Day Visit

soccmomer

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Jan 28, 2013
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We have scheduled a day visit for April for my Jr son. From the letter they sent, it looks like even parking and getting to Admissions will take some planning! It looks like he meets individually with someone from admissions after the visit. Has anyone been to one of these that can tell me what they do in the interview, or is it just for questions from him/us? Also, does anyone know if he can meet the coach if he is interested in a sport? Any recs on the best reasonably priced place to stay the night before? Thanks!
 
Dont forget...

Don't forget some goodies for the cadet and his roommates. You can make arraganments with coaches if you email them in advance. Have FUN! Ask a ton of questions.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Soccmomer: many stay at the EconoLodge. It's no frills, but fairly cheap. If you want to drive a beat, you can get more options. There's an ABVI over in Central Valley and many options in Fishkill or Newburgh.
 
Goodies tug? Does this mean I have to bake cookies?? How many in a room? And when do we give them to them? I know my S will not want to carry them around! I will have to think of questions...I feel like a lot have been answered by all of you! He is taking his first SAT tomorrow, so I am hoping scores are back by the time we go...that will help with a few questions!
Anyone have experience getting from where they say to park (by the Thayer) and either taking the shuttle(like how long a ride should we plan on as it says it stops at the hotel area at 7:18, but does not say when it arrives at admissions) to Admissions or walking (letter says it is a mile) - is it flat or uphill? I don't do well walking that far uphill! Flat would be fine.
I will check out the Econolodge Mom3. For this one I want to be close since we have to be there so early, for the 4 days in July for sports camp, I want scenic! Maybe a cabin to rent or something.
 
Who are the cookies for? This is a day visit, right? Not an overnight? I don't see the point of cookies for an admissions visit. Thayer to admissions is up hill. You shuttle should take about 5 min. There are many scenic places to stay when he does camp...start googling!
 
Last year my DS did a visit to shadow a cadet - if that is what you are doing. Its been a year but ill try to recall it best as i can. The visit will go something like this:

You will arrive at Admissions and get a briefing on the academy. You will get info on the admission process; you will have a Firstie talk about their experiences; you'll get a parents perspective. You will get a brief tour of the grounds. Lastly you can buy lunch and eat with other parents and share your stories.

Your DS/DD will have a cadet come and get them mid-morning, and they will spend a few hours with them. They will attend class. They will line up in formation; they will eat lunch in the mess; they will get a snippet of life as a 2/c or 3/c; they can ask questions and see the barracks. You meet them back at Admissions after 1. and you can then meet with the admissions officer. He or she will review your DS/DD file and give recommendations. You can ask questions and get feedback. It was invaluable for us in that it made clear that my son needed to go to Boys State as opposed to going to NASS.

I didn't feel my son had a chance after that interview. Several weaknesses in his file were identified. He immediately went to work on getting them corrected as be had left significant accomplishments and activities out since he didn't think they were significant - things like mission trips and non-sports EC's. I'm proud to say that he has an appointment to class of 2017 in hand - all his doing to make himself competitive

He received an LOE late last year and is doing an overnight later in March. Those with LOEs do the brief except the cadet who gets them is their host for the overnight visit. So I expect it will be much of the same but longer. I also expect it will only cement in his mind that USMA is the place he wants to be.

One more thing - if you have time, I recommend you go to WP Museum and take the bus tour too. It will give you a slightly different view of the academy.

Good luck to you and your son!
 
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DS & I were there 3 weeks ago for LOE overnight. Since you're arriving early in the morning, the guard at the checkpoint should let you drive up Thayer road and park in one of the marked spaces on the right hand side of the road. Nice view of the Hudson. It was a short walk from there to Admissions.

You'll be taken on a tour of campus by a cadet -- bring your camera.
 
Thanks everyone! Yes a day visit, so maybe no cookies! Blue, thanks for the helpful re-call of what you did there. Do you remember what your DS wore on that day visit? Our biggest problem will be comfortable shoes that are not sneakers or hiking boots! The only time he wears something like that is for band concerts...I really want to hear what they say about his file - maybe I will bring a copy of his HS transcript so they can see it - I really want to find out which classes he should take as a Senior, and which they think he can do without.
That will be great if we can park up Thayer Rd. Does anyone know of a map of campus i can print on my computer? I have googled, and not come up with something simple!
 
I don't think goodies are necessary for a day visit. When my cadet did his overnight visit, he took some Easter candy as a thanks to his host. It doesn't need to be a big deal, just a token of appreciation. Cadets love trail mix, jerky, snacks, etc.----don't feel you have to bake.

The visit with an Admissions rep is very helpful. The rep looked at my cadet's file, looked him in the eye, and said, "RAISE YOUR SAT SCORE." That was all it took!:-D
 
Kahki's are in order

... Do you remember what your DS wore on that day visit? Our biggest problem will be comfortable shoes that are not sneakers or hiking boots! ...

DS wore Kahaki pants and a plain colored, long sleeve, collared dress shirt (not white). Wear or bring a jacket as it is not usually very warm in March and April (unless you happen to be from UP Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or North Dakota - it might seem so then).

As for shoes, I would get him some soft soled casual dress shoes that he can wear for this visit and in the months ahead. The more they can be dressed up the better, but they shouldn't be so dressy he can't wear them with casual pants. He is going to need them as the year progresses for MOC interviews, visiting information nights, and lots of other activities so they aren't going to be a purchase for one time use. :thumb:

Pardon some of the grammar and spelling in the previous post ("ill" instead of "I'll" :redface:, etc.): I posted from my smartphone before going to bed last night.
 
Thanks everyone! Great advice and tips. I am hoping they look my S in the eye and tell him exactly what he needs to do! He is taking the SAT for the first time as I type, so we will see what he does with that....I am thinking he will need to raise the scores a bit!
Don't worry about grammar with me - I am so used to reading and sending texts that I don't notice any more! In fact I am always afraid I have made multiple mistakes that I have missed.
We will be shopping for khakis (his pair that fits somehow got stained) and shoes over the next week or so.
 
Standardized Test

The SAT/ACT testing is the great equalizer. Know he will take it over a few more times. After the third or fourth time, he'll plateau and this is were you'll need outside help with understand the technique of taking the tests.

Have Fun! I wish I could go. Can I be your personal valet?


Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Sure tug! I am just hoping for great weather - I was on too many soggy college tours with my other kids.
Our school offers an SAT review course starting in a week. For $60, I think he will be going to it. He is signed up for next months ACT.
 
We leave tomorrow noon for the (hopefully sunny, dry and warmish) drive to West Point!
We have the new khaki pants, the new "casual" dress shoes, and the button down shirt. DS interviewed for Boy's State a few hours ago and one of the 1st questions they asked was if he was interested in attending a Service Academy!We won't find out until Wednesday at the latest if he "made it", but they indicated that they are trying to send all 5 candidates this year. They did his interview a day early, due to our trip, so we really hope we will get the call tomorrow night so we will have the info to add to his West Point file - if we can do that at the visit.
Any last minute advice....feel free to chime in!
 
Last minute advice......my son and I visited last week and had a great time. Son really enjoyed his visit.

TIPS: We arrived very early and were able to park along Thayer Road....about 30 yards from Admissions building. There are not many spots and they were all taken by 7AM. The real key is to be one of the first to sign up for meeting with BOD after lunch. In the morning all the families will be standing just inside Admissions then they will let 2 families in at a time to register and pick up a few items. This is where you will sign up for meeting with BOD. The meeting afterwards are one at a time in accordance with the list. If you are 5th on the list you will wait until the first 4 are done. The first cadet on the list the day we went took 45 minutes, so you get the picture......it could take awhile. Some parents got tired of waiting and left before their scheduled time.

All in all good visit and tour.
 
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