<p>The whole experience of being there was cool. I don't think that their was a single thing that we did that I didn't enjoy. Just go there and try your hardest. Don't be cocky and don't talk bad about your squad mates. One of the other squads in my platoon had a kid who was last at everything and could barely do any push-ups. He held the whole squad back, but they still were very encouraging to him. That is the kind of attitude you need to have. Most of the people there are the best. That is why they are there. You do not need to tell people that you are the best.</p>
<p>My biggest advice about the application process. Get as much done now as you can. If you do not get your candidate number before school ends, see if you can get a personal email of your counselor, math teacher, and english teacher so that you can see if they will help you with you application stuff over the summer. The admissions process favors those who get their stuff in early. Not to mention the sooner you get your stuff in the sooner you can start with DODMERB. It is nice to get medical done with before they get their massive influx of paperwork. That way if you have any waivers and such you can get them out of the way and you aren't waiting until march to get medical done.</p>
<p>hmmmm, there are other kinds of recons that don't necessarily involve playing pranks on the other companies... unless you consider laughing at all the other NASSers who are still on the yard a prank.</p>
<p>This is a bit late, but I thought I'd just say a little about NASS.</p>
<p>I did bring my phone. I called my Mom a few times, but usually just at night to say "Hi. I'm tired. Going to bed now, goodnight." </p>
<p>You don't sleep too much. I know my company and squad got up way earlier than most for the PRT. I was in Alpha 1-1 so we were basically first for the CFA (afternoon, though) and first for the PRT so for the PRT we woke up at 4-something. </p>
<p>I wouldn't say all the classes are interesting. I love foreign languages, but the foreign language seminar I was in made me want to sleep. I would suggest doing what I did. When I got really sleepy in a class, I took out my rates sheet and just wrote them over and over. Not only did this keep me awake to avoid being disrespectful, but I also knew all my rates when I needed to. </p>
<p>Sea Trials are soo much fun! It's definitely a challenge, but totally doable, especially considering that one of my arms was in a sling (hyperextended during a martial arts workshop, very painful to even think about how that felt lol!). I even thought the mock I-Day that night was awesome. </p>
<p>Just LIVE IT UP!!! If USNA is right for you, you will LOVE summer seminar. And if you hate summer seminar, then you probably will end up reconsidering applying/going. </p>
<p>Just another tip. Don't stay up too late. You'll want your sleep. There are religious cermonies on Sunday... but I chose to sleep and study some rates. You don't have too much time to shower so I'd recommend bringing some 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner. </p>
<p>I would definitely second everything that gonecokanutts said. Especially the rates in class thing - I did that, too, and so did a lot of people in the classes I was in. It definitely paid off on mock indoc. If you get the YP's class you'll have plenty of time to sleep and hang out in the sun. You can stay in the bridge and drive the boat for a minute or two, but lots of people ended up on the deck sleeping.</p>
<p>yeah whatever you do don't fall asleep in the classes. you will be tired but their is nothing more disrespectful and rude than falling asleep in a class where the professor is donating his time to teach you something about academics at USNA. their was a kid in my intro to aero class that made no effort to stay awake. he would wake up and readjust and go right back to sleep. i wanted to walk over and slap him he was being so rude. I went to church on Sunday. chaplain gave a good sermon, and even if you aren't religious the church is still on of the coolest buildings on campus. I would check it out because it is only an hour long.</p>
<p>Everyones had good advice so far, but I though I would give my two cents.</p>
<p>NASS was a blast last year. The physical part is not very demanding. The pool phase of mini sea trials was probably the hardest, but not terribly hard. </p>
<p>Over all its great, just be respectful to the mids. Don't act like you know everything because you don't. (Lots of people do this everyear and just get ridicule by the cadre) </p>
<p>Take the seminars that sound interesting to you. I will admit I took the history one and it put me to sleep. I felt terrible about it, but luckily I only dozed for a little bit. The Professor was cool with it since it was the last day. However, I still felt terrible. The martial arts one and the YP one were my favorite. </p>
<p>You might even end up sitting next to someone from this board at lunch!! Haha happened to me and gonecokanuts last year. Go in with an open mind and have fun.</p>
<p>I have my pack list from last year somewhere when I find it I will post it.</p>
<p>be sure to bring a pair of sneakers you don't mind throwing away after sea trials. (socks too) they will be trashed and you won't want to put them in your luggage for the trip home.</p>
<p>My sneaker's last year were fine. They got rid of the mudpit thing during Sea Trials becasue I think someoen got hurt during the 1st session a nd they were worried about liabilities. The only thing that messed up my sneakers a little bit was going into the water with them on. But that just got them sandy. I still have those sneakers.</p>
<p>I still suggest bringing a pair of sneakers that you don't mind throwing away for sea trials, because even though there was no mud pit last year, the part in the water got them pretty disgusting, and you don't want to have to pack away smelly, wet, sandy sneakers to bring home with you.</p>