The Summer Seminar essay says that I must talk about STEM related activities, awards, positions, etc. However, my problem is that I am not too big in STEM. The closest I would get is in 8th grade when I was on the drive team for our school's engineering club at our competition as well as member of the year. But that was all 3 years ago. Since then, as ironic as it is, I have strayed away from STEM things and gone toward other routes. I have 5 years in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), NHS, my own military club that I started, treasurer of culinary club, varsity swim, etc... However, none of these have anything to do with STEM. What would I be able to put in place or do to explain my situation when writing my NASS essay. On top of that, since I do not have too many STEM related things, will that put me at a disadvantage to getting accepted to NASS?
NASS Essay
- Thread starter seb.g.b
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Examine for a moment why you’ve strayed away from STEM. USNA is a deeply STEM institution, as is the active-duty Navy. Are you not interested in STEM, if not actually excelling in it? Your answer should dictate whether this route is for you. A lack of STEM experience / aptitude / interest may not impact your NASS application, but again, think hard about what comes next.
To add on to @MidCakePa's reply, keep in mind that USNA only offers a BS degree. No BA. Even English majors receive a BS degree, because USNA is in fact a STEM school.
'Upon graduation, a Bachelor of Science degree is awarded regardless of major, by law, due to the technical content of the core curriculum. ' This is from the USNA website.
I don't want to say im not interested in STEM at all I do find things like physics and engineering fun to do. However I just personally feel more geared toward and enjoy studying the humanities more. For example, if I happen to get into USNA or any college for that fact, I will be taking up PoliSci as my major. As I stated, I don't mind doing stem stuff like how it's like at USNA, but I just find myself enjoying the other certain fields more than STEM.
It does but I believe it's asking for STEM related leadership roles. I may be wrong but based on how I read it that's how I interpret it. I have a good amount of leadership roles, only problem is they are not stem related.
The word for word prompt online says "Have you received any awards (STEM-related [science, technology, engineering, math], leadership, etc.), or been involved with any activities, groups, conferences in these mentioned areas?"
Again, correct me if I'm wrong but does the phrase "in these mentioned areas" refer to STEM related areas or areas with awards, leadership, groups, etc. I believe that's the phrase thats vague to me that I don't quite understand what they're trying to ask.
2024candidate
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Agree. It's asking you to discuss the awards you have won which are most important to you while strongly hinting that leadership and STEM awards are the most impressive to them. Hence 'etc.' -- IMO.
USNAhopeful2025
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Agree!!! my daughter has been working on her essay and we both agreed that leadership does not have to be STEM. also 1000 characters is VERY short!