Candidate Visitation Weekend

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Pippip

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Hey I heard a little about this, but was unsure of how it works. Who gets invited? Or is it just an open thing? Is there a cost (besides flight/travel)? When is it? If it is a invitation thing, when do you get notified, or a letter or something? I'm interested in going to this, and don't want to miss it.
 
Competitive candidates get invited, but you can contact you BGO and put in a request for a visit weekend. There is no cost other than travel. The weekend is to give candidates a look at academics at the academy. Also the plebe that the candidate stays with does submit a report that goes into the admissions file.
 
Would someone still be invited to this if they attended NASS this summer?
 
when do the invites to cvw typically go out for fall? do they only go to candidates who have completed their packet and how many invites go out? my DS is interviewing with his BGO this Saturday and plans to ask about this program- really wants to go!
 
I've had NASS attendees also get CVWs and others not get them. There are always fewer slots than requests. I've heard anecdotally that some preference is given to highly qualified candidates who haven't done NASS and who live outside of easy driving distance to USNA -- IOW, candidates who may never have seen USNA. However, this is NOT universally true.

Recruited athletes do "official visits" so, far as I know, are not directly part of CVWs.

Don't know the number of CVW slots.

It doesn't hurt to ask your BGO to recommend you for a CVW. However, please don't assume that he/she has ANY sway. We can recommend but that's about it. The decision is entirely up to CGO/USNA.
 
My BGO told me she has all her candidates call USNA and straight-up ask for an invite. Says it's worked pretty well so far (to be fair, West Texas doesn't send a lot of kids to Navy and it's a long way to Annapolis - they may have wanted all the candidates she's had). I'm giving them a call a few days after the Brigade reforms. It certainly won't hurt, anyway.
 
My 3/C was unable to attend NASS due to injury. Through a series of emails, a LT in the Admissions Office said he would "make sure" she got a CVW slot. So that's where the invitations come from.

BTW: (Apologies to those who've heard me say this) Driving down to Annapolis for her CVW she agreed to give it a few days after returning home before deciding to accept the appointment. On the way home the wife and I remained silent waiting for DD to begin telling of her experience. We were hardly over the Bay Bridge when she said: "I know I said I'd wait a few days to decide but the heck with waiting, I'm going to the Academy." Her acceptance letter went in the mail the next day. :biggrin:
 
One other note: being offered a CVW is typically a good sign. I would say a better sign than NASS (which is a recruiting tool). However, CVW is NOT a guarantee of an appointment. [And, no, I don't know the percentage of those offered CVW who are offered an appointment.:smile:] The goal of CVW is to let well-qualified candidates experience USNA while school is in session, so to speak.

If you are offered the opportunity -- regardless of whether you attended NASS -- you should take it because it is yet another way to ensure that USNA is right -- or isn't right -- for you.

For many candidates, CVW may interfere with sports or other ECAs. If you choose not to accept CVW, it will NOT hurt you from an admissions standpoint. However, IMO, it's not a wise move to turn down a CVW unless you cannot financially afford to make the trip (which is a valid reason). Why?

This is your potential future. If you accept an appointment, this is where you'll be and this is what you'll be doing for the next four years of your life and, in joining the military, at least the next 9. Be sure it's what you want. Take advantage of every chance to challenge your beliefs. While h.s. activities and commitments are very important now, they all pale in the long run in light of your future.
 
thanks to all for the info. Have CVW invites already gone out for this fall? Is there a schedule posted of dates anywhere? Reason I am asking is because we are in the process of purchasing flight for a family visit/tour the end of Sept to USNA from CA. Wondering if we should consider waiting in hopes for an invite?
 
Candidate Visit Weekend invitations seem to go out early September, as I recall from mine. In the fall, there are usually two weekends, one in October and one in November. I highly recommend taking a fall one because they bring you to a football game if they are home that weekend! But I was invited to two, the fall and the late winter one and decided on the latter because I wanted to see what the Dark Ages were like..and I loved it, it was a very fun 3 days. And in turn, I received my appointment after attending..so it definitely is a good sign.
 
DS went to a CVW in the spring of his junior year. He received a NASS rejection letter which invited him to attend a CVW instead. The CVW was in the middle of Lacrosse season and he had a game that Friday night. It was a tough call to miss an important game but his Coach was very supportive. It was a good decision - it gave him a little taste of the Academy and his current living quarters and reinforced his desire to attend.
 
Personally, I would recommend you channel your request for a CVW through your RD; as stated earlier BGO's are not the decision-makers on these events. There are CVWs in the fall and spring. If you receive an offer that creates a major conflict with school events don't hesitate to ask for an alternate date; I've had candidates who have gotten an alternate. Do take advantage of the CVW even if you have participated in NASS - it is a very different critter! BTW, do everything you can to get to the Yard BEFORE you accept an appointment; you need to be comfortable with what you are committing to for the next four years of your life.
 
1964BGO said:
Personally, I would recommend you channel your request for a CVW through your RD; as stated earlier BGO's are not the decision-makers on these events. There are CVWs in the fall and spring. If you receive an offer that creates a major conflict with school events don't hesitate to ask for an alternate date; I've had candidates who have gotten an alternate. Do take advantage of the CVW even if you have participated in NASS - it is a very different critter! BTW, do everything you can to get to the Yard BEFORE you accept an appointment; you need to be comfortable with what you are committing to for the next four years of your life.
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Is the invitation letter still sent out in early fall if you are invited to the spring session, or is it later?
 
This is not a finite event; ie, invitations are issued both in the fall and the spring. It is just that I have had candidates who were on teams which had potential to go to state who wanted to be available to participate in that opportunity, ergo they deferred their invitation and USNA cooperated by inviting them to a spring CVW. They got their spring CVW invite in the fall.
 
I'm a recruited crew athlete, and was offered an Official Visit. Does this count as a CVW or is it possible to be offered that as well?? Thanks so much!
 
catie2012 said:
I'm a recruited crew athlete, and was offered an Official Visit. Does this count as a CVW or is it possible to be offered that as well?? Thanks so much!
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It's highly unlikely that you can do a CVW once the recruitment process starts.

The rules for recruited athletes are controlled by the NCAA and you & NA must follow them. Could a civilian school offer an athlete an official visit and a nonsport related weekend? Just think how The U (Miami) might abuse that. :eek:
 
If you are offered a CVW, I recommend accepting as soon as possible. The slots go very quickly!
 
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