Boys' State and Service Academies

If you have to choose, I would select the one that you most want to do. Boy's/Girl's State gives you some extra points in the admissions process, but so do many, many other things. The fact is that most folks who are offered B/G State are already outstanding candidates. Thus, it's hard to say whether State was a significant help in admissions or that the candidate was already outstanding so it really made little difference. Doing well at NASS can also be a slight boost in the admissions process.

If you're uncertain about a SA and want to do State, remember you can always request a CVW in lieu of summer seminar (at least for USNA).
 
As you can see from the replies, there really isn't a wrong choice, which is a good problem to have. My son chose NASS. He went to USAFASS as well, and missed a week of school. He was allowed to take finals early. Hopefully you can make it work that you can do both weeks like you mentioned.
 
Last edited:
For what it's worth, my DS attended Boys State and received an enormous amounts of attention from other schools. He was accepted and received scholarships to those schools with very little effort. (ie. no application fees, no formal applications) This was a great confidence lift as we entered his Senior year. I would think if the candidate is open to other options than just USNA, then perhaps Boys State is worth attending.
 
I think something that’s not thought about regarding a SS is the impact on MOC’s. While it may or may not be true that there is a benefit of SS on an appointment offer consideration, I know for a fact that there is a positive impact on our MOC’s nomination process. So indirectly, there is a benefit (at least in out state). DS received 3 noms and at a public open house for one senator, our senator said, when meeting DS, ‘we should award points for attending SS. It shows interest, and you have been exposed to the environment’ (paraphrasing...). DS received that senators principal nomination.

So there COULD be a benefit in that sense. Perhaps no points at the USNA level, but it helped at the MOC level for him. He also discussed SS’s in his interviews. He also LOVED it.

I have no comment on State. He didn’t attend. He is a soon to be plebe no more!!
 
I had the opportunity to attend both NASS and Boys State, as well as Boys Nation and from my personal experience, I would say 100% go for boys state. NASS was fun and gave me a better idea of what the Naval Academy would potentially be like, but Boys State/Nation was truly a life-changing experience. It gives experiences and lessons that you'll carry not only into college but into the military and beyond. Many boys state programs also give the opportunity to go back and work as a staff member in future years, a great way to build connections and continue the experience. Anyway, that's my two cents, feel free to ask if you have questions about any of the three experiences (NASS, Boys State, Boys Nation).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top