JustAdNauseam

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Jan 31, 2016
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We're dropping off our son for the Candidate Visit Weekend tomorrow and heading back to stay with a nearby (by that we mean 2 hours away) family member. However we're a bit puzzled by this in the confirmation e-mail:
"If you are driving, and the driver is a member of the military, you can drive onto the Yard with a valid military ID. If not, you must present a printed copy of this confirmation letter with a valid photo ID to drive on to the Naval Academy for drop-off and pick-up. Driving access is only valid at Gate 8 for the following times of your visit:
· Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
· Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
"

Is this implying that if we don't have a DoD ID we still go through Gate 8? Or should we drop our son off at Gate 1 or 3?

Also, is there anything else we should know or keep in mind as far as parents are concerned? e.g. traffic around the base on that day, possible complications, etc? The CVW info on the USNA website and other sites are rather basic in the information, or they pertain only to the candidate/visitor.
 
Sounds like you're planning to just drop off and not stay? There is a TON of really great info, panels and tours (into places not on the "regular" tours) for parents while he is at the CVW....stuff you really don't want to miss!
 
Agreed. Multiple briefings for parents with special insight into the application process.
 
Note that non-DOD ID holders are only permitted to drive onto the yard for drop-off or pick-up....not to park. If you plan on attending the briefs, you might want to consider alternate options. See: http://www.usna.edu/Visit/index.php
 
Strongly recommend parents to attend the briefs on Friday morning. E.g. A parent of a midshipman speaking of his experience; a panel of four Mids (one from each year) speaking about their experiences and answering parents' questions. Then on Friday afternoon: tour of engineering buildings and learning firsthand about majors and programs.
 
Agree with staying for the parent sessions. DS's CVW was our anniversary weekend. Thought we would check out maybe the first session and head out to enjoy the town. So glad we stayed! The 2 panels were amazingly helpful; would not want to miss the morning. The afternoon was good too with an academic presentation and then a tour. If you can make it I would stay for the sessions.
 
Happy to hear that the parent presentations are great. Looking forward to them. We were there when my DS attended STEM 2 years ago...excited to be going back!
 
Thank you for the info. Maybe we will stay for the presentations. We'll probably park in the Hillman garage and go through one of the other gates if we decide to go. Thanks again!
 
Son received an invitation to a CVW and would much rather attend by himself. We have previously done the standard (non-admissions) tour of USNA. Is it worth pushing this to attend with him?

Also, does the hosting mid fill out a formal evaluation?
 
Son received an invitation to a CVW and would much rather attend by himself. We have previously done the standard (non-admissions) tour of USNA. Is it worth pushing this to attend with him?

Also, does the hosting mid fill out a formal evaluation?

I went to the CVW without my parents, and I saw a lot of other kids (I won't call them candidates because not everyone there is an official candidate yet) who did so as well. Mine was an all-junior class CVW, so everyone there was starting their junior year. The only purpose of the parents going is to sit with their kid during the admissions briefing they give on Thursday night. After that, the "drags" (what the Mids call the people on the CVW) won't see their parents again until the day that the CVW ends. There is no ceremony, it's just an "alright buddy, hope I see you again someday!" from your hosting Mid. There are some events for the parents during the CVW, but I don't think they do anything other than educate you on things you should probably already know if you are an informed parent.

I don't think that Mids fill out an evaluation, that would only be for the Summer Seminar. There is nothing to evaluate them on, the drags don't really compete or participate in events, they are only there to learn about the academy lifestyle.
 
I went to the CVW without my parents, and I saw a lot of other kids (I won't call them candidates because not everyone there is an official candidate yet) who did so as well. Mine was an all-junior class CVW, so everyone there was starting their junior year. The only purpose of the parents going is to sit with their kid during the admissions briefing they give on Thursday night. After that, the "drags" (what the Mids call the people on the CVW) won't see their parents again until the day that the CVW ends. There is no ceremony, it's just an "alright buddy, hope I see you again someday!" from your hosting Mid. There are some events for the parents during the CVW, but I don't think they do anything other than educate you on things you should probably already know if you are an informed parent.

I don't think that Mids fill out an evaluation, that would only be for the Summer Seminar. There is nothing to evaluate them on, the drags don't really compete or participate in events, they are only there to learn about the academy lifestyle.

I disagree. DS went once he had the appointment. I attended all of the parent events. It was very informative and there are opportunities to ask questions not just of administrators but of current mids as well. You can read about it all you want, but extra stuff always comes out once the questions start. That stuff is even helpful to an "informed parent". The tour they give is also much different than the public tour and much more geared toward a potential mid family. I wouldn't miss it.
 
I disagree. DS went once he had the appointment. I attended all of the parent events. It was very informative and there are opportunities to ask questions not just of administrators but of current mids as well. You can read about it all you want, but extra stuff always comes out once the questions start. That stuff is even helpful to an "informed parent". The tour they give is also much different than the public tour and much more geared toward a potential mid family. I wouldn't miss it.

Yeah I would recommend attending it instead of just leaving, but if it is too costly to fly out or your son is travelling alone I don't think it is a deal-breaker. Sorry for giving the wrong impression, I do believe it is beneficial, but I advise not to sweat over it if you can't make it.
 
If you can afford and have the time, go. We found the CVW parent sessions to be the most informative of all our interactions with USNA. We were very well read and informed and still learned/saw tons in that visit.
 
I went to the CVW without my parents, and I saw a lot of other kids (I won't call them candidates because not everyone there is an official candidate yet) who did so as well. Mine was an all-junior class CVW, so everyone there was starting their junior year. The only purpose of the parents going is to sit with their kid during the admissions briefing they give on Thursday night. After that, the "drags" (what the Mids call the people on the CVW) won't see their parents again until the day that the CVW ends. There is no ceremony, it's just an "alright buddy, hope I see you again someday!" from your hosting Mid. There are some events for the parents during the CVW, but I don't think they do anything other than educate you on things you should probably already know if you are an informed parent.

I don't think that Mids fill out an evaluation, that would only be for the Summer Seminar. There is nothing to evaluate them on, the drags don't really compete or participate in events, they are only there to learn about the academy lifestyle.

Parents...Don't miss it! The only time you will see your DS/DD is at check-in and pick up. The rest of the presentations are all
for you. They do an incredible job offering several forums, panel discussions, and tours specifically for the parents.
I agree it's not a deal breaker however, if you can, you will not regret it.
 
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