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Some Of Hardest Schools to Get Into Are Not Ivy League

A new cadet receives a haircut during the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Reception Day, June 27, 2016. (Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant/U.S. Army)
A new cadet receives a haircut during the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Reception Day, June 27, 2016. (Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant/U.S. Army)

You may think you have what it takes to get into some of the U.S.’s most prestigious universities.

But we're not talking about Ivy League schools. It might be easier to get into Cornell University, Brown University or Dartmouth College than some of the U.S. military academies — a handful of schools that are steeply competitive.

And these schools are not only tuition-free — the cost of educating a student at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, is estimated at $56,000 — students are paid to go there.

Service academies are federally funded universities that train students to become officers in the U.S. armed forces. After graduating, domestic students must serve for five years in their respective force, while international students return home to serve.

“We’re training them for military life and educating them, but then they’ll go home and serve for a certain amount of time,” said Brent Matthews, associate dean of international academic affairs at West Point.

The U.S. Military Academy and the four other service academies — the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Connecticut; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York — welcome international students annually.

A new cadet reports to the cadet in the red sash during the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Reception Day, June 27, 2016. (Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant/U.S. Army)
A new cadet reports to the cadet in the red sash during the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Reception Day, June 27, 2016. (Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant/U.S. Army)

U.S. federal policy allows the service academies combined to have 60 international students at a time, up from 45 in 2004. Students are called cadets at West Point, the Air Force Academy and the Coast Guard Academy. They are called midshipmen (nicknamed “middies”) at the Naval Academy and USMMA. Each year, eligible countries — this year about 100 — are selected by the U.S. State and Defense departments.

“They increased it [enrollment] to 60 to allow us to increase international relations with other countries,” said Deborah McDonald, director of admissions at West Point.

West Point admitted 16 international students to the Class of 2022 from countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, joining a class of more than 1,200.

McDonald said the admissions process for international students is similar to that for domestic students. “The big difference is that they need to receive a nomination through their state department,” she said. “They’re nominated by their home country, which is different than our process for U.S. citizens.”

Cadet 4th Class Chelsea Renfro stands at attention during the Class of 2014 Acceptance Day ceremony at the Air Force Academy, Aug. 4, 2010. (Mike Kaplan/U.S. Air Force)
Cadet 4th Class Chelsea Renfro stands at attention during the Class of 2014 Acceptance Day ceremony at the Air Force Academy, Aug. 4, 2010. (Mike Kaplan/U.S. Air Force)

U.S. applicants must secure a nomination from their local representative in Congress or Senate, or from the U.S. vice president.

Applicants to any of the five academies should be at least 17 years old, but no older than 22 prior to entry. They can’t be pregnant, married or responsible for the support of children.

International applicants of service academies must also take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before being admitted. In 2016, the mean TOEFL score for West Point was 94 out of 120.

Potential international cadets must take the SAT standardized college admissions test and aim for above-average scores — around 1340 for West Point, 1400 for USNA, 1320 for USCGA, 1370 for USAFA and 1310 for USMMA, out of the highest score of 1600.

The Naval Academy admitted 14 international students to its Class of 2022 from countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.

“We average 60 to 80 nominations [a year],” Tim Disher, director of international programs at USNA, said. “We try to bring in 15 a year.”

The Air Force Academy admits about 15 international students annually and USMMA has slots for three full-time international students.

“Roughly about 10 apply each year,” Keith Watson, international admissions officer of USMMA, said. “Out of the 10 that apply, about half get in.”

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 graduates and receives their commissions as officers during their commencement ceremony May 18, 2016. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory J. Mendenhall/U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 graduates and receives their commissions as officers during their commencement ceremony May 18, 2016. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory J. Mendenhall/U.S. Coast Guard)

When Saranjoe Sukcha began his academic career in 2015 at USCGA, there were only three other international students in his class. He was also the fifth Malaysian to attend USCGA — the fourth graduated in 1996.

“I feel blessed and extremely lucky to be selected after almost 20 years,” Sukcha said.

He was given the option of attending there, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, or the Australian Defense Force Academy.

“As an officer cadet in the Royal Malaysian Navy, I was selected with about 19 other candidates to undergo a selection process in order to get a spot in” the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut or the Australian Defense Force Academy, Sukcha said.

International students are brought in before the domestic class for orientation and to help them get over jet lag, USNA’s Disher said. They attend a political science course to become more familiar with the U.S. Constitution. And they get a local “host” family.

For their service, first-year cadets are paid more than $900 a month. Part of that money goes into a personal checking account, and the other part goes into a separate account that helps cadets pay for uniforms, books, a computer, activity fees and other expenses.

When Sukcha told his family about the news, they had mixed reactions.

“My mother is very emotional,” Sukcha said. “She was crying, she was so happy.”

Others, however, were worried about how he would compare to the big, buff Americans they watch in movies.

“We've never had anyone in our family who was sent to other countries,” Sukcha said.

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Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges, including Columbia and Berkeley

FILE - Students walk past Sather Gate on the University of California at Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif., May 10, 2018.
FILE - Students walk past Sather Gate on the University of California at Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif., May 10, 2018.

The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.

It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.

In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.

Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.

"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.

An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."

House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."

Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.

Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.

The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.

"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."

STEM, business top subjects for international students

FILE - The Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus on Sept. 12, 2024.
FILE - The Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus on Sept. 12, 2024.

The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.

STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)

Safety and visa difficulties among misconceptions about US colleges

FILE - A person walks near buildings, Dec. 17, 2024, on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
FILE - A person walks near buildings, Dec. 17, 2024, on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.

U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.

Read the full story here. (January 2025)

Work opportunities help draw international students to US schools

FILE - Students cross the campus of Dartmouth College, March 5, 2024, in Hanover, NH.
FILE - Students cross the campus of Dartmouth College, March 5, 2024, in Hanover, NH.

US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)

British student talks about her culture shock in Ohio

FILE - Spectators look at the solar eclipse through protective eyewear on the football field at Bowling Green State University on April 8, 2023, in Bowling Green, Ohio.
FILE - Spectators look at the solar eclipse through protective eyewear on the football field at Bowling Green State University on April 8, 2023, in Bowling Green, Ohio.

A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.

Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.

Read the full story here. (December 2024)

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