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dpt135

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This question is a bit dated since NASS happened long ago.But, I have been dying to ask. Do they make an evaluation of you while you attend NASS? Of course, we did our CFA there but I didn't know if they gave secret evaluations of other kinds to place in your applicant file? It seems to me like a great oppurtunity to get a good look at the potential candidates.Maybe it is more of a chance for us to get a look at USNA. ?? Thoughts or info on this.
 
I'm pretty sure our squad leaders wrote us up an evaluation that is kept in our file. I don't know how in depth it is though, or what it contains. I'd be super curious to find out what it says! They said at NASS that you're being watched... so I'm positive they have something about us from how we performed there.
 
At West Point SLS an official interview is done that we as MALO's can see on the portal so one definitely is there. I was told by various people during the 2 years we've had kids going to NASS that an unofficial evaluation is done. WP's replaces the official MALO interview but at Navy a BGO one would still be done. I have heard from people on the boards (this could be all rumor) that if your squad leader ranks you #1 that it shows up on your printout that the BGO sees. I know our son's BGO's have been able to see that they attended NASS but didn't mention anything further. My guess is that it would be similar to what your mid escort fills out if you attend the CVW as well. Not really adding "points" to your application but more a concern if they flag you some way as not a good candidate.
 
Yes, an evaluation is completed at NASS by your squad leader. The BGO can see that you attended NASS but does not have access to the evaluation.
 
marciemi said:
At West Point SLS an official interview is done that we as MALO's can see on the portal so one definitely is there. I was told by various people during the 2 years we've had kids going to NASS that an unofficial evaluation is done. WP's replaces the official MALO interview but at Navy a BGO one would still be done. I have heard from people on the boards (this could be all rumor) that if your squad leader ranks you #1 that it shows up on your printout that the BGO sees. I know our son's BGO's have been able to see that they attended NASS but didn't mention anything further. My guess is that it would be similar to what your mid escort fills out if you attend the CVW as well. Not really adding "points" to your application but more a concern if they flag you some way as not a good candidate.
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Yeah, that's what I heard as well. My squad leader at NASS ranked us every day apparently.
 
You are evaluated during NASS, just as you will be during CVW. I can vouch for the fact that the evaluations can carry a good bit of clout, so be mindful of your appearance, attitude, and behavior. That being said, enjoy and learn from the experience.
 
I am a little surprised by the comments of the BGO's as having been both a NASS Squad leader and had 2 drags, were were told that our evaluations of the candidates carried a small weight but was way more an leadership exercise for the Mids and used in our evaluations for Company ratings etc. In fact, for CVW, unless someone really was a screw up we were told to evaluate the positives not any negatives.

Think about it - both of these leadership opportunities fall to Plebes - 18-19 year olds. The first being CVW and and real first leadership training opportunity NASS - (which by the way we are told is more or less a marketing tool) Do you all really think that Admissions is going to put a lot of weight on an evaluation, which was done by probably a 19 year and is the first time they have ever done a personnel evaluation?
 
I've heard various stories over the years about evaluations for CVW -- are they done, do they count, how much do they count, etc.

Here's my take. The primary purpose of CVW is to provide well-qualified candidates an opportunity to learn more about USNA. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the mid who escorts you around is asked to provide some form of evaluation. However, as noted above, USNA realizes the person doing the evaluating is a plebe and this may be the first time he/she has evaluated anyone for anything.

Thus, absent your doing something incredibly stupid, the evaluation is unlikely to carry much weight. What is incredibly stupid? Here are a few examples:

-- saying the only reason you want to attend USNA is that your mother/father/sibling/teacher, etc. is forcing you to to do so

-- being totally negative about everything you see and do

-- being totally unable to keep up physically

-- making inappropriate comments (i.e., racist, bigoted, etc.)

-- making comments about how you hate the military, can't imagine serving, wouldn't ever want to go to war, etc.

And, quite frankly, if you fall into one of the above categories, USNA probably isn't for you.

Asking lots of questions, even "stupid" ones, is perfectly okay.:smile: That's one of the purposes of CVW -- for you to be able to talk to plebes and see what their lives are like.
 
CurrentMid said:
Do you all really think that Admissions is going to put a lot of weight on an evaluation, which was done by probably a 19 year and is the first time they have ever done a personnel evaluation?
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Well, personally, yes, I think they would. Maybe not a "lot" of weight, but the impression of someone who is about the same age, who the candidate is not likely to try to BS, and who has just gone through the same thing they're evaluating for has to be invaluable. There's just no way a BGO, many of whom didn't attend an academy or may not even have any prior exposure to the military, is going to get the same glimpse at the candidate that you as a NASS SL or a CVW escort will. I know with my sons, and many of the candidates I interview for WP - at a formal interview (whether BGO, MALO, or MOC) - the answers are what they're expected to be. They have a standard reason why they want to go to a SA or how honored they are to be there and of course they plan to make a career out of it. :wink: But at CVW or NASS they can ask all those questions they truly want to ask and probably allow a mid (even a plebe!) to judge whether they truly are interested, are just learning about the academy for the first time, or really don't want to be there.
 
Maybe not a "lot" of weight, but the impression of someone who is about the same age, who the candidate is not likely to try to BS, and who has just gone through the same thing they're evaluating for has to be invaluable.
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Respectfully, you would be surprised with the BS that we see both at CVW and NASS. All in the name of trying to one up other candidates, look like the perfect Mid (when in reality there is no such thing) and feed you a total line because they think you are going to make a difference in their acceptance. I have seen and heard some amazing "stories" Typically they are more apt to ask your roommates what they really want to know rather than their assigned Plebe. Most Candidates believe that they are being evaluated by their host, so they never really relax.

Let me shed a little light on rankings... I will put it in terms of company rankings, used for OOM. Your peers rank you. First semester plebe year its is pretty much a popularity contest. (Apply that to a newly minted 3/c doing an eval for NASS - pretty much who is likable vs who is a joe unless of course the NASS Squad leader is one then that ranking will be quite different) For the matter of end of semester rankings the only one that really counts is your Company Officer - the adult in charge. So now why would admissions have a 3/c's eval count much at all? Especially in light that you will have a formal interview with trained BGO's. For those applicants who go to cvw in the fall that Plebe has most likely never evaluated anyone for anything, again having a drag means that the Plebe is being watched and evaluated by their leadership/Company Officer. (Clarification: Company Officers are typically LT's or Majors assigned a two year tour to the Academy.)

As much as everyone would like to believe that as a Plebe you have suddenly found a higher level of maturity than your sr in high school counterpart - don't kid yourself. Yes we all learned over PS how to carry ourselves especially in public but maturity is not necessarily the same thing.

When I went to CVW I asked most of my questions to other company mates while my host was off at their varsity practice.
 
CurrentMid - thanks for the insights! I'm not pretending to know anything about the USNA admissions process so it's interesting to read your thoughts and experiences. My experience so far in working with USMA is that they seem to value the opinions of the MALO's/FFR's a lot more than the standard Letters of Recommendation - since everyone is unlikely to submit anything other than "great" to "excellent" recs. Meanwhile, they feel that the MALO's at least have a little bit of practice in weeding out the BS from the truth and the experience in knowing what to look for.

However, I guess I was thinking that the MALO/BGO wouldn't be nearly as valuable as a current mid/cadet's perception would be. At West Point we had no peer evaluations (other than at Buckner) so that whole part of your post is also interesting and different than anything I've experienced.
 
I believe 85 and CurrentMid have it most accurately. It's a valid leadership exercise for the draggers and NASS counselors. Evals are done, but absent extremes on either end, carry little weight. In fact, in both cases, while evals were requested, they're not required it seems, as many are never completed.

In sum, while they can help or hurt minimally, most make little difference. There's no "box" to be checked or left empty regarding these evals. It's the other stuff that cooks or creates Plebes to be.
 
When DD was a NASS squad leader, everyone in her squad fell into one of three "review" categories. Most were in the middle - nothing really exceptional either way. Then there were the few who REALLY stood out - either for good (obviously really wants it, is interested, tries really hard to participate and do well during CFA, PRT, mock indoc, etc.) or for bad (see 1985's list, above - in general). Those extreme cases are the only ones (IMO) where a new 3/C's opinion might carry any impact at all.

OTOH, for their entire career as officers, they will be expected to write performance reviews and rank people in their unit. No time like the present to start to learn how to do it.
 
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