How important is a visit if you DON'T have an appointment yet?

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marioncreek

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My DS is registered to go to Bear's Day next Friday, Feb 21st. This would be his first chance to visit the campus - we live in Alaska, and he commercial fishes in the summer so he didn't apply to go to AIM. Like everyone, his application is competitive, but he currently has a medical DQ which we're working to resolve (and feel confident that he could get a waiver if he is appointed). Wondering if it's beneficial to his application if he goes now (showing interest), or should he sit tight (and not miss school and take an expensive flight!) and let the process play out.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!
 
Hoping your DS gets his appointment and waiver soon...the stress of waiting and not knowing is hard! I can only speak to our experience in that my DS received an appointment without a visit (not a recruited athlete). If they do consider demonstrated interest, I wonder if it is not weighted very heavily. Hopefully one of the admissions partners will chime in. Wishing you guys the best!
 
tycarpen said:
Hoping your DS gets his appointment and waiver soon...the stress of waiting and not knowing is hard! I can only speak to our experience in that my DS received an appointment without a visit (not a recruited athlete). If they do consider demonstrated interest, I wonder if it is not weighted very heavily. Hopefully one of the admissions partners will chime in. Wishing you guys the best!
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DS1 went to AIM got his appointment in late April 2016. Was invited for visit, but never came. Took 8AP classes senior year, can’t afford to miss a day in class.
DS2 is coming to visit on Friday, Bear day. Football coach meeting. And weekend with his brother.

Are you going with your DS? Will you pm me his airport and time of arrival? DS1 has a car and will pick up my DS2 arriving 6:05pm.
 
My personal opinion is that NOT going won't neccesarily hurt his app but going MIGHT help it. Plus he would get to see and learn more about the Academy which is invaluable. As I always say to these posts- If you can go- GO.
 
I don't think a visit is required, but if your son is still trying to make up his mind then a visit could help. I'm not sure it will make a difference on his application. However, if he is going to fly out, then I think if there is anyway to do one of the Cadet for a Day or any other overnight (my daughter just coordinated with the coach to organize a time when an overnight worked best for her) would be more valuable then just the Bears Day visit. A Bears Day is still better than just a regular tour, but if he is flying in all the way from Alaska, I would think trying to organize an overnight, so he gets the full experience, would be more beneficial.
 
My DD visited and as it turned out, her assigned admissions officer was giving the introduction presentation. There was a person visiting from Alaska in the audience.

The admissions officer kindly spent a good bit of time talking with my daughter about her application afterwards, which was extremely helpful. It was exam time so we didn't have a student-led tour but we were free to look around the campus.

We also visited West Point on the same trip. My daughter liked WP but she LOVED the USCGA and was thankful she got to see both in person.
 
One thing I hesitated to mention is my regret in NOT visiting CGA when we traveled last fall and visited WP (in Cali now, but grew up in NY, 30 miles from WP). The admissions event at CGA didn't line up with our travel schedule, so we didn't go. I really regret it. I know my DS would have fallen in love with it earlier - because he would have been able to really see himself there. He has fallen in love from afar with his research and talking with CG people in our area which is great, but again, I think it would have helped clarify things for him. And clarify them a lot sooner!
 
To echo the words of @BashOn, if he does go, I'd encourage your DS to arrange to meet the coach (if he's in a sport), a professor or his admissions counselor. I was grateful for how the staff at CGA were so willing to spend time with my DS after the official tour was over, and it made a huge impression on him.
 
It's definitely worth the travel expense to see CGA first hand. Right after my DD applied in August, we signed her up to visit in November. Being there made all she read about so real and called to her. Also, personally meeting with the Admissions Officer was so beneficial for them to connect a face with the application. She even received the advice needed towards the medical waiver process. 8 weeks later, she was so grateful for the medical waiver and full appointment. Enjoy your trip next week. It will be worth it.
 
Will admissions officers meet with AIM attendees during their week there? Does anyone know if there are any individual meetings with attendees to talk about admissions, areas that need improvement, etc?
 
AllAloha said:
Will admissions officers meet with AIM attendees during their week there? Does anyone know if there are any individual meetings with attendees to talk about admissions, areas that need improvement, etc?
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They will meet with the AIM attendees. But in our experience at AIM the Admissions officers are very busy meeting with all the attendees at AIM assigned to them as well as at the info day meeting with parents. A bears day or overnight they have more time to spend with individual and parents.
 
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