NASS CFA question

SwimMomNyc

5-Year Member
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Dec 10, 2012
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My DS is attending the second session of NASS starting this Saturday. I have a question about the CFA. Are participants informed on the spot whether or not they have passed? Or do they find out later? If not on the spot, do they get a sense of passing/failing upon completion? As a swimmer, DS is in very good shape, but seems concerned about pull-ups. Thanks to all for any input.
 
They'll find out later on, usually from their BGO

Males usually do 10+ pullups.
 
CFA at NASS

My DS texted me yesterday about his results. He said that he had passed . I am not sure how he knows ,but I am guessing that they must have told him. He is having a great time ... I am sure your DS will too!! :thumb:
 
DS called last night, he said after the test they said "good job, go drink water." No indication on whether he passed or not. We have an idea of how he did based on the published maximums and averages, but nothing from the NASS end. So maybe it depends on how well you passed it, high averages or near maxing, versus right at the averages (where my DS is) on whether they will comment on passing. ???
 
My DS new when he completed CFA that he had passed. Many males do many less than 10 pull-up my DS included. Only things that matter in CFA are push-ups , sit-ups, and run. Admissions guy told me that they don't even look at the other things. DS reports for I-day on the 27th. He was a CC runner so his run time was good but upper body strength was lacking. Barely passed pushups. He has since gotten much better but still has much room for improvement in all categories.
 
Last year, my squad leader was able to give our squad a pretty good sense of whether or not we passed. Your BGO will confirm this during your interview. No matter how well you do, you should always consider retaking it. Admissions takes the highest set of scores (not superscored though- all scores from same test) and while the CFA isn't a large portion of the application, it could be enough to push you over someone with similar credentials.
 
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Only things that matter in CFA are push-ups , sit-ups, and run. Admissions guy told me that they don't even look at the other things.

I wouldn't count on this . . . and it's not consistent with what I've heard from Admissions. No question that USNA focuses on the 3 events you mentioned. However, that's different than saying they don't look at the other events and USNA has said that, if you don't max out across the board, there is room to improve. I can promise you that a guy who can't do any pull-ups is going to be in some trouble.

I'm not sure that, for close calls, the mids running the CFA know whether someone has passed. They undoubtedly have a good sense for people who have clearly passed and can say as much. Those who are close on one or more events . . . they may have to wait.
 
Sincere thanks to all for responding!

I have followed these message boards for awhile...since my DS first expressed his interest in a SA. I have always been impressed by the helpful tone of the discourse, especially given the competitive nature of the process. This was my first post. I am grateful for your responses. Best of luck to all.
 
NASS

I agree that this board is very, very useful. It sounds like your son, as a swimmer and one who wants to do well, will be just fine!
My dd, on the other hand, is going to NASS more on a fact finding mission to see IF she wants to pursue this. We have let her be and she is working out...a little. Her sport is bball and spring work outs ended when exams hit. Needless to say, she will not be at her prime come NASS.

Still, the week there I am sure will prove to be informative and rewarding in many ways! Her BGO told her to prep for the CFA, but prep also in regards to what she wants to know about USNA from those who are there and what she wants to observe and ask while there...since this is a great chance to do so.

S
 
Admissions takes the highest set of scores (not superscored though- all scores from same test)

This is NOT true unless they recently changed this policy. They take the latest score. So if one takes more than one CFA and does extremely poor on the last one, that is what counts.
 
last yr DS knew right away he passed. He only sent two texts last yr from NASS and one was his scores. He also said the three listed: push-ups, sit-ups, and run mattered the most. He didnt think the other's didnt count at all though. He also was told the latest score is what counts, not the best scores. He never found out he passed by his BGO, though on the other hand my son never asked him.

There was a link posted last yr on this forum (I cant find it now though that I cant find that listed the percentage of passing/failing the CFA and I remember being VERY surprised by the high % amount of fails.
 
DS reports for I-day on the 27th. He was a CC runner so his run time was good but upper body strength was lacking. Barely passed pushups. He has since gotten much better but still has much room for improvement in all categories.

NROTC, I'll see you on I-day, congrats on being a super dad with an obviously well brought up "chip."

My DS is similar to all of yours. He separated his shoulder while playing soccer at NASS, waiting to start on the first day! Talk about drama. He cried and cried thinking the USNA was just a dream at that point. I worked everyday turning him around from those thoughts, and there were some difficult moments. He worked with his PT and ROTC Colonel taking several CFAs off-line. The Colonel submitted two exams, the last showing improvements in all categories, but NOT stellar performance, even when compared to the USN PRT scoring. His shoulder/upper body was still improving.

We waited a week and called admissions, telling us his scores were "accepted" and that he "passed." At that point, I did not dwell on the CFA. Looking at the Navy PRT categories, he scored "good" in Pushups, Crunches and between "outstanding" and "excellent" on the run. Try plugging this into Wolfram-Alpha! :rolleyes:

Looking back, I spent way too much time worrying about the CFA. Good luck everyone!
 
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Stella, what session is your DS in?
My DS is also on a fact finding mission. I think he was hoping to not like USNA so it would be easier to choose between that and AFA. When he went on a visit to AFA is was an amazingly beautiful, crisp, clear day; the instructors were incredible and welcoming: he got to see a lunch formation complete with D&B playing in the background...couldn't have been more perfect had they planned it specifically for him!
He arrived pretty early to USNA on Saturday and his texts were thoughtful, kind of reserved, said he didn't have an opinion yet. It was different, lots of trees and more of an urban setting, he liked how there was more to do right outside the gate though and not having a car would be less of an issue than at AFA.
When he called me Sunday night he was hooked. Said he had fallen in love with USNA and knew he could be happy at either academy. Monday was one text at bedtime, "no voice left. Too much fun." This morning was a text that said "I've been up for 2 hours. Seal PT was hard but awesome." This coming from a guy that only works out because its part of the process!
 
Dial, son had similar experience

Son went to United States Miltary Academy sle first

Son: I love it hear at sle and I don't want to bother going to NASS
Mom: we already bought your ticket. Too bad
Son: fine

Son went to NASS

Son: I LOVE LOVE it here at Nass, United States Naval Academy is my number one choice.
 
Similar with my DS. He was only interested in AFA, and was not going to go to NASS until we told him "You got in...you're going"! That was two years ago...he is currently an NASS detailer! :)
 
Stella, what session is your DS in?
My DS is also on a fact finding mission. I think he was hoping to not like USNA so it would be easier to choose between that and AFA. When he went on a visit to AFA is was an amazingly beautiful, crisp, clear day; the instructors were incredible and welcoming: he got to see a lunch formation complete with D&B playing in the background...couldn't have been more perfect had they planned it specifically for him!
He arrived pretty early to USNA on Saturday and his texts were thoughtful, kind of reserved, said he didn't have an opinion yet. It was different, lots of trees and more of an urban setting, he liked how there was more to do right outside the gate though and not having a car would be less of an issue than at AFA.
When he called me Sunday night he was hooked. Said he had fallen in love with USNA and knew he could be happy at either academy. Monday was one text at bedtime, "no voice left. Too much fun." This morning was a text that said "I've been up for 2 hours. Seal PT was hard but awesome." This coming from a guy that only works out because its part of the process!

My D is going to session 2, which starts this Saturday. She then is headed to USAFA. She really does not know if an SA is for her at all. This is all totally new to our family. She has been SO occupied with school that for the first time she looked at the NASS packing list this morning and went to the website. I think now she is a bit nervous...and excited. Her one concern was that the academic class blocks of time seem very long. Having just finished junior year, she is burnt out and looking for more of a physical outlet than academic work. But I pointed out that everyone would be tired from junior year and that the classes I am sure will be interesting. She is good to go.

S
 
Her one concern was that the academic class blocks of time seem very long. Having just finished junior year, she is burnt out and looking for more of a physical outlet than academic work. But I pointed out that everyone would be tired from junior year and that the classes I am sure will be interesting. She is good to go.

S

The classes at NASS a lot less academic and a lot more "hey look at all the cool toys we have here." It's much more of an admissions recruiting event than it is an evaluation of candidates. No worries.
 
Sand, My DS and yours must have been at same Nass session because he told me about a kid that injured his during his first day at Academy.Great to hear that he overcame what could have been a crushing blow and rose to the challenge. I am so proud of my DS as I know you are but as the days dwindle I feel like I want to stop time to have just a few more days before my first born leaves home.
NROTC, I'll see you on I-day, congrats on being a super dad with an obviously well brought up "chip."

My DS is similar to all of yours. He separated his shoulder while playing soccer at NASS, waiting to start on the first day! Talk about drama. He cried and cried thinking the USNA was just a dream at that point. I worked everyday turning him around from those thoughts, and there were some difficult moments. He worked with his PT and ROTC Colonel taking several CFAs off-line. The Colonel submitted two exams, the last showing improvements in all categories, but NOT stellar performance, even when compared to the USN PRT scoring. His shoulder/upper body was still improving.

We waited a week and called admissions, telling us his scores were "accepted" and that he "passed." At that point, I did not dwell on the CFA. Looking at the Navy PRT categories, he scored "good" in Pushups, Crunches and between "outstanding" and "excellent" on the run. Try plugging this into Wolfram-Alpha! :rolleyes:

Looking back, I spent way too much time worrying about the CFA. Good luck everyone!
 
NASS is absolutely a recruiting tool and a very good one. My DS went to NASS to "Feel it out" as well. His first choice was actually Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets NROTC, hence my username, where he had been twice already. When I picked him up after NASS, he didn't want to talk about going anywhere else anymore. He was USNA all the way:thumb:
 
Can you use your CFA results for a different Academy if you do not go to their summer program?
 
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