<p>Hi, I'm a high school junior looking to earn a nomination to the Naval Academy. I'm currently holding a 3.75 GPA Unweighted and a 4.30 weighted and took the SAT for the first time in October with a score of 1680 (needs work). As far as athletics, I played JV soccer for 2 years being captain the second year, lettered in golf for 3 years and recently earned my letter playing Varsity Football (starting Kicker, 3nd String QB and 2nd String WR).</p>
<p>What do I need to focus on in order to make the nomination? I know that admissions to the Academy is tough but as long as the reason for me not being qualified for admission can be changed, I plan on reapplying every year. Unless I discover that I have some medical condition that cant be fixed then Ill reapply my Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior year at another college. It may sound obnoxious but I think that maybe with a little persistence, they will understand how bad I want to attend USNA.</p>
<p>So if any of this sounds crazy please let me know. Any input and information would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>First of all, apply for Naval Academy Summer Seminar as soon as the application becomes available online. Attendance is the summer before your senior year, but you should apply ASAP this winter (last year it was open in January=applications for summer seminar)</p>
<p>USNAhopeful: I would suggest that you don't wait until they notify you to apply for NASS. Take initiative, check out the USNA website, and apply on 1 February, or whatever this year's opening date is. If you don't have web access at home or school, you should be able to get access at a public library.</p>
<p>get the book and apply for NASS. the book is extremely helpful. i bought a copy in the fall of my junior year and had it read by the time i got off my first flight on the way home. It is a constant resource and mine is in horrible condition after all the use it has received. the section on your blue and gold interview as well as the personal statement is priceless material. I knew what I wanted to say on each and the book helped me get in the mindset of how to best present my assets to USNA. NASS=Awesome, you may have a good idea on whether or not you want to attend USNA but after NASS you will either know for sure that you WANTin (or NEED in my case :) ) or not.</p>
<p>Here is a link for the newest edition (2008) of "The Naval Academy Candidate Book: How to Prepare, How to Get In, How to Survive" by William Smallwood. Its selling for $18.95 on amazon.</p>
<p>Whoops, my mistake. I believe the new edition is just as good. I have a copy of the USAFA Candidate Handbook for 2008 and it was written by William Smallwood and Sue Ross. The new Naval academy handbook is in the exact same format with pretty much the same content and advise. They are so similar I thought William Smallwood had written it!</p>
<p>Has anyone else sent in their application for SS 2009 ???? I know all aplicants will be notified by Mid - April via snail mail, but after waiting so many years for the opportunity to apply the waiting will be more difficult than all the hard work these long school years......I think Ive prepared, taken the right courses, scored well on my SAT's, Captain of my sports team, 5.45 GPA, private pilot.......and I still wonder what I left out......any insights ???????</p>
<p>lil_3laiin3laiin: The waiting really is hard, isn't it? When my Plebe applied for NASS (at the stroke of midnight as soon as it opened), it took 6-7 weeks (until mid-March) for her to hear the results. </p>
<p>It may not make you feel any better, but keep in mind that there are lots of candidates for this year's class who have already been waiting for months, and some will still not have heard anything about their appointments for a month after you hear about NASS. So, try to be patient, even though it's hard.</p>
<p>Good luck to you, and all who hope to attend NASS.</p>
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Where can I get a copy of Smallwood's books without having to pay $50 or $60? Amazon states that it's out of print.
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<p>18.95 at the following site. (note: Smallwood book is out of print; Susan Ross is listed as the author of the latest edition- it's the same book, just updated)</p>
<p>The waiting is killing me. I'm a hopeful from Illinois- applied for NASS February 1st. I got my acceptance to West Point's SLS within a week of clicking submit on Dec 17. A few weeks back, I applied to USAFA's version on a Thursday and got my invitation on that same Sunday. USNA is letting me down... just kidding, of course.</p>
<p>Is USNA trying to wait until they have a larger pool of applicants before they start accepting? What's their mindset here? </p>
<p>Please, anyone that has heard from USNA's NASS, let me know.</p>
<p>jhcolek- In my modest oppinion, your credentials will definitely get you a spot in any/all of the summer seminars.</p>