USAFA Summer Seminar

[DeepWaters]

For those of you who attended, or who have kids who attended the Summer Seminar, what's it like? Instructive, interesting, fun, tough?

 

[crymsonwynters]

For those of you who attended, or who have kids who attended the Summer Seminar, what's it like? Instructive, interesting, fun, tough?

All of those things. USAFA is unlike USMA and USNA in that the summer seminar program is much more focused of providing an image of cadet life as a whole, not just the military portion. I had a great time. There's some boring stuff, but that's just part of it. Physically, it's a little taxing, but overall, it's very informative and very interesting

 

[TexasAggie204]

For those of you who attended, or who have kids who attended the Summer Seminar, what's it like? Instructive, interesting, fun, tough?

My son was a little bit disappointed in USAF Summer Seminar. Other than the first morning (which was somewhat realistic), he said it was pretty much like a country club. The kids were allowed to keep their cell phones, (which I think is a joke), and his roommate did nothing at night but call his GF back home. My DS also said that a lot of kids didn't want to be there, which really sucks for the kids who wanted to go, but were denied. They did go over the academic programs and the majors and careers available within the Academy and the USAF which was helpful to him.

Conversely, he said the USCGA AIM program was very intense and gave the attendees a real taste of SA life. As parents, we were very grateful that he had this experience to confirm that going to a SA was what he really wanted to do. BTW: say goodbye to your cellphone for 6 days at AIM.

 

[skiergirl24]

For those of you who attended, or who have kids who attended the Summer Seminar, what's it like? Instructive, interesting, fun, tough?

Honestly, SS is just a good way for you, the prospective candidate, to interview THEM. Before going, come up with a list of questions and goals for what you want to get out of it. If you just go through the motions, you'll probably be disappointed. Make sure you ask your cadre (who will be a cadet) about their experiences. Ask them why they came to the academy, why they stayed, ask about their favorite parts of cadet life and the parts of cadet life that aren't shown on the website or on the Instagram.

You'll have opportunities to learn about all the majors and have face time with teachers. Use that. Ask questions, be engaged. SS for my year had lots of briefings, yes, they were sometimes pretty boring, but try to come away with something from each one.

There was a small bit of PT and a mock "basic" wake up, however, that is pretty much nothing compared to what they will actually put you through over the summer.

Overall, if you're lucky enough to go and have the means, definitely do it, and get the most out of it as you can!

 

[jaglvr]

My son was a little bit disappointed in USAF Summer Seminar. Other than the first morning (which was somewhat realistic), he said it was pretty much like a country club. The kids were allowed to keep their cell phones, (which I think is a joke), and his roommate did nothing at night but call his GF back home. My DS also said that a lot of kids didn't want to be there, which really sucks for the kids who wanted to go, but were denied. They did go over the academic programs and the majors and careers available within the Academy and the USAF which was helpful to him.

Conversely, he said the USCGA AIM program was very intense and gave the attendees a real taste of SA life. As parents, we were very grateful that he had this experience to confirm that going to a SA was what he really wanted to do. BTW: say goodbye to your cellphone for 6 days at AIM.

yup..AIM they snagged DS phone as soon as he walked through those doors! Think it was harder on us bc it was the first time we had no contact with one of our kids!

 

[survive]

For those of you who attended, or who have kids who attended the Summer Seminar, what's it like? Instructive, interesting, fun, tough?

My DS went last summer. He said he got the most out of talking to the cadets because they were Open and honest about their experience at USAFA. Like anything, you get out what you put into it.