February Candidate Visit Weekend

Papa

Papa

5-Year Member
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Dec 16, 2009
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Do any current mids or those who have been on this Candidate Visit Weekend have any advice on what to expect, what to bring, what to know, etc?

Any tips or advice would be really helpful.

Thanks.
 
I'll just post the schedule we had from our visit in January - hope it helps some:

USNA Candidate Visit Weekend Program
Schedule for Parents

Thursday 21 Jan 2010
5:00 pm Candidate/parent reception in Mitscher Hall Lobby
Light snacks available
Meet Admissions staff
5:30 pm Candidates check-in and register with Admissions staff
5:45 pm USNA “Fulfill Your Destiny” video
5:55 pm Welcome remarks by:Don Nelson, Assistant Director of Admissions
6:15 pm Admissions update/candidate information brief
6:45 pm Questions/Answers with Admissions Officers
7:05 pm Welcome remarks by: Brigade Commander
7:15 pm Candidates meet midshipmen escorts/hosts

Friday 22 Jan 2010
9:00 am Midshipmen Panel for parents in Rickover 102
10:00 am Midshipmen Parent Panel for candidate parents in Rickover 102
11:00 am Walking Yard Tour by Visitors Center tour guides
12:10 pm Watch Noon Meal Formation
12:10 pm Lunch on own
1:00 pm Parents assemble back in Rickover 102 for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) briefing and Tour with faculty and midshipmen
*3:20 pm STEM tour concludes; midshipmen escort candidates to Worden Field for Formal Dress Parade
*4:00 pm Formal Dress Parade: Parents are welcome to attend (Weather permitting)
*5:00 pm Parade concludes; evening on own in Annapolis area

Saturday 23 Jan 2010

11:00 am Candidate Visit officially concludes; meet up with candidates independently

*Note the starred items are not offered during this visit.

My son never did anything physical (he'd brought sweats/swimsuit/gym clothes), but the friend he went with (who stayed in a different company) did 3 times I think, so make sure you have the minimal stuff you'd need for that.
 
Don Nelson won't be there as he's retiring at the end of this month.:frown:

I frown b/c he was GREAT!
 
CVW

Son is attending this week as well...Thank you for the sample schedule....looks like it will be very fun and informative.....
 
As a parent, if you have a chance to attend, I highly recommend it. As you can see from the schedule, that Marciemi posted, there are several meetings/panels scheduled for parents that are very informative. The tour of the yard as well as the tour of the STEM building was very impressive.

My son brought along a sleeping bag. For clothing he wore khakis and polo shirts. You don't need to bring suits or ties, but remember you will be attending classes with your mids and I think it shows respect to the mids and the professors to look decent. If you are going to wear jeans make sure they don't have holes! He brought work out clothes (he never used his, but like Marciemi pointed out, other candidates did).

I do suggest bringing something for the midshipmen who you are staying with (cookies, candy, snacks, etc). My son brought homemade chocolate chip cookies. The mids he stayed with were very appreciative.
 
Agree with Mumsyto3 -- My son and I attended in January...

1) Khaki's and shirt with collar (and sweater) most appropriate -- few guys in suits looked like they were trying to hard

2) I had to force son to bring cookies -- They were greatly appreciated by the three mids he bunked with.

3) They bring a cot into the room for your child to sleep on.

4) Remind you child -- his drag will fill out an evaluation on him...keep that in mind when commenting on things.

5) Visit gave my child a sense that he could make it at USNA (alleviating some questions)

6) I appreciated the panel interview's with other parents and the one with current mids. VERY Informative.
 
Son Attending also

My son is attending also, do most of the people attending have appointments already or still waiting?
 
I will be attending this weekend as well! BillT I do have an appointment and am attending.
 
There are CVW's beginning in October each year and extending through Feb, maybe even March and April. I would imagine that earlier weekends have more candidates without appointments while later weekends have relatively more kids with appointments. Some kids with appointments have not been to USNA yet, so CVW is attractive to them for a different reason than someone who is still "making up their mind" or "hoping for an appointment."
 
SmilingParent said:
2) I had to force son to bring cookies -- They were greatly appreciated by the three mids he bunked with.
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My son went for an overnight visit in September to USAFA and I had seen on the forum that someone had suggested bringing treats for your hosts. My son did not want to bring anything initially, but when I told him to put himself in the cadet's shoes, how would he feel about it. He ended up bringing cookies and his hosting cadets along with others in nearby rooms were very appreciative! When he went to CVW in October he was the one to remind me about bringing treats for his mid hosts.
 
My son will be attending the CVW in March, which will be his 1st ever visit to the Academy. He has an appointment and wants to see the place and get a feel for it before he makes his final decision. He will be receiving a number of other college decisions on April 1st, so the late-March date will work out well.
 
What to bring to bring to CVW has been covered and recovered so wanted to broach a different subject and that's attitude. Normally I'd be talking about your attitudes as CVW participants but in this case I'm referring to the attitudes of the midshipman you may encounter.

As a CVW participant you will be handed off to a plebe or several plebes inside a Company. The life of a plebe is in general not a pleasant experience but this time of the year is probably the worst. There is even a name for it " The Dark Ages". The plebes have been plebes for eight months and it's a grind that has gotten old. The winter weather is gloomy and this year it's been especially bad. Each Companies training staff was re-energized in January and has upped the pace and pressure on the plebes for Pro Knowledge and passing PRT's. The topper is this week is 6 week exams so academic pressures are maxed out as well. The typical plebe is likely sleep deprived and stressed out.

As a CVW participant, in the February March visits, you may not see or hear the most positive comments about the Academy or life at the Academy. You may run into some pretty cynical midshipman. If you do, just wanted to give you a glimpse as to why.
 
I'll be attending as well - my plane gets in at 4:25pm on Thursday. How is transportation to and from the airport handled? I'm flying out myself, sans parents.
 
Who arranged your flight? If you did or modified it in any way be sure to advise Admissions ASAP. Admissions will arrange your transportation to and from BWI.
 
I'll be attending as well - my plane gets in at 4:25pm on Thursday. How is transportation to and from the airport handled? I'm flying out myself, sans parents.
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Our son went solo also. He used SuperShuttle out of BWI, and it worked out well. You can make reservations at their website www.supershuttle.com. He had other candidates on the bus with him both ways. :smile:

Just saw 1964BGO's post above. When our son did his CVW last fall he was responsible for all travel arrangements - Admissions didn't have anything to do with it. Has this changed?
 
I am going on this CVW with my mom. We are arriving early Thursday and wanted to see Annapolis a little before I had to be at the Academy. Does anyone have suggestions of what to do in DTA before we have to be to the Naval Academy? Thanks!
 
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DTA is a very, quaint waterfront town. Just walk around, lots of good eats, shops, old historical buildings. Will your Mom be hanging out while you do CVW?
 
Son (and cookies) are attending CVW with husband. NROTC Scholarship but no USNA appointment.
 
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