USNA Summer Seminar APPs now Open!

[Hastings0763]

The applications for Summer Seminar are now open! If you are currently a High School Junior interested in attending USNA, then applying to this Seminar would be a great way to get a feel for the campus, in addition to meeting staff members, and other USNA hopefuls. follow this link http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm for the app and fill er' out!

 

[Uncle Fester]

If you're serious about wanting to go to Canoe U, you should do this program. It's a full-immersion fam, and it gives you a much better idea of what the Academy's all about than you're ever going to get from a video, tour, or lecture.

 

[JBM]

If I remember correctly a full 1/3 of the participants in Summer Seminar usually end up going to the academy. So in adition to giving a good exposure to the Naval Academy lifestyle, it's also a good way to meet future classmates.

 

[Beans]

I went to the USAFA Summer Seminar in High School. It was an extremely valuable and rewarding experience. Why? It ensured that I would under no circumstances apply to the USAFA.

 

[DanMa1156]

I did Summer Seminar and I thought it was a good time. Definitely made me want to come to the Naval Academy. Don't think of it as the be all end all of what life at the Academy is like, but it's a small and helpful taste.

 

[CWJones411]

I went to the USAFA Summer Seminar in High School. It was an extremely valuable and rewarding experience. Why? It ensured that I would under no circumstances apply to the USAFA.

Exactly my experience.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

If I remember correctly a full 1/3 of the participants in Summer Seminar usually end up going to the academy. So in adition to giving a good exposure to the Naval Academy lifestyle, it's also a good way to meet future classmates.

Just out of curiocity, does it give "bonus points" on admission if you happen to attend this program?

 

[JBM]

When I went through Summer Seminar you got a “fitrep” at the end that was sent to the admission board. At one point earlier in the program squad leaders could actually sit in on boards for their candidates but that changed back before I went into the academy. One nice positive about going to Summer Seminar is acceptance into the program does exempt the candidate from the preliminary application round. The academy assumes if you get into Summer Seminar you are a qualified candidate.

 

[JTB7]

I am going to fill it out and send it it soon, but I have some questions.

About the application:
It asks what grade I got in trigonometry, and I took Alg II w/ trig over the summer. Well, my school said that you have to get a 90% or better in the class to get it on your transcript. i got a 86% in the class. Should I put N(not taken) or B? I think putting a B would be better than not taken.

Also, I ran cross country this past semester to get myself ready for another marathon and I ran varsity many races. I scored for my team I deserved a varsity letter but my coach didnt give me one. I am faster than other cross country runners I know(senior at another school I know ran slower than I did in the same races and got a varsity letter) Should I count that as a varsity letter or no?

When do you find out what session you get? I plan to get a full time job as a lifeguard during the summer and they need to know a month in advance when I can take my one week off.

Is it very competitive to get into the seminar?

edit: just noticed ACT/SAT scores. I took the PSAT, should I put those scores in or leave it blank. I plan to take the SAT/ACT in April(prep classes going on) should I wait until then or send in the application with blank SAT/ACT scores?

USNA in general
I am looking at the pics on page 5 of the brocure and all of them look very scrawny...almost like they never participated in sports(especially football). Are most the kids at the seminar like this?

On that note, I am planning on commissioning in the Marine Corps and want a very physical lifestyle. Would the Citadel or VMI be more physically challenging and a better bet for me?

A senior mid came to our school for a college presentation for USNA, and I was the only person that showed up. He said that some people who wanted USMC didnt get it because only 30% from the graduating class go into the USMC. If you attend leatherneck and show very motivated toward the Corps would you almost be guaranteed to go into the Marines?

Just out of curiosity...If you get into the USNA and you are prior enlisted do you wear your Marine uniform/rank or do you start from the bottom like everyone else? I know that the Citadel lets you wear your prior uniform.

Thanks

 

[DanMa1156]

I am going to fill it out and send it it soon, but I have some questions.

About the application:
It asks what grade I got in trigonometry, and I took Alg II w/ trig over the summer. Well, my school said that you have to get a 90% or better in the class to get it on your transcript. i got a 86% in the class. Should I put N(not taken) or B? I think putting a B would be better than not taken.

Also, I ran cross country this past semester to get myself ready for another marathon and I ran varsity many races. I scored for my team I deserved a varsity letter but my coach didnt give me one. I am faster than other cross country runners I know(senior at another school I know ran slower than I did in the same races and got a varsity letter) Should I count that as a varsity letter or no?

When do you find out what session you get? I plan to get a full time job as a lifeguard during the summer and they need to know a month in advance when I can take my one week off.

Is it very competitive to get into the seminar?

edit: just noticed ACT/SAT scores. I took the PSAT, should I put those scores in or leave it blank. I plan to take the SAT/ACT in April(prep classes going on) should I wait until then or send in the application with blank SAT/ACT scores?

USNA in general
I am looking at the pics on page 5 of the brocure and all of them look very scrawny...almost like they never participated in sports(especially football). Are most the kids at the seminar like this?

On that note, I am planning on commissioning in the Marine Corps and want a very physical lifestyle. Would the Citadel or VMI be more physically challenging and a better bet for me?

A senior mid came to our school for a college presentation for USNA, and I was the only person that showed up. He said that some people who wanted USMC didnt get it because only 30% from the graduating class go into the USMC. If you attend leatherneck and show very motivated toward the Corps would you almost be guaranteed to go into the Marines?

Just out of curiosity...If you get into the USNA and you are prior enlisted do you wear your Marine uniform/rank or do you start from the bottom like everyone else? I know that the Citadel lets you wear your prior uniform.

Thanks

1. Like the fleet, there will be a mix of shapes and sizes at Summer Seminar. not everyone who joins the Navy is "jacked and tan."

2. I can't speak for VMI and El Cid, but when I went through plebe summer I thought it was pretty physical. I was prepared for it for sure though. VMI and El Cid, from what I understand, use physical punishment MUCH more often than we do.

3. You are not guaranteed a slot in the Marines at the Naval Academy. Even prior Marines aren't. They start at the bottom, just like everyone else. I have plebes in my company now who are old as I am and have been to Iraq several times as infantry Marines. Going to Leatherneck does help you quite a bit though so as long as you perform well.

4. Let them know what sessions you can/can't go to. I had finals (NY Schools get out WAY later than the rest of the country, apparently) so I couldn't make 2/3 sessions.

 

[Flash]

On that note, I am planning on commissioning in the Marine Corps and want a very physical lifestyle. Would the Citadel or VMI be more physically challenging and a better bet for me?

Not really. The units at the Citadel and VMI both do a good job of physically preparing their Marine option guys for OCS during the summer, but I really don't think they do anything better vs the USNA when it comes to physical prep stuff.

 

[Wingnut172N]

While I didn't do NASS as a candidate, I did do it as a Squad Leader this past summer. I'll say this, it is a great experience if you're considering applying to USNA.

That said, do not go to NASS if you're going to loaf your way through it. The squad leaders write evals at the end, and yours isn't going to look that hot if you don't put out any effort. I know that my peers and I put more weight on how hard you tried at each evolution rather than end performance.

End story: Apply, bust your ass there, and learn about the Academy. If you do that it'll be a good experience and most likely help your application out a little bit

Just my .02...take it with a grain of salt

 

[ProwlerPilot]

JTB7

If you have ANY interest in going to the Academy, APPLY and go to Summer Seminar! No question. It is competitive so definitely put your package together well and show up prepared and motivated. The "fitreps" are looked at by the admissions board and do hold weight. Do well and break out and it will help. Show up with a hangover and simply put in the time, and it will hurt. I attended back in the day (had the last REAL Summer Seminar AND Plebe year!) and was a summer seminar squad leader and regimental XO as a midshipman. There is no better evaluation of you by the Academy AND the Academy by you.

As for some of your specific questions, I would put your PSAT scores on the application if there is way to annotate PSAT. I would NOT put your "letter" on the application if your coach or your official transcript is going to say you didn't earn a letter. As for your trig class, once again I would see what your official transcript is going to say. There is nothing worse than saying you have done things that you "officially" have not. Plays quickly into the whole honor concept. It is better to have no letter and trig than being perceived as lying about them.

Hope you get it and it solidifies your decision either way. Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you want to ask more specific questions.

 

[Pags]

I went back in the day....didn't end up going to USNA though, but it was still an interesting experience. In hindsight, I'd say the best that came from it was that it prepped me a bit for my NROTC indoc.

If you're thinking about going to USNA, I'd recommend you check it out so you make an informed decision. And then try and go to the program where you follow a mid around for a couple of days later on. And then do the same thing with other colleges. Make an informed decision about the next 4yrs of your life.

 

[DanMa1156]

Agreed with above - forgot to say that in my first post - do not put in things you THINK you should have earned but didn't. If you know you ARE going to earn it very shortly, that's a different story, i.e.: you're a signature away from getting Eagle Scout or something, but claiming you earned it because you think you deserved it is a totally different story.