Back from CVW

[USN-Ret]

Just got home from CVW. DS absolutely loved it. The weather was beautiful, so he didn't get a feel of the 'Dark Ages'. The visit made his desire even stronger. Not sure where his love for the Navy comes from...lol. The briefs, panels, and tour for the parents was great. He's waiting on word for summer seminar. Our next trip is open house at VMI on Friday and Saturday.

 

[WonderGirl1965]

Good luck at VMI.... everything is a let down after visiting Annapolis. I was oooohhhhing and ahhhhing at Yale and my DD was like eeehhh whatever.

 

[MamaBear4]

Good luck at VMI.... everything is a let down after visiting Annapolis. I was oooohhhhing and ahhhhing at Yale and my DD was like eeehhh whatever.

Son had the same attitude after SLE and CVW. He would say "It's ok but not an institution that will prepare me to serve and protect my country to the best of my ability." <-------- He had a. bizzillion such responses. [emoji631]

 

[ktnatalk]

The weather was beautiful, so he didn't get a feel of the 'Dark Ages'.

Beautiful? The weather was ridiculous this month! I am going to return the box of hand warmers I bought this winter!

Any particular piece of info that you found interesting in the briefs/panel discussion and wouldn't mind sharing here?

 

[navyafgirl]

Good luck at VMI.... everything is a let down after visiting Annapolis. I was oooohhhhing and ahhhhing at Yale and my DD was like eeehhh whatever.

This is SO true! Even after visiting West Point (and usna is soooo much pretty than that) I visited Princeton with my mom and I was like eh... she was like are you crazy this place is so cool!? The service academies just do it best haha

 

[USN-Ret]

Any particular piece of info that you found interesting in the briefs/panel discussion and wouldn't mind sharing here?[/QUOTE]

Parents asked a lot of questions about their kids doing this and that and what else they needed to do. Biggest thing is that there is not a secret formula. Everyone should do their best at everything they do and be well rounded. My DS is checking all the boxes and hoping for the best. I'm sure he'll end up taking SAT/ACT five times when it's said and done.

I read here about taking cookies. Being that it's Girl Scout cookies time, DS took 4 boxes and they loved it. We went really early and walked around ourselves before checking in. The museum is really awesome and has tons of history on display.

It was a really great experience for us and I would definitely recommend going if given the opportunity. I do believe my DS got the invite from where he applied for STEM program. They mentioned that they look at candidates who are in the system.

 

[OtB]

We went really early and walked around ourselves before checking in. The museum is really awesome and has tons of history on display.

For sports fans... head up to the second floor of Lejeune Hall to see the two Heisman Trophies and other sports memorabilia.

 

[EOD/SEALmom]

Good luck at VMI.... everything is a let down after visiting Annapolis. I was oooohhhhing and ahhhhing at Yale and my DD was like eeehhh whatever.

My DD, and my husband and I had a very different experience when my daughter did the overnight at VMI last year. My DD had been laser focused on USNA for years. Only applied to other colleges at my insistence that she needed a backup plan. DD only agreed to apply to two other colleges - VMI and the Citadel - and she only agreed to apply to them because the entire corps are in ROTC, compared to all the other colleges where ROTC is a small component of the larger school. She wanted the "all in" component, where everyone has the same mindset that she does. She was accepted into both schools surprisingly fast and we scheduled overnight visits to both.

She had already been to the USNA CVW and loved it there. I mean she truly loved, loved, LOVED USNA! So did we, as her parents. But we still insisted she attend the overnight at VMI and the Citadel...."just in case."

My DD tried like crazy to find something about VMI that she did not like....but she just couldn't. She loved every single thing about it. We parents were blown away by the Institute. VMI was where she belonged. We felt it and so did she.

Leaving the overnight, we asked DD her thoughts about comparing VMI to USNA; if money was no object, which would she choose? She very thoughtfully said that while USNA would be a tremendous start to her military career and would help her to become the best officer she could be, she felt like VMI would equally accomplish that in a way that's better for her (being smaller), and she really felt like VMI would help her to become not just the best officer she could be, but VMI would develop her into the best PERSON she could be.

It was actually a sigh of relief for all of us when that TWE came late last March. VMI was no backup plan - it had actually become her first choice.

I am not suggesting that your son's or daughters would have the same impression of VMI that we did, although I cannot say enough great things about VMI. What I am trying to say is that sometimes what you "think" is a plan B is actually exactly where you belong. And when you realize it - you just simply "know".

Best of luck on your journey!

 

[MIHOSER]

"Any particular piece of info that you found interesting in the briefs/panel discussion and wouldn't mind sharing here?"

Funniest question I ever heard was from a hopeful Plebe-to-be in March 2010 was in one of the joint prospective Plebe/parent panel discussions - "Do you spend a lot of time in boats while you're here?"

Answer - "Well, this is the Naval Academy."

The entire auditorium hit the floor laughing and I mean everyone.