  • Respond to DoDMERB and DoDMETS scheduling emails right away1.

November 2026

  • Some congressional offices have later deadlines. For example, one House office lists Nov. 1314. Never assume yours is late. Check it.
  • Keep working your checklists and medical remedials.

December 2026

  • By Dec. 23: USCGA Early Action decisions8.

January 2027

  • Early to mid-January: many nomination notifications go out6.
  • Jan. 15: USCGA Regular Admission deadline, including supplemental forms and test scores810.

February 2027

  • Vice Presidential nominees are "normally" notified in February or March15.
  • Feb. 15: USCGA Early Action candidates must have medical exams done8.

March 2027

  • Keep checking your portals and finish any remaining medical remedials.

April 2027

  • Apr. 1: USCGA Regular Admission decisions are out, and Regular candidates' medical exams must be done8. West Point's medical exam window ends11. At USAFA, if no medical waiver has been requested by now, one is unlikely7.

May 2027

  • May 1: reply deadline at USNA6, USAFA2, USCGA8, and USMMA16. It is also USCGA's medical qualification/waiver deadline8. West Point's reply date: not published on the pages we reviewed.

June 2027: reporting

  • June 1: USCGA enrollment paperwork due. Swab Summer begins the last Monday in June8.

Dates change. Always confirm on the official USCGA admissions site and your congressional offices’ pages.

USCGA-specific notes

  • Fitness test. Take the CFA in the fall11. The administrator rules differ by academy, so see where official sources disagree. USCGA applicants take USCGA's own test, and the CFA cannot be substituted8.

Eligibility basics10

  • Age: 17–22 on the last Monday in June
  • Other basics: U.S. citizen; unmarried; no dependents or financial debt

Sources

  1. DHA: DoDMERB (dha.mil)
  2. USAFA Grades 11–12 (usafa.edu)
  3. USCGA Handbook 2025–26 (uscga.edu)
  4. USMMA 8 Steps (usmma.edu)
  5. West Point Medical (westpoint.edu)
  6. USNA Apply (usna.edu)
  7. USAFA Requirements (usafa.edu)
  8. USCGA Apply (uscga.edu)
  9. West Point Steps (westpoint.edu)
  10. USCGA Requirements (uscga.edu)
  11. Timeline (westpoint.edu)
  12. USNA PAO (usna.edu)
  13. USCGA PFT Guide (uscga.edu)
  14. Rep. Newhouse PDF (newhouse.house.gov)
  15. White House (whitehouse.gov)
  16. USMMA Admissions (usmma.edu)

Keep every USCGA date on your calendar.

Coming soon: reminder emails before applications open, nomination deadlines close and summer program windows shut.

Reminders coming soonAll deadlines