CVW Invite Received

My DS received an invite to a CVW today via email. We visited his freshman year and did the tour and admissions briefing. He visited with my dad this past March and met with a plebe we know and toured the Yard. Then he attended NASS. He also received a LOA Sept. 1.

What are most candidates' experiences?

Is it bad to not accept? He wants to go, but coming from Chicago, it'll be expensive, and if he's already gung ho and has a LOA, then that'll be a consideration.

Is it OK if parents don't attend? It would be considerably more expensive, but I would feel bad if he were the only one there without his parents.

Dolphins2012 said:

My DS received an invite to a CVW today via email. We visited his freshman year and did the tour and admissions briefing. He visited with my dad this past March and met with a plebe we know and toured the Yard. Then he attended NASS. He also received a LOA Sept. 1.

What are most candidates' experiences?

Is it bad to not accept? He wants to go, but coming from Chicago, it'll be expensive, and if he's already gung ho and has a LOA, then that'll be a consideration.

Is it OK if parents don't attend? It would be considerably more expensive, but I would feel bad if he were the only one there without his parents.

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I am a candidate planning to visit Dec 1-3 and I def would not want my parents around. Several of us are planning to arrive at BWI together. I always felt having a parent around when I am taking mental notes about something to simply be a distraction. I flew to USNA twice without my parents and did the same to USMMA without my parents. As long as your son doesn't mind, just let him go alone. PM me about his flights-trying to get a split price break on shuttle van

DS is going in Oct- We parents are going too. From the previously posted schedules from last year there are some events, tours, info sessions for parents to attend. For us it is a no-brainer. Husband is a Southwest pilot- so fly for free but if I needed to buy flights I might just send DS. From what I understand, parents will not be with candidates at all during the tours and so on so DS wont need to worry about us being a distraction. If possible I would strongly consider sending your DS. Although he has visited and attended NASS, this will be a different experience. He will attend classes and get a better feel for things are they truly are for a mid.

We attended my son's CVW with him. Except for the introductory brief, parents and candidates are on different schedules. There is one joint brief, but the candidates, for the most part, sat among themselves and the parents sat among themselves.

Many parents have not visited USNA and want to see what their offspring will be experiencing. On the other hand, there is not a problem if the parents can't attend.

If possible and feasible, I'd recommend that parents attend. It's not essential but you'll get to see things you're not likely to see otherwise: classes in session, labs with mids working on projects, academy buildings filled with Mids scampering to and fro. You can take a tour of the Yard anytime but how often will you get to see the 380' tow tank in action?

But most importantly, we were glad we went when the first words DD spoke on the ride home were: "I know I said I'd give it a few days to sink in before deciding, but I'm going to Navy!"

As mentioned if possible, be great if you could all go, but understand it is expensive. Especially if you have a future college kid, and possibly a future Mid, it may be easier expense wise to just send him. Heck if he is accepted, I-day and plebe summer expenses are not that far away! I do recommend at a minimum he attend though. He will not be the only one without parents. Yes, there are things you will miss out on seeing as mentioned above, but more importantly he will get to see them and get a full and better understanding of what his future may hold. I would just sit down with him and ensure he has a clear agenda for his trip... what is it he wants to see, ask questions about, etc? His Mid host I am sure will try to answer questions he has and if he can't answer them find someone who can openly and honestly answer them whether they are about sports, academics, clubs, service selection, etc. Also, the minute you pick him up at the airport, you will know if he is ready to sign the minute an appointment is available or plan B is the better option. Good luck!

We did not attend with our son last year. There are other trips like I-Day and PPW you'll want to spend your money on instead.

If you can afford the time and cost, it is worth it.

1. You get to see the inside of the classrooms and laboratories without your candidate, including the test tank and engine labs. Watch the mids working on a number of projects and ask them questions.

2. There aren't that many candidates there, so it isn't too crowded. You get some one on one time with members of the faculty and the administration.

3. Your candidate gets to see how the plebes live and work. They spend some time with them as they live their day.

4. You get to see how the brigade lives and works.

We enjoyed it and it really allayed many of our concerns about sending our son to a service academy.

Dolphins2012 said:

My DS received an invite to a CVW today via email. We visited his freshman year and did the tour and admissions briefing. He visited with my dad this past March and met with a plebe we know and toured the Yard. Then he attended NASS. He also received a LOA Sept. 1.

What are most candidates' experiences?

Is it bad to not accept? He wants to go, but coming from Chicago, it'll be expensive, and if he's already gung ho and has a LOA, then that'll be a consideration.

Is it OK if parents don't attend? It would be considerably more expensive, but I would feel bad if he were the only one there without his parents.

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First of all there is no problem if you do not attend. The Naval Academy has already told you DS that he has met all their requirements as noted on the LOA.

Does your DS want to attend the CVW? If so does he want you to attend with him? These are important questions to ask because you are about to let go and give your DS full control of his life. We faced this issue 4 years ago and my DD decided she wanted to go by herself and use this CVW visit as a last reality check that this is what she really wanted to do. It was going to be her life and her decision and she wanted to make it on her own.

Everybody is different and there is no right or wrong, it's what works for your family.

For what it's worth, my now-Youngster was in the exact same position as yours is now back in September of 2009 - had visited the Yard, attended Admissions session, took a tour, NASS, LOA in Sept. The difference is that we were only a 3 hour drive away from the Academy, but still my Youngster said that a CVW wasn't necessary to make a decision and so didn't attend even though three letters of invitation were extended throughout senior year. Obviously non-attendance didn't hurt. If your candidate needs that last couple of days at the Academy for validation of a decision, I would recommend that he go on his own, since it will ultimately be his decision should he receive the coveted blue folio.

OK dumb question, but how do you get set up for a Candidiate Visit Weekend? I could not find any overnight visit info on the USNA website (unlike USMA which has a pretty good portal for setting up an overnight). Did I miss something obvious?

Edit: I have an LOA and what seems like a verbal commitment for a nomination to USNA from my Congressman, if that makes a difference.

My daughter has an LOA and called and requested one to the main USNA admissions number. She is going end of Jan.

usmamom2016 said:

My daughter has an LOA and called and requested one to the main USNA admissions number. She is going end of Jan.

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Thank you usmamom2016 !

SimpleMan said:

OK dumb question, but how do you get set up for a Candidiate Visit Weekend? I could not find any overnight visit info on the USNA website (unlike USMA which has a pretty good portal for setting up an overnight). Did I miss something obvious?

Edit: I have an LOA and what seems like a verbal commitment for a nomination to USNA from my Congressman, if that makes a difference.

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Email your RD. I got a CVW invite and LOA not too long after. Not sure if the email lead to them looking at my file, but it got me to the Dec 1-3 CVW.