Jan 31 CVW

DS had great time at CVW, It only reinforced his commitment to attend next year. My wife and I enjoyed the snow, we are from SW GA. I loved meeting all the parents and hearing everybodies story for how their candidate got there. Lots of good info and wonderful people.

My DS had a great time as well! Good luck to all who are waiting (stalking their mailbox) for their BFE's.

NROTCHOPEFULDAD: Looking forward to CVW in April with DS. Do not want snow! Coming from Nebraska. Were there things to do for parents at the yard while your drag is away? Did you consider it informative?

DS attended the CVW this past weekend and I went along for the ride expecting nothing and had a great time. For the parents there are parent panels, midshipmen panels, admissions panels, STEM major panels, and an engineering tour (which you can go on with your "drag"). I loved calling DS a "drag".

I really enjoyed the parent and mid panels. Very informative. Parent panels consisted of sponsors from the surrounding area and parents of current mids and gradutes. Each mid panel consisted of representatives from each class (different perspectives) and each had female representatives. Each panel member made themselves available for further questions after their presentation.

I enjoyed seeing how the mids presented themseves, answered our questions and seemed very honest in their assessment of their academy life--both positive and negative. Very exciting to hear about the opportunities that have been made available to them since they have been at the academy. Heck, I wanted to join the Navy when all was said and done and felt reassured and positive about my DS's choice in attending this institution.

They allow you a break for lunch. There is the Dockside Restaurant which was across campus and it was snowing so several of us went to the Officer's Club for lunch. It was closer and it is open to everyone for the noon meal--beside menu options there was a nice salad and soup bar--but is membership based for weekends and evening meals. There is a membership plan for parents of mids to join for $150 a year. Might be an option for those that can drop in for a weekend. We were told that plebes are able to leave campus on Saturdays from 12 to 12 and are free on Sundays to go anywhere on campus. Thought the O'Club was a viable option since Dad sometimes overnights in Baltimore.

After lunch there was a scheduled tour of the YP craft but was cancelled due to high winds and and extremely cold weather. I added the extremely cold weather part since I'm from Florida and it was 85 degrees the day we left. DS said he didn't mind since he had toured it during NASS.

Saturday morning there is a walking tour provided by the visitors center and then you meet your "drag" at Tecumseh Court.

Sent cookies for his mid--big hit. Sent Kind bars and snacks for son which turned out to be a great idea since they opted to go to the mid store instead of dinner and that is what he ate for his Friday evening meal.

Negatives--thought the Admissions panel unfairly bashed SA forums and told us all to stay off of them and don't read them. I tend to disagree.

Parking was a pain and many parents arrived late to the panel presentations due to parking issues. You might want to give yourself plenty of time.

Overall: Great time. Loved the place. Impressed by faculty, facilities, and mids.

Hope you and your "drag" have a great time.

Should clarify that I believe that plebes are "sometimes" allowed to leave campus on Saturdays. Don't want to upset the masses or admissions.

Ditto

Agree with everything 2017mom said. DS already has an appointment so this trip was mostly to make his mom feel more at ease. She went thinking it was a great opportunity for he DS and left knowing it was an amazing opportunity for DS. Really worth the trip from South Georgia.
The one admissions officer did bash the forum pretty hard but it has been an important resource through the entire process.

Curious--was the admissions officer referring specifically to this forum when he was bashing SA forums? Son is a plebe and I found this forum invaluable as a source of information seeing as how we didn't know much about USNA---so I'm wondering what specifically admissions didn't like about them.

For what it is worth, I have also found this forum a very valuable resource. If nothing else, it helped me learn terminology and realize that others are experiencing the same anxieties that you are during the application process.
Thanks to those who contribute to and maintain the forum.

The admissions officer specifically indicated this forum. He had a few negative comments, mostly in reference to a supt. nomination and misinformation. The parents at the meeting were trying to clarify information and find as many alternative ways as possible to get an appointment. He was a great source of info, just a strong advocate against this forum.

NROTCHOPEFULDAD said:

The admissions officer specifically indicated this forum. He had a few negative comments, mostly in reference to a supt. nomination and misinformation. The parents at the meeting were trying to clarify information and find as many alternative ways as possible to get an appointment. He was a great source of info, just a strong advocate against this forum.

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Thanks for clarifying--most interesting about the officer seeing as how there is limited information from USNA that is available to an applicant as to the workings of the system. I, for one, am really grateful to the moderators and BGOs who do their best to provide the best factual information they have available to applicants and their parents. We relied on it to help with CFA scores and classes to take, not to mention what to expect on I-day and PPW. So, many thanks!