DS received the 5 star award at USNA Summer Seminar

duke24

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I have been reading a lot of forum discussions the past month and waiting like most on an appointment for our DS. Curious, I have not read anything about the USNA Summer Seminar and the impact on DS and DD if they attended. DS on the last night of the summer seminar was told he received the 5 star award from his unit/platoon (not sure the name) and that it would be noted in his application. Does anyone know what merit that will have with admissions if any? Like all the other DS and DD he is the top of every category. His application has been "Complete Pending Review" sense September and received a congressional nom January 4.

Best of luck to all our DS and DD
 
There was a study linked on her a while back done by an officer at the Naval Postgraduate school, analyzing admissions. From that study, it seems that USNA admissions does take into consideration NASS, however they also do not see it as a negative if you do not attend/are rejected from NASS. In my experience at least, NASS didn't factor into the decision, as I was rejected from NASS.
 
DS attended NASS and AFSS. AF posted daily photos and videos of it for parents, it was actually really nice. One thing that really struck me is how many TOTALLY out of shape kids were there. I saw numerous young men in the videos that couldn't do a single push-up. DS's flight (teams are called flights in AF) came in first during the team competition.

DS has an appt to NA, haven't heared from AF yet.

My point is IMHO it's one small piece of the puzzle. It's certainly in his favor but as you know he'll need a lot more that that.

His best friend was declined to NASS but also got an appointment, was even given a "verbal LOA" while attending a weekend visit there.

I probably confused you more than helped LOL. But you get the picture, it's all over the map. I really couldn't understand how some of those kids that got into AFSS. You could tell by looking at them they had zero chance of passing the CFA.
 
It is said that there are no points to the WCS for attending NASS as not everyone attends NASS and it is a recruiting tool. I would imagine his award could count towards his WCS for individual awards along with any other awards he has won along the way in school, sports, clubs, etc. I think the anecdotal info that he is a solid candidate is a positive. It is sort of like being a legacy/attending Boys state/being a sports team Captain, those things alone won't get anyone in the door at a SA, but it helps to build a well rounded candidate that scores well in the WCS.
 
DD did not get NASS and had to request CVW through BGO after not invited. Still had a LOA letter. All the things mentioned above are good points for WCS. What is a "verbal LOA? Who gave it and if not in writing it is probably not binding.
 
........What is a "verbal LOA? .................

If it isn't followed up by an official LOA in writing, it could be that the candidate read too much (i.e. 'wishful thinking') into a comment made to them during their visit.
 
Agree, if not followed up then it is someone reading too much into things. They may have know the candidate was coming on a CVW and surprised them with the info and then updated their portal and issued an LOA. A few candidates mentioned this or appointments (those with presidential noms) very early in the process happening.
 
You might want to look into the 5 Star Award a bit further. Since it was a new phrase to me, I emailed the 4 kids who I know that attended NASS last year and the 3 that responded right back are suggesting that award might have been received after a good night of snipe hunting.
Maybe someone else reading this can validate the existence of the 5 Star Award you mention?
 
It's not an award, duke24. It was an evaluation. All categories were out of 5, and there was one last category for overall performance, and you must have received a 5 out of 5 on that. Only a certain percentage of kids are allowed to receive a 5 out of 5, I have the specifics in an email I got if anyone is interested.
 
If it isn't followed up by an official LOA in writing, it could be that the candidate read too much (i.e. 'wishful thinking') into a comment made to them during their visit.
It wasn't followed up with a written LOA, it was followed with an appointment. It's my DS' best friend. During a CVW the super called two kids in and told them that he was going to make sure they got in if they wanted it.

So I guess that brings up a good point, they do know who comes to the CVW, apparently they do at least some research on who's going to be there. I guess it's also important to note that he and my son were invited to the CVW via email. My son was not called in but he already had an LOA in case you're wondering.

I don't think ( I could find out ) that he used the term "verbal LOA". He just made it clear that he would get an appointment and wanted to tell him in person that he wanted him there.

Why didn't he just give a written LOA? I have no idea, I imagine there's a good reason.
 
If it was followed up with an appointment he would of never gotten an LOA (if there wasn't one to start with). They absolutely do know who is coming to CVWs. The fall ones are all seniors and they know where they are in the application process. The Supt might have asked admissions or the Director of Admissions might have asked the Supt to meet with some stellar candidates. Its all recruiting tactic to make a candidate feel special and wanted. Every school does this for the kids they really want. I am guessing for the Supt to say that and then it be followed by an appointment they either have a Nom already (possibly Presidential) in place or they are willing to use a Supt's Nom on them to offer an appointment.
 
If it was followed up with an appointment he would of never gotten an LOA (if there wasn't one to start with). They absolutely do know who is coming to CVWs. The fall ones are all seniors and they know where they are in the application process. The Supt might have asked admissions or the Director of Admissions might have asked the Supt to meet with some stellar candidates. Its all recruiting tactic to make a candidate feel special and wanted. Every school does this for the kids they really want. I am guessing for the Supt to say that and then it be followed by an appointment they either have a Nom already (possibly Presidential) in place or they are willing to use a Supt's Nom on them to offer an appointment.
Exactly. He got a Nom later from his MOC, then the appointment followed.
 
Obviously once you get an offer of appointment, LOA (real or implied) becomes a mute point.
 
I have been reading a lot of forum discussions the past month and waiting like most on an appointment for our DS. Curious, I have not read anything about the USNA Summer Seminar and the impact on DS and DD if they attended. DS on the last night of the summer seminar was told he received the 5 star award from his unit/platoon (not sure the name) and that it would be noted in his application. Does anyone know what merit that will have with admissions if any? Like all the other DS and DD he is the top of every category. His application has been "Complete Pending Review" sense September and received a congressional nom January 4.

Best of luck to all our DS and DD

DS received a phone call yesterday Feb. 5 from our congressman congratulating him on his appointment to the Naval Academy!
FYI time line for those still waiting to hear:
NASS in June
Application "complete pending review" September 14
Congressional nomination in portal Jan. 4
no LOA
DS will accept nom!!
Amazing!
 
DS received a phone call yesterday Feb. 5 from our congressman congratulating him on his appointment to the Naval Academy!
FYI time line for those still waiting to hear:
NASS in June
Application "complete pending review" September 14
Congressional nomination in portal Jan. 4
no LOA
DS will accept nom!!
Amazing!
Where are you from?
 
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