How important is a visit if you have an offer?

Montanaparent

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My DS currently has a conditional offer, just crossing fingers and waiting for the DoDmerb wheels to finish grinding! He's never been to CT, but looking into travel costs from Montana for EAP, it is pretty expensive. I think it is extremely likely he'll accept anyway, so the visit would really be just to help him know what to expect a little more. Trying to decide if we should still go, since it's very unlikely to change his decision. Maybe better to save the money for trips home, etc? Would love any advice.
 
Certainly understand the financial aspect of the decision. Also, good luck with DoDmerb, that's a variable that we don't have and I feel badly for all that are waiting anxiously for a waiver, etc...must be torture.

Just a thought - is there any way that you would consider sending him on his own? Having been to both Montana and New London, I can tell you they are different worlds. Seeing USCGA once before "Day One", might help to take the sting out of that transition for the young man. I'm sure you could coordinate with the parent of another AEP attendee for assistance in getting your DS to/from the Academy and airport??? When he accepts his appointment, assistance from lots of others is going to become the norm :)
 
This coming from another flyover state parent I would say a trip to the CGA would be very prudent unless you have a Military background or experience with a service academy. The Military part as well as the rigorous class scheduled and the restrictions placed on the cadet is a lot for any DS/DD to adjust too no matter how prepared . It would be valuable for your DS to get the scoop from Cadets going thru it and see first hand what he is signing up for . I know a cadet from your state that started with my DS (2023) that called it quits in swab summer, and a believe my son said he knows another DS that quit during the semester.( None of them had been out to CGA before R-day or RISE) I believe that is also why they like to accept more DS/DD from the AIM program those cadets know what to expect and what they are getting into. Do not think the area or the weather would be that big of a issue not the extremes I sure he use to and they really do not get out in town much they are not allowed cars till C1 year and ubers cost $. I know some in his class have gone to New York and Boston a few times over a long weekend.
 
My DS currently has a conditional offer, just crossing fingers and waiting for the DoDmerb wheels to finish grinding! He's never been to CT, but looking into travel costs from Montana for EAP, it is pretty expensive. I think it is extremely likely he'll accept anyway, so the visit would really be just to help him know what to expect a little more. Trying to decide if we should still go, since it's very unlikely to change his decision. Maybe better to save the money for trips home, etc? Would love any advice.

It is very important to visit. You can’t get a feel for the Academy unless you do. Texasaggie is right, maybe he can go alone. You could contact Admissions and see if he could switch dates if another one is cheaper. He’s likely to spend the next four years there so it should be an informed decision.
 
I concur with the feedback you’ve already received. I think it’s imperative for him to see it and be in that environment! Research shows that emotional preparedness is lacking for typical students who attend typical universities and a service academy is a whole other level! I also think you’ve gotten some great responses about ways to lower the cost! Good luck and congratulations to your son!!
 
I'll break with the mold here and say that beyond a stop as I drove through in something like sixth grade, I never stepped foot on the campus before R-day. That said, the military has always been my goal and there's not much I wouldn't do to make it happen, so the school itself was relatively immaterial to me, and I was well-informed about what exactly I was getting into.
 
If there are any doubts about attending an SA then you and your son should attend AEP. This is a life changing decision for the student and for our country.
As you have stated prior Montanaparent, he does not know anything about the military and Is also thinking about a career in medicine which USCG does not have. He needs to go and make sure the CGA is the correct fit for him.
 
I would also add to my other post that we have met many successful cadets that R-day was the first time they set foot on CGA. Another option your DS should look into is to find and contact a service academy grad doesn't really matter the service they all pretty much the same and have them tell him what the life is like. I am sure since your DS got accepted that academically he could handle the classes, its the structure and lifestyle that seem to be the issues for most. My DS grew up in a military family was the type of kid that liked the structure and lifestyle that was one of the reasons he was attracted to CGA.
 
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My mother has a friend with a son that grew up gung ho for the Coast Guard academy for years, I think he had helicopters on the brain. He came back from AIM completely changed: not into that particular school, academies in general, and even reconsidered his idea of military service. I believe he eventually went ROTC, but his idealized notion of the collegial brotherhood of military scholars living and learning together was more or less shattered by a real understanding of 4C life. The internet makes those surprises less frequent, but communal living in an unsympathetic environment or getting yelled at is not something that happens to most people these days, so you may want to be sure it's something you won't hate.

Also, the CGA campus is not 200 years of regal stonework like West Point so there's room for a bit of let-down on that front as well if you're already getting beaten up in other areas. Breaking up introductory shocks into smaller pieces makes it harder for smaller ones to stack into something significant.
 
My mother has a friend with a son that grew up gung ho for the Coast Guard academy for years, I think he had helicopters on the brain. He came back from AIM completely changed: not into that particular school, academies in general, and even reconsidered his idea of military service. I believe he eventually went ROTC, but his idealized notion of the collegial brotherhood of military scholars living and learning together was more or less shattered by a real understanding of 4C life. The internet makes those surprises less frequent, but communal living in an unsympathetic environment or getting yelled at is not something that happens to most people these days, so you may want to be sure it's something you won't hate.

Also, the CGA campus is not 200 years of regal stonework like West Point so there's room for a bit of let-down on that front as well if you're already getting beaten up in other areas. Breaking up introductory shocks into smaller pieces makes it harder for smaller ones to stack into something significant.
Those are all good points - very much based on the reality of not just the USCGA, but all Academies. Added to which, these kids all likely have so many great options, we as parents need to do everything possible to make sure that our kids have as much info for their decision as is possible.
 
One advantage to going is your child will spend the night with a cadet in his/her room. Not only will they go to class and sports, and eat in the wardroom with the cadet, they usually exchange phone numbers. As it gets closer, you can text the cadet you met and get specific questions answered at a peer to peer level. This can be very helpful. Just being on campus and sitting in class takes some of the mystery out of the "academy experience."

I understand the cost, another alternative to visiting is to read the "Cadet blogs" on the website. There is a search function and you can get some first had accounts of topics you are interested in.
 
For budgeting/planning purposes - this is what the first semester travel looks like including optional events at USCGA for those that need to fly:

Drop off at R-Day - usually fly in on Saturday, Sunday optional religious service, dorm tour, dinner on campus. Monday report at 0600, parents get to say good bye for 5 minuets again later at about 1600 after swearing in, go to hotel and worry, fly home Tuesday.

Flag ceremony, around July 25-30 = Cadets go to Mystic seaport for a short 30 min morning ceremony then get liberty at the seaport for 3-5 hours, then go back. Local parents attend, and some fly in, often one parent to save money, especially if they get the usual first letters home from their cadet and the cadet sounds stressed (which is normal to get a first few "why am I here" letters during Swab summer)

They take the phones during SWAB summer so mail is the only contact. At the end of SWAB, phones can be used so contact improves.

There are a few 3 day weekends the first term and most cadets not on duty get liberty, some parents pick a weekend and fly in.

Parents weekend, you get to attend class with your cadet. Most attend, plan on a ticket.

Some parents fly in to watch fall sports, not many but some.

Thanksgiving, cadets get liberty from Tue evening to Sunday, but most return Saturday. So plan on a ticket home for the cadet.

Christmas cadets get leave, plan on a ticket home.

Some parents do not come out at all, and their Cadet reports to R-day alone and does not fly home until Christmas leave. The Academy takes care of the kids that remain over Thanksgiving for example, no problem. Many cadets make friends quick and get invited to others homes that live closer too.

As you can see, you can visit as much or as little as you wish, your choice. We have to fly and connect to get to USCGA, nothing direct and it can get pricey. Hopefully this info will help you pick and choose what works best for your family.

You asked a great question.

Good luck!
 
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Definitely go, but understand unless he bean sprouted you are not going to get really good picture. You see the pleasantries.
 
We're drifting terribly from the original topic, but if you won't be out there much be sure to search for the Sponsor Family program both here and the USCGA.edu site.
 
Not living close myself my DS did not come home for Thanksgiving first time home was Christmas break . The Cadets can get assigned a host family that will kind of take care of your cadet for those weekends when they want to get away or take your cadet out for dinner on birthdays and such. My wife and split or trips out to visit him so far this year we have been out 4 times.
1. We drove out to R-day from the Midwest made a vacation out of it.
2. Mystic flag Ceremony (1 flight)
3. Parents weekend (1 flight)
4. Sporting event weekend (1 flight)
5. We bought his plane ticket home for Christmas.

This seem to be what a lot of parents did as you will get to know them very well. Most look at it as a small college expense since we are not having to pay for anything college related except for the travel.

Buy tickets early and buy on southwest airline as they do not charge a change or cancelation fee and will hold your funds for a year.
 
Montanaparent, I concur with the advice to have your son visit, and also to encourage him to visit by himself, if that's at all feasible. In addition to being in class and with cadets, he can talk with a coach, band director, professors, etc., and really take control of the conversations.

The campus is very small and, in my first impression, kind of meh (don't @ me!), though my DS fell in love with the place. It was odd to me on a Saturday morning with a fresh snow that no one was out sledding the hills on trays or in snowball fights. The place was deserted, though a 1C assured me that sometimes, yes, cadets did play in the snow. Anyhow, it was totally different than a state U campus. So that might be different compared with other schools he's considering. In addition to getting the vibe of the place, your DS would see firsthand how 4C's have to square meals, walk in formation and 'clock,' which is a thing that I still don't understand.

Another option: It might be good if he could visit a CG base or station, whether close to you or near any other travels he might be making this spring, to talk with officers and get a sense of life after the academy. We, too, aren't a military family, so that's something we're looking at.

If visiting isn't feasible, though, I imagine his AO would be happy to put him in touch with cadet(s) or graduate(s) who can talk on the phone about their experiences and answer questions. I know GenZ isn't a big fan of talking on the phone, but these kids have gone through so much to get appointed, they can handle some calls!
 
For budgeting/planning purposes - this is what the first semester travel looks like including optional events at USCGA for those that need to fly:

Drop off at R-Day - usually fly in on Saturday, Sunday optional religious service, dorm tour, dinner on campus. Monday report at 0600, parents get to say good bye for 5 minuets again later at about 1600 after swearing in, go to hotel and worry, fly home Tuesday.

Flag ceremony, around July 25-30 = Cadets go to Mystic seaport for a short 30 min morning ceremony then get liberty at the seaport for 3-5 hours, then go back. Local parents attend, and some fly in, often one parent to save money, especially if they get the usual first letters home from their cadet and the cadet sounds stressed (which is normal to get a first few "why am I here" letters during Swab summer)

They take the phones during SWAB summer so mail is the only contact. At the end of SWAB, phones can be used so contact improves.

There are a few 3 day weekends the first term and most cadets not on duty get liberty, some parents pick a weekend and fly in.

Parents weekend, you get to attend class with your cadet. Most attend, plan on a ticket.

Some parents fly in to watch fall sports, not many but some.

Thanksgiving, cadets get liberty from Tue evening to Sunday, but most return Saturday. So plan on a ticket home for the cadet.

Christmas cadets get leave, plan on a ticket home.

Some parents do not come out at all, and their Cadet reports to R-day alone and does not fly home until Christmas leave. The Academy takes care of the kids that remain over Thanksgiving for example, no problem. Many cadets make friends quick and get invited to others homes that live closer too.

As you can see, you can visit as much or as little as you wish, your choice. We have to fly and connect to get to USCGA, nothing direct and it can get pricey. Hopefully this info will help you pick and choose what works best for your family.

You asked a great question.

Good luck!
This is great advice. Parents might want to come labor day weekend instead of the Mystic Flag Ceremony (which is fun) if their swab is getting a sponsor family. They meet their sponsor family a few days before for the first time and they have usually prepared a special dinner for their new sponsor cadet. If their sponsor family is not available, someone else's sponsor family will invite them. Also, Labor Day weekend is a long weekend.
 
For budgeting/planning purposes - this is what the first semester travel looks like including optional events at USCGA for those that need to fly:

Drop off at R-Day - usually fly in on Saturday, Sunday optional religious service, dorm tour, dinner on campus. Monday report at 0600, parents get to say good bye for 5 minuets again later at about 1600 after swearing in, go to hotel and worry, fly home Tuesday.

Flag ceremony, around July 25-30 = Cadets go to Mystic seaport for a short 30 min morning ceremony then get liberty at the seaport for 3-5 hours, then go back. Local parents attend, and some fly in, often one parent to save money, especially if they get the usual first letters home from their cadet and the cadet sounds stressed (which is normal to get a first few "why am I here" letters during Swab summer)

They take the phones during SWAB summer so mail is the only contact. At the end of SWAB, phones can be used so contact improves.

There are a few 3 day weekends the first term and most cadets not on duty get liberty, some parents pick a weekend and fly in.

Parents weekend, you get to attend class with your cadet. Most attend, plan on a ticket.

Some parents fly in to watch fall sports, not many but some.

Thanksgiving, cadets get liberty from Tue evening to Sunday, but most return Saturday. So plan on a ticket home for the cadet.

Christmas cadets get leave, plan on a ticket home.

Some parents do not come out at all, and their Cadet reports to R-day alone and does not fly home until Christmas leave. The Academy takes care of the kids that remain over Thanksgiving for example, no problem. Many cadets make friends quick and get invited to others homes that live closer too.

As you can see, you can visit as much or as little as you wish, your choice. We have to fly and connect to get to USCGA, nothing direct and it can get pricey. Hopefully this info will help you pick and choose what works best for your family.

You asked a great question.

Good luck!
Thanks, very helpful. But a bummer. I would love to go to so many of these, but coming from Montana is so expensive, there's just no way. This helps us plan in advance and pick and choose though, so thank you.
 
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