<p>Ya'll (You all for those not in the South.. ha ha) would NOT BELIEVE How Informative all of this info is to us with Kids just beginning their journey toward USNA (a dream she has had since she was 10 yrs old). THANK YOU!!!</p>
<p>Would soffees or soccer ( longer type shorts ) be better?</p>
<p>From what I've read, anything cheap that you wouldn't mind NOT coming (crawling, walking depending how rank they are) home.</p>
<p>GlitterHairDye...I would recommend longer shorts just to be safe most girls last year had longer shorts including myself</p>
<p>I had some longer shorts, but most of mine were short, like running shorts. Wear whatever you're more comfortable with. Just don't wear hot pink ones; those girls got made fun of endlessly. (Haha, sorry if anyone here wore them...)</p>
<p>What kind of shorts did the guys wear?</p>
<p>i wore soffees the whole time (i cheer and those were all the old ones i had). the only problem was that they tend to ride up when you tuck in a shirt, and your shirt always has to be tucked in. it seemed that most people were more comfortable in longer shorts.</p>
<p>Nurseypoo...
going to Nass doesn't automatically increase your chances of an appointment - they emphasized that - but it can hurt your chances if you act like a jerk while there. Your son needs to go tomorrow to his high school counselor and ask for the contact info of his BGO. Barring that...
here is a link for you --- <a href="http://www.apcsc.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.apcsc.org/</a>
when that opens, click on the left: Pre-Academy info and read all that page...which locates for you directly your BGO, or "Blue and gold Officer"</p>
<p>I would encourage you to go back and read - like take hours - through about the last 100 threads on this forum, by titles that you think are relevant to your questions- and you will have by the end a wealth of information at your fingertips. I printed a fair number of stuff out for my daughter to read from time to time. She is just too busy to sit here and kibbitz like we parents have time to do. </p>
<p>And yes, while it all feels like a Pandora's box - and it IS daunting...we've all been there. Even me, who is a wife of an Academy grad, USNA '72. Don't be afraid to ask away or send me a private email for more help. This mom has been there and done that with 4 older kids launched into college, and now the military academy route with our baby #5 - so I am more than willing to share my experiences and insights, for what they are worth if you think it might at all help with those butterflies in your stomach! God Bless!!!</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your son nurseypoo!
1. Notify English and Math teachers of need for recommendation before school is over. Your son will submit their name/email online as early as next month when USNA mails a candidate number to him. It is really helpful to get those recommendations out of the way. Also notify son's guidance counselor of the same because he will need to verify activities and grades along with an online recommendation also. Again, it is important that he compile GPA/Class rank ASAP after final junior year grades are in and respond to the online verifications that are recieved after your son insert's his self-reported grades, activities and sends USNA the guidance counselor's email.</p>
<p>I think it might be easier to point to some old threads for now, then you can ask more questions after considerable digestion....;)</p>
<p>This thread has a lot of good info:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=139715&page=1&pp=20&highlight=recommendation%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=139715&page=1&pp=20&highlight=recommendation</a></p>
<p>I just brought everything suggested on the sheet they sent me, and i was fine. There is nothing special to bring, i didnt bring a camera or anything else. its only 6 days so i dont really know what you could need, i dont know about the fabreeze either...</p>
<p>It was very interesting the day we went to pick up our daughter. Most of the 600 kids in the auditorium were "glazed".</p>
<p>She did make several friends during the week, 3-4 she still stays in close contact with.</p>
<p>Her biggest complaint was SAND! Everywhere you don't want it!</p>
<p>I went to NASS in 2004. I had a blast...the absolute best time of my life. For those of you who are going or have children going, just tell them to relax. I remember being incredibly nervous for the entire week before I was scheduled to go. Fun will be had there. For some that are not physically fit, it will not be fun. I encourage you to practice your CFA for at least a month before NASS (which means start now!). I practiced every night after dinner....even the basketball throw which is the hardest thing besides pull-ups for many. It will help to practice swimming too as the second to last day is devoted to Sea Trials which has a pool component. At my Sea Trials, they made us dive into a fairly deep pool (10 ft.+) and assemble a structure underwater made of plastic piping. The entire week, this was the only thing I had trouble with as I'm not the best of swimmers. The root of most MIDN CANDs distress is PT though so just be prepared. Don't worry so much about memorizing pro knowledge. My roommates and I crammed the last night and did fine during the mock indoc night. Your SLs line you up in the hallway and make you stand at POA for about 30 minutes while they come up to you and yell in your face asking you knowledge and inspecting your uniform (which consists of a t-shirt, shorts, a cover, water bottle, and a nametag). Most of the SLs, I heard (and mine did too), asked simple knowledge like rates and ranks. Don't worry too much about the General Orders. Know the mission of USNA and the song!!!!</p>
<p>Sea Trials was a blast. It was one of the hardest days of my life physically, but it was fun. It is deinitely a test of teamwork and leadership. Your SLs are looking for you to step up to the plate during Sea Trials. Set the example and <em>encourage your teammates</em>. There will always be someone in your squad who has trouble so give them an extra hand. I got great evals from my SL and he mentioned that this is what they look for. Be prepared for a 10 min. interview with your SL as well. It's pretty informal, but they will ask you why you want to attend. Don't tell them for the free education or prestige. There are wrong answers to this question, trust me! Also, come with questions - the SLs are there to answer your questions!</p>
<p>Most of all, enjoy your time. This is the time for you to see if the Academy is right for you. You are invited to USNASS because USNA wants YOU. It is a recruiting tool. You are the best of the pool of applicants and most who go to USNASS and do well there are offered an appointment. 600 out of 1800 sho apply wind up going. MANY of the 1800 are offered appointments but do not attend for different reasons. If any of you have any other questons, feel free to message me. I'd be glad to answer. Have fun and GO NAVY!</p>
<p>I figured this post is worth reviving, as NASS keeps getting closer.</p>
<p>I support the idea of bringing money. Also, the Sevren River turns all of your clothes brown, so just expect that. Its really hot in the summer and it doesn't really matter what length your shorts are, but you do have to always have your shirt tucked it.
From what I hear, it is a really good experiance.</p>
<p>One thing on the NASS evaluations . . . yes, the squad leaders do fill them out. However, the CGO recognizes that they represent the opinion of one, relatively junior, mid. So, they count but are unlikely on their own to make or break a candidate's chances.</p>
<p>What would give the NASS evaluation (good or bad) more weight is if the views expressed in it are consistent with what your BGO says and what your teachers say, and how you perform on the CFA. If everyone says you're a great leader, CGO's going to think you're a great leader. If everyone says you're a dweeb, the CGO's probably going to conclude that you're a dweeb.</p>
<p>Bottome line, don't stress over the evaluation. Follow the advice on this board (which also will serve you well in Plebe Summer), do your best in every activity, don't complain too much, have fun, and you'll be fine. </p>
<p>Also, for those of you who didn't apply to NASS or turned it down, will it hurt you? No. USNA makes NASS available to those who are considering USNA. Attending (and doing ok) is a small help, like having a parent who is military or being an Eagle Scout. [The reason, BTW, is that people who've attended NASS are presumed to have a greater understanding of the rigors of plebe year than those who didn't attend which presumably makes you less likely to quit; for this reason, attending the USMA/USAFA equivalent program gives you the same admissions "bump."] </p>
<p>However, USNA recognizes that there are many reasons students can't and don't attend NASS (work or family commitments, vacation, school programs, other summer opportunities, etc.). Thus, there is no downside (from an admissions standpoint) if you don't go; they won't hold it against you or make negative assumptions about why you didn't apply/attend. </p>
<p>That said, I STRONGLY -- can't say it enough -- STRONGLY encourage you to attend NASS if you have any thought of attending USNA. Loving NASS doesn't mean you'll love USNA (BIG difference between one week and one year). But if you hate NASS, USNA probably isn't the right place for you. Best to find out now, either way.</p>
<p>A question for anyone who has recently gone to NASS. Is there a CFA test given there? Or something like a CFA? Does anyone know if the CFA is done at NASS does a candidiate still need to schedule one when they get back home? Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes, the testing is conducted during NASS. My daughter was told she passed and received written confirmation when she got home. It was the first item posted on her CIS (Candidate Information System).</p>
<p>I definitely recommend bringing a fan. My daughter was one of the girls in session 2 last summer. Her room was on the top floor, the furthest possible room from the stairs, and the A/C was nonexistent. Good thing we stopped at Walgreens on our way to Annapolis.</p>
<p>Best advice; keep a sense of humor. No matter what happened, Tara found the funny side in it. She loved the place and wouldn't even apply to any other college.</p>
<p>beach mom -- oh my gosh, I wonder if I knew your daughter? I was session 2, top floor, second possible farthest room!! I love this forum -- you meet people again that you thought you were never talk to after leaving.</p>
<p>Although I see where USNA1985 is coming from about not paying much attention to evaluations, i must respectfully disagree. One od the classes I was in was Naval Architecture, taught by a former member of the admissions board/committee. He told us point blank that he paid more attention to the evaluations than anything else. I do agree with everything else he said, however</p>