They actually have a fund, to help pay for some who have been accepted to summer seminar, but can't afford to make it there. Many of us take for granted paying for a plane ticket. Many of us live close to a major airport, and the fare isn't as bad. But a small town like Burlington Vermont, to Colorado Springs, as a MINIMUM is around $700. Most flights are closer to $800-$1000. That's a lot of money for some people. And while some of us who fly a lot, think nothing of going to a bigger city like Denver and shuttling over; I know a lot of adults, let alone kids, who have never flown before. My kids when in elementary school, went back to classes after spring break, and the teacher asked the kids what they did during break. My kids mentioned going to Albuquerque to visit grand parents, then flying out to New Jersey to visit other grandparents, and visiting new york city. Most of the kids in their class were LOCALS, born and raised there, so all of their family was there. Maybe they drove 50 miles to Chugwater Wyoming to visit grandma. Point is, not everyone has the same background. So, the financial information is used to see about ensuring that "Finances" doesn't stop an applicant from attending summer seminar because they got accepted, but couldn't afford to get to the academy.
As to if you attended any other USAFA Sponsored events or if a parent graduated from the academy, that answer is very simple. You may not have read all my posts; that's ok. I write a lot. But you need to realize that the SUMMER SEMINAR IS NOT for the benefit of the academy. That's why you get NO EXTRA POINTS for getting accepted to it or attending it. It means absolutely ZERO to the academy. The Summer Seminar program is 100% for the BENEFIT OF THE POTENTIAL ACADEMY APPLICANT. The academy wants to do everything in it's power to ensure that when you apply to the academy; should you be fortunate enough to receive an appointment; that you REALLY WANT TO BE THERE and that you're not going to QUIT 2-3 weeks into it; "Because it's not for you". "It's NOT what you THOUGHT it was going to be like". Unfortunately, they can't get all 12,000 or even 6,000 to attend summer seminar. But back to your question. If you've attended OTHER USAFA sponsored events at the academy, or your parents/siblings attended/graduated from the academy, then there's a pretty good chance that you know a lot more about the academy than the average applicant. AND MAYBY, the academy would be better off giving a summer seminar spot to someone who has NO IDEA WHAT THE ACADEMY IS LIKE. Which AGAIN; is the main purpose of Summer Seminar. The academy gets NOTHING out of it. It's 100% for the applicant. And they'd rather you came to summer seminar and realized; "This Ain't for Me"; than to accept the appointment and quit 2-3 weeks into basic training.
It's hard to comprehend sometimes, but the academy and the military in general, actually has a "Method to their Madness". They actually do know what they're doing.
