USCGA Essay Tips: Essay #1

Academy Endeavors provides guidance on every Service Academy essay question…

USCGA essay 1 question: “Explain why you are interested in attending the Coast Guard Academy, how you have prepared yourself to be successful as a Cadet, and any leadership experiences that will help you develop into a leader of character in the Coast Guard.” (Limit 500 words on a single page)

This is the WHY question. WHY do you want us, and WHY are you a good fit?

Begin by explaining how your desire first began, and the steps you’ve taken to confirm that desire (AIM, base visit, campus visit, etc).

Make your examples specific to the Coast Guard specifically. Coasties are used to feeling like they are the last option after the other big Academies, and they can sniff the BS.

Research careers in the Coast Guard, and state your career preferences with reasons why.

Lastly, as the prompt suggests, tell a STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) Story, and explain how the lessons learned will prepare you for life in the Coast Guard.

This is the longest essay question, so it should be filled with personal examples that are specific to USCGA.