<p>Can anyone who has been to previous summer seminars offer any advice to us future SS-ers? Such as items to bring thats not on the packing list, ways to prepare physically or mentally, the one excercise that they make you do all the time (pushups, flutterkicks, etc), or anything else that you think might be helpful for us. Stories, good or bad, are appreciated too. Thanks :)</p>
<p>taysel,</p>
<p>I am glad that you are aspiring to attend the USAFA.</p>
<p>As per SS advice... </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Be you... because SS is a great opportunity to draw your personal perspectives of the USAFA so that you can evaluate if it is where you need/want to be two years from now.</p></li>
<li><p>The people at AFA admissions do a great job of giving aspiring cadets correct and concise instruction/advice... bring what is on the packing list and nothing more.</p></li>
<li><p>When I went to SS 2007 we did all the excerises you mentioned and the CFA test. You want to arrive in peak physical shape... I did not have issues with the altitude difference, but everyone is different. You need to be able to do your best on all CFA excerises, flutterkicks, and running in general.</p></li>
<li><p>If you have an open mindset and open ears you will have a great time @ SS. Your cadre / element leaders (AFA upperclassmen) have can give you some great advice about becoming and being an AFA cadet. So, keep your ears tuned for their advice and don't be reluctant to ask questions.</p></li>
<li><p>Overall, SS was a great experience.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Is it better to arrive there earlier (Like around 10ish), later (4ish), or anytime in between? I imagine you just get settled in the first hour or so, but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>last year, the only flight out of my area arrived there about 1/2 an hour before the earliest pickup time (whatever that was...don't remember)</p>
<p>there was another girl on my flight, and we hung out with the cadet who was there to escort us to the buses until other kids started showing up. i really enjoyed it because we got to ask him a bunch of questions, and there were only 2 of us :)</p>
<p>when we got there, we went and changed, then they had a couple of optional presentations (falcons and dogs...both were really cool) and a whole bunch of games going on. volleyball, football, soccer, dodgeball (brutal! but totally fun!), frisbee, and a whole bunch that i don't remember.</p>
<p>anyway, we played games and got to meet people until everyone got there. it was pretty fun. but it's up to you.</p>
<p>SS was a blast. i don't think you have to worry at all about being in great shape if you need to concentrate on anything else (eg grades, volunteering, whatever), not that it's not good advice to be in shape, but if anything else needs work, it probably isn't your biggest priority. i'm absolutely not implying anything, but i went in in not such great shape, and i did fine.</p>
<p>it was a great experience, we got to ask our leader any questions we could possibly think of, it was a good teambuilding experience with our elements (2 others from mine are on this board :D), we got to meet a few of the professors, tour classrooms, eat at mitch's, etc.</p>
<p>mostly, i'd recommend asking as many questions as you can possibly think of. everyone there was very helpful and delighted to answer questions :)</p>
<p>have fun!</p>
<p>ps, lol, i remember when 2007 were answering our questions before they entered basic :) <em>sniff</em> how time does fly! ;)</p>
<p>haha, yep, that's something you'll soon discover missmuff. When at/involved with USAFA, time certainly flies by. It certainly does not feel that long ago since I started the appointee application nearly two years ago (but for some reason SS seems like ages ago).</p>
<p>oh, I know! Don't pack too many clothes...we had kids who had HUGE bags crammed with clothes when in reality, we wore the SS uniforms like all of the time. Bring only what they tell you :)</p>
<p>I totally agree with the clothes thing. I didn't bring tons of clothes or anything, I wish I'd have brought less. I only wore regular clothes maybe one or two times... Also, they give you TONS of stuff, so you have to have room to pack it all when you leave!</p>
<p>I definitely recommend coming earlier if possible. My flight was the latest pick-up time and so I missed out on all of the activities mentioned above, plus they didn't know where my element was so I was kind of alone and missed out on the initial bonding experience.</p>