<p>I've been interested in USNA for awhile. I'm in my junior year, and it just hit me I should be thinking about summer seminar. I know appliactions don't come out until the winter, but I just want to get a better idea of what it is. I went to USNA's website, read everything they had on it. But I didn't feel as if it gave me a good enough idea of what actually goes on.</p>
<p>For those of you who have gone, or for parents who have had their kids go...how was the actual experience for you/them?</p>
<p>As far as PT goes, what should I be prepared for?
Is it fun?
Anything else you can think of would be greatly appreciated, thanks!</p>
<p>It is soo exciting to hear that you are looking into the academy. Im currently a senior going through the application process for usna. I went to summer seminar last may. It was the most intense week i’ve ever gone through, but i grew alot in those 5 days. The campus is huge! It literally has everythign from a bank to a dentist to 4 football fields. Summer seminar went like this: woke up around 6ish by airhorn, loud music, and rampaging upperclassmen, had an intense morning workout while the sun was rising, breakfast, morning classes, luch, afternoon classes, dinner, sports, drill, squad stuff, and studying. I forgot to mention, upon arrival you are given a sheet of information like the mission and laws and ranks and stuff that you must have memorized by the last day… because on the last day of summer seminar you go through a really extensive test called sea trials. It is about 6 hours long and made up of 5 phases. It is extremely rigorous from swimming relays to obstacle course to log pt… sea trials kicks ur butt but shows you that your body is capable of sooo much more than you think. following sea trials, you are faced with DI’s screaming in your face asking you all about the information on the sheet you got. I nknow it sounds intense, but it was all the candidates favorite part of the program. you feel so impowered. The entire time your their , you are assigned a squad of about 8 other candidates who are led by a 1st year cadet. The program consists of 5 platoons to make up the battalion. I know this all sounds confusing, so feel free to write me back. Basically, the program is really exhausting but you grow as a person and you see how much brotherhood their is. PT wise, you wanna be in shape when u go cuz you are always working out.</p>
<p>My son went to the summer seminars at Navy, AF, and West Point this summer. They were all awesome experiences, but Navy’s seems like it was by far the most incredible. I definitely recommend it and guarantee he would say the same. He has always wanted to go to the Air Force Academy, but NASS made him consider Navy very, very strongly.</p>
<p>As far as PT, I’d say if you’re in good shape normally, you’ll be fine. Running didn’t seem to be a big deal - I know they did a large group 3 mile run, but he said it was very slow. The rest of the time wasn’t nearly that long. However, things like situps, pushups, pullups, flutter kicks - you’ll be doing a zillion of them and will be exhausted no matter how good of shape you’re in since they’ll push you to that point. My son was amazed how many kids came out of shape, having no idea what they were in for, or what the CFA would entail. I would focus on working on that a lot beforehand, since you’ll get the chance to take it for real and if you do well on it there, that’s one less worry as you work on your application. </p>
<p>My son made two good friends at the seminars that he still texts frequently and all three of them have received an LOA to one of the academies already. Not saying that going will increase your chances, but you will get to meet some good kids who are serious about the academies. He also still keeps in touch with his squad leader from NASS, who I think made the experience for him. Definitely go if you can!</p>