Read more details about St. John's Northwestern Academies on their 2025 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
SJNMA offers a unique and safe environment. The faculty care about the cadets more than anything else. It's safe location physically located in the suburbs along with on campus security provide a great place for a cadet away from home.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
All the friends that are made there last a lifetime. Being involved in a lot of sports made missing home not existent.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
Military school is not as scary as you think. Just do the right thing and enjoy the experience.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
Friendships made and the unique experience gained from attending the academy.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Come to campus with an open mind!
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
The mandatory study time every night set us up to be success in high school, but built the habits to be success in college. The work load was challenging and the teachers are more than willing to help with getting you the help you need.
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
Mandatory sports requirement in 2/3 seasons. Was frustrating at first, but really pushes one out of their comfort zone. The school focuses entirely too much money into the basketball problem and other sports suffer because of this.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
Was not many opportunities for music or theatre. We had a marching band, an art class however that was the extent of it.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
So many opportunities! On campus paintball field, rock climbing wall, obstacle course. Every young mans dreams!
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
Barracks are ancient, however very very well maintained and updated. Better than most colleges. Shower rooms are large enough to give privacy.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
Food was great, never had any issues with all the years I went. Very diverse food, not a lot of junk options.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
Small city around campus, which was great to be able to do activities off campus on the weekends.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
The other cadets were great including the barracks staff. We had dances, movie nights, paint-balling, capture the flag. Was never a shortage of things to do!
Daily Schedule:
Weekday
6:00 AM
Wake up
8:00 AM
School
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
School
3:30 PM
Sports time
5:30 PM
Dinner
7:30 PM
Study hall
9:45 AM
Bed time
Weekend
10:00 AM
Wake up
10:15 AM
Free time
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Free time
Read more details about St. John's Northwestern Academies on their 2025 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
SJNMA offers a unique and safe environment. The faculty care about the cadets more than anything else. It's safe location physically located in the suburbs along with on campus security provide a great place. . .
I liked that we had structure. It taught me how to be on time and responsible. I also really liked that it was all guys. It made it easier to learn. Our teachers bent over. . .
The military traditions sets the school apart from other more traditional boarding school experiences. Very structured but always surrounded by other cadets in your company that doesn't make it feel like "all work and no. . .
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