NASS of '18 Questions

So I applied to NASS early February. I was not expecting to get in since I didn't realize we had to write an essay for the application, and my grades were not the best, so I figure it can't really be that competitive or else I wouldn't of gotten accepted. However I received my acceptance email yesterday, Tuesday, March 20th. I got accepted to session #2 and plan on going. However I have questions.
1. Is it physically demanding? (I understand that it is pt, however is it actually that difficult as they say?)
2. Whats it like? Is it fun, boring, scary etc.
3. I've heard that getting accepted into NASS is pretty much like a pre-application to the Naval Academy. Is that true? Does it aid us in anyway towards applying to the college?

Thank you for the help!

There is an awful lot written about NASS on this forum, use the Search Function.
I would also encourage you to google "Message to Garcia" --there is a lot of wisdom there.

tylerd said:

1. Is it physically demanding? (I understand that it is pt, however is it actually that difficult as they say?)
2. Whats it like? Is it fun, boring, scary etc.
3. I've heard that getting accepted into NASS is pretty much like a pre-application to the Naval Academy. Is that true? Does it aid us in anyway towards applying to the college?

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1. Not too demanding but expect to be active. If you play a high school sport and/or are reasonably active, it should not be too taxing BUT understand that if you can't keep up, it will not reflect well on you.
2. There are many experiences and pieces within NASS - at times you'll have fun but I wouldn't expect it all to be fun and it will likely be boring at times. Not too much should be scary for most people.
3. Applying to NASS is a pre-application to USNA. being selected/attending NASS is not much of an advantage in applying to USNA later except for those NASS attendees who stand out as being particularly outstanding.

You will be given or given the opportunity to take the PRT. (physical test) If you pass and decide to apply it's one less thing you have to worry about.

The tests in the PRT can be found online and how they are to be administered.

helmsdown said:

You will be given or given the opportunity to take the PRT. (physical test) If you pass and decide to apply it's one less thing you have to worry about.

The tests in the PRT can be found online and how they are to be administered.

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Actually, they administer the CFA which is very different from the PRT

OldRetSWO said:

helmsdown said:

You will be given or given the opportunity to take the PRT. (physical test) If you pass and decide to apply it's one less thing you have to worry about.

The tests in the PRT can be found online and how they are to be administered.

Click to expand...

Actually, they administer the CFA which is very different from the PRT

Click to expand...

Yes you are correct. It's what's been talked about lately and I mixed them up.

Just try to do your best and try to experience if the academy is for you. There were some NASSers I knew that did not like the experience at all and decided not to apply. Honestly in all things, NASS is more of an experience rather than an evaluation. It made me decide to apply to USNA despite not having any consideration for it beforehand. NASS has no effect whatsoever on admission into the academy, there are evaluations by your squad leader but I did not see it in the CIS. I see NASS as more of a recruiting tool to interest underrepresented areas, and an excellent way to educate candidates about the application process, because you're surrounded by a bunch of mids who got in. It was one of the best experiences I had the summer before senior year along with USAFA summer seminar. OH yeah can't forget about Sea Trials, that was probably the highlight of the whole program. AND get in shape for the CFA that you're going to take because that counts towards your application and you get an award for maxing out every event in the closing ceremony!

I loved NASS. PT is very fun every morning, if you’re used to working out. It’s very fun, but some classes can get boring. Being accepted I became an official candidate to actually apply to the naval academy

tylerd said:

So I applied to NASS early February. I was not expecting to get in since I didn't realize we had to write an essay for the application, and my grades were not the best, so I figure it can't really be that competitive or else I wouldn't of gotten accepted. However I received my acceptance email yesterday, Tuesday, March 20th. I got accepted to session #2 and plan on going. However I have questions.
1. Is it physically demanding? (I understand that it is pt, however is it actually that difficult as they say?)
2. Whats it like? Is it fun, boring, scary etc.
3. I've heard that getting accepted into NASS is pretty much like a pre-application to the Naval Academy. Is that true? Does it aid us in anyway towards applying to the college?

Thank you for the help!

Click to expand...

1. Pretty physically demanding if you aren’t a regular or in season athlete. You’ll take the CFA which made many in my class throw up, lol. I’m a track recruit headed to NAPS and their running excercises had me dying, but I’m a sprinter so I lack endurance. For some it was easy, for the majority it wasn’t.
2. In the beginning, it was scary. When I got to my room the first time I didn’t know what to do next and got yelled at for not knowing we were in our first formation. Everyone else somehow knew and stared me down when I arrived- so embarassing. The first two days were culture shock with the amount of things we packed into a day and I was like “yeah.. I’m not applying here” but once our platoon began activities and team bonding it was entirely different. Making the friends and hearing the speeches and stories mid week completely changed my mind, as well as getting used to the rigor. Which, looking back, was only bad in the moment.
3. It does count as opening your application, so you now fall into the statistic of one of the 20,000-60,000 that apply. Whether you choose to continue or not is up to you and it isn’t binding. It is a good camp to have on your resume for other colleges, but if you want to go to USNA it isn’t of any significance. However if you play your cards right, using the campus exposure to your advantage can get you important connections to help you go through your application process.

It is physically demanding if you give it your all. Of course they won't make you do anything that you feel uncomfortable with, especially during Sea Trials.

Do your best, make friends with the other candidates and detailers, and enjoy it all. It was one of the most memorable events in my life.

I'll be a detailer for the upcoming NASS class. As a former NASS candidate, I can say that it is a fun week. Detailers and midshipmen are instructed to give the candidates a realistic experience to allow them to determine if this place is for them. I am very excited to be a squad leader for this upcoming year, as I built a close bond with my own NASS squad leader during my time there.

One little bit of advice I might have: research some things that interest you at the Academy. Come in with plenty of questions. It is our job to fill you all in on the truth behind the Academy. I came into NASS with plenty of questions and received all of the answers from my squad leader and his friends.

Physically, just be in shape. You will receive an evaluation from your squad leader after the NASS session that will be part of your formal USNA application. Even if you are not in the best shape, do not quit. Give it 100% at all times, and it will reflect greatly on your application.

Overall, just have fun and be ready to have a great time. I can attest that all of the squad leaders (plebes right now... 60 more days...) are ready for you all to get here and ready to provide leadership!

1. As a three-season varsity athlete and someone who prepared physically quite a bit, I did not find it very difficult, but sea trials had some good challenges. There was a very wide range in the physical shape of the NASS-sters when I went, though (2017). Prepare and you might stand out and have more fun, in my opinion.
2. I personally found it fun, but honestly a little intimidating at times. I had/have immense respect for the tradition of the academy and everything that mids had been through and were working towards. I felt pretty "childish" compared to them, which was a little overwhelming for me, even though I did pretty well at NASS. If you don't love it, though, don't be too hard on yourself. There were plenty of kids who didn't end up liking it as much as they imagined they would, and that is good too, so you don't need to coerce yourself into thinking that you liked it. It will be awesome--get psyched!!!

I’m going to Session 1 of the USNA SS, then to USMA SLE Session 2 and then Boys State in June. It will be busy but worth it all. Still waiting for the USMC All American Academy selection.