Frequently Asked Questions
Program Information
A: AIM is a highly selective and competitive summer program. Typically, there are about 200 students attending each week of AIM, so a total of about 600 students for the on-campus program. Additionally, several hundred will be offered spots in our Virtual AIM session.
A: AIM is a great opportunity to get a glimpse into what it is like to be a cadet. During your time at AIM, you will learn more about Academy life, our majors, engineering programming, and waterfront activities. If you later choose to apply to the Coast Guard Academy, your AIM evaluation is attached to your application. Attendance at AIM does not guarantee admission to the Academy. Many of our current cadets attended AIM, but there are also many Academy cadets who did not participate in AIM.
If you attend AIM, you will be going into the training environment, but it is much shorter than Swab Summer. That said, AIM is an immersive and intensive training experience. At AIM, you will receive training from your cadre on how to act like a cadet and have time to practice those skills. It may be stressful at times, but you are learning how to work as a team. We recommend you read through AIMster blogs to understand a bit more about the AIM experience and how it prepares you for Swab Summer.
A: Virtual AIM consists of two half-day sessions, typically 12-5pm EST with scheduled breaks. During this program, you’ll hear from admissions officers, engineering faculty, and current cadets to give you a sense of what it is like to attend the Academy. There are also design challenges that you will be asked to complete outside of our meeting hours.
A: The last day of your AIM session is Family Day. Your parents will have a chance to walk around campus, hear about your week and attend your graduation ceremony before you end the program. It’s a great opportunity for your parents to see what the Academy is all about!
Application & Review Process Information
A: No. Your recommender can submit their letter after you submit your application, but their recommendation needs to be submitted by April 1st. On your application, you put in the recommender’s email and then our system generates an email with a link to submit.
A: You can use the same recommenders if you wish, but you will still need to put their email in the CGA application, and they will need to upload it. It does not get carried over from your AIM application.
A: Yes. The guidance counselor recommendation is the only required recommendation, but if you would like to submit an additional recommendation from a teacher, coach, employer, or from a personal reference who knows you well, you can also submit their recommendation under the optional portion of the application.
A: If you’re homeschooled, you can have your parent submit a letter because they are acting in the capacity as your counselor. If you belong to a homeschool co-op or network where you have an organizer, that person can submit your recommendation.
A: SAT or ACT scores are optional for your AIM application. Scores are typically released approximately two weeks after the exam, so you can wait to see your scores and still have time to submit them before the AIM application deadline.
A: Yes, there’s an extracurricular section where you can add pertinent activities like CGJROTC, Sea Scouts, etc., and you can also write about these activities in your personal statement.
A: Optional components are optional. However, providing additional information does help us get to know you as a candidate, so if you feel that additional context would be helpful, then you can include it. We are looking for engaged students who are involved in their schools and communities and have strong academic merit.
A: No, but you can email AIM@uscga.edu if you have any supplemental information you would like to add to your application.
A: We look at your unweighted GPA. Please calculate your GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale.
A: We will release decisions by May 1st.
Medical and Travel Information
A: Acceptance letters are released first, and then you’ll submit this information in conjunction with your tuition payment. Forms are due May 29th.
A: You will need a current physical dated August 1, 2025 or later.
A: You are responsible for coordinating your travel to and from AIM. You’ll need to submit a travel survey a few weeks prior to the start of AIM with your specific travel plans. If planning to travel alone by airplane, CGA does offer airport shuttles at designated times on Sundays and Fridays for T.F. Green Airport (PVD) in Providence and Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford. You will request shuttle transportation in your travel survey if that applies to you. Please be aware that if you are traveling alone and under the age of 18, some airlines have flight restrictions as to time of day you can fly, so please check with your airline.
If arriving via train, the New London, CT Amtrak station is close to CGA, and we may be able to arrange to pick you up from the train station, but this will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Contact Information
Admissions@uscga.edu
M-F 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST
