Candidate Visit invitation only?

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warthog15

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Jan 12, 2019
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Hello, I was wondering if a candidate visit weekend where you drag a midshipman is an invitation only event or not. Thanks!
 
My daughter received an invitation. That being said her BGO said that if she did not and felt it was necessary to solidify her decision she could reach out to him and he could see if it might be possible. She has an LOA and is planning a March visit.
 
The Candidate Visit Weekend (CVW) is typically by invitation only.

If you already have a Letter of Assurance (LOA) however, you may request a CVW (and more than likely you will receive an invite). I have read on these forums that BGOs may have a certain amount of "pull" with getting an invite to a candidate who wasn't invited through the normal process. I think that this is uncommon, however. That's just my opinion.
 
I have read on these forums that BGOs may have a certain amount of "pull" with getting an invite to a candidate who wasn't invited through the normal process.
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Uh . . . BGOs can certainly contact Admissions and suggest a CVW would be a good option for a candidate. As to "pull," . . . not so sure. Generally, there are more slots at CVW than there are folks who are interested in going/able to go. So, if someone makes a request and there is space, it may happen. In the "old days," being invited to a CVW was considered a "good sign." Now, not so much. Being invited certainly means you are competitive but not necessarily that you're sufficiently competitive for -- or in line to receive -- an appointment.
 
mara said:
My daughter received an invitation. That being said her BGO said that if she did not and felt it was necessary to solidify her decision she could reach out to him and he could see if it might be possible. She has an LOA and is planning a March visit.
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I've never known an LOA recipient who did not also receive a CVW invitation. So, I don't think it's the least bit presumptuous for a candidate with an LOA to proactively call the Admissions Office and ask/schedule a CVW. For other (non-LOA) candidates, I would not be so presumptuous. Invitation only.
 
So assuming I receive an offer of appointment or an LOA, I could ask for an invitation? Or would there not be a point if I had already had an appointment to the academy? I am just wondering what purpose candidate visit weekend serves to those invited.
 
The CVW is meant to be a snapshot into the daily life of a Plebe, during the Academic year. You go, you ask questions, you follow your Plebe to classes, you sleep on a cot in your Plebe's room in Bancroft Hall, you eat at King Hall, and generally get a "feel" for the place. You may actually find that it's not for you. Most people however, come away from a CVW with even more resolve to attend, if granted an Offer. They typically start at about 5PM on a Thursday and they expect you out of there by 9AM on Saturday.
 
My son got his invite to CVW in August. He got his LOA in December after his CFA was posted.
 
warthog15 said:
So assuming I receive an offer of appointment or an LOA, I could ask for an invitation? Or would there not be a point if I had already had an appointment to the academy? I am just wondering what purpose candidate visit weekend serves to those invited.
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I would highly recommend you go to CVW weekend if you already receive an offer of appointment. My son got a CVW invite 3 months after receiving an LOA. He received an offer of appointment the day before going to CVW. Even though he was at USNA several times over the years, the CVW experience gave him a glimpse of what a typical day is like. It sealed the deal for him.
 
warthog15 said:
So assuming I receive an offer of appointment or an LOA, I could ask for an invitation? Or would there not be a point if I had already had an appointment to the academy? I am just wondering what purpose candidate visit weekend serves to those invited.
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Have you visited USNA previously? Done NASS? I would say if you are a senior who receives an appointment and hasn’t visited then I would ask for one when the time comes. I think this would be most important if you are torn between several SAs or are the fence about USNA. If your mind is made it and money or schedule are tight then it’s not the end of the world. Heck there will be plenty of new Plebes who have never stepped foot on the yard prior to I day.
 
My son was invited to a CVW as a HS Junior last March. It was actually before he started his 2023 application . He did not get an LOA , but received an offer of Appointment in January.
We are still not sure how/why he was invited, but he did meet with a Navy recruiter at his HS a few weeks before and discussed his interest in
NROTC and the USNA.
 
I went to CVW in October, loved every second. Solidified USNA as my #1 choice. Just waiting to hear on an offer or rejection. It was such a great experience, especially since it was the week of a home football game and I got to watch the parade. Learned a lot about life at USNA.
 
JoeAmerican0921 said:
I went to CVW in October, loved every second. Solidified USNA as my #1 choice. Just waiting to hear on an offer or rejection. It was such a great experience, especially since it was the week of a home football game and I got to watch the parade. Learned a lot about life at USNA.
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My son too ... though we couldn’t stay for the game because we had a long drive and he had an event to attend that night.

Most importantly ... he loved the food, other than the fake powered eggs.

It was everything he could dream of.
 
In general, I would say that CVWs are very beneficial and help a candidate to get a clearer picture of what life will be like as a midshipman. However, there is a potential downside to a CVW that could cause a candidate to return from a CVW with some misconceptions and negative feelings.

Having been a midshipman myself, and having two sons who graduated from USNA, I can confidently tell you that Plebes (because that's who will be hosting the candidate on a CVW) can sometimes be very cynical about life at USNA and convey some of that negativity to the candidate. Some Plebes may come right out and tell the candidate, "You'd be foolish to come here. Go to a real school." Oftentimes, the Plebes who say this do not fully mean what they're saying - but they love basking in their misery (as Plebes) and like to share that misery with others. But the candidate won't realize this is actually a unique brand of insincere cynicism that is quite common at a service academy.

The candidate comes home and says, "Man, it seems everybody hates it there." The candidate never pauses to think, "If they hate it so much, then why don't they quit?" The answer is - They really don't hate it that much. They're just whining.

Again, this is not the usual experience but it is a possible experience.
 
Memphis9489 said:
In general, I would say that CVWs are very beneficial and help a candidate to get a clearer picture of what life will be like as a midshipman. However, there is a potential downside to a CVW that could cause a candidate to return from a CVW with some misconceptions and negative feelings.

Having been a midshipman myself, and having two sons who graduated from USNA, I can confidently tell you that Plebes (because that's who will be hosting the candidate on a CVW) can sometimes be very cynical about life at USNA and convey some of that negativity to the candidate. Some Plebes may come right out and tell the candidate, "You'd be foolish to come here. Go to a real school." Oftentimes, the Plebes who say this do not fully mean what they're saying - but they love basking in their misery (as Plebes) and like to share that misery with others. But the candidate won't realize this is actually a unique brand of insincere cynicism that is quite common at a service academy.

The candidate comes home and says, "Man, it seems everybody hates it there." The candidate never pauses to think, "If they hate it so much, then why don't they quit?" The answer is - They really don't hate it that much. They're just whining.

Again, this is not the usual experience but it is a possible experience.
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This post made me wonder how plebes are chosen to host a drag? I would THINK it would be a plebe who would be a good ambassador for usna. Are they trained? do they have to apply? curious.
 
This post made me wonder how plebes are chosen to host a drag? I would THINK it would be a plebe who would be a good ambassador for usna. Are they trained? do they have to apply? curious.[/QUOTE]

DS attend last fall. His plebe stated that it's supposed to be voluntary; however, it's really not. It's expected that a plebe volunteers to host a drag. My DS really enjoyed his visit and his hosts were great.
 
My guess is that there are more Plebes than drags. The current Plebe class is comprised of 1,190 Plebes. Each of the CVWs invite around 175-200 candidates. For every Plebe to get a drag, you would have to have six (6) or more CVWs from September through say, April. I don't think that they do that many CVWs, but I certainly do not know for sure.
 
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