<p>JH --No one here really knows whether there is a disadvantage by not attending unless they have sat on the Academy admissions board. My son attended NASS and AFSS and he received appointments to both. If you cannot attend, then I suggest that you have personal contact with the Academy through other means such as a sport camp or by shadowing a student. Our BGO made arrangements for my son to shadow a student for a day which I believe also may have helped.</p>