Visit before accepting appointment question

Coach62

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DS got an email last night with an offer of acceptance to AFA, great day here as my middle son surprised us by coming home late last night from college in Tallahassee!

He has an appointment to AFA and NA, so it's decision time. We plan to revisit both before he makes the final decision, it would be nice to do back to back visits, but not critical.

Any tips, pointers or ideas on how to best handle the visit? What days, etc? Should we contact his BGO or call the Academy directly? Posted on AFA side also

Thank you!
 
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Personally, I'm biased towards navy (currently a plebe)...but that's an awesome choice to have! As for navy I would say visit maybe after spring break?(it's pretty cold here right now but if you really want the full experience don't base the visit off nice weather). Come Friday, walk around maybe take a tour? Go into DTA on Saturday and stop and talk to mids and ask questions. Anyone I know would gladly talk to you if you told them your dilemma! Good luck:)
 
I really think USMA does it better than USNA in this respect. USMA will allow competitive candidates to do an overnight visit before even receiving a LOA. USNA does not. And, although it is USNA which has rolling admissions, it seems USMA begins making its first wave of admissions before USNA. These things allow the candidates who are deciding which academy to attend to get a perspective, and frankly, with my son at least (and it appears with most others as well) the visit to West Point really made a fantastic impression on him, and shifted his preference. Then he was offered an appointment immediately after the visit, which really drove his passion for WP up to a new level.

My son is a competitive candidate at both schools, and we feel reasonably optimistic he will receive an appointment to USNA. He really likes both academies, and would love serving in the Army, Navy or Marines, as there are countless things he would love to do in each. While an overnight visit should not be the deciding factor, the reality is that they do have a significant influence on these kids. And frankly, a candidate should have a real good feel for the school, and an overnight, with an opportunity to literally view the daily events, and speak casually with cadets/midshipmen, is a great concept. That USNA does this in a less open way is disappointing.

....at least USNA does it in some capacity. USAFA does not do overnight visits at all.
 
Many, many candidates to USNA are offered a CVW at USNA without a LOA. Some with LOA do not get overnight invites and have to request one. What is a less open way? A CVW does have a great influence on parents and candidates.
 
Concur with USMAROTCFamily...I would ask the Admissions Counselor and CC (or back fill) the BGO about a Candidate Visit Weekend. This is really the best option, otherwise you are normally limited to a walking tour and maybe a brief visit with the Admissions Counselor. Otherwise, if your DS has already been to a CVW but has some remaining questions, reach out to your local USNA parents organization and they might be able to pair your DS with a MIDN to answer questions about midshipman life (I realize it isn't the same thing as being there, but it will probably be hard to ask MIDN questions if you do the USNA visit on your own).

brovol, complaining here isn't going to change things or help the OP....OP wants solutions and options.
 
Many, many candidates to USNA are offered a CVW at USNA without a LOA. Some with LOA do not get overnight invites and have to request one. What is a less open way? A CVW does have a great influence on parents and candidates.
USNA is not allowing even a cvw unless either an appointment or a loa has been recieved. This is per sons admissions counselor at USNA. That is less open than what USMA does, which is allowing overnights to all competitive candidates at any time, as opposed to designated weekends, which may not be as reflective as a regular midweek average day. My point being, it would be nice if USNA granted more overnights for those who request one in order to to make an informed decision about what school they want to attend. That's all. If my son gets his appointment to USNA, he will go on a cvw.
 
USNA is not allowing even a cvw unless either an appointment or a loa has been recieved. This is per sons admissions counselor at USNA. That is less open than what USMA does, which is allowing overnights to all competitive candidates at any time, as opposed to designated weekends, which may not be as reflective as a regular midweek average day. My point being, it would be nice if USNA granted more overnights for those who request one in order to to make an informed decision about what school they want to attend. That's all. If my son gets his appointment to USNA, he will go on a cvw.
My DD went on a CVW as a junior last year. No LOA. They are invitation only, unless you have been offered an appointment.
 
Concur with USMAROTCFamily...I would ask the Admissions Counselor and CC (or back fill) the BGO about a Candidate Visit Weekend. This is really the best option, otherwise you are normally limited to a walking tour and maybe a brief visit with the Admissions Counselor. Otherwise, if your DS has already been to a CVW but has some remaining questions, reach out to your local USNA parents organization and they might be able to pair your DS with a MIDN to answer questions about midshipman life (I realize it isn't the same thing as being there, but it will probably be hard to ask MIDN questions if you do the USNA visit on your own).

brovol, complaining here isn't going to change things or help the OP....OP wants solutions and options.
With all due respect, my comments were generally related to the thread, even if not specifically offering an answer to the op's particular question. I wasn't attempting to answer that question, but rather offer some insight from the perspective of a candidate who will likely need to make a choice between the two academies. It actually gives others some understanding of the distinctions between the processes for each school. I find this type of information helpful on these threads; oven when it may deviate from the scope of the OP question.
 
My DD went on a CVW as a junior last year. No LOA. They are invitation only, unless you have been offered an appointment.
My son was told by his counselor was that this year the cvw is only being offered if you have a loa or appointment. Or at least currently that was the case. She did at the same time tell my son he was very competitive. Maybe just not competitive enough; who knows.
 
brovol, helpful information would be to provide the OP (and others) on how they can have a successful SA visit, given the constraints each SA has on put on their visitation programs...such as what they CAN DO. MANY MANY students (SA or not) don't have an overnight visit and are successful at their college/university they attend. Not going on a CVW isn't the end of the world. My point is we should try and HELP the OP have successful visits, given the constraints and not focus on what they CAN'T DO.

Let's help Coach figure out what is available for his DS to make an informed decision.
 
Also...Coach, presuming your DS can't get a CVW, but you still decide to go to Annapolis...if you contact the parents organization in advance and they can connect you with a MIDN...that MIDN might be able to meet you while you are at USNA and give you a more "personalized" tour (some places are still off limits) and be able to answer your DSs question 1-on-1.
 
brovol, helpful information would be to provide the OP (and others) on how they can have a successful SA visit, given the constraints each SA has on put on their visitation programs...such as what they CAN DO. MANY MANY students (SA or not) don't have an overnight visit and are successful at their college/university they attend. Not going on a CVW isn't the end of the world. My point is we should try and HELP the OP have successful visits, given the constraints and not focus on what they CAN'T DO.

Let's help Coach figure out what is available for his DS to make an informed decision.
I'm not sure what I said which hindered the process. I offered our experience Thus far. Wasn't aware that I breached either forum protocol or etiquette. There may be differing opinion on what is helpful. I understand yours. Some may think that using a couple posts to repermand another poster deviates from the scope of the thread and is a distraction. Not me though; I'm good with it.
 
Also...Coach, presuming your DS can't get a CVW, but you still decide to go to Annapolis...if you contact the parents organization in advance and they can connect you with a MIDN...that MIDN might be able to meet you while you are at USNA and give you a more "personalized" tour (some places are still off limits) and be able to answer your DSs question 1-on-1.
Thank you to everyone for the help. DS did go on a CVW some time back. Went to SS at both AF and NA. He is strongly leaning Navy, he just wants to be 100% sure before the huge comittment. He also values my opinion and I think he wants me to go back with him for a second opinion. The decision is of course his. I'll do as you said and have him call his BGO, but we'll definitely set something up.

Edit- I thing waiting until warmer weather was also a good idea
 
If he already had a CVW then I doubt he gets another. As mentioned I would speak with the BGO or reach out to the local parents group to connect with a Mid. If they have some free time they should be able to meet with you and answer questions, take you around and even take him and you to lunch in King Hall. A weekend visit would probably give you more free time to meet with a Mid or two and take them to lunch. If you can get connected with some local Mids he can even possibly meet with any Mids who head home for spring break and pick their brains. Most parents are very willing to help connect Mids.
 
Thank you to everyone for the help. DS did go on a CVW some time back. Went to SS at both AF and NA. He is strongly leaning Navy, he just wants to be 100% sure before the huge comittment. He also values my opinion and I think he wants me to go back with him for a second opinion. The decision is of course his. I'll do as you said and have him call his BGO, but we'll definitely set something up.

Edit- I thing waiting until warmer weather was also a good idea

Sometimes, going when it is cold, dreary and seeing the cadets/midshipman when they are at their worst, can show an interesting perspective in how they feel and what it's like when the going is tough.
 
If he already had a CVW then I doubt he gets another. As mentioned I would speak with the BGO or reach out to the local parents group to connect with a Mid. If they have some free time they should be able to meet with you and answer questions, take you around and even take him and you to lunch in King Hall. A weekend visit would probably give you more free time to meet with a Mid or two and take them to lunch. If you can get connected with some local Mids he can even possibly meet with any Mids who head home for spring break and pick their brains. Most parents are very willing to help connect Mids.
Thank you. He wasn't looking for another CVW, just a visit and to take another look around. One day on campus should be plenty. I'll take the advice of you and BGO and contact the parents group, thank you.

Edit, I see AF offers appointee visits / tours. That's what he's really looking for.
 
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