NASS Applicant

sarahann

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Messages
59
I literally just applied today for NASS. Am I at a disadvantage?

Stats:

7 of 72
3.96 GPA (my school only weights them)
Girls' State
3 Varsity Letters
Treasurer of Class of 2014
Part-Time Work at Yacht Club
PSATS:
M: 64 R: 57 W: 53
 
No, you're a girl, you will get in.

Joking, but from what I've heard NASS is a recruiting tool used to attract students from areas where USNA isn't known. I've heard of kids getting denied to NASS and then getting a LOA to USNA. Stats seem good to me, but is the weighted gpa on a 4.0 or a 5.0 scale?
 
No, you're a girl, you will get in.

Joking, but from what I've heard NASS is a recruiting tool used to attract students from areas where USNA isn't known. I've heard of kids getting denied to NASS and then getting a LOA to USNA. Stats seem good to me, but is the weighted gpa on a 4.0 or a 5.0 scale?


4.0 Scale
 
You'll need to work on the SAT. All three PSAT scores are rather low. The SAT will be longer (don't underestimate the effects of mental fatigue) and slightly harder.

Enroll in an SAT prep class. Take the May SAT, if only to get used to the format and the length (seriously, it's like three hours long).

Too late to do this for NASS, sure, but you'll spend one week at USNA many times over if you get the appointment.
 
No, you're a girl, you will get in.

Joking, but from what I've heard NASS is a recruiting tool used to attract students from areas where USNA isn't known. I've heard of kids getting denied to NASS and then getting a LOA to USNA. Stats seem good to me, but is the weighted gpa on a 4.0 or a 5.0 scale?

Really? Some jokes are better left unsaid.
 
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You'll need to work on the SAT. All three PSAT scores are rather low. The SAT will be longer (don't underestimate the effects of mental fatigue) and slightly harder.

Enroll in an SAT prep class. Take the May SAT, if only to get used to the format and the length (seriously, it's like three hours long).

Too late to do this for NASS, sure, but you'll spend one week at USNA many times over if you get the appointment.

I took the March SAT and I'm planning on taking it again in June and September. I'm also taking the ACT in April and June.
 
It's good that you're taking both the SAT and the ACT.

After you've taken one of each, I suggest you pick one. They're two rather different tests, and there's no point wasting time preparing for both. Pick one and concentrate on that one.
 
It's good that you're taking both the SAT and the ACT.

After you've taken one of each, I suggest you pick one. They're two rather different tests, and there's no point wasting time preparing for both. Pick one and concentrate on that one.

Wow thanks for actually saying that, never thought about it that way! :smile:
 
While this can be an effective strategy, a different approach that worked for DS: Do everything you possibly can to get the best scores on all exams. If it takes 5 tries on SAT and 5 on the ACT then so be it. And don't listen to anyone who tells you that your scores will not improve much after the third try. This is absolutely NOT true. Good luck!
 
NASS

I literally just applied today for NASS. Am I at a disadvantage?

Stats:

7 of 72
3.96 GPA (my school only weights them)
Girls' State
3 Varsity Letters
Treasurer of Class of 2014
Part-Time Work at Yacht Club
PSATS:
M: 64 R: 57 W: 53

You might be at a slight disadvantage for applying at bit later as admissions is rolling. That being said, it seems clear that whether QUALIFIED (as of course there are some who apply that are not qualified) applicants get in depends more on geographic region and other demographics than anything else (at least that is what we have been told). I would agree with those below that say your stats are competitive, except for perhaps your PSATS (which would equate to below 1800 for SAT). That being said, it is probably good that your math is the highest.

Good luck. I would think that overall you will have a good shot, especially if there are not others from your area already chosen and/or historically there are not many from your area that attend the USNA.

S

p.s. USCGA AIM application is still open also, I think.
 
Welcome to the fray. As notedalready NASS is used by NAVY for recruiting purposes, and this makes it very frustrating to predict who the most likely selectees will be. Also, keep in mind that the fact that one isn't selected DOES NOT mean that you are handicapped as a candidate for an appointment - far from that! Also keep in mind that being selected for NASS does not mean that you are a shoe-in for an appointment. Consider that about 2250 young men and women will participate in NASS while NAVY typically has been selecting only 1200 for the entering class of midshipmen! Participation in NASS can be a big plus, but I also have seen instances where candidates have mortally wounded themselves during the program. I recommend that you look at alternate ways to spend time on the Yard such as a sports camp (see www.navysports.com) or ask for a candidate visit where you get to attend classes with a current plebe and spend a couple of nights in Bancroft. Another very worthwhile approach is to visit USNA casually and attend one of the Admissions Briefs conducted six days a week at the new Admissions location at the seawall end of Halsey Fieldhouse just inside Gate 1 (see wwwlusna.edu/Admissions for more information on the briefing times). From my personal perspective it is absolutely vital that any serious candidate for USNA needs to visit the academy well before I-day!

Regarding the SAT and ACT exams, you should take both exams at least once. There are differences in the exams and the way they are scored that can make one series more favorable to the candidate, and you need to discover that for yourself and take advantage of that factor. Keep in mind that the SA's all give the candidates the advantage of their best scores on either the SAT or the ACT via the super scoring practice. Start taking the exams early and continue to take them until you are com
-fortable that you have done the best you are capable of doing - whether it takes one sitting or 7 or 8. Candidly you need to score very well on the math exam particularly as Admissions looks more closely at those scores - reason: you are going into a Bachelor of Science course of study regardless of your major, plus the SAs all consider themselves to be engineering schools. While there are many factors that impact upon your application, and the median scores often are surprisingly low, you have to bear in mind that you are competing with several candidates you don't know who very well be a super achiever who has maxed the SAT or ACT - it does happen! Do your best! Also keep in mind that NAVY puts a lot of weight on the SAT/ACT scores and the Class Ranking, moreso than on the GPA - currently!

That frankly leads into my favorite mantra: Do your absolute best to be the best candidate you can be! Doing so saves you a lot of second-guessing after the dust settles. Look at the various topics in this forum and note how many of them deal with waiting for an offer or dealing with a turndown - this is a very competitive selection process, and you really cannot afford to slack off if you truly want to go to NAVY!

Best wishes to you and your peers - and the early starters who are just starting to work on their campaigns to earn an appointment to a service academy.
 
Wasn't accepted, but as pity invited to Candidate Weekend. Worth it?

I believe I addressed CVW's and their value. Many who have attended CVW's have been very positive about their experiences. NASS is a very good intro to USNA, but the CVW gives you an insight into the daily routine of the Brigade including the classroom component. Also you will have the opportunity to converse with current plebes under fire to get their sense of USNA. I think it is very worthwhile. Also, there are events for parents if they accompany the participants to Annapolis. Participate and enjoy... ask your questions and state your concerns to those who may be one year ahead of you.
 
didnt make it, two strikes, AFA two weeks ago, today NASS, my daughter is a little down on it all, Coast Guard still waiting. I told her 31 ACT isnt good enough, she needs to get it 33 or better, and the GPA is4.65 on a 5.0 scale and she needs to try to bring that up. I think she will be able to get to 33 on Act, only one area brought her down. She has two varsity letters but I think she is going to try for a different sport next year so she can get three. She did get invited to the candidates weekend, I think she wants to wait for Coast Guard before she jumps. Her view is whoever brings her in for a Summer Seminar she will stick with.
 
Grateful, but not Complacent

Well, our oldest called tonight and said that she got into NASS, after what seemed like a long wait. Not sure what tipped the scale but she thinks it could be advice from a senior at her school (who was rejected last year for ss but intends to head to USNA this fall). A couple of weeks ago they were discussing leadership and scores. He picked up on the fact that a couple of things she has earned came about after she submitted her NASS application. He told her to send a quick note to USNA admissions with those updates asap, especially regarding a very important school wide leadership role she was just selected for, for senior year. She took his advice and sent it in, with a note that she still really wanted NASS.

She is away at school and we don't always know what is going on with these apps and such. But I think the above was good advice from the senior.

She is aware from MANY sources that ss selection is in NO WAY a ticket to academy admissions. So the work is just now starting with all of this.
I think CVW is a great options and hopefully others will take it. Don't be discouraged.

Who knows how this stuff pans out and why. But the bottom line, that her BGO and others have told her, is this:
This is no time to rest or kick back. Whether you get in ss or not, whether you attend or not...it is time to turn up the notch on leadership, sports and academics...and get ready for the long road of the appointment process. Her BGO is great, but not overly touchy feely!!

S
 
Wow, if these were the candidate's scores, I am not sure I would have gotten into NASS this year. But, to re-iterate what was said earlier, the CVW is incredibly valuable. The plebe I dragged with and her roommates that attended NASS referred to it as "Summer Scaminar." Not sure how accurate this statement is, I didn't go to NASS. However, I did do the CVW after receiving an LOA, and it was the most valuable experience in helping me make my decision. Before that, I was set on attending USMA (still a great school, but found out Navy is better!) and the CVW changed my way of thinking. If you get a CVW, definitely take it, it was an incredibly good snapshot of academy (particularly plebe) life.
 
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