Secrets to Summer Seminar?
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Make sure that you are in shape before you go. It will make it a lot more enjoyable. Also, make sure you take take the time to get to know the people in your group. Other than that, go with the flow and listen to what you are told to do. Most importantly, have fun with everything you do and really ask yourself while you are there if the academy is what you want your college experience to be like.
Hopefully that answers your question.
Hopefully that answers your question.
It most certainly does, thank you!
Helic
USAFA c/o 2022
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
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- 20
- Ask questions!! When I went last year I had so many questions answered and gained a lot of valuable advice from cadets and cadre about the admissions process and even the jobs or majors I was potentially interested in. This is your time to get in depth answers from people who are living it so be sure to utilize the experience. They will be open and honest with you, giving you the most straightforward, accurate answers they can offer.
- Make friends there. It'll be much more enjoyable if you're friends with the kids in your flight, be sociable and open. For me, we all kept in touch after the seminar and it was really awesome to keep up and see who was going to what service academy/school or whatever.
- I would prepared physically by running a lot and doing the normal exercises you'd expect (push ups, sit ups...etc.). You'll just enjoy it more if you aren't physically struggling at the altitude. Also there is a day you do the CFA there. While it isn't counted towards anything I recommend you use it as practice or just make a mental note that this is what it'll feel like doing it at that altitude.
If you had any specific questions I'd love to maybe answer them since I had gone so recently
- Make friends there. It'll be much more enjoyable if you're friends with the kids in your flight, be sociable and open. For me, we all kept in touch after the seminar and it was really awesome to keep up and see who was going to what service academy/school or whatever.
- I would prepared physically by running a lot and doing the normal exercises you'd expect (push ups, sit ups...etc.). You'll just enjoy it more if you aren't physically struggling at the altitude. Also there is a day you do the CFA there. While it isn't counted towards anything I recommend you use it as practice or just make a mental note that this is what it'll feel like doing it at that altitude.
If you had any specific questions I'd love to maybe answer them since I had gone so recently
cama93
Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2016
- Messages
- 57
I went to SS last year.
Besides what other people have said already which i totally agree with (make friends, get as fit as you can):
-Bring a small bottle of laundry detergent. Sometimes you are made to change into your PT uniform more than once a day and you only get like three shirts. I washed my shirts in the sink and cycled them out which was very helpful, my roommates also found it very helpful.
-Bring bandaids and blister bandaids. Sometimes your feet arent used to the type/intensity/frequency of workouts you will be put through.
-Make an effort to learn your knowledge. I showed up to SS already knowing the phoentic alphabet, the core values, and some other basic AF information which ended up being on the packet of knowledge they gave us. Its that much less you have to cram the night before MilEx.
-Bring a lot of plastic bags. This helped me because you or your roomate always seem to need another one for laundry, wet clothes, dirty clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.
Besides what other people have said already which i totally agree with (make friends, get as fit as you can):
-Bring a small bottle of laundry detergent. Sometimes you are made to change into your PT uniform more than once a day and you only get like three shirts. I washed my shirts in the sink and cycled them out which was very helpful, my roommates also found it very helpful.
-Bring bandaids and blister bandaids. Sometimes your feet arent used to the type/intensity/frequency of workouts you will be put through.
-Make an effort to learn your knowledge. I showed up to SS already knowing the phoentic alphabet, the core values, and some other basic AF information which ended up being on the packet of knowledge they gave us. Its that much less you have to cram the night before MilEx.
-Bring a lot of plastic bags. This helped me because you or your roomate always seem to need another one for laundry, wet clothes, dirty clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.
Thank you for the info! Glad to know I already know some of the memorization material. I'll pack some detergent when it comes time!
Listen closely to the information given during the admissions briefing as they give you specific details in terms of what they are looking for. Also, you will likely get the opportunity to meet your specific admissions counselor, so you can ask them any specific questions that you may have. Overall, try to imagine that you are in the shoes of the people you meet who go to the academy...is that something that you would want for yourself? You cadre and other cadet leaders are a great source for real information about what it is like. In the words of my SS cadre, "I won't give you the cookie-cutter answer that you'll find in the brochure."
FFW22
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2018
- Messages
- 19
Take notes on your experience there because you may want to mention something in your essays. Admissions says attending summer seminar has no impact on your application, but my DS who just received an appointment talked about 2 specific seminar experiences in one of his essays. I think it helps when they can see that you know what you are getting into and you are a serious applicant.
The first day is a Freshman-like experience, lots of pt stations, eating square meals, etc. The other days are more of an extended tour of the academy, getting to attend sample classes and see all that the campus has to offer you as a student, though you will have a short morning pt that shouldn't be strenuous if you're in good shape. Be respectful to the cadre as they are taking a week of their summer to help you learn about USAFA, and get to the showers early because there will be lines out the door! Make friends with the other kids in your group, I am still good friends with the guys I met there.
When I was at SS the day we were treated like incoming freshman was named "MilEx"
MILEX is just when you experience being treated like incoming freshman as jakesam said in the above thread. There's a lot of yelling and "beating" such as the cadre making you do flutter kicks, etc, as well as reciting knowledge they give you in a sheet the night before. It's probably the roughest part out of the whole program but it is authentic as you can get being only a candidate. Otherwise the rest of the program is really chill and there are a lot of great people and friends. Your element leader is an incoming firstie so they know for sure how things are at the academy. There is also many instances of briefings that inform you on how to get into the academy as well as a whole academic major event where you can talk to counselors and professors, Be sure to evaluate how things are at the academy, because for some people it made them not apply or to interest them in a different academy. And also summer seminar has no effect on your application at all, it is just that admissions really likes what you put down on paper and as well as trying to interest underrepresented areas to get them to want to apply. The clothes you get at USAFASS are really nice too.