Summer Seminar

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ginapenny

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Feb 6, 2018
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I just have a general inquiry. My DS will be attending SS this summer. I realize this is different then the application process but does attending allow the AFA to get to know possible candidates? Are they in a sense "looking at a possible fit?" When applying for c/o 2023 are they aware that he attended and how does it help if at all? Or is it merely a way to get a feel of the AFA?
 
There is a spot on the SA apps to note you attended. Also the cadre are supposed to take notes on the kids attending. Earning top honors on CFA is noted as well.
 
When I attended last summer the admissions counselors and cadets made it very clear that summer seminar was not some kind of evaluation or anything of the sort. It was simply to give us a taste into life at USAFA. That being said, we did get to meet our admissions counselors and talk with them face-to-face, which is where you can make an awesome first impression. The CFA is practice but if you do great they do recognize you for that. Either way they do not take those results. Our cadre did not evaluate or take notes on us from what they told us. They answered questions honestly and didn’t sugarcoat anything, which was honestly the most valuable part of the experience.
 
All 3 MOC interview panels asked if DS had attended a summer program. He had opportunity to talk about his time at USNA and USCGA and how it really set him to want to pursue a maritime branch of service. He said several of them commented that it helped them to know they were giving a nomination to an individual who they felt would accept an appt if offered because he had his course set. He rec'd 2 USNA nominations and 3 USMMA nominations.
 
falconsfly said:
When I attended last summer the admissions counselors and cadets made it very clear that summer seminar was not some kind of evaluation or anything of the sort. It was simply to give us a taste into life at USAFA. That being said, we did get to meet our admissions counselors and talk with them face-to-face, which is where you can make an awesome first impression. The CFA is practice but if you do great they do recognize you for that. Either way they do not take those results. Our cadre did not evaluate or take notes on us from what they told us. They answered questions honestly and didn’t sugarcoat anything, which was honestly the most valuable part of the experience.
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Thank you for that! I'm guessing falconsfly you are now at the Academy? Did you feel like SS helped you make a decision?
 
I am not there yet. I’m still waiting. Summer seminar definitely showed me that I wanted the academy life. Great experience.
 
SS is for applicants who are "on the fence" about applying to an service academy. Attendance/nonattendance has no impact on your application other than importing your pedigree information onto your app. Wishing that there's more will not make so...& I should know about wishing!
 
The admissions office says SS does not impact your AFA application.
That being said, SS has competitive admissions so the fact that your DS was accepted means he is a competitive applicant.
Our DS found it helpful to meet the admissions counselors- some of what they said impacted his choices for the rest of the summer (i.e. he decided to take the SAT one more time to boost his math score). Also he kept a journal and wrote about some SS experiences in one of his essays. He came back convinced AFA was THE place for him, which probably came through in his essays and interviews.
He did get a '22 appointment. Good luck to your DS!
 
Have u found that being deemed competitive took a while for the application to change to that status? And does competitive eventually change to candidate?
 
FFW22 said:
The admissions office says SS does not impact your AFA application.
That being said, SS has competitive admissions so the fact that your DS was accepted means he is a competitive applicant.
Our DS found it helpful to meet the admissions counselors- some of what they said impacted his choices for the rest of the summer (i.e. he decided to take the SAT one more time to boost his math score). Also he kept a journal and wrote about some SS experiences in one of his essays. He came back convinced AFA was THE place for him, which probably came through in his essays and interviews.
He did get a '22 appointment. Good luck to your DS!
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Thank you!!!! My DS is excited!
 
FFW22 said:
The admissions office says SS does not impact your AFA application.
That being said, SS has competitive admissions so the fact that your DS was accepted means he is a competitive applicant.
Our DS found it helpful to meet the admissions counselors- some of what they said impacted his choices for the rest of the summer (i.e. he decided to take the SAT one more time to boost his math score). Also he kept a journal and wrote about some SS experiences in one of his essays. He came back convinced AFA was THE place for him, which probably came through in his essays and interviews.
He did get a '22 appointment. Good luck to your DS!
Click to expand...

The first sentence is true; they say it & I believe they mean it. As to competitive applicants, there are plenty of cadets that didn't get into/didn't apply to SS but are now cadets. Thirdly, the information the admissions counselors gave your son is also found in the Advice to Candidates section on the USAFA Admissions website. USAFA superscores so take as many tests as possible, and they're plenty of threads about SAT/ACT prep here. Also your ALO can advise. SS seemed to answer the questions (if he had any) as to whether your DS wanted to attend. You think SS got him in? Maybe...maybe he would've gotten in anyway...maybe your congressional district is underrepresented at USAFA...maybe he fits the diversity definition USAFA has....maybe...etc...Bottom line: Either you believe Admissions about SS or you think they aren't telling the truth (i.e. lying), so you don't.
 
Wishful said:
FFW22 said:
The admissions office says SS does not impact your AFA application.
That being said, SS has competitive admissions so the fact that your DS was accepted means he is a competitive applicant.
Our DS found it helpful to meet the admissions counselors- some of what they said impacted his choices for the rest of the summer (i.e. he decided to take the SAT one more time to boost his math score). Also he kept a journal and wrote about some SS experiences in one of his essays. He came back convinced AFA was THE place for him, which probably came through in his essays and interviews.
He did get a '22 appointment. Good luck to your DS!
Click to expand...

The first sentence is true; they say it & I believe they mean it. As to competitive applicants, there are plenty of cadets that didn't get into/didn't apply to SS but are now cadets. Thirdly, the information the admissions counselors gave your son is also found in the Advice to Candidates section on the USAFA Admissions website. USAFA superscores so take as many tests as possible, and they're plenty of threads about SAT/ACT prep here. Also your ALO can advise. SS seemed to answer the questions (if he had any) as to whether your DS wanted to attend. You think SS got him in? Maybe...maybe he would've gotten in anyway...maybe your congressional district is underrepresented at USAFA...maybe he fits the diversity definition USAFA has....maybe...etc...Bottom line: Either you believe Admissions about SS or you think they aren't telling the truth (i.e. lying), so you don't.
Click to expand...

Right- attending SS is not a factor in the admissions formula. Didn't say SS got him in. Said it helped him in the application process.
 
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