The respective service academy candidate handbooks by William Smallwood should be on the shelves of every prospective candidate and associated parent. Smallwood has published three excellent books on helping candidates apply and get into America’s three major service academies:

• The West Point Candidate Book
• Air Force Academy Candidate Book : How to Prepare, How to Get In, How to Survive
• The Naval Academy Candidate Handbook: How to Prepare, How to Get In, How to Survive Second Edition

As the title suggests, these candidate handbooks by William Smallwood focus on three factors of getting into the academies: how to prepare, how to get in, and how to survive. So Smallwood provides value to the book even after one becomes appointed as a cadet. He outlines what you should during the years leading up to the application process, what the important pieces of the application puzzle are, and what to expect once you receive your appointment to the academy.

Although no book can accomplish the task of being a comprehensive bible on the entire admissions process, Smallwood provides good structure and a great amount of background information on many topics to educate the candidate, so that there will be no surprises along the way. Additionally, the author integrates opinions and interviews from cadets and academy officials, so the reading is not too dry and there is great authority within the pages of his books.

Strap up and educate yourself on the admissions process by buying the book relevant to your academy:

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