To everyone else who didn't get accepted for NASS- hope this helps.

William36912

5-Year Member
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Feb 18, 2011
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For the benefit of everybody else who (like me) applied for NASS but didn't get invited, here's my story. I hope this helps anybody who was feeling as discouraged as I was about the implications of being "rejected" for Summer Seminar.​
I submitted my online application for NASS 2011 at midnight the night that it came online, along with one of my best friends who also had his heart set on going to Annapolis. After a couple months of waiting, we both got the same letter in the mail that there were too many applicants to all be accommodated and sorry but we can't offer you a spot.​
I was tremendously discouraged by this and worried sick about the admissions implications of not getting accepted for Summer Seminar. I actually nailed the letter to my wall (I know, maybe a bit melodramatic :rolleyes: ) to remind me to keep working 100% if I wanted that appointment. My friend, sadly, decided that he wasn't competitive for admission and stopped working on his file. I kept with it.​
Last week, I got a Letter of Assurance in the mail. It was one of the best days of my life, and it never would have happened if I'd let myself get discouraged or quit along the way.​
I hope this is encouraging to any others who were turned down for NASS and think it means that they are not strong candidates. Just keep working at it, and don't let anything turn you aside from your goal. I am not in any way trying to brag or show off, but I really would have liked to have seen something like this back when I was feeling discouraged, and I hope this can be of value to candidates in this year's and future admissions cycles.​
:thumb:
 
Dittos on the congrats and nice encouraging. And more important, the insight you've exposed implicitly to the process and the apparent disconnect between NASS and the LOA/appointment assessments.

Is there anything/something that you perceive may have led to the latter LOA that may have been absent or unapparent in your NASS app?
 
I hope this is encouraging to any others who were turned down for NASS and think it means that they are not strong candidates.
I am certain that this has been the advice for the past several years. That NASS acceptance has more to do with geographics than with individual qualifications. It is becoming moreso than lessso. Thanks for an anecdotal confirmation.
 
Do not let anything discourage you, including not attending NASS. My DS was also not accepted to NASS, but did attend USAFA SLS. He decided to apply to USAFA and did not finish his USNA application. But he did apply to AROTC, NROTC, and AFROTC....

Long story short, a BGO called DS and asked him to finish his USNA application. He did.... and he's a youngster now. You just never know what might happen. :biggrin:
 
Dittos on the congrats and nice encouraging. And more important, the insight you've exposed implicitly to the process and the apparent disconnect between NASS and the LOA/appointment assessments.

Is there anything/something that you perceive may have led to the latter LOA that may have been absent or unapparent in your NASS app?

No, I already had most of the important information on the NASS application. Nothing chanced dramatically as far as my qualifications were concerned. I know geography/race wasn't the reason either, since I'm white and from a pretty competitive Texas district.
 
William,

I was in the same situation and i was given an LOA as well. Being rejected for NASS actually motivated me to work harder and it paid off. Good luck to all applying to NASS/USNA this year, and don't get discouraged if there is a rejection from NASS in the mail because it doesn't seem to make or break an application.

Have a great one everybody!!
 
More information to feed to everyone dealing with CVW/NASS/LOA/ STEM:

there is no DEFINITE correlation

my scenario:

At STEM, I was told I might not get a NASS invite- I went to NASS

At NASS, I was told I might not get a CVW invite- I am going to CVW Dec 1-3

You do not need a LOA to get a CVW invite. I received the LOA many weeks after CVW invite.

Like William posted, not being accepted to NASS is definitely not the end of your USNA dreams.
 
Dittos on the congrats and nice encouraging. And more important, the insight you've exposed implicitly to the process and the apparent disconnect between NASS and the LOA/appointment assessments.

Is there anything/something that you perceive may have led to the latter LOA that may have been absent or unapparent in your NASS app?
DS was also rejected for NASS, but received a LOA.
In my opinion, the biggest difference between NASS application and real application for appointment is the "human involvement". BGO interview and teachers recommendations were not needed for NASS application. I think our BGO plays a BIG role in this application process. We are thankful that our BGO took considerable time and effort to evaluate our DS. I think BGO can tell which candidate is a "good fit" to the academy when meeting candidates in PERSON. This is just my opinion.
 
The difference b/t NASS and an appointment is that the former is a recruiting tool and the latter an admissions decision.

The stated purpose of NASS is to increase awareness of USNA among populations who might not know about or be interested in the Academy. Thus, a marginally qualified candidate from AK or WY or maybe an inner city district might well get the nod over a better qualified applicant from MD, VA, PA, etc.

However, when it comes time for admission, the standards are different.

I've had many appointees who were turned down for NASS. And NASS attendees who were turned down for an appointment.

As we have posted many times, do NOT be discouraged if you didn't get into NASS. If USNA is still your desire, apply. You could well be like the OP.
 
Yes, but both NASS and LOA are recruiting tools. It's interesting why one would be a rejection or exclusion while the other would be an overt and assertive assurance/invitation/outreach in that recruiting process.

An appointment is indeed an animal of a different color.
 
I was rejected this past summer also. I noticed you said you hung your letter of rejection on your wall. During the summer I too hung my letter right in front of the desk in my room so that every time I looked up from my work I saw my rejection. As soon as school started I took the letter down and placed it in my locker. Do not think that you were being melodramatic in any way. If it motivates you then don't be ashamed. It takes a lot of motivation to continue on throughout this whole process. I have hung up all of my letters from Navy since the time I became a candidate up until now. Everytime I walk through the door in my room I see them. Those are what keeps me going.

I wish you the best of luck in the coming months. Stay motivated and keep working hard.
 
Is someone able to maybe move this thread up on the list? I fell like it might be beneficial for some of the 2017 applicants as their applications progress, IMHO.
 
For years BGOs on this site have been trying to assure prospects and candidates that not being selected for NASS was NOT the kiss of death to their chances of earning an appointment, and cautioning that being selected for NASS was not a precursor for being selected for an appointment. NASS is used heavily as a recruiting tool for geographic and diversity purposes. Believe it or not, there are people in the US who don't know that NAVY exists or what it does. I recall an educators' visit at which several of the participants had never heard of USNA, and were totally blown away at the opportunities it presented to young people. Finally keep in mind the numbers regarding selection: the program is designed to accomodate 2,250 participants; the average class size over the past decade has been about 1,200. Get your eye on your goal and work towards it with your best efforts in spite of distractions and momentary setbacks. You will be all the better for it. Best wishes.
 
I also applied at midnight, got denied, and received an appointment in December. I wish this thread was here when I was denied from NASS.
 
Believe it or not, there are people in the US who don't know that NAVY exists or what it does. I recall an educators' visit at which several of the participants had never heard of USNA, and were totally blown away at the opportunities it presented to young people.
Yep - West Texas is one of those places where it's unknown. I didn't know what NASS was until my BGO asked if I'd attended. Shoot, I barely knew what the Naval Academy was before I'd become a candidate, all my eggs were in the MO NROTC basket!

So, goes without saying that I did not attend NASS. Would I have if I'd known about it? ... Maybe. I've always been leery of summer programs. They never show the real meat of a matter, in my opinion. The CVW I participated in was absolutely fantastic for me. A few kids I met on my shuttle and flight back were of the same opinion. If I recall correctly, one went to NASS. Called it "Scaminar." I'd think that'd be a bit harsh, but whatever.

Long story short: Roll with the punches. With everything in life. Keep trying your best no matter what happens.
 
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