Naval Academy Summer Seminar

LOTR2000

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Jul 19, 2018
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Although I did not gain admission to the Naval Academy, I did have the privilege of attending summer seminar. My question is, should I note this anywhere on my civilian resume going forward, under activities.
 
Up to you.

After working for a living since the late 70's, my CV could be more than a couple of dozen pages.
I still keep my resume to one page. Nobody cares about anything past the first page.
 
I would probably remove it after I land my first job. At this point, since I am a college freshman, how would it appear to a prospective employer or even if I decide to transfer to another school after freshman year?
 
With all due respect to Summer Seminar attendees — DD, now a youngster, was one — it’s essentially a summer camp. Not unlike a weeklong academic camp you might attend at a local university the summer before senior year. If you’re including those sorts of things in your resume, then have at it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother. Employees aren’t typically interested in your summer activities unless it’s a job and/or a direct hit on that field of work.
 
I think it's appropriate, depending on what stage you're in - for example, if you're a senior in high school creating a resume for college applications or a summer job, I think it's appropriate. While NASS is essentially a summer camp like @MidCakePa mentioned, not everyone that applies gets in, so in that way it's a little bit different. I think, more importantly, it shows that you didn't just spend your summer playing video games like a lot of kids. :) You spent a week investigating possible career paths, which shows initiative. My daughter, for example, put NASS on her resume when she was a senior in HS and applying for colleges. She was looking to get into college for biomedical engineering (BME), so she also included a BME camp she attended over the previous summer as well. Now that my daughter is a junior in college and looking for an internship, she no longer includes those items on her resume. There's a certain period in which it can be helpful, but after that, you'll probably need that room on the resume for other accomplishments.
 
I agree with @whataluckymom. It depends on your audience, and stage of growth in your 'career'. If you are interviewing for something, or have an opportunity to discuss through an essay, for example, you can also bring up the leadership you developed during SS (if that is the case). It IS an 'honor'. Not everyone applies/is selected. I'm NOT debating its value towards an appointment when I say this. When DS mentioned he attended to his Senator, she for sure had a positive response...inquired about his experience and he talked about leading. So, if appropriate to your circumstance, include it and certainly use it with all your other resume items to present yourself, who you are. I feel it is an accomplishment to attend. There is learning and growth done through attending (if that is the case with you, which I am guessing it is BC you inquired about using it).
 
Let me take the opposing position. I supposed it's fine to leave it on when you're applying for your first or maybe even second summer job while in college because most of your life is still high school. Personally, I don't think it will carry much weight but it's not a huge issue either way.

After your sophomore year in college, I would leave it off for several reasons.

First, anyone who knows what NASS is knows that it's a recruiting tool and not necessarily competitive. Second, it may lead to questions, such as "So, why didn't you attend USNA?" [employer may think you didn't want to and then you end up saying, "I wasn't accepted." Why go there? Focus instead on all the great things you've done at your civilian college]. Third, and most importantly, once you're well ensconced in college and especially after you graduate, no one cares what you did in high school.

On a more positive note . . . you will do all sorts of great things in your civilian college -- clubs, sports, volunteerism, internships, etc. They are recent, they are more substantive than your h.s. activities, and they are done while you are an adult. That's what employers will care about. NASS was a great experience, but it's but a blip on the chain of your life.
 
The first question with any item on the Resume is "what is my objective ?" , followed closely by "how does it help me achieve that objective?" and "can it hurt me?" You define the objective, ie.. what are you trying to show a potential employer (or school you are applying to? Then ask yourself if adding attendance at NASS leads you to that ... Frankly, knowing what I know about NASS and the acceptance criteria , I would give it little if any value

Keep in mind...In some areas, very few people may even know what NASS is. If you include it, be prepared to explain how it was meaningful enough to take up space on your Resume. (I agree with THP -- keep it short, particularly at your age).

The final question , can it hurt me ? ...is important. While I don't think including NASS could hurt you (unless someone who knows what it is thinks you are simply name dropping, or has an anti-military bent), I have seen a lot of resumes over the years that list activities that are sometimes better left private (at least until after you have the job). For example, including Student volunteer for the "XYZ * for President" campaign is going to carry little value and could alienate the reader if they don't like XYZ.

* Footnote: -- I am proud of my self-censoring skills...If I had named a single candidate in the paragraph above, I would probably triggered hundreds of political replies, and illustrated why you keep it off the Resume (unless of course including the information leads you to the objective , bring the resume analysis full circle).
 
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