CVW Fall Dates

Hi - just letting everyone know my son heard from his BGO with the dates for the Fall Candidate Visit Weekends - thought this might help some people with their planning!

Sept 16-18
Oct 14-16
Nov 18-20

marciemi said:

Hi - just letting everyone know my son heard from his BGO with the dates for the Fall Candidate Visit Weekends - thought this might help some people with their planning!

Sept 16-18
Oct 14-16
Nov 18-20

Click to expand...

Is this a visit for candidates who haven't been to the academy. What is the purpose? Do you know the schedule? Sorry, I'm not familiar with any of this, but so glad you are sharing.

Thanks!

Thank you so much marciemi!

ProudMom, the CVW is a great way for candidates to get a feel for the school. They get to bunk with a plebe, go to class and activities with him or her. I believe a candidate can request a visit through the admissions office. Although my son had been to NASS, the CVW definitely clenched his decision and he is now a Plebe in the class of 2014! I definitely recommend a CVW if you can get it. They also have lectures and tours for parents as well. Made me feel a lot better about turning my son over to the military. There will be a few weekends available after the first of the year as well.

This was the schedule from last January, when my older son attended CVW - the items astericked are the ones that were not included in a winter visit, but probably would be in the fall visits. Additionally, we didn't have the Noon Meal formation on Friday, due to inclement weather (it was 37 and sleeting at the time) :

USNA Candidate Visit Weekend Program
Schedule for Parents

Thursday 21 Jan 2010
5:00 pm Candidate/parent reception in Mitscher Hall Lobby
Light snacks available
Meet Admissions staff
5:30 pm Candidates check-in and register with Admissions staff
5:45 pm USNA “Fulfill Your Destiny” video
5:55 pm Welcome remarks by: Don Nelson
Assistant Director of Admissions
6:15 pm Admissions update/candidate information brief
6:45 pm Questions/Answers with Admissions Officers
7:05 pm Welcome remarks by: Brigade Commander
7:15 pm Candidates meet midshipmen escorts/hosts

Friday 22 Jan 2010
9:00 am Midshipmen Panel for parents in Rickover 102
10:00 am Midshipmen Parent Panel for candidate parents in Rickover 102
11:00 am Walking Yard Tour by Visitors Center tour guides
12:10 pm Watch Noon Meal Formation
12:10 pm Lunch on own
1:00 pm Parents assemble back in Rickover 102 for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) briefing and Tour with faculty and midshipmen
*3:20 pm STEM tour concludes; midshipmen escort candidates to Worden Field for Formal Dress Parade
*4:00 pm Formal Dress Parade: Parents are welcome to attend (Weather permitting)
*5:00 pm Parade concludes; evening on own in Annapolis area

Saturday 23 Jan 2010

11:00 am Candidate Visit officially concludes; meet up with candidates independently



My son flew out with friends and was there for the activities beginning on Thursday; my flight didn't get in until nearly 3am on Friday (thanks Southwest! ) so I only attended the activities on Friday. Saturday after picking him up we went to the Army/Navy basketball game, hung out in Drydock and socialized with other parents, and then went to the Annapolis mall area in the evening.

Whens the best time to request something like this? and how do you go about doing so? Do you just call admissions and ask or is there a form we fill out?

CVWs are typically offered to highly qualified candidates. The BEST thing to do is to get your application in so USNA can see whether you are a highly qualified candidate.

There is SOME (and I cannot overemphasize that word) preference given to candidates who live away from Annapolis and/or didn't attend NASS. The theory is that people who live close at least have a chance to drive there and see it, whereas it's a bit harder for someone from Oregon. Also, while CVW is different than NASS b/c the entire Brigade is there, people who have been to NASS at least have seen something of USNA.

The above said, there are plenty of people from MD, VA, DC, and PA who have attended NASS who get CVWs.

In terms of requesting . . . yes, you ask your RD via email or phone. You can also mention it to your BGO. Please note, however, that a BGO can only recommend it to your Regional Director; the BGO has ZERO power to make it happen. The decision on extending CVWs rests entirely with USNA. USNA may offer CVWs to candidates who do not ask.

While being given a CVW is a good sign, it is NOT -- and I repeat NOT -- a guarantee that you'll receive an appointment. Typically, a large percentage of CVW participants do receive offers of appointment but there are a LOT of mids who never did NASS or CVW. IOW, it's not a prerequisite.

Finally, people always ask whether, if they attended NASS, they should attend a CVW if offered. The answer is . . . if you can financially afford it, absolutely. CVW is different b/c classes are in session and the entire brigade is there. It is yet another opportunity for you (and your parents) to see USNA to help you make your decision. Conversely, turning down a CVW will not affect your chances for an appointment. As with NASS, USNA realizes some students can't affort it, can't get away from school, etc.

No NASS/CVW/Class of 2014

My son did not make it into NASS. He received the invite to CVW in December. For a variety of reasons, he decided to go to one of the April sessions. It turned out that there were a good number of juniors in attendance. I guess they had already received invites. My husband and I both went along and made a nice weekend of it for ourselves. We attended all the parent sessions. Some info was redundant to us because son had appointment by then. Much of the info is about the application process. Even so, we had a great time, had wonderful tours and would do it again without hesitation. I had taken son to tour academy the year before but my husband had never been so it was a treat for him. My husband has a busy job and I stay at home with the kids. Consequently, I was the one most involved with the application process. The CVW was perfect for my husband, It really brought him fully into the experience. He would have gotten a bunch of "yes" and "no" answers from son on the return home and not really appreciated how it had impacted son being there.

Interestingly enough, the final wave of rejections letters for the class of 2014 had been mailed out that week. We met several high school seniors who had just received the rejection letter but came anyway because they had the plane ticket and travel plans in place and were planning to re-apply.