USAFA Summer Seminar - Two Questions

Zeke

Zeke

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
34
1. What materials are given out at the Air Force Academy Summer Seminar? I got accepted (HOOAH!) and I want to have a little heads up on what they issue to the attendees.

2. I've been researching around the inter-webs about the Seminar, and I read on some websites saying that attending the Seminar will "increase" your chances of getting an appointment to the Academy by a certain percentage (some said 40%, some said 90.) Is this true?

I'm really enjoying the active participation on these forums...
 
Congrats

Hard to believe it's been over 18 months since my son attended summer seminar. He came home with several work-out shirts, gym shorts, a windbreaker, a polo shirt (I think) and probably some other stuff. Make sure you have extra room in your suitcase when you go.
I have not seen any percentages mentioned on this site or elsewhere about how summer seminar increases your odds of attending. I have read something like, "while not a guarantee of admission, acceptance (or maybe its attendance) at the summer seminar is viewed favorably." Whatever, its all good. Congratulations and welcome to the board.
 
Summer seminar is a plus, but not especially significant, IMO. Being accepted into SS means that your academics to date and extracurriculars are appealing to the academy.
 
Well that might be true, I was denied to SS and I still got an early appointment. So whether you go or not, you can still get an appointment.
 
Besides the stuff MikeandCris mentioned, my son (attended summer 2010) brought home a USAF bookbag, cinch sack, water bottles, notebook/pens etc and a set of fatigues. Evidently the AF had discontinued using this camo pattern or whatever and was just passing them out to all the attendees as they were packing up to leave. You will get a letter at some point telling you what to bring as well as what you'll get while there.

But the best thing you'll bring home is the experience and the memories. It really cemented for my son that the AFA was what he wanted to go for.

I'll agree with Raimius that its a plus to your resume, but not a guarantee that you'll get in. The cadets in charge of my son's group (element? not sure of the term they used) were quick to say they weren't there taking notes of who showed leadership, or who did the best on the basketball throw (you'll practice the CFA skills while there) or who couldn't do something either, so just relax, get as much out of the experience as possible and not worry about anything else.
 
Congratulations on your acceptance! I also want to attend the academy, and SS. However, my family is very financially challenged, so the $350 is a lot for me. I've looked into financial aid, but the only information I can find just tells you to apply anyways and they'll help. Is this the best way to go?
 
I'm not sure if the AFASS element leaders write reviews for the candidates, but I know the NASS squad leaders do, based on the candidate's performance throughout the week (leadership, teamwork, discipline, personality, etc). They also do a short 1 on 1 interview and write down their impressions of the candidates. So I wouldn't say a summer seminar attendee and a non-attendee are on the same level in terms of admission. If your performance was outstanding at the SS, then I'd assume that you would have a better chance of being admitted.

@above
If you're truly serious about attending a SA, then I would highly recommend it. Before SS, I wasn't 100% sure whether I really wanted to go to a SA, but my experience at the SS definitely helped me make up my mind. You never know if you're going to enjoy a cadet/midshipman life until you've had a taste of it.
 
But don't do anything stupid. Last year, there were a ton of kids that decided to "party" in the room next door to mine. A bunch of them almost got into lots of trouble. I'm not sure exactly what they were doing, and I don't want to know, but just have fun and be smart. Also, even though this is kind of off the topic you were asking about, they don't officially record your CFA scores because of the altitude. They want you to be able to do your best for your application.
 
Here's the list of exactly what I brought home from last year's summer seminar. Not sure how much if varies between years.

4 grey t-shirts, athletic material
2 blue gym shorts, mesh material
Blue windbreaker
Blue polo shirt
Blue beach towel
Backpack, one-shoulder style
Draw-string bag
Water bottle
Zip-up binder
2 different pens

Also, depending on the workshops you sign up for, you may be bringing back additional items. I also brought home a circuit I made and an electricity measuring device.

Leave extra room in your suitcase.
 
USAFA hands out better stuff than USCGA did for their summer seminar, I got some shirts, a drawstring bag, water bottle, hat, shorts, and a challenge coin for completing it.
 
Last year at Summer Seminar during our final briefing they said that our attendance had no bearing on whether we were accepted to the Academy or not, but about 50% of the Summer Seminar attendees would be back next year as basics. If you are accepted to SS though, know that your scores are what the Academy is looking for so keep up the good work. I think they also said that the portal for our actual application to the Academy would open up before other applicants based on our responses for the SS application, so that's another benefit of attending.

While it does look good on your application, the whole purpose of Summer Seminar is so that you can get out to Colorado Springs and see if the Academy is a good fit for you. The Academy doesn't evaluate you while you're out there at all, and the cadre don't record scores or take notes on who excels at what. The only reason we recorded our practice CFA scores was so that the cadre could see who did the best and give them a prize during our final briefing.

I would highly recommend going to SS if you can do it. You get to see the Academy first hand, talk candidly with some of the upperclassmen and get to experience "doolie-for-a day." Oh, and last piece of advice, if you can get into the Academy early on the first morning do it because they tend to run out of clothes sizes by the afternoon. One guy in my element was stuck with extra large shorts and was dropped for pushups during doolie for a day for having his pants fall down during a crawling obstacle course.
 
While many of the SS attendants do get accepted to USAFA, there is a massive amount of kids that go to multiple service acadamies SS's. It was almost hard to find someone that was only going to USAFA's SS, like I was last summer. So when you see "50% will be back", it almost means 50% will be at another service academy and the other 50% will be back. For example, both of my roommates from SS received appointments to West Point and will be using them. Just food for thought :thumb:
 
Mostly. There are people who go to SS and decide the academy isn't for them. Definitely worth the money if you are unsure!
 
Or in my case, it made it crystal clear to me that it is for me. I went into the week with a very undecided mind about whether to go afrotc of USAFA and I came out more motivated and dedicated than I had ever been. Go! :thumb:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top