Does acceptance to Summer Seminar have any impact on application?

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CCents

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Hello all,

I'm curious as to if acceptance to last year's Summer Seminar has any impact on the competitiveness to gain an appointment or be qualified by the admissions board. Does anyone know any statistics or have knowledge on this? Are people that are accepted to Summer Seminar have a higher rate of getting accepted? I, as every other candidate for 2025, am dying to know everything possible about the admissions cycle and ways in which our applications will be viewed.

Thank you to everyone who responds
 
Attending Summer Seminar does not confer any advantage to your candidacy. Read the many threads about that (use the search function) and you’ll learn that Summer Seminar is primarily an awareness-building, outreach and recruitment program. It is not used as a screener by admissions, for the simple fact that many top candidates don’t or can’t attend. The vast majority of plebes/doolies did not attend a summer program.

(You’ll also see that upper-class cadets/mids write “evaluations” on attendees, but that’s simply a training tool for them.)

Acceptance to Summer Seminar is not a rack-and-stack process based purely on merit. Some very strong candidates attend, as do some not-so-strong candidates. Candidates from under-represented groups — could be a geographic region, an ethnic group, a socio-economic group — seem to be accepted to Summer Seminar at a disproportionate rate. All are good potential candidates for appointment, and many will be your competition for admittance. But again, they get no “points” for being there.

The greatest benefit of Summer Seminar is that you get a taste of SA life — if somewhat brief and fairly sanitized. You’ll meet cadets and mids who’ll provide valuable perspective. And you’ll get to see whether a certain SA and service branch gives you warm fuzzies more than others. Also, you’ll meet some really terrific people. DD had the good fortune to attend summer programs at all three DOD SAs and keeps in touch with quite a few fellow attendees — some who ended up at USNA with her, some now at other SAs, some at civilian colleges.
 
MidCakePa nailed it. A few additional items... Summer Seminar allows you to "try out" USNA as much as anything. Is a 24x7 military environment right for you? It exposes you to USNA, the academic programs, military PT, service opportunities, living a structure lifestyle. Although you get a glimpse of USNA during these things remember it is not a 100% replication of USNA. CVWs I think actually provide a better perspective of what a day to day life as a Midshipmen is like. The other part is is exposes you to a group of like minded, driven peers. The other thing it allows you to do is the CFA in a competitive environment. USNA and the military is competitive in general. Running that mile with 20 others helps kick things in over drive for many.
 
Actually, if you are admitted to NASS and do very well there (on CFA, review by squad leader, etc.), it can have a SMALL positive impact on your USNA application. The converse is also true. However, it's not a deal breaker either way.

Being turned down for NASS has zero impact on your USNA application.
 
Agree with MidCakePa. I will add that these summer programs can provide a candidate with an advantage - something to discuss with an ALO, BGO, FFR, MOC nominating panel. But, candidates should not overestimate the importance of these programs. Not getting invited to attend can also be used to a candidate's advantage.
 
In addition to what everyone has posted -- Simply being accepted last year has no impact -- NASS wasn't held, and whatever benefits there might be arise from successful participation, not getting accepted. There are many , many threads on SAF where the purpose and benefits of NASS is thoroughly (not always accurately) discussed.
CCents said:
I, as every other candidate for 2025, am dying to know everything possible about the admissions cycle and ways in which our applications will be viewed.
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You are certainly welcome to try to find out and analyze every aspect of the Admissions cycle that you can find. There is far more information available on SAF than you need to know. Again, not all is completely accurate, and over analyzing the information available isn't going to have any impact upon the outcome of your Application. Alternatively, you can focus on those things within your control, submit the best application you can, move on to Plan's B, C, D, etc. and enjoy the rest of your Senior Year. I would recommend the alternative.
 
usna1985 said:
Actually, if you are admitted to NASS and do very well there (on CFA, review by squad leader, etc.), it can have a SMALL positive impact on your USNA application. The converse is also true. However, it's not a deal breaker either way.

Being turned down for NASS has zero impact on your USNA application.
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Completely agree - if you are admitted, take every moment seriously - not only to learn about USNA and whether or not you want to pursue an appointment, but also to show leadership your interest, your capabilities, and a little bit about your character. Your squad leader will be submitting an evaluation at the end of the session, and as @usna1985 mentioned, that review can go both ways - but not likely a deal breaker, so make sure you give it your all if you are accepted.
 
FWIW, virtual NASS was different and who knows what 2021 will bring. For those stressing, keep in mind that the very small bump you MIGHT get for doing really well (as in being a team player, encouraging others, etc.) is no greater than folks get for other accomplishments, such as being a team captain, club president, working a job, great teacher rec, great SAT score and on and on.

Want to re-emphasize that NASS is first and foremost a recruiting tool. Every year, many great candidates don't get NASS. In normal years, many of those are offered CVWs. If you do go to NASS, that in and of itself doesn't mean anything for your USNA application. If you stand out, could help a bit. If you gripe and grumble and don't try and whine, that could hurt a bit.

Apply to NASS. Hope it works out. Regardless of the outcome, focus on your USNA application and -- if they are restarted in the fall -- maybe a CVW.
 
I will say that both of my kids’ nomination applications asked if they attended any summer programs and which ones. So it may have helped with a nomination at least.
 
At an Army info session our son attended during his application cycle, the rep addressed this question with what I think is the best answer — because a fee is involved, attendance at the summer program cannot be used in the admissions rubric because the fee means the program is not equally accessible to all applicants, and the academy admissions process is mandated to be an egalitarian one. So, he said, attend if you want to play soldier for a week and get a glimpse of the fort, get some questions answered, and potentially take a CFA, but he warned that the session does not reflect the actual life of a cadet. It’s just a summer camp with no bearing on admissions. He also added that if you aren’t selected, it’s most likely because there aren’t enough slots or you aren’t the profile the program is designed to market to.
 
FYI, USNA (and I presume the other SAs), will defray the costs of attendees with true financial hardship. But the point above is a fair one In that some may be discouraged from attending due to cost or may not be able to spend family funds on such a program.
 
usna1985 said:
. Every year, many great candidates don't get NASS. In normal years, many of those are offered CVWs.
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Great point on NASS and CVW. It is worth remembering that Candidates rarely get both the opportunity to do CVW and NASS. (There are exceptions, but space is limited to both). CVW is a much more realistic experience, and geared toward those that USNA considers competitive and desireable for Admission, while NASS is more of a sale, marketing, and awareness program.

It's too soon to tell if either NASS or CVW will occur this year. If I were to bet, I would say CVW is unlikely this Spring, but maybe next fall. I have no inside information, but would be surprised if NASS /STEM was held in person this Summer. I expect USNA has other issues (particular Midshipman training) to deal with that take a higher priority, and the risk/reward of having outsiders in the Hall is too great (at least now).
 
Adding on to everyone else, I actually think I know more people that didn't get it than did, just off the top of my head.
 
Current USNA '25 candidate here -

I got denied (well, just didn't hear ANYTHING back) from NASS, so this eases my mind to see. Thank you all!
 
There are also some residual benefits, such as getting the preliminary application done and serving as a good place to do the CFA.
 
CCents said:
Hello all,

I'm curious as to if acceptance to last year's Summer Seminar has any impact on the competitiveness to gain an appointment or be qualified by the admissions board. Does anyone know any statistics or have knowledge on this? Are people that are accepted to Summer Seminar have a higher rate of getting accepted? I, as every other candidate for 2025, am dying to know everything possible about the admissions cycle and ways in which our applications will be viewed.

Thank you to everyone who responds
Click to expand...
This applies to USMA but DS was denied summer leadership experience but just received an appointment to USMA. It works the opposite way also.
 
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