NASS/Boys State

MN2022

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I applied for NASS, but am now having second thoughts, as I've read that Boys State helps your application a lot more. If I do get accepted for NASS but decide not to go (my baseball coach only lets me miss one week per summer) will this count for my official candidacy? Also any thoughts on which to go to NASS or Boys state would be helpful. If I go to Boys state I would try and schedule a CVW.
 
NASS has no bearing on your chances for admission. Go to Boys State and politely decline NASS. Let them know you are attending boys state instead. Boys state will improve your leadership score. Go to boys state
 
I applied for NASS, but am now having second thoughts, as I've read that Boys State helps your application a lot more. If I do get accepted for NASS but decide not to go (my baseball coach only lets me miss one week per summer) will this count for my official candidacy? Also any thoughts on which to go to NASS or Boys state would be helpful. If I go to Boys state I would try and schedule a CVW.

Boys state gets you points on the actual application so thats definitely important but if you go to NASS they will be watching you too see if you're a good leader and if you preform well that can help you get in.
 
I went to NASS last summer instead of Boys State because I didn't know if I wanted to go to USNA. Boys State does look good on your application. Our squad leaders at NASS did, however, evaluate us and write some sort of report that goes into our application file. We also got to take the CFA there. It really depends on what you think is more important for you as a candidate. You could always do a CVW instead of NASS.
 
I applied for NASS, but am now having second thoughts, as I've read that Boys State helps your application a lot more. If I do get accepted for NASS but decide not to go (my baseball coach only lets me miss one week per summer) will this count for my official candidacy? Also any thoughts on which to go to NASS or Boys state would be helpful. If I go to Boys state I would try and schedule a CVW.
You will also be taking the CFA at NASS allowing you to get that requirement completed (assuming you are prepared). Boys State is also a fantastic program which adds to your leadership score. If you have the opportunity to do both, IMPO would explain to your coach the significance of the programs and the impact they have on your future after high school to attend USNA and attend both!
 
DD did both girls state and SLE (USMA version of NASS). She thoroughly enjoyed SLE more. B/G State is geared towards immersing in government structures...she's more of a STEM kid. Going to the academy will give you a small sniff, B/G state will help your WCS score. If DD had to go back and choose all over again, she wouldn't change a thing. She too did miss an additional week of sports. Coaches have to understand that you are participating in some amazing events that are geared towards your future. She was fortunate to have coaches that understood that, so it worked out well for her.
 
How much does Boys State affect your WCS? How much would this compare to the detailers notes at NASS?
 
How much does Boys State affect your WCS? How much would this compare to the detailers notes at NASS?
I attended both boys state/NASS last summer, I will say boys state will be seen as another leadership position; such as being president of a club. To say that it weighs a lot on your application, I don't think so. The notes written by your squad leader will be added to your file and what admission will be looking at is if you had a certain characteristics that were really impressive that were picked up by your squad leader. Also it could screw you over, for example if you went to NASS and was very lazy, didn't seem motivated to want to be there or you just have a personality that says a lot about you, you squad leader could also write this down. So if you want Boys state, go for it it is a great program and looks really good, and if you want to attend NASS, go there and show them that you want to be there,
 
In a Rand study for USMA, attending boys state gets the same points as being an Eagle Scout for the leadership score.
 
I applied for NASS, but am now having second thoughts, as I've read that Boys State helps your application a lot more. If I do get accepted for NASS but decide not to go (my baseball coach only lets me miss one week per summer) will this count for my official candidacy? Also any thoughts on which to go to NASS or Boys state would be helpful. If I go to Boys state I would try and schedule a CVW.
Why would your baseball coach be involved with your future plans? If you can attend both the NASS and Boys state I would do so and tell you baseball coach to pound sand. He isn't going to be paying your way through college.
 
I went to both this past summer. NASS was one of the most amazing weeks of my life and considering how tough it is to get into the Academy it may be your only chance to experience that type of environment.

Sure, Boys State looks good and all but I don't think it makes or breaks an applicant. At NASS, you can see if academy life is for you. Some kids at my NASS week found that they didn't like it and decided to not apply.

However, I second what Texas said. Try your hardest to do both. The leadership points from Boystate and the info and recommendation you get at NASS are both positive things to put on your app.
 
I would one-up what other people said and say that if you can go to another Service Academy Summer Program (AFASS, SLE or AIM), go to that too (in addition to Boys State and NASS).

My DS wanted be a USNA midshipman since he was young, but I told them he should try other SAs too.

It's like test driving a car before you buy it. Why not try other models before buying one.

After going to each SA summer program, he walked away thinking WP was a better fit for him. He wouldn't have known that if he just went to NASS and Boys State

And for the record, if you want a good taste of what it is like to be new plebe/midshipman, go to the Coast Guard Academy's AIM program. It was an in-your-face, hard-core, realistic exposure to what a first year at a SA would expeirence.
 
DS just got accepted to Boys State. He's applied for NASS, and is super excited if he has the chance to do both. The problem is that the first week of NASS, he's in finals and the third week is Boys State. When he applied to NASS, he didn't mention the Boys State conflict; at that time he hadn't even thought to apply to Boys State. Now he'll be sending an email (as directed on the NASS application) to update his preferences. He's just hoping that he'll get the chance to do both. If not, he'll likely choose Boys State.

How accommodating is the NASS admissions office to these types of conflicts? Since Boys State is the same week throughout the nation (I assume), hopefully, they'll understand the importance of both.
 
How accommodating is the NASS admissions office to these types of conflicts? Since Boys State is the same week throughout the nation (I assume), hopefully, they'll understand the importance of both.
If there is space his change request will be approved. If there isn't it will not.
 
Here's the deal. Whether or not you attend Boy's State is unlikely to make THE difference in your application. It helps. So does attending NASS -- you get a few bonus points for attending and, if you do really well, it can help a bit more.

If DS can only do one activity, he should do the one he wants to do more. Period.

Life is too short to be worrying about resume building at age 17 -- at least IMHO and at least at the expense of doing something you'd really enjoy.

I would add that if DS does not have much experience with the military, USNA or another SA, NASS could help him decide whether that life/school/service is for him. But he could also do a CVW to gain that insight.
 
Life is too short to be worrying about resume building at age 17 -- at least IMHO and at least at the expense of doing something you'd really enjoy.
I would add that if DS does not have much experience with the military, USNA or another SA, NASS could help him decide whether that life/school/service is for him. But he could also do a CVW to gain that insight.

He has no experience with the military, other than my State Guard reservist activity the last few years. His interest in the USNA started early in his junior year and has continued to grow. It surprised us as he'd never mentioned it as even an option before. Now it's all he really talks about. We've been watching plenty of Youtube about Plebe Summer and Plebe Year, and he loves it!

He'll have many other great options, as most who receive appointment do. I do want him to experience NASS to get an extended look at the Naval Academy, but if he doesn't, hopefully, he can do a CVW next year.
 
I applied for NASS, but am now having second thoughts, as I've read that Boys State helps your application a lot more. If I do get accepted for NASS but decide not to go (my baseball coach only lets me miss one week per summer) will this count for my official candidacy? Also any thoughts on which to go to NASS or Boys state would be helpful. If I go to Boys state I would try and schedule a CVW.

Definitely go to Boy's State. It's constantly repeated Summer Sem doesn't help or hurt your application. Once at Boy's State, do everything you can to be a very active participant and try to run for an office. You'll understand what I mean when you get there.

I will say though that Summer Sem is where my son met and spent time with his 'new' Navy coach. He was invited to come spend time with the team on an official D-1 visit. If you're thinking about playing a sport, try to reach out to whatever coach and make time to see him during your CVW. It's too bad your coach is being so short sighted. It's not like you want to take time off to go to Disney World or something. This is a critical time for you right now. Maybe your parents could talk to him?

Good luck!
 
Another option is to look up neighboring states to see when their BS session is. If it does not coincide with NASS you could work out a deal to get your DS in the neighboring state's BS session (if they have room, and you'll need your home state's ALA chapter to sponsor him), and still do NASS. We did this is with my DD and she was able to go NASS and GS in a neighboring state in back to back weeks. If you live in the middle of Montana this may not be practical. But if you live in smaller states and/or the neighboring BS event is close it may work out for you.
 
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