Unusual CVW Circumstances

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hockeygirl

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I was asked to attend a CVW in late January at USNA and accepted. Although I do not understand how the Academy recieved my contact information as I have not yet begun my application for the class of 2021 (I am a Junior in HS). I applied to the STEM program last year, but was not accepted. How would USNA know to ask me for a CVW?
I have also searched several threads and have yet to find any CVW experience stories, if you could point me in the correct direction of one of those threads, or elaborate on your own experience, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!
 
The USNA Admissions Office picks students who applied to the STEM program who seem to be promising candidates. You don't have to ask. My DS went in Oct. It came as a surprise to us. I highly recommend that you and your parent(s) attend.

You will be assigned a plebe midshipman and be a "drag" by following him/her to classes, sleeping in the dorm and eating in the dining hall. If you want more info, Google "CVW service academy forum."

I really encourage that you attend.
 
My daughter had the exact same thing - applied to STEM, was declined and then invited for a CVW as a junior. (She's a current candidate for class of 2020).

I suspect her info (and yours) was taken from the STEM application. The CVW is invitation only. I have no idea why some are invited but others aren't. I do wonder if those who aren't accepted for STEM, but who USNA still finds interesting are some who get an invitation.

As for the experience, it was a bit....weird....for my daughter. Her plebe actually left her in the room alone, with a stack of magazines because she had a rare opportunity to go into town. The other plebe in the room planned to leave at the end of the year and told my daughter how much she hated it there.

Luckily, my daughter found another 3/C midshipman who took her under his wing, introduced her to others, took her to work out etc. She was able to see a boxing match (my daughter is a boxer), and that was a huge highlight for her!

There is a portion of the CVW when you will get a personal tour in a small group with your parents. My daughter's plebe failed to bring my daughter, but my husband and I were there. If your parent(s) are able to go with you for the CVW, I highly recommend they attend this portion - very informative! We were able to see a lot of things that aren't on the typical tour.

As for my daughter, even with the odd plebe "welcome", the CVW truly cemented for her that she felt like she belonged at USNA.

Good luck to you!
 
Sounds like she got an amazing Plebe... As in bad. That sucks. Glad she found another mid who stepped up and made it a worthwhile experience.
 
NavyHoops said:
Sounds like she got an amazing Plebe... As in bad. That sucks. Glad she found another mid who stepped up and made it a worthwhile experience.
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She said afterwards that it actually was a great experience - it made her determined that when she's a plebe she will be sure to give her drag the best CVW ever :)
 
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Glad to hear that. I didn't get drags as a Plebe as I got basketball recruits instead. Different type of visit as they get 2 nights and 48 hours on campus. I never lost a recruit in 4 years!

CVWs can really vary by whom the candidate is matched up with. If a Plebe is not being proactive in letting a candidate talk to lots of folks, including upperclass, ask to! A visit in Septemeber a Plebe has been at USNA for a few weeks and is still pretty lost on a lot of stuff. A Janauary visit they know USNA pretty well, but it's a hard month for a Plebe. Just got done with their first semester that was probably a wake up call, leave is over and back to the grind, it's cold and dark, and the end of Plebe Year is so far away. It's called the Dark Ages for a reason. So talk to upperclass in your intended major, activities you are interested in and their summer training. They should be happy you talk to you and give a different perspective.
 
+1 EOD/SEALmom, DS hosted drags this fall and because he had a great Plebe during his CVW, he did the same for his drags. He did mention that drags get passed around to other plebes so they could make left turns in Bancroft, etc. I guess that would be a good time for a drag to meet and talk to other Plebes/mids.
 
Do the plebes who host ever getting asked by the admissions people what he or she thinks about the drag? Whether they think the drag would make a good midshipman? Do they report back to admissions at all in terms of how the visit went?
 
In my time, yes brovol. There was a quick report/questionnaire that we filled out. Do any current MIDN know?

The extent to what it is used for and any impact on qualification or appointment is unknown. However, I am sure a very good report or very bad report might have some weight...but for most...no change.
 
According to our plebe, no report or write up is done by the host plebe.
 
My DS was told that the host has the option of filling out an assessment but usually he/she is too busy and ends up not completing one.
 
When I was a plebe, there was not.

But I guess my experience isn't current anymore.
 
I checked with my Plebe as well, he said he wasn't asked / required to complete a write up of his drags.
 
When I went on my CVW, the plebe I was with told me there was no evaluation or anything like that.
 
There's no official evaluation of the drag by the plebe. Don't tell your dear son or daughter this though, I like to carry around a clipboard and scribble notes so they behave.
 
mb1395 said:
There's no official evaluation of the drag by the plebe. Don't tell your dear son or daughter this though, I like to carry around a clipboard and scribble notes so they behave.
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Lol. OK, fair enough.
 
mb1395 said:
There's no official evaluation of the drag by the plebe. Don't tell your dear son or daughter this though, I like to carry around a clipboard and scribble notes so they behave.
Click to expand...
Very smart!!! You have the makings of a future Admiral!
 
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