Summer Seminar Application Date

Craig

5-Year Member
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Dec 19, 2010
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522
Heads up. My daughter and I were at the admissions office on friday on her visit to the Yard. They annouced the application date for summer seminar will open Dec 29th. The website has not been updated, which they acknowledged. Good luck to all. After talking to professors on friday and then some alumni at the tailgate, my daughter is pumped. Now starts the fun. It's an excited time watching your kid choose their path.
 
Thanks for the update. Were you able to speak with professors while they were in their offices? If so, how were you able to gain access to the academic buildings?
 
Assuming it's accurate, good gouge! This is a change from many years past.

As for access to buildings, beyond those areas that are off limits (Mid rooms, Supe's office, etc.) most areas are normally open to Yard visitors. I'm not aware of admissions planning visits to classrooms or with profs, but many are extemporaneously approachable, especially the civilian, tenured professional professors, some of whom are military, many are civilians. Often an open door means "open door," and like most of us, they love talking about what they talk about.
 
The revised date for NASS applications to open is accurate. However, "official" notification has not yet been promulgated.:rolleyes:
 
Professor

My daughter contacted the professors/departments she wanted to meet with via email. She contacted them well in advanced (month+) and followed up as a reminder when the date drew near. She met with them alone (except for the one professor that invited me in after they talked a bit).

Access to the building was no problem. All her mtgs where in the ground floor of Nimitz. The Mids where very helpful pointing us in the right direction. She was very impressed and excited about the opportunities.
 
USNA seems to have its share of ho-hum instructors, but there are many top-shelf professors and with careful planning and integration of some exceptional ancillary , the academic experience can and often is world-class and superior. That aspect of a USNA experience is often lost or minimized.

In the spirit of openess and candor, there are many who'd argue that the breadth of requirements prevents the degree of focus and depth that some students desire. One Mid noted interestingly, "I had to come to an alleged 'engineering school' to get a world-class liberal education." Note, I suspect intentionally, insightfully, and perhaps correctly, he said "liberal" and not "liberal arts." Conversely his roommate in another engineering curriculum expressed that his was a broad, general engineering program with opportunity for a specialized project but that his classroom experience might not rate well with a GA Tech, MIT, Rennsalaer, or some other engineering institutions. My guess is that this is one of those where there could 4,400 variations of opining among 4,400 Mids.

The essence of my message is that a world-class academic opportunity is available for the taking and often gets, if not short-shrift, lack of attention merited.
 
USNA seems to have its share of ho-hum instructors, but there are many top-shelf professors and with careful planning and integration of some exceptional ancillary , the academic experience can and often is world-class and superior. That aspect of a USNA experience is often lost or minimized.

In the spirit of openess and candor, there are many who'd argue that the breadth of requirements prevents the degree of focus and depth that some students desire. One Mid noted interestingly, "I had to come to an alleged 'engineering school' to get a world-class liberal education." Note, I suspect intentionally, insightfully, and perhaps correctly, he said "liberal" and not "liberal arts." Conversely his roommate in another engineering curriculum expressed that his was a broad, general engineering program with opportunity for a specialized project but that his classroom experience might not rate well with a GA Tech, MIT, Rennsalaer, or some other engineering institutions. My guess is that this is one of those where there could 4,400 variations of opining among 4,400 Mids.

Here's what we got out of it:
- On your selecting your major, the professor told us USNA likes a 65-35 mix (65% technical, 35% non-technical). Once you pick, hard to change.
- If you can validate some course, you get to take more courses in your field (that is going to be true just about anywhere). Even an opportunity to get a Masters for a select few.
- Don't get in a hole. Hard to get out.
- I did my BEE at Auburn and NROTC for two years. Later joined the Navy through direct program after I earned my masters at GT. My first two years of school looked a lot like the USNA'S. Chem, Eng, Hist, Calc, Phys, Naval Science, etc. My last two years was pretty much EE, most of which was requirements (Mag, elctronics, computer, etc.). Reality, your undergraduate only gives you a foundation in your field. To really specialize, you need to go for a Master's. Of course, with validation at any school, you can do more in your field as an undergrad. I know GT's undergrad program at the time was similar to AU. I suspect most follow similar structure based on the accreditation standards they fall under.
- Don't get in a hole. Hard to get out.
 
I do not know what the summer seminar application entails. Is it a lengthy thing like a college app essay or fairly simple...name address, etc?
Also, is the 29th the day one can submit the application or just the day the form is available?
Sorry if these are simple questions, but I'm new at this.
 
I do not know what the summer seminar application entails. Is it a lengthy thing like a college app essay or fairly simple...name address, etc?
Also, is the 29th the day one can submit the application or just the day the form is available?
Sorry if these are simple questions, but I'm new at this.

The NASS application is very simple. It's something that can be completed in a few minutes.

It's pretty much the preliminary application (which is currently available for 2016 and viewable here) with a place to select seminar preferences. I think there might have been a place for sports participation, too, but I don't remember for sure.
 
Reply to JMS

I do not know what the summer seminar application entails. Is it a lengthy thing like a college app essay or fairly simple...name address, etc?
Also, is the 29th the day one can submit the application or just the day the form is available?
Sorry if these are simple questions, but I'm new at this.

My take was your would be able to submit on the 29th.
 
In reply to the Midn's in WP's comment: the point of any university is not to teach you what you need to know in...enter any major here... the point is to teach you how to gain that knowledge.
 
I do not know what the summer seminar application entails. Is it a lengthy thing like a college app essay or fairly simple...name address, etc?
Also, is the 29th the day one can submit the application or just the day the form is available?
Sorry if these are simple questions, but I'm new at this.

I would have a copy of your high school transcript handy and know your PSAT, or if taken, ACT and/or SAT, scores as you will have to enter them. My DS didn't want anything on his 2011 NASS/preliminary application to conflict with his actual transcript, and USNA asked for one's grade in every major course of study. No essay or anything. If you have that information, the rest is stuff you'll know off the cuff.

There are some whom assign less importance to this, but: I am a true believer in getting things in early, immediately, right away. My DS worked really hard and had great stats throughout high school, but I believe his diligence in turning his NASS application is why he found out he was accepted three weeks later, same with his LOA and nom. Being at the head of the line pays.:cool:
 
I have a question please - I thought the Summer Seminar application will not be available to fill out until Dec 29th? Also - do you know right away if your accepted to SS or do you have to qualify for the seminar?
 
Jan 3?

Hey guys, I've been prepping to fill out this app and have been checking the USNASS page fairly often to see when the date would change from Feb 1 to Dec 29 and it has changed, but to Jan 3. Just heads up to all of you anxiously awaiting Thursday! I could be wrong, but here's the link if you want to investigate further: http://www.usna.edu/admissions/nass.htm :thumb: Good luck guys.
 
You will not know immediately if you are invited to summer seminar. It is a rolling admissions and some will find out sooner than others. Also, not attending summer seminar will not hinder you in getting an appointment. DS did not know about summer seminar when the application opened last year and filled out his app 3-4 weeks after it was available. He was turned down for NASS but was successful in obtaining his appointment.
 
You will not know immediately if you are invited to summer seminar. It is a rolling admissions and some will find out sooner than others. Also, not attending summer seminar will not hinder you in getting an appointment. DS did not know about summer seminar when the application opened last year and filled out his app 3-4 weeks after it was available. He was turned down for NASS but was successful in obtaining his appointment.

Based on the big 3 SA's treatment of me and their SS programs, WP liked me the most and USNA kept me waiting the longest!

I got WP acceptance within a week or two. AFA within that month. USNA.... I think it was a good 2 month wait.

At least USNA did sent that LOA to me before USMMA did:biggrin:
 
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