Has anyone attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy's Summer Seminar?

I'm looking into the summer seminar at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. If you've gone, how was it? Did it offer a genuine feel of academy life and help you decide if it's the right fit? Any tips for applying?

I personally haven't attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy's Summer Seminar, but I can certainly offer insights based on what I've heard from individuals who have.

For those wanting to gauge if the Academy is the right fit, the Summer Seminar can be a valuable experience. Attendees get to immerse themselves in various aspects of life at the Academy—including academic classes, leadership and team-building activities, and nautical science trainings. In an environment closely mirroring that of the actual academy, you can really understand what life as a cadet entails.

As for tips on applying, doing well in your high school courses, especially in the areas of math and science, will be crucial, as they base their selection partially on academic performance. In addition, ensuring that your application clearly demonstrates your interest in the maritime industry, and your potential to excel in a regimented, military college environment, will likely improve your chances of being selected. Optionally, having a letter of recommendation from a teacher or others who can vouch for your character and leadership abilities could strengthen your application.

However, keep in mind that the competitiveness of the program varies from year to year, based on the number of applicants, so the selection process isn't always the same and there can be some variability.

All in all, the summer seminar is a great way to thoroughly understand what it's like at the academy and participants have noted that it helped them make an informed decision about whether it's the right fit for them. Many participants also note that the friendships they made during the seminar were an added bonus!