Value Of NASS

G

GoNavy

5-Year Member
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Hello everyone hope everyone is doing well,

So about NASS if you get accepted , does it help it all with the application process, or does it only a gateway to experiment if you want or don't want to do it?

Also for example if you get accepted and you show in yourself incredible leadership ability and/or do better than everyone else in the Candidate Fitness Assessment will that do anything to boost you in the Nomination process ?

(And any other advice for NASS , highly appreciated)

Thanks all have a great day !
 
I attended NASS last summer. I have heard that it doesn't affect your chances on admission to the academy itself but at the end your squad leader fills out an evaluation form for your application. And I doubt admissions counts that evaluation for nothing.
 
bjrussell14 said:
I attended NASS last summer. I have heard that it doesn't affect your chances on admission to the academy itself but at the end your squad leader fills out an evaluation form for your application. And I doubt admissions counts that evaluation for nothing.
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That about sums it up.
 
Caution: don't stomp on everyone else to show your great leadership ability because that will sink you very quickly and be noticed by your peers.
 
usnabgo08 said:
Caution: don't stomp on everyone else to show your great leadership ability because that will sink you very quickly and be noticed by your peers.
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Great comment. In fact, great leadership skills are often unnoticed and only become visible over time. Things like "I noticed your the guy people always go to", or "I noticed than whenever you finish the run you always go back to encourage and run with those who are slower", or "I noticed you always make these great comments and suggestions in our meetings."
 
Lesson In Leadership

I'm a father of two that want to serve. One of which has already determined that the Academy is his path.

I'm a coach of 15 years...

At the high school level I have meet 6 kids that wanted to become officers. 5 are on their way one is now tracking.

I served like many on this forum but I was enlisted. As an ex-enlisted guy I can't even begin to tell you how correct usnabgo08 comment is. Caution is such a key word.

GoNavy, I as well as many love your confidance but unless your Churchill or someone else of the like; great leadership comes with a lot of time and wisdom.

I will recommend to you like I have recommended to the other 6 to serve. Read the book We Were Soldiers Once and Young. There are many good books out there but this will serve all well.

Being humbled is one of the greatest lessons we all learn. Hope this helps, good luck and all the very best to you.

Cheers!!
 
Ex.BT.USN said:
I'm a father of two that want to serve. One of which has already determined that the Academy is his path.

I'm a coach of 15 years...

At the high school level I have meet 6 kids that wanted to become officers. 5 are on their way one is now tracking.

I served like many on this forum but I was enlisted. As an ex-enlisted guy I can't even begin to tell you how correct usnabgo08 comment is. Caution is such a key word.

GoNavy, I as well as many love your confidance but unless your Churchill or someone else of the like; great leadership comes with a lot of time and wisdom.

I will recommend to you like I have recommended to the other 6 to serve. Read the book We Were Soldiers Once and Young. There are many good books out there but this will serve all well.

Being humbled is one of the greatest lessons we all learn. Hope this helps, good luck and all the very best to you.

Cheers!!
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08 is correct in her admonishment - trying to be super candidate can blow up in your face as it becomes too transparent and boorish. Go well prepared and ready to score on the CFA, and ready to LEARN. Can NASS help? Yes, I have seen letters from the Dean of Admissions to candidates noting the comments of the detailers/cadre regarding performance and attitude, along with the Dean's comment about seeing the candidate at I-Day. Being less than genuine will do you in!
 
It is better not to be noticed at all than noticed in a "bad" way.:wink:
 
advantages-tangible: One definite advantage was the CFA. DS took this first at USMA SLS and did very well. While at USMA SLS he met with his USMA Regional Director who told him that for some reason the "mile is shorter at USNA" DS thought his RD was joking but then he went to NASS and he got his best mile time-ever. :)
USMA CFA SCORES:
BB throw 62
pull up 18
shuttle run 9.0
crunches 95
push ups 75
mile 6.26
USNA CFA SCORES:
BB throw 68
pull up 18
shuttle run 8.8
crunches 95
push ups 75
mile: 5:45

They did do an interview. He said he felt like that went extremely well. Partly though was because he thought his detailer (they are referred to at Mr. ____) was an exceptionally awesome guy and made him feel a part of the scene. It is just my OPINION that a good interview may give you a small boost. Maybe not alot but every little bit helps.

advantages-intangible:

My son felt like he really fit in while at NASS and likes the brotherhood at the academy and used that has a backdrop for many of his essays and interview questions. "When I went to the academy this summer, I knew I wanted to go there because____"

summer programs gave him a "sense of what was going on"-especially compared to Boys state. He got a flavor for what a service academy experience may feel like VS the civilian college experience of boys state may feel like.

usnabgo08 point: :thumb: DS came home with alot of text-friends some of who applied to the academy and many of who didnt. The common thread that ran between the friends that he made and his Detailer that he really liked, was that they were a combination of earnest and effortfull with a big chunk of laugh-at-yourself. DS reported that some of the funniest people he met in his life were from NASS. The ones who he didnt like were the ones who 1.) didnt try hard on the physical aspects 2.) were too hair-on-fire for newbies 3.) refused to participate in a group activity 4.) couldnt see the humor in it all.

1964BGO point::thumb: I want to agree with 1964BGOs recommendation to prepare for the cfa before getting there. There was a lot of chatter on the ride home from the airport on the wide variance of CFA scores. Sadly, some of the stories were hilarious.

Stats: I often hear that 1/3 of those who went to NASS end up at USNA. I am not sure that statistic tells the full story. The data I would like to know is how many who attended NASS, and then applied to USNA, and then got a nomination, got an appointment?


>>There are many who go to NASS but then dont apply.
>>There are some who go to NASS and other summer leadership programs but then also apply to another S.A and get the nomination to the other S.A.
>>There are also some who go to NASS, apply, get the nomination but then choose another S.A.

I would guess that the number of those attending NASS, who finish their application and then get a nomination is far higher than 1/3.

Either way-DS loved it (and came home with quite a serious wardrobe!)
 
I often hear that 1/3 of those who went to NASS end up at USNA.
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That isn't true....1/3 of those who went to NASS and ended up at USNA would be about 850 (2,550 is total NASSers and each sessions has 850).

It is that those who went to NASS only make up about 1/3 of each entering class, approximately 300-400 candidates. The point is, going to NASS really doesn't mean much in receiving an appointment -- it is more about each NASSer getting to see USNA and determining if USNA would be a good option.
 
There were seven candidates in my NASS squad. Only one of them was appointed.

There were definitely some candidates who walked away from NASS completely dissuaded from applying to the Academy (i.e. the folks who choked and broke down from the fifteen minutes of raised voices during Mock Indoc Night decided 51 training days of worse treatment was not for them). Some candidates, like me, only wanted it more and used NASS as motivation to get through long nights of AP Physics and AP Calc homework.

NASS is a great time. But only a handful of my company's plebes went to NASS. Don't read too much into it; just have fun and keep competitive when you get back.

If you don't get it, it's okay. NASS is nothing like Plebe Summer and plebe year anyway. It's really just a week of fun and activities.
 
food for thought

I have no idea what the value of NASS is in the admissions process. I will report that it was provided to me along with a list of other strongly suggested actions for admission into the Academy and they have all been proven to be a recipe for success in my individual case.
 
nuensis said:
There were seven candidates in my NASS squad. Only one of them was appointed.

There were definitely some candidates who walked away from NASS completely dissuaded from applying to the Academy
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Only one? From the eight in mine 3 have appointments, another sounded like her app got kinda messed up, but is going to The Citadel, 2 I don't think applied and 2 I think are still waiting.

So yeah, the response to NASS can be all over the charts, which I think is a part of the program, getting people closer to figuring out whether they could handle the pressure.

That being said, it's also known as "Summer Scaminar" - while a taste of life there, it's also rather different, I think the point of the statement being that if you show up for I-day prepared for an elongated NASS, you'll be sorely disappointed. If you end up attending or not, I would also seriously recommend going to a CVW as well if it's a viable option for you.
 
As Vista123 said, NASS proved to be very useful in writing essays for USNA and MOC nominations. After the session you will be able discuss in first person the qualities you think are important for USNA... at summer seminar I learned _____ trait is important.

Further, when doing your BGO interview you should feel more confident answering questions because you have seen the academy first hand. Coming from someone with no military background, NASS was very helpful.
 
Our DS went. Loved it and changed his mind from AFA to USNA. He's a 2016 plebe. It helped and counted. Many things that end up counting they will never tell you about. Anywhere you sign a name to something can be counted...if not quantitatively then perhaps b/c the person seeing your name over and over knows how bad you want it. We went to more than 1 information seminar in our area even though we heard the same info over and over.

Plus NASS is for you so you can see, feel and know what it might be like. Nothing will prepare you for I-day even though you know what to expect...it's still just a smack of reality you will never forget. But it's all good.

Our DS didn't max out the CFA, it wasn't a deal breaker. USNA and USMA swap some of the scores for the CFA done at NASS so that info is seen/reviewed.

I can't say that summer session stuff won't get you the axe too. Our DS went to NASS, West Point Summer Seminar and USCG AIM. Got appointed to USMA, USMMA and USNA but CG ranked him just out of selection...won't say it but he had a roommate that got into trouble during their camp and our DS got questioned (scared out of his mind) in the middle of the night. He was cleared of any involvement but just by association he thinks they took a pass on him. Didn't matter USNA was always his #1 choice. But it does make you think that summer programs are their way of sizing YOU up. Plus, half the application process is already done for them if you do go to NASS. Just go..it's fun. The yelling doesn't start 'til I-day.
 
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Just go and have fun, meet as many people as you can! I went last year and loved it my squad leader told us that even though this won't have any bearing on your app. " I will give you the motivation to keep up and make your self competitive" a chance that not nearly everyone gets that will end up applying. I can still say it was one of the best weeks of my life!! You get to see and do some legit stuff!
 
Nass is one of the best things you can ever do during your summer. It helped motivate me more to strive for the Naval Academy. It did opposites for a couple in my squad. Mainly because of Sea Trials and Indoc. Which were both really fun! I had to keep myself from smiling during Indoc while the kids across from me were visibly shaking. Nass is what you make of it, put your best into it and really take the opportunity to absorb what is around you. Afterwards, you will most likely know if this is the place for you.
 
I'm a current class of 2016 mid, and just wanted to chime in here: NASS acceptance or rejection is not a measure of the strength of a candidate's application. It is considered "strategic outreach". I applied for NASS midnight on the day it came out and was rejected. A couple months later, I had an LOA in the mail from the Academy. Don't be discouraged if you don't get it, don't be complacent if you do. If you get it, use it as an opportunity to learn what it's really like to go to USNA.
 
My DS was turned down for summer sessions to USNA, USMA, and USAFA. He got into the AIM program at the USCGA and loved it. He has full appointments to both the USNA and USMA! I think the real advantage is to the student finding out if a SA is right for them. In terms of getting in, it did not matter for my son.
 
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